military owners!!! why do you love them so?

[dbcrossfire]

I'm looking for a new spyder to add to my collection, and I'm wondering why all you like your militarys so much.

[Clay Kesting]

Where to begin. How does excellent steel, flat ground blade, superb ergonomics and advanced engineering sound <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. The large handle and choil allow for a variety of hand positions for different tasks but the knife is so light and slim that you are hardly aware that you are carrying it. The lock is the most reliable liner-lock out there and incorporates the offset arc ramp and eccentric pivot, both significant Spyderco innovatons. As I said in another post I consider the Military to be the flagship of the Spyderco fleet and was their most advanced design before the advent of the compression lock.

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

[Mike V.]

Clay

Seems like the military is a favorite. I did have one question. Like my Starmate the military does not appear to have dual metal liners. Is this a concern in a folder that large?
I'm a devoted Spyderco fan and I love my Starmate but it seems like steel or titanium liners would be a plus. My Bob Lum Tanto is of a comparable size and it has dual steel liners.
Please take no offense, just a question from a new spyderco nut.

Mike

[aero_student]

I too love my millie. It has one steel liner. It does not need to due to the inherent strength of g10. Titanium has a greater strength to weight ratio than steel but steel has a higher strength to volume ratio than ti. a few extra grams is no big deal and it has a lower volume for the necessary strenth. That is why only one steel liner is necessary. This is one fast opening knife. It even beats the ken onion whirlwind from kershaw. This is my second spydie.

[mundele]

Hmmm... Where to start...
The first time I saw a Military, I thought it was this huge hideous thing. I wondered how anyone could carry a knife so big. Well, it stuck in my head and I got the chance to handle one again and I then had to have one. My Military is my favorite knife. The handle is comfortable and G-10 is THE perfect handle material for a user knife. The flat ground blade is great for slicing and I really like the CPM 440C blade steel. Even though it is a sizeable knife, it is so thin and lightweight it just disappears in your pocket. I carry mine IWB when mtn. biking and never notice it. The only thing I dont like is that it's a little too large for me to carry to work (WAY too many sheeple at the office).

Get one and try it for yourself. You'll like it.

--Matt

[yog]

First off it just feals right.
It's as simple as that whilst at the same time incorporating all the technical things Clay said.

I think a large part of it is due to the G-10 handle. This is a BIG knife, and so it should weigh a lot, but it doesn't. It is perfectly balanced. IMHO G-10 is in a completly different league to FRN. The handle shape is also excelent. I can't imagine it was custom molded for my hand, but it does feal that way.

Go get it. You wont be disapointed.

[dbcrossfire]

well, I put in my order for one not too long ago, the serrated version. It should make a great addition to my collection, thanks for the input.

[Jeff/1911]

One thing I'll add to the excellent descriptions penned here already is that it uses a giant thumbhole, which is a delight to operate the knife with. It is really, really easy to open AND close.

As I've said before, it's a work of art. I have both the plain edge and the serrated models and I wouldn't want to be without either.

Let us know how you like your Military, once you get it. I bet you'll love it.

Cheers, Jeff/1911.

[Clay Kesting]

Mike V,

Mate, no offense taken <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>. Yours is a question which often arises on the forums as lots of people find it difficult to accept that a knife without liners can be as strong as one that has them. Knives needed steel (or titanium) liners when they were made with scales which were decorative but not necessarily particularly strong like wood, bone or mother-of-pearl. However I think that they are entirely superfluous when the scales are a material like G10 which is selected for its strength and stiffness. IIRC the nested liner is actually stronger than a full liner would be and further reduces weight. I haven't heard of anybody actually breaking a Military handle in use.

Clay

Don't worry that the world might end tomorrow, in Australia it's tomorrow already.

[Mike V.]

Thanks for all the replies.
I think a military will be next on my list of Spyderco's to acquire. I can't argue with extremely satisfied owners. The Military and the Calypso JR always seem to be the top 2 favorites amongst Spyderco owners, and I have a much loved Calypso JR already.

Mike

[Jeff/1911]

Mike V.,

Since you aready own the Calypso Jr. you simply must buy a Military. They go beautifully together.

Jeff/1911.

[sam the man..]

Got Millie?
Well, yeah! You can't go wrong with this excellent blade. Everything about this knife is just right. Feel, handling, blade geometry, ease of use, maintenance and price! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> A privilaged few in this forum are actually proud owners of the shell-inlaid forum Military... <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle> Makes them really proud to pack one as EDC! <img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle>

Sam

have spydies will travel

[gadfly]

In addition to a high quality blade and G-10 scales, the knife just feels right!

It is very light knife for its size.

The G-10 handle material is strong, but expensive. I'm guessing the only reason for the embedded steel liner, is to give the scale screws a better material to screw into.

I prefer to have a knife that is a few grams lighter. You hardly knotice this large knife in your pocket.

One way or the other, you pay for your tools!