Military 2 Discussion (Merged)

[Kleon]

Well Eric from Indiana Knives delivered one of his initial 5 examples from Spyderco to me this afternoon and it is a fantastic knife. Golden is achieving great standards making this knife. All the Military 2 models I have seen are so well made.

This knife in 15v seems like the spiritual successor to the Rex45 Military. Great tool steel that will cut and cut. Now if only I can get used to unlocking it on the top instead of rollling it over and pressing my thumb against a nonexistent liner lock…

Well done Sal, Eric and Shawn!!

[SpeedHoles]

I haven't tried a Military 2 yet. Been perfectly content on the original Militarys I have, despite that I generally prefer the comp lock over a liner, but it's so easy to find and operate the liner on the original that it's like second nature, even with gloves.

That said, now with this BBB variant, I figured it was finally time to grab an M2. Let's see

The Military 2 in general would have been a hard sell for me if steel variants didn't exist or if for some reason they decided to never make it in anything but S30V. I already have some of the best versions of the Military 1 so why bother right? But I think once you get it in your hand and use it a whole you'll see it really is an improvement overall, and that's coming from a Military 1 loyalist.

In other words, if they also released a 15V Military 1 alongside the Military 2, and I could only buy one of them, I'd buy the 2. Of course I'd absolutely get both though lol.

Thanks, good to hear some affirmations. I'm adaptable too, so we'll see. If anything, this kind of makes me think it'll unconsciously just push the PM2 out of my rotations more often since the Military 2 might feel so similar at this point...

[pnwest]

I just received my first Military 2. The CruCarta version and I like this knife WAY more than I expected. It’s just perfect. Fits so comfortably in my hand and the micarta scales provide a nice solid grip. I love the blade length. My new favorite (I think I say that about every new Spydie I get). Treated the scales with some Leather Honey.

[Cycletroll]

Just ordered a M2 in 15v from NC Blades (used to live in NC and subsequent to Hurricane Helene I've committed to supporting small NC businesses as much as possible).
I already have BBB 15v in Manix 2 and PM2 but am especially looking forward to the Mille. It will probably bump the Manix from my pocket.

[Evil D]

Well Eric from Indiana Knives delivered one of his initial 5 examples from Spyderco to me this afternoon and it is a fantastic knife. Golden is achieving great standards making this knife. All the Military 2 models I have seen are so well made.

This knife in 15v seems like the spiritual successor to the Rex45 Military. Great tool steel that will cut and cut. Now if only I can get used to unlocking it on the top instead of rollling it over and pressing my thumb against a nonexistent liner lock…

Well done Sal, Eric and Shawn!!

Geez do you live next door? I'm only 2 hours from them and I put my order in the day they dropped and don't have mine yet.

[Evil D]

I haven't tried a Military 2 yet. Been perfectly content on the original Militarys I have, despite that I generally prefer the comp lock over a liner, but it's so easy to find and operate the liner on the original that it's like second nature, even with gloves.

That said, now with this BBB variant, I figured it was finally time to grab an M2. Let's see

The Military 2 in general would have been a hard sell for me if steel variants didn't exist or if for some reason they decided to never make it in anything but S30V. I already have some of the best versions of the Military 1 so why bother right? But I think once you get it in your hand and use it a whole you'll see it really is an improvement overall, and that's coming from a Military 1 loyalist.

In other words, if they also released a 15V Military 1 alongside the Military 2, and I could only buy one of them, I'd buy the 2. Of course I'd absolutely get both though lol.

Thanks, good to hear some affirmations. I'm adaptable too, so we'll see. If anything, this kind of makes me think it'll unconsciously just push the PM2 out of my rotations more often since the Military 2 might feel so similar at this point...

This is exactly what it does for me, every time I handle mine I remember everything I liked about the Para 2 and see how it fixed all the things I didn't like. It really is the perfect PM2 for me.

[Kleon]

I’m several hours NE of him David…not sure how he managed this delivery feat.

Think of it folks - FDE REC coated and uncoated 10v, ranger green BBS K390, orange XHP CS and more hopefully in the wings.

In the meantime I can probably use this 15v knife hard on the farm chores until the Magnacut Salt variants arrive!

[Evil D]

I'm really hoping St Nick's do a Military 2 and Bodacious in the 4V/red.

Man between these two models I'm going to buy so many knives if they just make them lol.

[JSumm]

My PM2s have suffered the greatest loss in pocket time. Always felt cramped behind the choil, but didn't feel right as a dedicated choil knife. Whereas the Para 3 feels pretty good as a choil grip only. The Military has always felt great in either grip. It is really fantastic. My M2 variant has been seeing more pocket time than my Bodacious which is pretty perfect in my eyes. It may be because it is serrated and I'm just really enjoying SE right now. Not sure but definitely one of my current most carried models, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Now has anyone noticed the larger CL tab and cutout on the Military 2? On the PM2, the Crucarta version has a longer CL tab and cutout. Which I thought was great! Looks like Spyderco took that change and added it standard to the Military 2. The Bodacious for comparison has the same size tab and cutout as the standard PM2 which is smaller.

[sovereign]

I'm really hoping St Nick's do a Military 2 and Bodacious in the 4V/red.

Man between these two models I'm going to buy so many knives if they just make them lol.

Perhaps their runs will be more than 400-600 this time.

[Evil D]

My PM2s have suffered the greatest loss in pocket time. Always felt cramped behind the choil, but didn't feel right as a dedicated choil knife. Whereas the Para 3 feels pretty good as a choil grip only. The Military has always felt great in either grip. It is really fantastic. My M2 variant has been seeing more pocket time than my Bodacious which is pretty perfect in my eyes. It may be because it is serrated and I'm just really enjoying SE right now. Not sure but definitely one of my current most carried models, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Now has anyone noticed the larger CL tab and cutout on the Military 2? On the PM2, the Crucarta version has a longer CL tab and cutout. Which I thought was great! Looks like Spyderco took that change and added it standard to the Military 2. The Bodacious for comparison has the same size tab and cutout as the standard PM2 which is smaller.

I'm going to guess that the larger cutout was to appease those of us who argued that the Military 1 was so excellent to use with gloves, so making the access larger for the CL might accommodate that need too.

[JSumm]

My PM2s have suffered the greatest loss in pocket time. Always felt cramped behind the choil, but didn't feel right as a dedicated choil knife. Whereas the Para 3 feels pretty good as a choil grip only. The Military has always felt great in either grip. It is really fantastic. My M2 variant has been seeing more pocket time than my Bodacious which is pretty perfect in my eyes. It may be because it is serrated and I'm just really enjoying SE right now. Not sure but definitely one of my current most carried models, and I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Now has anyone noticed the larger CL tab and cutout on the Military 2? On the PM2, the Crucarta version has a longer CL tab and cutout. Which I thought was great! Looks like Spyderco took that change and added it standard to the Military 2. The Bodacious for comparison has the same size tab and cutout as the standard PM2 which is smaller.

I'm going to guess that the larger cutout was to appease those of us who argued that the Military 1 was so excellent to use with gloves, so making the access larger for the CL might accommodate that need too.

Yeah you may be right there.

[Evil D]

Anyone put a Lynch clip on one yet? Trying to decide on short or long version, which one lands closest to where the factory clip does?

[Wartstein]

I'm going to guess that the larger cutout was to appease those of us who argued that the Military 1 was so excellent to use with gloves, so making the access larger for the CL might accommodate that need too.

Now that is interesting to me... Could somebody share a direct comparison-pic of PM2 cutout vs Millie 2 cutout?

And, David: Do you feel any difference concerning ergos / comfort in hand / "hotspotty-ness" between the two cutouts? (Provided you have a PM2 at the moment and are able to compare).
(Asking cause I know that like me you are not the biggest fan of the comp.lock cutout when gripping the handle tightly in prolongued, harder use. Enlarging that cutout could make the situation both better or worse (or make no difference))

[Evil D]

I'm going to guess that the larger cutout was to appease those of us who argued that the Military 1 was so excellent to use with gloves, so making the access larger for the CL might accommodate that need too.

Now that is interesting to me... Could somebody share a direct comparison-pic of PM2 cutout vs Millie 2 cutout?

And, David: Do you feel any difference concerning ergos / comfort in hand / "hotspotty-ness" between the two cutouts? (Provided you have a PM2 at the moment and are able to compare).
(Asking cause I know that like me you are not the biggest fan of the comp.lock cutout when gripping the handle tightly in prolongued, harder use. Enlarging that cutout could make the situation both better or worse (or make no difference))

I still have two PM2's, I'll dig one out and see but I suspect the issue isn't going to be made any better by making the cutout larger.

I just ordered 2 of the compression lock "CME" buttons last night, one for my SE version and one for the 15v version that's coming soon. Hopefully they fit as well as they do on a Bodacious and then my hot spot problems will be solved.

[Burton Knut]

Anyone put a Lynch clip on one yet? Trying to decide on short or long version, which one lands closest to where the factory clip does?

I did but it made the knife sit so deep that it bottomed out in my pocket (back pocket) before the clip got seated. I also tried a milled clip but they are the wrong thickness at the fastener recesses, at least for the CruCarta with liners. Need some tweener screws to make it work.

[JSumm]

Anyone put a Lynch clip on one yet? Trying to decide on short or long version, which one lands closest to where the factory clip does?

I went MXG on this one and the Bodacious. Less clip hanging off the back of the handle.

[8th_Note]

Out of all my "Military Family" Spydercos, The Mili 2 is by far my favorite. The action is the best, and it just feels special. Even the texturing on the G10 feels better in hand.

[8th_Note]

I'm going to guess that the larger cutout was to appease those of us who argued that the Military 1 was so excellent to use with gloves, so making the access larger for the CL might accommodate that need too.

Now that is interesting to me... Could somebody share a direct comparison-pic of PM2 cutout vs Millie 2 cutout?

And, David: Do you feel any difference concerning ergos / comfort in hand / "hotspotty-ness" between the two cutouts? (Provided you have a PM2 at the moment and are able to compare).
(Asking cause I know that like me you are not the biggest fan of the comp.lock cutout when gripping the handle tightly in prolongued, harder use. Enlarging that cutout could make the situation both better or worse (or make no difference))

Its hard to get a good angle on both of them at the same time (red is PM2, black is Mili 2). The size of the cutout in the right side scale is the same on both. But the button for the lock release is longer on the Mili 2. Also, the cutout is further back on the Mili 2(There is 3/4" of flat between the cutout and the front of the flat on the PM2, there is 7/8" of flat on the Mili 2)

[kennethsime]

First new knife in a year or two and first day in the pocket! Delivered Monday but busy week + had to let the loctite set.

Feels like the best parts of the Millie and PM2 combined. I'll keep using it for the next week and report back, although I'm so late to the party I'm not sure I'll add much more to the convo.