Spyderco Military

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SnakeEater

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Just a quick comment or two. I'm somewhat of a knife noob. I own a few Kershaws but my EDC has been a SOG Autoclip, BG-42 steel, it has served me well for the last few years. It's being put on reserve duty.

Today I bought a Spyderco Native from Walmart. S30V steel at $40 is too hard to pass up. Great knife, and my first Spyderco. Ungodly sharp. I've decided I like it so much I'm gonna order the Military model next.

Any Military owners care to comment? It's a little pricier and I'd like to make sure it's worth it.
 
Pros - Very slim, making it comfortable to carry in my preferred right-front waistband. Very fast to draw and deploy from the same position. The wide, flat-ground blade is an efficent cutter.

Cons - Weak lock. Rapping the spine of the knife on a hard surface will disengage the liner lock. Generally flimsy construction - the screws holding the pocket clip will quickly strip out the threads in the scales, and the blade will eventually fail to lock up tightly. Not sure if this is caused by wear on the liner spring or the pivot hole.

Overall - there are better choices for the same or less money.

- Chris
 
Good to know about the lock. So where do I look for a 4" blade, top shelf steel, and a hell and back locking mechanism? Oh, and keep the price less than $150. Can it be done?
 
Spyderco Military Rocks!

I've owned a Military since they were first made with the 440V-series powdered metal blades many years ago. Awesome large knife with a light carry weight. Everyone's hands are different, but for me is remains one of my favorite carry knives.

In fact, it was only 1 1/2 years ago that I found anything I liked as much, and that was a full size Benchmade Skirmish.
 
My rule of thumb is this: Below $100 Spydies are hard to beat. Above $100 get Benchmades, Microtechs, etc. Top end Spydies aren't as strong as BMs or as elegant as most any other high end factory folders.
 
Hard to believe that a Manix, for instance, isn't as strong as any Benchmade...?
 
The Benchmade Axis folders are the most solid folders I've owned, but since I've only owned BMs, Spydercos (no really high $ stuff), take that with a grain of salt. The Griptillians are fairly inexpensive if you are okay with the plastic scales...they tend to wear out my pockets quickly.

I have a 3.5" Griptilian and also a Benchmade 720 that I love. Picked it up for just $80 about 6 years ago. Seems prices have almost doulbed since then.

LG
 
I am surprised to see no comments on the Emerson knives thus far. I think highly of them...but I will grant they are pricey.
 
I know it's not for everyone, but when I hear people talking about the $100-150 range, I don't understand why I never hear the Camillus CUDA Maxx mentioned. I love the thing. Great steel, great carry, great ergonomics, giant knife but discreet carry, fast, smooth, effortless opener, excellent lock (frame lock cut into the titanium scales that make up the grip.) The finishing is not absolutely perfect in one or two places, but for function--the only problem I can imagine is if you actually want a smaller knife.
 
Nothing will carry quite like the military due to the slim design and light weight. But as posted above, the benchmade skirmish is rock solid at that size and price. The griptilians are great, but are much wider, which I find less comfortable to IWB carry.
 
JShirley's comment re the Spyderco Manix is a good one.

The Manix, and the slightly smaller Mini-Manix, are probably the finest/toughest folding knives Spyderco makes. I own several nifty Benchmades, but the Mini-Manix has become my favorite. The Manix models are actually more ergonomic (under stress) than the classic BM 710... and they also have arguably better steel.

BM's "Axis" lock is excellent, but I seriously doubt they're better/more secure than the Manixs' lock-up-like-a-bank-vault system. The Spydie Military's a dandy, but its weaker lock is definitely its achilles.

Don't take my word, though. Just read the numerous threads on BladeForum.com where Manix owners (who tend to also own many other knives) sing its praises.

Beyond that, a major knife dealer who sets up at many big Fun shows told me that the Manixes, espec. the Mini-Manix, fly off his tables -- despite their hefty ($110-125 when discounted!) price.
 
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