Removing delrin spacer Millie

[brj]

My standard CPM-S30V Military has an aluminum backspacer. I scratched it to see, no plastic at all.

as I have found out, somewhere in the fall of 2009, Spyderco replaced delrin with aluminum on all Millie models

[brj]

Perhaps Spyderco has moved to putting aluminum back spacers in the current production Military. My old S30V Millie dated AG (01/07) sports a delrin spacer.

you are correct; as I have found out, somewhere in the fall of 2009, Spyderco replaced delrin with aluminum on all Millie models

Is the aluminum tapped to accept the handle screws or is a push in stand off still used as with the delrin spacers?

tapped

[The Deacon]

The way I see it, the rigidity of the handle is assured by the huge amount of steel that extends inside the handle when the knife is open - on the pivot end, and by the stepped lanyard pipe - on the back of the knife, and only marginally by the backspacer... The fact that the fluted Ti model has only standoffs may also corroborate.

I cannot recommend that you remove the backspacer on your knife, but I can confirm that in my 2+ years usage I have noticed no differences determined by the lack of the backspacer on my Millies... of course YMMV :)

G-10 is considerably less rigid than titanium, and the G-10 Military has only partial liners, so there really isn't a huge amount of steel in that rather long span between the blade tang/stop pin in the front and the lanyard pipe in the back.

Which is not to say that, for the vast majority of users, stand offs would not work just as well as the partial backspacer.

[JNewell]

The way I see it, the rigidity of the handle is assured by the huge amount of steel that extends inside the handle when the knife is open - on the pivot end, and by the stepped lanyard pipe - on the back of the knife, and only marginally by the backspacer... The fact that the fluted Ti model has only standoffs may also corroborate.

I cannot recommend that you remove the backspacer on your knife, but I can confirm that in my 2+ years usage I have noticed no differences determined by the lack of the backspacer on my Millies... of course YMMV :)

I understand that that's how you see it...but I think it's important to remember how the designer of the knife sees it. :rolleyes:

[VashHash]

I think the cf millie should have come with a peel ply textured back spacer. To increase rigidity, visual appeal, and add a little grip. But mostly for aesthetic qualities. If I had time and money I would fabricate one myself. I wish the g10 models came with a g10 backspacer too. The aluminium used not is better than the delrin in my opinion though. I would love to see a standoff only millie though

[toomzz]

I think the cf millie should have come with a peel ply textured back spacer.

That is not possible. Peelply G10 and CF is, AFAIK, flat. The back of the handle, and the spacer, are curved.

[dialex]

I wouldn't worry about removing that ugly piece of plastic (or aluminium). There are many knives that use only standoffs and they are doing fine.

[type00rev]

you are correct; as I have found out, somewhere in the fall of 2009, Spyderco replaced delrin with aluminum on all Millie models


tapped

Thanks for the info.

[toomzz]

I wouldn't worry about removing that ugly piece of plastic (or aluminium). There are many knives that use only standoffs and they are doing fine.

Ergo: my orange squashed jellybean isn't that bad....

[VashHash]

Depending on what you put the cf/g10 in would depend on the overall shape. That's the beauty of such materials. They start off soft and pliable then become rigid after the epoxy cures. You can basically cast carbon fiber into any shape. They make cellos, violins and guitars out of the stuff