Which one's for me? Millie or ZT0200

einsteinjon said:
Also I think the Millie is a tad safer in a way. If you use your right thumb to push the liner to close the knife, part of the choil on the tang will hit your thumb if you fail to move it out of the way rather than the blade edge catching you. I assume this was an intentional safety design consideration. The ZT0200 blade edge will catch you if you fail to move your thumb. Please don't blast me for bringing up this point...I know it is not supposed to happen "if you close it right", but we all know it can happen, and to many of us (myself included) it has.
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The "flipper" on the 0200 also catches your thumb and prevents you from closing the blade on your finger.

I'm not trying to blast you. :D
 
CarpScot said:
The "flipper" on the 0200 also catches your thumb and prevents you from closing the blade on your finger.

I'm not trying to blast you. :D
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I'm with you. I always count on the flipper to catch my finger on my 0200, hasn't failed me yet.
 
you may as well get them both, you know you need them both anyway. Both Great knives !!!

Dave
 
Warp said:
The tip down only might be annoying, though. What's up with that?
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Originally the Military only had one liner (for the lockbar), and that was the only place to anchor the clip. More recently a second liner has been added, but I guess they figure since the lock is right hand only the lefties will just have to wait for the left hand version.

This is a tough one. These two are my top all time favorite medium sized folders (get a Hossom Retribution or Voyager for something large).
The blade shape of the Military is virtually perfect. If you want a blade to cut as efficiently as possible without being horribly fragile, this is it. While the blade profile of the 0200 isn't specifically anything special, the way it is positioned makes maximum use of the space available.
Where the Military gives you a choil to choke up on the blade, the 0200 is almost in that position all the time. The long thumb ramp naturally keeps your thumb on top of the base of the blade, giving you good leverage in a cut.

The handles are designed very differently. One made for security, one for control. The 0200 is kind of bulbous, and locks your hand in place with its deep index finger groove. I doubt anyone would ever get cramps using it. The Military curves to cradle each finger appropriately, wider for the long fingers and less for the smaller ones. I specifically appreciate the how the handle on the Military keeps its width right to the butt end of the handle, extending out past the point where your pinky finger sits. This way it maintains contact with the full width of your palm.
As for opening methods. The Spyderhole takes virtually no thought to use, where the flipper takes a little more effort to open consistently. If you get the technique right either one can be opened lightning fast. It should be noted that the thumb studs on the 0200 work beautifully as well, I actually enjoy using them (as opposed to grinding them off).
On the whole I prefer the flipper, since the hole will bind in a deep cut, but in this case the Military will out cut the 0200 in pretty much every scenario, so they come out even this time.
While the liner lock on the 0200 is definitely very beefy, I'd have to rate the two as equals in security. The 0200 can probably take a higher static load, but the Military is designed so well (dished tang with a curved lockbar, as opposed to the flat tang and straight lockbar on the 0200) that I doubt one would be any more reliable than the other.

IMO, while both knives do just about everything right, the Military is my No. 1 ultimate utility knife. The 0200 is really fun to have, but when there's cutting to be done the Military is the one that's 100% designed to complete that task. It excels at precise cuts as well as binding way less in stiff material (until you hit the hole:o).


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As an aside, since it's in the picture. The ZT0500 (M.U.D.D.) is a great work knife in dirty environments (or for cutting mangos), but the clip pretty much ruins it for EDC.
 
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kershawguy said:
you may as well get them both, you know you need them both anyway. Both Great knives !!!

Dave
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Oh don't worry, I intend to, along with a BM 710 some kind of Salt series Spyderco and a RAT RC4. And others I am sure, as well. But funds are low and it'll take awhile
 
ZT 0200 for the same reason that others here have said. Tip down only automatically kicks the mili out for me--but here in Oregon I like to use my knives for anything and everything--includinglight prying/chopping.

The contoured handles of the ZT also make the knife more comfortable in my hand than that of the flat mili. Shapening will be a breeze with a sharpmaker for either of them.

Enjoy whichever one you get--the ZT gets my vote though.

SPXTrader said:
If you like larger knives, I'd take the 0200. The recurve won't be any problem to sharpen since you have a sharpmaker, and I find a recurve cuts better than a straight edge. The ergos of the 0200 to me are better, and I just don't like the hole opening system. I like the flipper better.

If you want a tank, get the 0200. If you want a jeep, get the Millie.
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I couldn't have said it better--it all boils down to what you are going to cut with the knife.
 
Another question: I am anal about some things and the greasy looking finger/thumbprints I often leave on the blade of my Tenacious annoy me. If I get a military without a black/coated blade will the same thing happen?

I still havn't made up my mind I want the millie and the 0200 and even a 710, but IF I got a millie I thought I wanted the oarange...but not if that means greasy fingerprints on the blade. I don't get them on my Emerson.
 
Warp said:
Another question: I am anal about some things and the greasy looking finger/thumbprints I often leave on the blade of my Tenacious annoy me. If I get a military without a black/coated blade will the same thing happen?

I still havn't made up my mind I want the millie and the 0200 and even a 710, but IF I got a millie I thought I wanted the oarange...but not if that means greasy fingerprints on the blade. I don't get them on my Emerson.
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It's your money and your knife. If it bothers you, I'd consider it. We're not the ones that are going to be using it. I can't add much to what has already been said. They are about dead even for me (including the MUDD, but I'll take any one of them over the BM 710). One thing that I haven't noticed mentioned is that when tightly gripped, the liner on the Millie will begin to disengage, at least when I do it. I haven't found that porblem with the 0200. Though admittedly, I've only played with the 0200 in stores and I've actually owned a Millie. However, I've never felt like it made the knife unsafe and I really like the overall design of the Millie. If I had that choice, I could easily flip a coin and be happy with whichever I ended up getting.
 
I vote for the ZT because it is unlike anything you already own.

The Military is a great knife, but you already have a Tenacious and the two are quite similar IMO. Obviously the Millie is made better and out of superior materials, but the general blade shape, grind, handles, opening hole, etc, they certainly have a lot in common.

The ZT is totally different from your current knives. Thick, heavy, flipper, recurve.

You certainly can't go wrong, both are excellent, but I like variety :)
 
I’ve found that I like the ZT better when I don’t carry as much other junk (cell, hanky etc.) when I can give the ZT its own pocket it carries just fine despite its bulk. However when I ask it to share my pocket with something, that’s when I wish for a slimmer knife. The Military carried (past tense I gave mine away to my cousin when he got deployed) great no matter where I put it.

I don’t pry with my knives, I carry a mini pry bar on my key chain for that so the fine tip on the military is an asset rather then a hindrance.

I thinned out the edge a bit on the ZT so it would slice easier, but the Military will still out cut it (but the Military will out slice virtually every knife on the market).

In my hands both knifes are comfortable, the military is probably more ergonomic in more grips but I don’t have any complaints about the ZT.

The lock on the military is very clever, with all its details combining to make what is probably the best engineered liner lock on the market this along with the excellent finger protection of the knife lets you trust it. The ZT’s lock isn’t as “clever” but it is big and again offers good finger protection.

Its very hard not to like either knife. If you where only getting one with no plans on getting the other later as $ allows I would say the military. Its much harder to chose between them when the question one of “which one should I get first?”

Since your leaning towards the Orange Military I would probably go for that one, since its not unlikely that they will become less available over time. While the ZT is in regular production.
 
I've had both and kept the Military. It is as good a cutter as you'll find and carries well. I often use it when cooking.

The downside is that it isn't a prybar. I was putting up a portable awning the other day and had to pry out a piece of plastic from one of the tubular legs. I only had the Military with me and used it as a prybar of sorts, thinking it might break. It didn't break but the ZT wouldn't have worried me.'

The ZT is very well built - especially for the money. It is overly heavy and bulky though. I prefer my CRK Unumzaan and Strider SMF for "hard use" althought they are more expensive.
 
My vote goes for the Millie after buying my old school 440V millie every other knife feels inadequate.It is my all time favorite. In the 8 years I have been carrying mine I have bought dozens of knives and it cant be replaced. I just love how it disappears in your pocket but when you pull it out it is just huge. Like everyone else has said it is the best cutter you can find. Do yourself a favor and get one.

Cheers from the NORTH
 
Warp said:
Another question: I am anal about some things and the greasy looking finger/thumbprints I often leave on the blade of my Tenacious annoy me. If I get a military without a black/coated blade will the same thing happen?

I still havn't made up my mind I want the millie and the 0200 and even a 710, but IF I got a millie I thought I wanted the oarange...but not if that means greasy fingerprints on the blade. I don't get them on my Emerson.
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Yes--it's satin finished. You would get fingerprints on it.

So get the ZT already! :D
 
You sound like you have really done your research and have a good idea of what each knife has to offer.
It really depends on what you want. If you plan on edc'ing either one, I would get the military. Light, slim and it's a beast (doesn't look like it though). If you don't plan on edc'ing either knife and just want a knife for the sake of having it, I would get the 0200. The flipper is fun and the knife is slightly too heavy for edc (you may be able to put up with the weight...I sure as hell can't). The 0200 is pretty cool as well. It's like a couple of guys at kershaw got together with a shallot and said "make it bigger, better, stronger and more badass".
 
I just ordered a ZT0200.

I like bomb proof. The weight won't be an issue as I'm an EDC nut with a good, stiff gun belt who already carries a mid size Glock, 2.5 flashlights and 2.5 knives daily. I do believe the ZT is more diversity, given my current knives, than is the Military due to the incredibly rugged design and recurve blade.

I'll likely end up daily carrying the ZT and the Tenacious most of the time. Seems to be a good combination. A flat ground slicer and a big ole tank, a high quality expensive/fun (toy) beast and an inexpensive loan-it-to-others that won't be a huge deal if damaged or lost.

Maybe I'll get a military for Christmas. That's not too far away, right?
 
Congratlations! I think you'll find the 0200 to be all you have heard it to be. And one thing you'll notice is it is a lot of knife for your money. Please let us know what you think of it after you've used it for a while.

And to puukkoman, Phillip Dobson makes beautiful scales. Take a look at his work. It's in his sig link, directly above your post.
 
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