The spyderco military is a great design

K

kraftzion

Joined
Nov 7, 2009
Messages
39
I owned this knife for a long time before I started carrying it. I didn't get it. It just seemed like it would be large,bulky cumbersome, awkward,etc. It turns out it is every thing but that. This knife(with a deep carry clip) just disappears in my pocket. I am at one with the knife:) I've carried much smaller knives that were much more annoying than this one. I have determined that is due to 2 reasons. one is that at 4 oz it is the weight of a lot of knives half it's size. The other is the curved back of the knife prevents the end of the knife from catching on the side of of my pocket when I sit down and push the knife up. whereas a straight handled knife will do that if that makes sense.
 
It is a great knife: I was unlucky enough to get one of the first examples where the handle screws screw into nothing but friable G-10 (no opposite "female" threaded steel nut, if you can believe that)... I'm always unlucky, and get the one early variation of any folder that's worthless...

One thing I did not like is the quite short blade to handle ratio: The Civilian is much closer to 50/50 on that...

Gaston
 
I agree. A truly great design.
4oz in CF and 4.25 in G10, carries great, wicked cutter with all that distal taper, several gripping options, and at a decent price to boot. It's one of the few knives that I think is near perfection as is.
 
The proof is in the #'s. In a poll it has been #1 among BF members several times. Not a perfect knife, but I don't think there is a perfect knife.
 
It does carry very well. It's become one of favorites. I just traded my delica4 for another Millie identical to the one I already have.
 
What's to hate?




I had a similar experience with the military. Bought one and sold it almost immediately because it was so ridiculously big. A while later I tried again and this time I actually used it. Haven't used much else in the couple years since, and most other knives feel small, especially in the handle...
 
It's such a great knife! Near perfect for my large hands. None of my other knifes can come close to its cutting ability. My only complaint is that I want more of them! Especially a Ti version!!!!!
 
I think it's only a great design after the aluminum backspacer block, and its fragile thread tapping, is swapped out for proper stainless steel standoffs.
 
I've got a "Franken-Millie" - a standard S30V blade in the gray scales from a Cru-Wear model. I'm in the process of getting a deep carry clip and larger screws for it. I've used it hard and put it away wet for several months now, and all that hard use hasn't phased it at all.

One of Spyderco's all-time best designs, IMHO.

~Chris
 
Boats said:
I think it's only a great design after the aluminum backspacer block, and its fragile thread tapping, is swapped out for proper stainless steel standoffs.
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I've not had issues with the screws being fragile, or with the AL back spacer. I tend to leave my knives as they are just use them. Currently up to about 15 Militarys and not a one has broken or feels fragile. Now, could it use a few upgrades? Sure. I don't think people would cry if they added stand offs, but it is far from necessary. It would be more of an aesthetic change rather than a performance upgrade.
 
RevDevil said:
I've not had issues with the screws being fragile, or with the AL back spacer. I tend to leave my knives as they are just use them. Currently up to about 15 Militarys and not a one has broken or feels fragile. Now, could it use a few upgrades? Sure. I don't think people would cry if they added stand offs, but it is far from necessary. It would be more of an aesthetic change rather than a performance upgrade.
Click to expand...

My experience with militaries tallies with yours. I've used them in the farm for everything a knife needed to do. No issues at all. Well, except that I wanted more and more of them. :)
 
RevDevil said:
I've not had issues with the screws being fragile, or with the AL back spacer. I tend to leave my knives as they are just use them. Currently up to about 15 Militarys and not a one has broken or feels fragile. Now, could it use a few upgrades? Sure. I don't think people would cry if they added stand offs, but it is far from necessary. It would be more of an aesthetic change rather than a performance upgrade.
Click to expand...

I torqued the screws right out of the left side of mine while cutting away a broken snowmobile belt that was making the machine difficult to drag back to the truck with another. My Millie literally fell apart in my hand, leaving me a bag-o-parts and a hike back to the truck for the ESEE-4 that lives there.

I haven't had any hint of similar problems since mating the steel screws to actual steel standoffs.
 
RevDevil said:
I've not had issues with the screws being fragile, or with the AL back spacer. I tend to leave my knives as they are just use them. Currently up to about 15 Militarys and not a one has broken or feels fragile. Now, could it use a few upgrades? Sure. I don't think people would cry if they added stand offs, but it is far from necessary. It would be more of an aesthetic change rather than a performance upgrade.
Click to expand...

Haven't hand any issues with the Military either.

Have one I EDCed for 5 years and used as my work knife and it's still in great shape. :)
 
Boats said:
I torqued the screws right out of the left side of mine while cutting away a broken snowmobile belt that was making the machine difficult to drag back to the truck with another. My Millie literally fell apart in my hand, leaving me a bag-o-parts and a hike back to the truck for the ESEE-4 that lives there.

I haven't had any hint of similar problems since mating the steel screws to actual steel standoffs.
Click to expand...

I'm not understanding, you were cutting and the screws sheared off in the process?
 
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