Spyderco Military Observations

[vivi]

They carry pretty well that way aside from sometimes catching the jimping on the corner of my pocket. Maybe if I carried it that way more often I'd get more familiar with the draw.

I like how it carries IWB, but not wild about right front pocket carry. It works, but tip up makes a big comfort difference for me.

[Jammer]

This is great info so I am not too broke up about resurrecting a 1-3yr old thread

Referencing post #13. Can one you knowledgeable fellas shed some details about the scale fastener variations of the knives shown.

When a single sided screw pivot is used, there are three scale screws down the backstrap.

The dual screw pivot style utilizes what appears to be a pin in place of the screws/post at the front of scale.

This inquiring mind wants to know.

[Evil D]

This is great info so I am not too broke up about resurrecting a 1-3yr old thread

Referencing post #13. Can one you knowledgeable fellas shed some details about the scale fastener variations of the knives shown.

When a single sided screw pivot is used, there are three scale screws down the backstrap.

The dual screw pivot style utilizes what appears to be a pin in place of the screws/post at the front of scale.

This inquiring mind wants to know.

The pin looking one is a floating stop pin, basically a solid machined pin with smaller ends that you see poking through the scales, sort of like a tiny rolling pin. The ones with the screw there use a 3 piece stop pin made up of a center pin with two outside screws.

[Jammer]

Thats what I figured, thank you for claification.
Which variant is older or newer?
I believe the original design was also different with actual wood type thread screws and directly into the apposing scale?
Does the 3 screw style tend to be any more rigid?
No one complains about either design so probably splitting hairs here.

[Evil D]

Thats what I figured, thank you for claification.
Which variant is older or newer?
I believe the original design was also different with actual wood type thread screws and directly into the apposing scale?
Does the 3 screw style tend to be any more rigid?
No one complains about either design so probably splitting hairs here.

What you have is the oldest version, and the back two body screws threaded into an (I think) aluminum back spacer that only extends between those two screws.

The floating pin version I like to think of as the Military 1.5 since it has some significant changes vs the original but isn't quite a Military 2.

[Jammer]

With your introduction of version 1.5 and feeling I missed something, then re-reading Spyderco's descriptions of each version.

Per Spyderco website:
* Version with three screws: Includes the term "Millie" and "...the locks liner nested directly into scale".
* Version with forward pin: Omits the term "Millie" and "... nested stainless liners with sturdy LinerLock".

So, looks like at least three distinct versions.
Thank you for steering me towards the answer, guess I should have read more carefully !

[vivi]

With your introduction of version 1.5 and feeling I missed something, then re-reading Spyderco's descriptions of each version.

Per Spyderco website:
* Version with three screws: Includes the term "Millie" and "...the locks liner nested directly into scale".
* Version with forward pin: Omits the term "Millie" and "... nested stainless liners with sturdy LinerLock".

So, looks like at least three distinct versions.
Thank you for steering me towards the answer, guess I should have read more carefully !

The original Military only had a liner on one side. It was extra lightweight. They added a small liner to the other scale sometime around when they phased out S60V in favor of S30V.

The jimping went through a couple revisions too.

The lanyard hole was increases in diameter.

In addition to the new stop pin on late Military 1's with CQI changes, they also used a different clip that is more rounded and spoon shaped.

Lastly, along with the other CQI changes late into the Military 1's life, they started coating the hardware on DLC models unlike earlier DLC Military folders (like mine). The older versions simply have a coated blade, just like the original DLC PM2's.

[Jammer]

Hmmm, after my last post I tried to find a youtube disassembly video for both the two screw w/pin and the three screw versions. To save my life I am unable to locate a photo or screenshot of a disassembled two screw w/ pin version.

The three screw version definitely has liners albiet smaller than full scale
Does anyone have a photo of the two+pin version?

[Evil D]

Hmmm, after my last post I tried to find a youtube disassembly video for both the two screw w/pin and the three screw versions. To save my life I am unable to locate a photo or screenshot of a disassembled two screw w/ pin version.

The three screw version definitely has liners albiet smaller than full scale
Does anyone have a photo of the two+pin version?

This shows the original construction disassembly.

[Jammer]

Yep, thats the three screw version as I had posted above.
So, is that to mean that the internals (liners) are the same between the 2/3 screw versions?

[gooeytek]

I'm a big fan of the Military also, but only the framelocks. I'll buy a Ti Military just to get the Ti presentation side and swap that on to a sprint framelock (like I did with my CPM-M4) or transplant a blade into a C36Ti. Currently looking for another C36Ti or C36TiFP for my S90V one. I also upgraded the screws to T8 torx and replace the aluminum backspacer with standoffs.

Old pic:

[vivi]

Yep, thats the three screw version as I had posted above.
So, is that to mean that the internals (liners) are the same between the 2/3 screw versions?

The oldest versions of the Military only had one liner.

Don't have a photo handy but I did find this really old post mentioning it

viewtopic.php?p=538282#p538282

I really needed to bring this thread back to life, with the question:

Has anyone been keeping track of the improvements in the Military line?

I got to take a look at some circa 1997 examples of the Military and Police today. The Military has a metal liner on one side (only, as opposed to the two partial liners we see today), while the Police has no liners at all. Both are in G10.

Spydiewiki doesn't seem to cover it.

[Jammer]

Vivi - yep @ my post #124 that should be the "original" military with one small liner and three through screws . Unless there is an old(or new) thread that already outlines the major version changes to the military and for concise reading, I will call it v1.0.

As far as I can tell the next major revision utilized three screws down each scale, has partial liners on each side - call it v1.2.

Then as Mr.Evil offered, v1.5 utilized a floating forward pin, two screws down each scale, and also a clip that is more rounded and spoon shaped(thanks Vivi). Still uncertain of the internal liner design, hopefully someone can chime in with a picture.

Also found this older post by Vivi.
viewtopic.php?p=1676615&hilit=spyderco+ ... s#p1676615
"For comparison sake you can look up the C36 Military model. That model has gone through numerous revisions despite all of them being included under the Military 1 designation. The original run had a single liner, coarse jimping and a large logo on the blade. Later they made the jimping smaller, added a second liner, and removed the large print on the blade. Couple years ago they changed the stop pin and made the clip a little curvier."

That thread mentioned in the last post from 2001 had an 8yr resurrection in 2009 :) and was a fun read, I could not agree more with post #34 by clovisc.
Love for spyderco!
Back circa 1998 I purchased my first Military, it was very sad day when I lost it some years later. Was ALOT of federal reserve notes for me back then. Having fun learning about the updates. A re-buy of one or more are in my very near future. It will be a happy day and my much loved PM2 will have to take the back pocket.

[dan31]

Keeping with the Military 1 theme, I wanted to say thanks to Spyderco. I asked for another batch of S110v Military to be produced and they came through. I have had it for about a year. Pulled it out today and must say it’s near perfect. Nice work by the knife makers.

[Brock O Lee]

Negative blade angle - a subtle feature of many Spyderco's that is not mentioned often enough. It keeps the tip low and the edge in contact with whatever is being cut. I also think the angle enhances the slicing ability.

[Wartstein]

Negative blade angle - a subtle feature of many Spyderco's that is not mentioned often enough I feel. It keeps the tip low and the edge in contact with whatever is being cut. I also think the angle enhances the slicing ability.

Yes, negative blade angels are what I prefer too.
They might not be always ideal when for example cutting food on a board - but other than that they imo make for a more natural hand/wrist position, kind of "grab"/"hook" material better and somehow transfer power more efficiently in many tasks.
Ymmv of course.

[ejames13]

Negative blade angle is probably why the Military is one of my favorite Spyderco’s. It’s the best compromise between a standard blade shape and true wharncliffe.

[vivi]

Negative blade angle - a subtle feature of many Spyderco's that is not mentioned often enough. It keeps the tip low and the edge in contact with whatever is being cut. I also think the angle enhances the slicing ability.

Agreed 100%. The Military is the knife that opened my eyes to how much negative angle can influence cutting efficiency.

I just sharpened up my Military today on the diamond sharpmaker rods, and the negative angle + toothy edge really grabs whatever materials I slice on a draw cut. Did great breaking down some pretzel boxes a minute ago!