Who else loves the Military?

LAG3

LAG3

Joined
Aug 21, 2000
Messages
607
I just took this knife in a trade. I don't usually go for serrated blades, but the Military's serrations are a bit more "rounded" than some of the other knives. I honed a small ding out of the plainedge at the tip on my Sharpmaker. Then I tried out the edge on my arm. It's been said before, but this thing is "hair-flinging" sharp. It sailed through 1/2" free-hanging rope too. I was struck by the light-weight of such a large folder. I purchased a plainedge Military some time ago and was not pleased with the lock-up and returned it. The lock on this one only engages just past the edge of the blade tang (not even half-way across) with a solid thunk. This knife feels good in the hand, I love the handle design. It's similar to the Civilian in design with the flared handle. What "purpose" does your Military serve? Do you like plain or serrated better? Should I get the plainedge or trade this one for a plainedge model?

Thanks, Leo Gilbert
 
I have a Spyderedge Military that I use for many tasks around the property. I like to carry it and a smaller plainedge knife and feel well prepared for blackberry vines, small limbs, thistle roots. I used it resodding a lawn once and finally dulled it pretty good. Spyderco did a great job resharpening it. Butt now that I have the Sharpmaker I'll keep it up myself.

Keep the teeth. It makes it a very aggressive cutter.
 
I just got one today in a deal with a fellow forumite. I love it! It's the endura of the gods :)
When is that mini coming out?
 
I've had mine for a year or so, and carry it daily. Mine is a plain edge so I can't comment on the effeciency of serrations. I feel that it's just about the right size for the tasks I subject it too...not too big, not too small. CPM-440V keeps an edge for a long time, and really isn't that hard to resharpen. I carry it for utility and defense, roles that it can fill equally well. Although I havn't had any problems with the liner lock, I would like to see Spyderco come out with a compression lock Military one day. That aside, I think the knife is pretty much perfect. The handle is comfortable and ergonomic and it's nice and lightweight without being flimsy. The Military is one of my all time favorite knives because it is a true "user".
 
EZ,

I remember reading Sal saying that there were thoughts of doing this in the future; adding the compression lock to the Millie.

Jeff/1911.
 
Fellow Militarians...

I am trying to make a decision regarding newer vs. older Military's; as follows:

I own a new style (black letter) CPM-440V Military. I also own an ATS-34 plain edge version, w/ diamond cut lettering.

I find ATS-34 steel MUCH easier to resharpen than CPM-440V, in fact my pe Millie is one I traded for a CPM-440V version that I had originally bought, for this reason.

Now I have the opportunity to trade my new style CPM-440V, black lettered serrated model for a NIB ATS-34 toothy Millie, with diamond cut engraving. It has the three screw clip, which I hear is a good thing and indicates that it has certain lock improvements at that stage of manufacture and development.

(Chinook - we discussed the lock issue before my last Millie trade...)

The ATS-34 Millie also has a knurled lower portion on it's rear blade tang (correct term?) which seems to indicate an earlier version. I happen to really like this style.

So I'm wondering if I would be giving up very much in terms of pivot and lock design improvements if I were to trade my newer one for the older one. I would gain ATS-34 (my preference) and the nice engraving. And, then MY two would match better. Oh yeah, also black clip would become silver clip.

One more consideration. Doesn't it seem like the newer style Military serrated knives have a shallower blade profile (from spine to edge of teeth) than the older ones? Perhaps this is just an illiusion because of the different lettering style, but it seems so to me.

So, what do y'all think?

Jeff/1911.
 
Originally posted by Jeff/1911
One more consideration. Doesn't it seem like the newer style Military serrated knives have a shallower blade profile (from spine to edge of teeth) than the older ones? Perhaps this is just an illiusion because of the different lettering style, but it seems so to me.
Click to expand...

The SpyderCo CPM-440V knives have more rounded serrations than do their knives of other steels. I would assume that their ATS-34 serrated Military has slightly pointier and 'deeper' serrations than the CPM-440V version. Still, I love the serrations on my new style CPM-440V Military because I think they're not too much to get caught on stuff but they're more than enough for a huge amount of performance.

I love my Military and from reading threads, Sal says that the Military Jr will have the compression lock and I THINK he might have said that a Military with a compression lock will eventually come out. Don't quote me on that, though.
 
TOTC,

Thanks for your response. As Chinook pointed out as well, the serrations are different. I certainly think that they work very well on the new Milie's, I just really want the older version more. Do you think that I should have much concern about giving up possible lock improvements by making this trade?

Jeff.
 
Jeff/1911,

Hmmmm... I'm not sure what to say. I have a pretty strong distrust of liner locks so I would personally take any kind of lock improvements that I could get. Still, if you really want the old one then that's the only one that's going to make you happy... so I guess I'm not sure what advice to give you. How much evidence is there that the older Military might have had lockup issues? Just because something is improved doesn't mean the old one is sub-par. Have you searched to gauge the amount of complaints that there might have been?
 
TOTC,

I'm not particularly confident about the basic liner lock design either, and it's just a feeling I get. Sure do like the Military though.

I have read everything I could find in the archives here and on the Spydersite, and there is very little actual evidence or report of lock failures. Anyway, that's why I was having a little trouble trying to decide what to do here. So, I think I'll go with my gut and my enjoyment of ATS-34 and try to make this trade. As I mentioned before, my new style (theoretically most improved) Millie seems to have the tiniest bit of play when locked open, and to me this just doesn't seem right for a liner lock. The old style one I was looking at seemed absolutely tight, just like my ATS-34 plain edge. So there is an actual reason to do this.

Thanks for your feedback - Jeff.
 
Though not its intended use I let a friend use the Military to gut, skin and quarter a large deer that I shot. He was not a knife nut, and proceeded to hack, pry, chop and slice his way through the deer. The most impressive thing was that even after the blade seemed to have dulled a bit it would still cut like crazy, I think the flat ground blade has a lot to do with this. When he was done the knife was full of blood and guts, but with the open design it all just washed out in the sink. It was a very impressive performance.

Rick
 
Rick,

I've read about others using the Military for field dressing and skinning game, with good results. I'll have to give mine a try next fall.

Jeff.
 
She's pretty alright. I too love the Military. I have three so far, with the third one captured last weekend.
 
32055,

Congratulations on your most recent Military acquisition. Which versions have you collected, if you don't mind my asking? Any pictures?

Jeff.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top