Improvements on the Military G10 - individual views

KardinalSyn · #1

I touched upon my dissatisfaction with the liner lock and how impressed I was with the G10 Military before on other threads.

I have a Millie with G10 camo handles and I like it a lot. These are the areas where I would like to see it improved.

1. The liner lock
The locking mechanism feels a little flimsy for such a great blade/concept. I would prefer stronger/thicker liner lock with metal liners for this specific knife. Also, the liner lock finger grip area could have some kind of better grooves for grip.

2. Off centering of the blade
The pillar construction to be improved so that the blade off centering gets fixed.

3. Clip positioning
It would be great to have multiple options to place the clip.

These are just my views based on personal preference. I prefer non metallic handles on my blades an the combination of metal and G10 also does not appeal to me much. I know that most of you may not agree with my views but that's alright. Just sharing my thoughts here.

Feel free to share your ideas for improvements here as well.

chuck_roxas45 · #2

It's hard to improve on perfection.

v8r · #3

chuck_roxas45 wrote:It's hard to improve on perfection.

I agree sir. The original concept was for a large lightweight yet strong knife. It fits that criteria perfectly. Tip up would be nice, but I have gotten used to my Millie's the way they are.......if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Papa_K · #4

Make clip position options left/right tip-up/tip-down, and eliminate the left-hand version.
I'm left-handed, and want the digicam version. I can live with the right-hand oriented liner lock, but I'd want the clip on the proper side.

Onionman · #5

While I love my millie, I would love to have the option for tip up carry.

Mwalle6 · #6

Papa_K wrote: and eliminate the left-hand version.

how dare you, sir!

BAL · #7

Anyone hear any news on a date for the Military 2 to show up. Sal had said that it had
been discussed.

Joshua J. · #8

KardinalSyn wrote:I touched upon my dissatisfaction with the liner lock and how impressed I was with the G10 Military before on other threads.

I have a Millie with G10 camo handles and I like it a lot. These are the areas where I would like to see it improved.

1. The liner lock
The locking mechanism feels a little flimsy for such a great blade/concept. I would prefer stronger/thicker liner lock with metal liners for this specific knife. Also, the liner lock finger grip area could have some kind of better grooves for grip.

2. Off centering of the blade
The pillar construction to be improved so that the blade off centering gets fixed.

3. Clip positioning
It would be great to have multiple options to place the clip.

These are just my views based on personal preference. I prefer non metallic handles on my blades an the combination of metal and G10 also does not appeal to me much. I know that most of you may not agree with my views but that's alright. Just sharing my thoughts here.

Feel free to share your ideas for improvements here as well.

Clip positioning is something that a lot of people talk about, it is a well known issue and for now is something you just have to take into consideration when purchasing (will be fixed on Military 2). If your blade is off center, that's unfortunate, there are things that can be done to try and fix it but chances are it's "within tolerances" unless it's really off center, like if the blade is scraping the side of the handle.

The lock, however, is just as it should be. If you think it's weak then please be informed that your perception of reality has no affect on it. As is the lock on the Military is as strong or stronger than your average framelock (Reeve Integral Lock).

The point of this knife is to have a large blade and handle (designed strictly as a cutting tool) without a lot of weight, to add more metal than necessary just gives you a heavier knife, and I assure you that it would not be significantly stronger.
Besides that "strength" is overrated, if not insignificant compared to reliability, which is probably what most people are actually looking for in a knife.

JNewell · #9

Lots of Military 2 opinions! :)

Thread: Military 2 ???

Thread: Any solid plans for a Military 2 soon?

Thread: Military due for an upgrade?

Thread: Sal, any update on the Military 2?

defenestrate · #10

Probably covered in one of the threads JNewell posted - the Military is purpose-built and one of the most popular and enduring designs ever from Spyderco, and the lock has been thoroughly tested and is just shy of the full MBC rated locks. The next Military is in process, but I'munder the impression that it will see the debut of the in-development stop lock as well as more clip options.

Gunslinger · #11

IMO I think the finger choil should be shaped to fit a finger a little better, other then that it's perfection.

Joshua J. · #12

Gunslinger wrote:IMO I think the finger choil should be shaped to fit a finger a little better, other then that it's perfection.

Ah, but have you tried it with gloves on? Big fat finger friendliness is another one of the key design elements of the knife.

BAL · #13

Joshua J. wrote:Ah, but have you tried it with gloves on? Big fat finger friendliness is another one of the key design elements of the knife.

Exactly. The Military is great when the weather is cold and you have gloves on.
I hate fiddling around with a smaller handled knife in the winter. One of the top
negatives that I have ever heard on the Millie is the large handle, but that is one
of reasons that I like it.

CubistHamster · #14

I love my Military, though I am looking forward to seeing what improvements come with the 2. The only issue I've ever had with mine was using it in the desert in Kuwait. Somehow, I got enough fine grit or sand in the lock that it got stuck open, to the point that I had to disassemble it to get it closed. That was a one time thing, and once I got it cleaned and put back together, it was good as new. Great knife!

JNewell · #15

Joshua J. wrote:Ah, but have you tried it with gloves on? Big fat finger friendliness is another one of the key design elements of the knife.

BAL wrote:Exactly. The Military is great when the weather is cold and you have gloves on.
I hate fiddling around with a smaller handled knife in the winter. One of the top
negatives that I have ever heard on the Millie is the large handle, but that is one
of reasons that I like it.

This is a huge point in favor of the Military, IMO. :spyder:

KardinalSyn · #16

Joshua J. wrote:Clip positioning is something that a lot of people talk about, it is a well known issue and for now is something you just have to take into consideration when purchasing (will be fixed on Military 2). If your blade is off center, that's unfortunate, there are things that can be done to try and fix it but chances are it's "within tolerances" unless it's really off center, like if the blade is scraping the side of the handle.

The lock, however, is just as it should be. If you think it's weak then please be informed that your perception of reality has no affect on it. As is the lock on the Military is as strong or stronger than your average framelock (Reeve Integral Lock).

The point of this knife is to have a large blade and handle (designed strictly as a cutting tool) without a lot of weight, to add more metal than necessary just gives you a heavier knife, and I assure you that it would not be significantly stronger.
Besides that "strength" is overrated, if not insignificant compared to reliability, which is probably what most people are actually looking for in a knife.

Thanks Joshua and others for sharing your thoughts.

For me, the off centering on a blade of this type is an imperfection. There must surely be a way for this to be engineered out. I would not expect to fiddle with the screws to get rid of a "bend" or use pieces of cardboard to hold the blade in place whilst adjusting is done. Since there are many threads relating to this specific matter, it appears to be inherent to the construction. Just my thoughts on this and I know some of you may disagree with me.

I am thinking also that full liners may add stability plus eliminate the need for the backspace as in the para2. Cost would be added weight.

I am just trying to focus on the existing G10 version of the Military here. All in good spirit as well. I am happy with the blade and did purchase a PPT after buying this since I was happy with the product.

Anyway, it's up to Spyderco to proceed with CQI of a product as appropriate. Should we not share our thoughts openly, I feel that it is not being faithful towards that product.

araneae · #17

KardinalSyn wrote:Thanks Joshua and others for sharing your thoughts.

For me, the off centering on a blade of this type is an imperfection. There must surely be a way for this to be engineered out. I would not expect to fiddle with the screws to get rid of a "bend" or use pieces of cardboard to hold the blade in place whilst adjusting is done. Since there are many threads relating to this specific matter, it appears to be inherent to the construction. Just my thoughts on this and I know some of you may disagree with me.

In all honesty, blade centering is more of a neurosis, than an actual issue. If the blade is not rubbing the liners, then there is no effect on the knife. A knife with a slightly off center blade is completely safe, functional and within spec for a production knife. Its not an engineering issue, as much as a result of the final assembly.

I have several liner locks that are perfect, and several that are off- some made by Spyderco, some not. Its part of the territory with a liner lock. If you were talking a custom knife, then you can get nit-picky.

chuck_roxas45 · #18

KardinalSyn wrote:Thanks Joshua and others for sharing your thoughts.

For me, the off centering on a blade of this type is an imperfection. There must surely be a way for this to be engineered out. I would not expect to fiddle with the screws to get rid of a "bend" or use pieces of cardboard to hold the blade in place whilst adjusting is done. Since there are many threads relating to this specific matter, it appears to be inherent to the construction. Just my thoughts on this and I know some of you may disagree with me.

I am thinking also that full liners may add stability plus eliminate the need for the backspace as in the para2. Cost would be added weight.

I am just trying to focus on the existing G10 version of the Military here. All in good spirit as well. I am happy with the blade and did purchase a PPT after buying this since I was happy with the product.

Anyway, it's up to Spyderco to proceed with CQI of a product as appropriate. Should we not share our thoughts openly, I feel that it is not being faithful towards that product.

Well said Kard.

araneae · #19

Improvements that I would like are a deeper choil, clip position options and the hourglass style clip. The mili is pretty close to a perfect big folder as is.

Ankerson · #20

araneae wrote:In all honesty, blade centering is more of a neurosis, than an actual issue. If the blade is not rubbing the liners, then there is no effect on the knife. A knife with a slightly off center blade is completely safe, functional and within spec for a production knife. Its not an engineering issue, as much as a result of the final assembly.

I have several liner locks that are perfect, and several that are off- some made by Spyderco, some not. Its part of the territory with a liner lock. If you were talking a custom knife, then you can get nit-picky.

Exactly....

Some seem to forget that the price range we are talking about here is on the lower end.... ~ $145 isn't exactly on the expensive side for a production knife.

If people want perfection then they need to put out some real money and go custom or maybe get a Sebenza or Umnumzaan for production knives.

Other than that they can go back to playing with their XBOXs or PS3's and leave the knives to the grownups who use them.