Thoughts on manufacture date of this Military

[rescueseven]

I picked up this Military yesterday at the OpFocus seconds sale at SFO. Doors opened at 9:00, I didn't arrive until after 11:00, so imagine my surprise when I found this still available. I'm interested on any thoughts you may have on it's vintage.

R7

[tvenuto]

http://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php?title=C36_Military

[rescueseven]

http://www.spydiewiki.com/index.php?title=C36_Military

I was hoping to narrow down the '96-'03 timeline. I was wondering if the jimping, clip, lack of "Earth" might help. And thank you for the link, that was my first stop when I got home last night.

R7

[Sjucaveman]

What's the box say? If no date code on the box maybe on the blade but that requires disassembly.

[tvenuto]

If it was a seconds then no box

[nicked.onaut]

Partial Serrated Militaries in 440V were made 2001-2003

[rescueseven]

If it was a seconds then no box

Correct, no box.

[rescueseven]

Partial Serrated Militaries in 440V were made 2001-2003

Good catch, didn't think to look at PS availability dates!

[rescueseven]

What's the box say? If no date code on the box maybe on the blade but that requires disassembly.

Second, no box. I won't be dissassembling the knife, but that brings up another question- When did date codes start showing up on blades, and are they done at all the factories?

[WireEdge Roger]

I don’t think I’ve ever seen that MILITARY blade marking with partial serrations and 440V. Kinda cool!

[sal]

Hi Rescueseven,

I'd be curious as to how we got. That's a very old knife. Long before box codes and blade codes.

sal

[curlyhairedboy]

I really like that military font on the blade. Old school cool!

[Some1]

I like the font. Seems molon labe-ish to me and that i can appreciate

[rescueseven]

I'd be curious as to how we got. That's a very old knife. Long before box codes and blade codes.

Sal,
My wise guy response would be, If you don't know, who does? :D

When I found it, Candi was standing on the other side of the table and I asked her "where did this come from ?" she matter-a-factly responded "somebody probably cleaned out their desk". :)

I was chatting with John, Candi, Christy, and Gail about it today and Christy said she had remembered seeing it when she inventoried after the November sale. I can't believe I was the first person to think it was worth having!

This is likely the oldest knife in my stable, or at least on par with my WTC, and since I don't BST on the secondary market, and rarely purchase from other then SFO it will surely stay that way.

Comparing it to my other Mili's, it is very interesting to see the CQI. Especially the feel and thickness of the lock bar, and the jimping.

Sal, thanks for taking the time to comment!

Ian

[Doc Dan]

I love it when a treasure hunt actually turns up a treasure.

[xceptnl]

Color me green. The old school jimping, "Military" branded C36 models are for sure my favorite. I have never seen the 440V in PS. I know what you are saying about those older generation lockbars to @R7. They have a feel and sound that the newer models never have given to me in use. Congratulations again.

[jabba359]

They had a handful of these (probably around a half dozen) at the 2016 Factory Outlet sale, which is where I got mine. I wondered if somebody stumbled on a few that got lost in the back corner of a warehouse or something, as it would be pretty strange for them to all have been separate returns, considering their age.

[nicked.onaut]

rescueseven, you snagged a nice old Military--congrats. Probably can't even find a flaw yielding "second" status. Enjoy.

I'll elaborate a few comments on Military PS/SE 440V, ATS34, S30V of that era and transition, with a few photos.

High points of chrono progression:
ATS34 to 440V to S30V
Dino Jimping ramp-and-choil, to thumb ramp only, to fine jimping
Full blade markings, to "Military", to Spyderbug
Two screw clip to three screw clip

The Military had nearly ten years of production before the Sprint runs started to appear (except for the 2000 forum Military). Which has its own more complex chronology--see the Wiki.

When I grabbed a box of Millies for these photos, I thought it had some others, including another 440V PS, which has seen much use vs. this unused example. All the others in this post have seen use, as you can see, including the black S30V PS. I did not include any PE versions. Except for the newer S30V/SE I limited this only to the time frame around rescueseven's query. For completeness I should come back add in some of the earlier variants like 2-screws etc. (where's that 'round two it?)

The Military PS is one of the best Spyderco combo edge models. The long blade provides plenty of easy-to-use plain edge. The SE portion is also substantial enough to really bear down hard with tasks like cutting rope, hose, vines, green limbs and so forth.

These have the large dino jimping on thumb ramp only. The serrations have subtle differences not due to use, wear, and sharpening. Most of the chips/tipped were consequences of root cuts in the orchard, especially with particularly prolific "volunteer" fruit variety--probably 100-200 volunteers each year.

Also I would occasionally, foolishly in haste, root an encroaching bamboo shoot or two. Half the time still have to retrieve a better tool. (Not a fan of bamboo patrol..)

Anyway, with SE or PS blades I don't fret about chips very much. Especially with 440V,






Comparison with 440V SE with blade engraving. Same jimping, different serration pattern:






Bottom: 440V PS, Dino jimp thumb ramp, "Military" on blade
Top: S30V PS TiNi, Dino jimp thumb ramp, "Military" on blade, (2004 only)
Middle: S30V PS, fine jimp thumb ramp and choil, Spyderbug on blade; later iteration




Two additions to the (middle two)440Vs
Bottom: ATS32 SE, Dino jimp thumb ramp and choil, full blade markings
Top: S30V SE, fine jimp thumb ramp and choil, Spyderbug on blade

Note the changes in serrations, and reduction in distal plain edge by the time these got to S30V. The earlier SE versions had a more useful longer PE at the tip (c.f. Natives in 440V)



(OK, I had to slip in at least one PE, this one in 440V):


Which other Spydercos in 440V came in a PS version? (hints?) Here's one, a Terzuola Starmate:





Hope this is handy to refresh the memory of this early era of Militaries.
440V is an old favorite for many Spydiefolk; blades which thrived on hard work, evoking a nostalgia intertwined with those activities.

kind regards,
a n.on

[The Deacon]

One thing worth noting is that, with Spyderco factory seconds, especially on older knives like the OP's Military, there is a chance that the blade and the handle may not always have been together, so there may be no single "manufacture date".

[xceptnl]

Very interesting history lesson. Thank you for sharing the images and comparisons