Has to be discussed: Military or Chief?

[wrdwrght]

Ah, OK. Then back to wait-and-see.

[Wartstein]

One thing I'm really looking forward to in the Chief:
As for now, imho Spydercos best back locks are limited to small knives: Chaparral and Native.
Now certainly the Chief will feature the crazy-good Native lock, and so big-knife-guys will be able to experience this lock too... :)

/ Speaking 'bout the Native: If the Chief one day will get the lightweight treatment the Native got (linerless FRN), I foresee the next thread: "Endura or Chief, has to be discussed" I am thinking of the people who'd prefer an Endura with choil and/or withOUT thumb ramp..

[vivi]

I am looking for a discussion of their respective attributes and differences rather than which is better. Better is such an individual and vague notion that I don’t care about that. I am interested in which you may prefer and why. A contrasting conversation not a contest.

I’ve had neither but have been interested in a Military for some time. Now, I will want to compare the two.

IMO the Military is a design every Spyderco fan should try at least once.

[ferider]

One thing I'm really looking forward to in the Chief:
As for now, imho Spydercos best back locks are limited to small knives: Chaparral and Native.
Now certainly the Chief will feature the crazy-good Native lock, and so big-knife-guys will be able to experience this lock too... :)

You are forgetting Police, Chinook & Tatanka. Arguably Chinook 4 and Tatanka power locks are better than the "crazy-good" Native lock :)

[Wartstein]

One thing I'm really looking forward to in the Chief:
As for now, imho Spydercos best back locks are limited to small knives: Chaparral and Native.
Now certainly the Chief will feature the crazy-good Native lock, and so big-knife-guys will be able to experience this lock too... :)

You are forgetting Police, Chinook & Tatanka. Arguably Chinook 4 and Tatanka power locks are better than the "crazy-good" Native lock :)

Thanks!

To be honest: I've always just rashly assumed the Police would have the same lock as Stretch/ Endura/ Delica, but obviously I am wrong on this? (Never had a Police)

And I can't deny that the power lock (though I know it just in theory, never handled one) is at least an even stronger lock than a regular backlock. But I never thought of it as a genuine backlock, rather as a separate kind of lock..

"crazy-good" is not a proper English term it seems...?!

[ZMW]

i hope the lock on the police is rock solid. My best backlock, is a Pac Salt - 100% solid. Delica, Stretch, Dfly all have decent movement. But the Pac salt - legit! Maybe I got lucky. I have not used a native so I can not comment.

I think the price point of the police will be a win vs the chief. But, I definitely want to handle both.

[ferider]

Thanks!

To be honest: I've always just rashly assumed the Police would have the same lock as Stretch/ Endura/ Delica, but obviously I am wrong on this? (Never had a Police)

And I can't deny that the power lock (though I know it just in theory, never handled one) is at least an even stronger lock than a regular backlock. But I never thought of it as a genuine backlock, rather as a separate kind of lock..

"crazy-good" is not a proper English term it seems...?!

Don't get me wrong, W, Police lock is the same, compared to - say - a G10 Endura with steel backspacer. And "crazy-good" is just fine ... the only German translation I can come up with would be insulting translated back to English ("affeng**l" ? :D ) The Powerlock, for the user, feels exactly like a backlock, except there is a little less counter-pressure on your finger when you engage it. Easier to flip, too, since the front-part of the lock takes most of the torque of the blade tang.

Cheers,

Roland.

[JonLeBlanc]

IMO the Military is a design every Spyderco fan should try at least once.

I totally agree with that; the Millie is overkill for most of the tasks I have to do, but that doesn't make it unsuitable, and it's so thin, light, ergonomic, and strong that I've been carrying it when even a Ladybug would suffice lol.

[Wartstein]

Thanks!

To be honest: I've always just rashly assumed the Police would have the same lock as Stretch/ Endura/ Delica, but obviously I am wrong on this? (Never had a Police)

And I can't deny that the power lock (though I know it just in theory, never handled one) is at least an even stronger lock than a regular backlock. But I never thought of it as a genuine backlock, rather as a separate kind of lock..

"crazy-good" is not a proper English term it seems...?!

Don't get me wrong, W, Police lock is the same, compared to - say - a G10 Endura with steel backspacer. And "crazy-good" is just fine ... the only German translation I can come up with would be insulting translated back to English ("affeng**l" ? :D ) The Powerlock, for the user, feels exactly like a backlock, except there is a little less counter-pressure on your finger when you engage it. Easier to flip, too, since the front-part of the lock takes most of the torque of the blade tang.

Cheers,

Roland.

Right, better NOT translate that... :eek:

/ I am quite sure that the Native lock is differently constructed and technically improved over the Endura lock! It's really just (even) better designed and constructed, locks in unbelievably solid and has no bladeplay or lock rock at all...

[ferider]

I've cleaned different Enduras, Native 5, and my Stretch, W. The biggest difference on all of them is caused by the backspacer (nylon/G10? vs. steel). The backspacer holds the lock spring in pace, and steel is just more rigid and without any play. I have an Endura (Packawood) and Stretch (brown G10 ZDP) with steel backspacers, and the lock feels identical to my Native 5. Then again, in FRN Enduras, the lock is a little "softer" (play). Never used an FRN Stretch.

Roland.

[Wartstein]

I've cleaned different Enduras, Native 5, and my Stretch, W. The biggest difference on all of them is caused by the backspacer (nylon/G10? vs. steel). The backspacer holds the lock spring in pace, and steel is just more rigid and without any play. I have an Endura (Packawood) and Stretch (brown G10 ZDP) with steel backspacers, and the lock feels identical to my Native 5. Then again, in FRN Enduras, the lock is a little "softer" (play). Never used an FRN Stretch.

Roland.

I see!! Thanks for the insight!

[vivi]

fwiw both my Police 3 and Police 4 show a bit of vertical wiggle in the lock when I'm cutting tough materials.

I don't own a Native 5 but I've heard nothing but praise for the execution of the lock.

[Evil D]

Doesn't the Chap use an internal stop pin? Seems like a good idea for all back locks.

[vivi]

Doesn't the Chap use an internal stop pin? Seems like a good idea for all back locks.

I agree. Ever since using the Triad lock I've thought the same thing. It would eliminate vertical play.

[The Meat man]

Doesn't the Chap use an internal stop pin? Seems like a good idea for all back locks.

I agree. Ever since using the Triad lock I've thought the same thing. It would eliminate vertical play.

Man I would love that. Vertical blade play is one of my pet peeves, and even though I've learned to live with it on backlocks, it still bugs me at times.

[Wartstein]

Doesn't the Chap use an internal stop pin? Seems like a good idea for all back locks.

I agree. Ever since using the Triad lock I've thought the same thing. It would eliminate vertical play.

Man I would love that. Vertical blade play is one of my pet peeves, and even though I've learned to live with it on backlocks, it still bugs me at times.

I personally don't mind a bit of vertical play (but do mind lateral one).
Still, the lock of my Chap (and also the Native 5 lw, which I don't have anymore) feels awsome, noticeable even better than an Endura lock (which is totally fine already) and has no bladeplay at all.

Concerning the Native 5: In the "byte" where the Native 5 lw is introduced (Oct 14, see link below, third paragraph/section of the Native article), the highly refined/ highly evolved, better and stronger backlock is mentioned, but not HOW exactly they achieved that. But certainly they DID, and if the Chief has the same lock, that would definitely be a step up from an Endura lock... https://www.spyderco.com/byte/2014_10_o ... index.html

[Sumdumguy]

I have a few formidable Military sprints. Good luck to the challenger to the throne... No contest. :)

+1. And for me, "a few" is an understatement :)

Chief 100%
: : :
Compression>Backlock>Framelock>Linerlock>Feces>CBBL

Hey, why don't you tell us what you really think ? :D

I have to hold my tongue at times

[GronK]

Definitely Police 4. :)

I haven't used a Chief, so I'm not sure I could comment intelligently on the Military v. Chief question.

+1 on the Police 4. I've just recently parked the Mili for a spell of P4 carry and enjoy the slender pocket presence and slim slicy blade. With that said, the Native is my most often carried Spyderco so I'll drive up to SFO for a comparison when the Chief hits.

[SG89]

The Military is nice but I prefer tip up carry. I also prefer the slim profile aka humpless Native designs. For me, the Chief design is more appealing. Does anyone know if the chief blade stock will be thinner than the Manix2 backlock? I hope so.

[Enactive]

The Military is nice but I prefer tip up carry. I also prefer the slim profile aka humpless Native designs. For me, the Chief design is more appealing. Does anyone know if the chief blade stock will be thinner than the Manix2 backlock? I hope so.

It's specified as 3.2mm vs the 3.7 of the Shaman, and Mili, PM family and the Manix 2 BL.