Updating The Military?

Mitchell Knives

Mitchell Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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I seem to remember there being some discussion of updating the Military. Does anyone know if Spyderco still intends to update this model?

I would really like to see an updated Military with the following:

-New lock system - Lock back or frame lock is fine
-Dual steel liners
-Slightly thinner blade to aid in cutting performance
-Use the original "blocky" traction grooves just below the Spyder hole

What do you guys think? Any other worthy upgrades to the Military?
 
Yes they will do an update, the newest Military's have dual steel liners. The lock will likely be a new invented lock, but you never know.
 
The Last Confederate said:
Do they plan to tap and thread the frame for left-handed pocket clip carry?
Click to expand...

I'm sure they'll drill about 30 or so holes into the frame to accommodate both right and left-handed carry. I'll make sure to pick up a couple more of the existing models because I prefer the current right-handed, tip-down set up. :)
 
I really hope there is no full liners. That would add a fair bit of weight and it just wouldn't be a military anymore. Since when has anyone ever had a problem with the military's g-10 handles breaking? I'm sorry, but the feel of extra heft for psychological comfort is a dumb excuse for making the knife any more heavy without even affecting use except perhaps making it harder to clean.

For the record, I am perfectly happy with the way the military has a small liner on the lock side because the weight is really negligible.
 
Right on Capt. Carl,
Most of the appeal I have for the Military is due to its weight to size ratio. I would hate to see a heavier Military than the current configuration.
 
They should just get rid of the liner lock and not change anything else. Throw a caged ball lock in and be done.
 
We will no doubt drilll a bazillion holes in it and make it a 4 way clip.

We will probably use a different lock on the "2" model, not sure which one. Between a Compression-Lock, Ball bearing / Cage, or the new "Stop-Lock".

If we use larger liners, they will be nested and drilled. We wouldn't want to maker it any heavier. The size / weight ratio is a main feature of the design.

We will probably run the "2" along side of the original for a while.

We're open to any suggestions.

sal
 
O great now that I bought 3 of them I will now have to buy 3 more. LOL. Glad to here about the modifications Sal.
 
I was just thinking about this yesterday in fact... here's what I think the perfect Military would be...

Same exact blade as the current Military. It's a great blade design. Your choice of wondersteel, but s30v or D2 would be just fine. Titanium frame lock. Handle almost exactly like the current model... but you've got to do something about the fact that there's no protection against your hand sliding up on the blade! So either something on the blade itself, like a flipper, because they turn into a guard (not my first choice) or a cut out for the index finger, like on a BM skirmish, that can serve the function of giving you that front guard. I'm not going to get into SD; there's certainly other times when you want to push the tip of the blade into something and right now the Military just doesn't offer any protection at all.

Hence my recent Manix purchase!
 
Open to suggestions eh Sal? How about CPM M4, or Vascowear( Cruwear now). Of course they'ed need a coating for all the ones that worry about rust specks. No? Oh well, nothing wrong with trying. :-)
 
I vote for the compression lock.

DRider: Have you ever handled the Military? I find it to be very secure in the hand. You can even brace your thumb against the hump in the blade for extra security, although to me this is unneccesary.
 
I would vote to keep it as is as far as blade grind and handle but to go with the compression lock. The CPM D2 model I handled felt great in my hands and the blade geometry was very good for a factory 4" HD knife, I just am not a huge fan of liner locks (though the one I tested was very secure).

Mike
 
It seems a lot of folks who claim to dislike liner locks in general will make an exception for the Military. Amazing how much of a difference it makes when the liner lock is actually done right ;)

I would leave the blade length, shape and grind just like they are. Sorry ashtxsniper, but there are a lot of places with a four inch legal limit for folding knives, and I live in one of them. I can't legally carry a Police model for that reason.

I would like to see that stop lock on something, as I just can't visualize how it works from the drawings and description in lawyerese. That something might as well be the Military II. But then, any lock will work for me, except for the framelock. Those still look to me like a liner lock that didn't get finished. I have a few and carry none of them, I just can't stand them.

Clip positioning...four way is okay, but mine will most likely wind up RHTD regardless of how many options are available. What can I say, it works for me.
 
Capt. Carl said:
I really hope there is no full liners. That would add a fair bit of weight and it just wouldn't be a military anymore. Since when has anyone ever had a problem with the military's g-10 handles breaking? I'm sorry, but the feel of extra heft for psychological comfort is a dumb excuse for making the knife any more heavy without even affecting use except perhaps making it harder to clean.

For the record, I am perfectly happy with the way the military has a small liner on the lock side because the weight is really negligible.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more!
 
Sal Glesser said:
We will no doubt drilll a bazillion holes in it and make it a 4 way clip.

We will probably use a different lock on the "2" model, not sure which one. Between a Compression-Lock, Ball bearing / Cage, or the new "Stop-Lock".

If we use larger liners, they will be nested and drilled. We wouldn't want to maker it any heavier. The size / weight ratio is a main feature of the design.

We will probably run the "2" along side of the original for a while.

We're open to any suggestions.

sal
Click to expand...

The comp lock is the only one I can see appropriate to a Millie. Simple, strong, no moving parts (except for the lock itself, naturally), allows open construction and easy maintenance.
 
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