Military 2 Discussion (Merged)

[vivi]

that's interesting how much variance there is in where the edge starts. My salt is closer to your s90v.

[D-Pete]

So I measured the tips on each one and here is what I found:
S90V - 0.029
S110V - 0.030
SPY27 - 0.033
CruWear - 0.029
15V - 0.028

So they are all very close all by margins of error.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for doing the measurements.
Indeed a bit of variation, but all close.

D-Pete

Hey D-Pete,

Just to update one more... The M2 in CPM-XHP CS exclusive measures in at 0.030. That one just arrived.

Hi Chris,

Thanks for adding another dot on the chart.
It’s an impressive M2 family you collected.

D-Pete

[vivi]

you know what's interesting?

dlc s30v military 2's have coated stop pins.

military 2 salts do not.

this will be interesting to watch over the next few months. stop pins were always one of the first things to rust on me in non salt models.

Got corrosion on my 204p millie 1's stop pin the first week, and my first run dlc pm2 with uncoated hardware rusted badly at the stop pin.

given the salt designation I'm sure they switched to a more corrosion resistant steel for it.

[Evil D]

you know what's interesting?

dlc s30v military 2's have coated stop pins.

military 2 salts do not.

this will be interesting to watch over the next few months. stop pins were always one of the first things to rust on me in non salt models.

Got corrosion on my 204p millie 1's stop pin the first week, and my first run dlc pm2 with uncoated hardware rusted badly at the stop pin.

given the salt designation I'm sure they switched to a more corrosion resistant steel for it.

I've had mine in the ocean twice this week and nothing so far. Also a Chief Salt just since I don't get to play in salt water very often. Both are still clean as new.

[Wartstein]

.. I also think the lock change between the 1 and 2 was a change to a far more popular lock design, liner lock aren't nearly as popular with Spyderco fans as the CL....

This is definitely true and I´ll always admit it, despite being more in the "linerlock-camp" myself (like in: If I have he choice, I´d go linerlock over comp.lock (given both are of the same, high production quality) but I still admire the idea and design of the comp.lock).

[Skywalker]

Had this one for about a month and a half now...no earth shattering revelations but personally I like it a lot more than the original Military. I think I may even like it more than the PM2 or Para3.

Appreciate Spyderco doing such a large run of the 15V; didn't have to scramble at all to get ahold of one. Love how the blade tapers down so nicely toward the tip.

Surprised to be saying this but 1) this is definitively the 4" Spyderco I would choose over a Benchmade 710 and 2) please don't ever make me choose between the 15V M2 and K390 Endura.

[vivi]

pretty much how I feel, except swap the endura for a police :)

[ejames13]

I went the opposite direction. Had mine for a month and liked it less with each use. Sold it off and will stick with my original Millies.

[Patrickx]

When playing around with my M2, PM2 and P3 I get the strange feeling that either the PM2 or the Para3 is obsolete in the line up for my liking

until the M2 came out i used the P3 or Endura a lot, but now with the M2 Crucarta ... the PM2s are drifting more and more into the background, I had the feeling it was always not large- or small- enough for my purpose.
Such a great knife the M2 Crucarta version is, now, usually i pick the M2 or Endura if i want a light option

[Evil D]

For me it's definitely the PM2 that's obsolete here. It's too small behind the choil for me, so if I'm stuck with using the choil as my only comfortable grip, I may as well just have a more compact model all around. I could see a Para 3 doing the kind of work that I might use a Native or Chaparral for, but I haven't bought one and likely won't. At some point it gets a bit redundant in my collection. I haven't bought a Para 2 in about 15 years excluding the M4 tantos and one got immediately traded and the other hasn't left the box yet. It's a model that definitely deserves the hype and reputation that it's earned, but the M2 fits my hand better and does all the PM2 things I'd want in a more comfortable size.

[Brock O Lee]

...I get the strange feeling that either the PM2 or the Para3 is obsolete in the line up...

The same thought crossed my mind...

[Wandering_About]

I cracked and finally got a Military 2, in 15V of course. It's a quite cool knife. I'm not sure I have a real preference initially between the original and the 2... both are larger knives than I would voluntarily carry regularly and are not legal for me to carry anyway. The Para 3 and PM2 are a couple of my most carried knives, and there's a genuine familiarity that carries right over to the Military 2 that has a bit of a disconnect for me when I use a Military 1. Just on that basis, if I were to carry a Millie, it would probably be a 2 (not to mention I prefer the compression lock to a liner lock, even one as good as the Millie's). The big blade in 15V is awesome, sometime I will probably thin the edge out to my kind of standard. Behind the edge measurement is a pretty consistent .025" or just under along the length of the blade, right in line with other Golden made knives in my experience. Lock has zero lock stick and has a detent that is strong enough for me. Blade action took a little fiddling to dial in and is not a "free dropping" blade, but I prefer a bit of resistance. It will close with a flick of the wrist, which is just right for me on a compression lock. Blade moves very smoothly when opening/closing, no grit in the action at all. Overall an outstanding knife.

A couple quick critiques: The blade is not perfectly centered. Not off by much, but not centered. Fine by me, it will encourage me to use it around the place. The other negative was that the pivot screws (both sides) were not even screwed in enough to contact the scales, they were completely loose. One side of the pivot pin was also loose. I check all my knives before use, but that's an obvious flaw for a general user who does not check over their knives so well.

All in all, I'm very happy with this one. To have the Millie (in any form) in a steel (especially a tool steel) that pushes the limits in a way so befitting of Spyderco is really something that pleases me. It's a real shame this one can't be a standard production item, it would be a flagship knife for sure.

Today's weather sucked, so for now a crappy indoor photo will have to do, compared with my 15V Para 3 that has been seeing a lot of use/carry. It's a bit fascinating to put these two side by side and see that the overall size difference really isn't that huge. Sometime I'll get out my PM2 to get a family photo.

[Chris_in_Texas]

@Wandering_About One thing to keep in mind according to Niagara Steel, with the closure of Crucible, there aren't any other steel plants that today can make 15V, so that metal will sunset for the foreseeable future, which stinks. So grab all your 15V knives now, not sure how much Spyderco has in stock of it before the well runs dry.

[8th_Note]

I cracked and finally got a Military 2, in 15V of course. It's a quite cool knife. I'm not sure I have a real preference initially between the original and the 2... both are larger knives than I would voluntarily carry regularly and are not legal for me to carry anyway. The Para 3 and PM2 are a couple of my most carried knives, and there's a genuine familiarity that carries right over to the Military 2 that has a bit of a disconnect for me when I use a Military 1. Just on that basis, if I were to carry a Millie, it would probably be a 2 (not to mention I prefer the compression lock to a liner lock, even one as good as the Millie's). The big blade in 15V is awesome, sometime I will probably thin the edge out to my kind of standard. Behind the edge measurement is a pretty consistent .025" or just under along the length of the blade, right in line with other Golden made knives in my experience. Lock has zero lock stick and has a detent that is strong enough for me. Blade action took a little fiddling to dial in and is not a "free dropping" blade, but I prefer a bit of resistance. It will close with a flick of the wrist, which is just right for me on a compression lock. Blade moves very smoothly when opening/closing, no grit in the action at all. Overall an outstanding knife.

A couple quick critiques: The blade is not perfectly centered. Not off by much, but not centered. Fine by me, it will encourage me to use it around the place. The other negative was that the pivot screws (both sides) were not even screwed in enough to contact the scales, they were completely loose. One side of the pivot pin was also loose. I check all my knives before use, but that's an obvious flaw for a general user who does not check over their knives so well.

All in all, I'm very happy with this one. To have the Millie (in any form) in a steel (especially a tool steel) that pushes the limits in a way so befitting of Spyderco is really something that pleases me. It's a real shame this one can't be a standard production item, it would be a flagship knife for sure.

Today's weather sucked, so for now a crappy indoor photo will have to do, compared with my 15V Para 3 that has been seeing a lot of use/carry. It's a bit fascinating to put these two side by side and see that the overall size difference really isn't that huge. Sometime I'll get out my PM2 to get a family photo.

I got a 15V Military 2 this week also. Bought brand new from the knivesshipfree storefront. My experience seems to be similar to yours. The blade is slightly off center (not a big deal to me). And the pivot screws were both loose. I tightened them and added a little blue LocTite. I've got the action on mine set to drop-shut, as I prefer it. All the other screws were tight.

The action is great on it. It had a tad of lock stick, but I rotated the stop pin 90 degrees and added a drop of 3in1 oil, and lock stick is gone. Lock up is rock solid, with zero blade play in any direction. The grind on the edge is perfect. And I love the texture of the G10. It seems to be a little bit grippier than any other Golden knives that I have.

I'm looking forward to carrying it and using it. I've always said that the Military 2 is a special knife (I had an S30V DLC version that was great), but this sprint is the most specialest version. It will be a sought-after classic in the near future

[Manixguy@1994]

...I get the strange feeling that either the PM2 or the Para3 is obsolete in the line up...

The same thought crossed my mind...

I think the PM2 has exhausted different variations to keep the engine running . I expect over time the M2 will go down the same path . Spyderco presently has already exhausted for the most part steels and scale colors that go with the models , so I can envision exclusives lining up at various dealers . Dan

[Brock O Lee]

...I get the strange feeling that either the PM2 or the Para3 is obsolete in the line up...

The same thought crossed my mind...

I think the PM2 has exhausted different variations to keep the engine running . I expect over time the M2 will go down the same path . Spyderco presently has already exhausted for the most part steels and scale colors that go with the models , so I can envision exclusives lining up at various dealers . Dan

I think you're right Dan... I'm already deeply invested in the PM2. I'm not going down that rabbit hole again with the M2...

[Wandering_About]

@Wandering_About One thing to keep in mind according to Niagara Steel, with the closure of Crucible, there aren't any other steel plants that today can make 15V, so that metal will sunset for the foreseeable future, which stinks. So grab all your 15V knives now, not sure how much Spyderco has in stock of it before the well runs dry.

I am aware of this and well supplied with 15V in the knives I carry regularly. To be honest though, much as I love 15V, I am really looking forward to MagnaMax. A stainless 10V/K390 is a dream steel for me.

It's a definite shame to see the end of 15V though. It's a steel with a very interesting set of properties, and I do personally think it is the most user friendly of the super high wear resistance steels, at least of the ones I've tried.

[SchoonerBum]

I've read through a bit of this thread out of idle curiosity more than anything, but it seems I've somehow acquired a Military 2 now so I ought to contribute something. :-)

I flirted with the compression lock when I first discovered Spyderco - a Caribbean PE sheepsfoot was one of my early purchases - but as a lefty I've never been able to warm up to it until now.

I bought the Mil2 Salt on a bit of a whim and to my surprise I love it. It's still not very lefty friendly for me and I'd like a bit more self-close bias but I've decided to lean into my lefty ambidexterity and start carrying a comp lock somewhere that my right hand can get to it. I don't anticipate that I'll buy a lot more of them but between my Caribbean and the Mil2 I can get some good practice in and see how well this works for me. At work I tend to keep my daily user (a PE Atlantic Salt) in my dominant hand pocket and my emergency knife (SE H2 Atlantic Salt) in either my off-hand pocket or a chest pocket of my coveralls, so this shouldn't be too much of a stretch from what I'm already doing. If there were a trainer available for the Mil2 at some point I would definitely buy one! I need all the practice I can get.

The Mil2 is the largest Spyderco that I own and I was concerned that I wouldn't like the longer handle and blade in a folder, but in practice I love it so far. This might sound like an odd comparison, but my first impression was that it was very similar to the Mora Companion that was my only non-work knife for many years. Not in form, of course, but in functionality. I feel like the Military can do everything that I used to use my Companion for, and I mean that as high praise. That old Mora did everything I needed it to for the better part of a decade before I supplemented it with anything.

I've restrained myself so far from picking up a 15V M2, mostly because it would end up just being a collector for me as I don't want to do an accidental corrosion test on one, but it is tempting. I am very pleasantly surprised that I like the M2 enough that I'm considering picking up another one. It is a really great design.

[Evil D]

I flirted with the compression lock when I first discovered Spyderco - a Caribbean PE sheepsfoot was one of my early purchases - but as a lefty I've never been able to warm up to it until now.

Have you looked into these? They were designed by a lefty. There are also many options like this on Etsy.

https://www.ocd4edc.com/products/cme

[Midnightrider]

Just go back to the liner lock in the original Military. That knife was perfect just like it was.