Help me pick a Military

[bobec36]

So I'm a huge fan of the pm2, and bigger knives are growing on me after exclusively carrying 3 inch knives for years. The military is obviously a grail knife for all spyderco lovers. I want to buy my first one, but I don't want another s30v knife. Currently eyeing the bento s90v, blade hq m4, and the knifeworks 204p. Every time I ask someone which one they like the most, they say they like them all, so please give me some concrete reasons why I should go one over the other. I'm a rookie in sharpening knives, but I am learning fast. Just tackled my blurple pm2 and I think I got a pretty good edge on it. Open it all steels regardless of sharpening difficulty. Thanks guys, I'm glad there are other spyderco nuts out there like me!

[Tdog]

204P exclusive at Knifeworks....while they are still available.

[MacLaren]

The Dark Green 204P. It's just one helluva knife.

[murphjd25]

Hey Bob, welcome to the forum! If i was in the field for another Military I would probably get the dark green KW 204P just from personal preference. I'm actually quite surprised there still around. You really can't go wrong with any though! I've only got the Cruwear flavor and sure do love it. The Military is such an awesome knife, it really is great. Good luck in your journey! :D

[farnorthdan]

Welcome to the forum Bob, for the longest time I thought the Military was too big for me to carry, that was about 3 years and a dozen Military's ago :D out of available flavors right now, I would go with either the M4 jade or the 204P. Although the KW's Ti S90V is pretty spectacular too. They won't be around forever, that's the worst part.

[dreadpirate]

Why not the S110V version of the Military?

[jdw]

I would go with either the M4 jade or the 204P. Although the KW's Ti S90V is pretty spectacular too. They won't be around forever, that's the worst part.

Do you prefer M4 over 52100? I think that I read that M4 is more slightly more corrosion resistant.I have been thinking about the Ti S90V too but I haven't heard much feedback about it. Specifically if it is worth the price difference between the different models? Thanks for the input.

[EmperorMA]

S110V would be my first pick. Great steel with great corrosion resistance.

Then the exclusive 204P.

Then that new S90V titanium version.

Then the Cruwear.

Then the M4.

Then the 52100.

:D

[Bodog]

The military is a great model.

Can you tell us if you have had a non-stainless knife before and did you experience any difficulties keeping it maintained? What kind of stuff do you normally find yourself cutting? Do you sometimes find yourself dropping your knife or cutting into staples or other hard things? How thin do you like to keep your edge? What grit do you normally sharpen up to?

Most of the steels used in the military line are top notch and they'll all cut but their strengths are different as are their weaknesses.

[Doc Dan]

KW 204P, without a doubt. But, I like the color of the S110V G10 better.

[bobec36]

Why not the S110V version of the Military?

Just want to try out different steels. I have 4 s30v knives currently, and i'm kind of on a journey through the steels to find which ones i like. Also the s110v only comes in blurple. I like my blurple pm2, just want to switch up the look with a different knife.

[bobec36]

The military is a great model.

Can you tell us if you have had a non-stainless knife before and did you experience any difficulties keeping it maintained? What kind of stuff do you normally find yourself cutting? Do you sometimes find yourself dropping your knife or cutting into staples or other hard things? How thin do you like to keep your edge? What grit do you normally sharpen up to?

Most of the steels used in the military line are top notch and they'll all cut but their strengths are different as are their weaknesses.

I have not had any problems with rust or corrosion on my current blades. I haven't branched out a whole lot from s30v and my one recent s110v knife, that is why i want to try different steels. I use knives for general EDC tasks.. I am a full time sheriff's deputy, and obviously carry a couple knives when on duty. Its hard to say what i will need it for, but the military i go with will definitely be carried every day on duty. Not a lot of hard use my knives unless absolutely necessary, that being said none of them are safe queens. I sharpened to 25 DPS in the past, and just recently moved to 20 DPS because of a recommendation from an experienced sharpener. Beyond that i just lightly strop with leather and green compound.

[Bdubs808]

Go ahead and buy the KW green Millie with CTS 204P. I own one, it is awesome. I also own the Cruwear, the S110V, the S90V Ti/Cf from KW, and the old school CTS XHP brown G10 Sprint. I love them all, but if you had to start with one, get the green for now while its still available.

[Johnnie1801]

204p Millie, I only carry mine at the weekends but hey other knives need pocket time too :p

[bearfacedkiller]

Of the ones currently available I would get the BHQ M4 but keep in mind it is not stainless.

My very favorite one is the Cruwear Military if you can find one.

[Bodog]

I agree with bearfacedkiller but keep in mind you have to wipe the blade down. M4 and Cruwear aren't terribly corrosive but they do need to be maintained with a little more attention than the stainless steels you're probably used to. M4 more than Cruwear. M4 is a very good all around steel with Cruwear right behind it.

204P would be really good but it's not going to bring a lot to the table that S110V doesn't bring.

You may want to switch gears and look at knives with maxamet if you want to try a class of steel that's really uncommon.

And if your department allows you may want to look at the mule team. Buy a set of scales and a good kydex sheath and as the new versions come out you can swap the scales and carry the new steels. Great little fixed blades.

[jdw]

Of the ones currently available I would get the BHQ M4 but keep in mind it is not stainless.

My very favorite one is the Cruwear Military if you can find one.

Do you prefer M4 to 52100? I have a GB1 in M4 and a Cruwear military but I don't have any experience with 52100 and I have a friend offering to sell me his for cost. Thanks, Killer.

[farnorthdan]

I would go with either the M4 jade or the 204P. Although the KW's Ti S90V is pretty spectacular too. They won't be around forever, that's the worst part.

Do you prefer M4 over 52100? I think that I read that M4 is more slightly more corrosion resistant.I have been thinking about the Ti S90V too but I haven't heard much feedback about it. Specifically if it is worth the price difference between the different models? Thanks for the input.

Actually I like the 52100 more, been carrying mine daily for a while now. I was mostly thinking what was readily available.

[Bodog]

52100 isn't really all that great of a steel unless you want a really low wear resistant version that corrodes easily. I wholly prefer M4.

[farnorthdan]

52100 isn't really all that great of a steel unless you want a really low wear resistant version that corrodes easily. I wholly prefer M4.

dont care, just something I really like about the 52100, personal preferences and all. :rolleyes: