Your Thoughts on the Military Spyderco

Well with the concensus being the military is a great knife but so many reservations for actually carrying it ? ... how does the para military knife compare to the military knife?
 
I've EDC'd the Millie more than any other knife I've ever had. I'm 6"4, so I've got large hands, it fits me perfectly. It really is a superb knife. The flat grind is just amazing and it cuts like mad. Perfect EDC as it's so light but still such a powerfull beast.


edc1_2.jpg



Yes, it's big, but not too big ... depends on which angle you look at it.. :D



edc1.jpg



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northernlight
 
Nice photos northern light. Am I mistaken, or did you snap off the very tip of your Millie?
 
I posted this in knife_nut73's thread, and think it is appropriate to post here:

I own a CF BG42 Military. I am very impressed with this knife, specifically the fit and finish. I've paid double what I paid for the military on other high-end folders and keep coming back to the milie.

Here's why:

1. Silky smooth - this knife rivals any BMade AXIS lock folder in it's smooth opening and closing. I own other spydies (manix, delica) and have handled others in passarounds but the milie is smoothest to open and close, with regards to spydies. That's quite impressive considering it's size.

2. Size - big, but small. Let me explain this apparent paradox. The military is one of the longest folders I have carried, yet it carries 'light' in the front or rear pocket. The carbon fiber really helps in this matter, because it makes the knife very lightweight. My milie weighs in at just under 114 grams (~4 oz) with clip. Remove the clip and I'm sure you'll get it sub 4 ounces.

3. Pivot screw - I really appreciate it when a manufacturer provides a pivot screw for adjustment, etc. I have not made any adjustments to my milie, but I like the fact that I can if I the need arises.

4. Liner lock - I am amazed at the well-designed milie liner lock. I've handled other liner locking folders (which I paid more for than the milie), and there is no comparison. I can see why folks are 'gun shy' on liner locks after I've handled some of the sub par liner lock folders that are currently in production. My liner locks in place at ~40% across the blade -- consistently. It doesn't matter how hard I flick the knife open. Bam, liner hits at 40% across blade.

5. Grip - I purchased the milie with intent purpose to use it as a work knife. I wanted a good grip, but not something that would eat through my jeans. The carbon fiber on the milie meets that compromise.

6. Slicing - Folks, the milie is just about one of the best slicers I own. I use my milie at work then occasionally bring it in for kitchen duty. It easily makes the transition.

7. BG42 - Here's where the milie really shines for me. I can take this knife to work and beat the heck out of it, give it a few passes on the sharpmaker and it's hair-shaving sharp. I really like the BG42 on my milie. I have only one other BG42 knife and it's my beloved Buck 112. My milie takes an edge quicker than my 112.



Drawbacks: (of course there are a few, still haven't found that perfect knife )

1. Tip - my tip is fine, and I have even used it to lightly pry metal. No problems, but I do try to be careful because the tip does appear to be the 'weakest link' with the spyderco military.

2. Ineffiecient handle length - I feel that the handle is at least a 1/4" longer than it really needs to be to suit my needs. Don't get me wrong, I like the blade length. But I think the handle overpowers the blade by wasting a 1/4" of length (on the tip end when folded).

YMMV.

Andy
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kamagong said:
Nice photos northern light. Am I mistaken, or did you snap off the very tip of your Millie?
Click to expand...
Thanks! No, the angle of the pic just makes the blade and the tip look strange.

Here's another pic of the tip of the blade together with a Sebenza.

seb_mil_blades.jpg


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northernlight
 
Needs to be configured for tip-up carry like God intended. Thats a deal breaker for me. Otherwise, there is much to like about it. :thumbup:
 
I like the Military alot, but I just cannot make myself trust liner-locks the way I trust lock-backs and the Axis-lock.
 
Murdock- You think the Military is huge? Perspective is a funny thing, IMHO the Military is about as medium size as you can get. I've carried the Cold Steel XXL Voyager Clip Point, Vaquero Grande and the 6" TiLite so the Miitary is a step down in size. I wonder about the pocket configuration of the pants you wear. Out here in the Emerald City of Odds, also know as Eugene Oregon, blue jeans are a common choice of pants, and I can see how the Military might seem too large for those pockets. Because my brush bustin' outdoor days are behind me, I've chosen to wear relaxed fit pleated front slacks with deep pockets. I just barely notice the Military in these.

Silent- Although it's disappointing that the Miltary only comes in the tip down configuration, I've modified both of mine for tip up carry. Becasue there are no metal liners to worry about, you can take a drill bit slightly smaller than the diameter of the screws (I forget the size I used) tape the clip to the location you want and then drill through the holes. Because the holes are of a smaller diameter, the screwthreads are self tapping and are just as secure as the originial. If you still worry about loosening, simply put a drop of super glue in the hole before inserting the screw. One of the main concerns voiced regarding the tip up carry of a liner lock is that it might open in your pocket. I suspect that is more likely due to the tightness of the pivot pin rather than the locking mechanism. I carried a Military like this for years including when I was training (we wore our street clothes when we trained, both men and women) and I never had it fall open in my pocket.
 
I handled one my buddy had a few years back.

What I liked:
-great size
-excellent blade geometry and shape
-nice handle design except for the liner lock cutout
-very light for a larger knife

What I didn't care for:
-large blade hole, my skinny little thumbs prefer the smaller holes
-huge liner lock cutout, it just made the knife feel uncomfortable in my hand
-clip design and placement, I don't care for the triangle over the pivot design and I prefer tip up carry
-handle to blade length ratio, I would prefer a conventional 5" handle to a 4" blade, but I understand that Spyderco is known for larger handles to smaller blades

I realize that Spyderco wanted this particular knife to be usuable with gloves on, hence the need for the larger handle, larger lock cutout, and the large hole. If I were to go back to my Army days at Fort Wainwright Alaska this would be my EDC in the winter no doubt. But in my current daily life in order for me to buy and carry one myself I would love to see a compression lock on the Military. Maybe a slightly smaller hole as well. I know, I know... why don't I just buy a Para? I would just prefer the larger design.

This is only my two cents on the design. Most people seem to love this knife. I wish you the best in your knife research.

Take care. Heath
 
Seeking Trad Deer said:
Nobody responded to my quesions on the Para Military so I am guessing it is not though much of compared to the military.
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Not necessarily...

I can't give advice on it because I've never owned and used the Para.
But I can tell you this:
I don't like the Compression-Lock.
I had a Vesuvius and a Salsa, both with the Compression-Lock, and I did not like it because it pinched my hand sometimes, and it did not keep the blade closed very well...my Vesuvius even opened inside my pocket once.

So, while I'm not that wild about the Military's liner-lock, I would still choose it over the Compression-lock Para any day.
 
The Vesuvius was the first try at a compression lock, and the weak closed detent was the reason it got a back lock and became the Cento III. The action is far more positive on the Para. Although my preference is tip down carry, I have seen pictures here of Paras modified for tip up carry with no worry about the blade falling open. The Para has quite a large detent cut out in the blade tang, so it is very secure. I carried my Para more often than my BGCF Mili until the ZDP Endura came along and kicked them both out of my pocket :D
 
I did not like the Compression-lock on the Salsa either.
It just does nothing for me.
 
I've found that (apart, obviously, from weight) thickness of the knife's handle is much more an issue (in terms one "feels" the knife in a pocket (however it's tradeoff for being more comfortable in hand)) than it's length. Military might look big when you look at it from side but it is very slim folder and therefore it carries very easily.
Only thing I don't quite like about it is the FRN backspacer - the fact it is not full backspacer (and I'd prefer something more attractive than FRN :)).
And maybe blade might be tiny little bit longer (to utilize whole length of handle).

But that's more nitpicking than it's necessary :) It's great knife. Buy one :thumbup:
 
If I Were You, I'd Look Into Getting A Full Size Manix, Better Knife In My Opinion. Similar In Most Respects, But Blade Is Slightly Shorter, More Stout All Around, Plus It's A Lock Back.

The Only Minus On Large Folders Is Pocket Space, For Me It Isn't An Issue
 
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