weeping minora wrote: ↑Sat Apr 06, 2024 8:56 am
The Stretch 2 XL is a great knife, too, but I feel the Military 2 is in a class above the S2XL.
The S2XL is not a knife that you can push as hard as you can the M2, and not just because of the handle material, or construction otherwise. We can reference the FRN handled version since you brought up the direct comparison. The thinner FRN handles of the S2XL LW are (much) less comfortable if and when you're applying force in your cutting. Even with the more contoured handle, the S2XL lacks the confidence of solid grip of the M2 in these sorts of forceful cutting situations. This makes the M2 more versatile in its usage, which gives the edge to the M2. To be frank, the M2 is the only real "hard use"
pocket knife that I can actively think of, if it were pertinent for your pocket knife to withstand that sort of case useage. It stands up to its vision of design, intended use, and name.
Regardless the case usage, I'll go as far as to say that the M2 is more comfortable, more capable, and holds higher excellence of performance than any other pocket knife that I've used to date, within such a broad scope of use capability. Pocket knives just aren't hard use implements IMO, but the M2 is a shining beacon of light that offers that, if demanded out of your knife. The Military "1" stood alone amongst the tests of time for nearly three decades before the M2 was unleashed, where it currently still sits side-by-side as a peer variant. Whilst I prefer the lock and refinement of the M2, the longevity of the Military speaks volumes within a market that has shifted in favor of flickability, over usability. The Military model is the silent, quintessential Spyderco knife. It serves without demanding your recognition, and performs the thankless and underappreciated job of excellence, when those around them have gone dull, and are otherwise not up to the task.
You are definitely right that in a deliberate "hard use test" the Stretch XL LW would fail earlier than the Millie 2.
To me though mostly due to the linerless FRN handle, and then due to the a bit thinner blade and I think also a tad finer tip (the Stretch 2 original (linered FRN, strong tip shape) would "beat" the Millie imo).
That said: This would have to be a test that for the most part would have to exceed what people actually do with their folders, even in "hard use".
Beyond that, I have to disagree respectfully:
- "Millie 2 the ONLY "hard use" pocket knife you can actively think of": Sorry, but: Really?!
To me there are Spydies that are clearly more "hard use" than the Millie - Shaman? Endura sabre grind? Just two examples.
I have only experience with the Millie 1, but there are general Millie-features that do not lend themselves towards " the Millie is the ONLY" hard use knife: Especially the very fine tip, but also the rather thin blade (tapering) - again, I am talking about "crazy" hard use.
Here an Endura sabre grind (blade and tip) would blow a Millie out of the water (to be clear: In the actual cutting I do I´d definitely prefer the ffg Millie blade).
The Mille 2 has the additional con (to me) of the comp.lock: Like quite some folks have pointed out already: A comp.lock cutout often makes for a hotspot when really bearing down on the handle (not so the linerlock - in my experience at least).
Also, I do find what you call "thin, contoured FRN handles" clearly more comfortable than the blocky G10. A Stretch 2 (linered FRN, but as thin as the Stretch LW) handle "beats" a PM2 handle any day of the week in my use, as does an Endura handle "beat" a Millie handle (Millie 1, I never tried a "2", but as said: The comp.lock most likely would not make things better for me).
Don´t get me wrong, all four mentioned knives (Stretch LW, PM2, Endura, Millie) have great ergos and are amazing, but to me the contoured FRN is just superior (in several capacities).
/ My point though was anyway more like:
- Spyderco does G10 with liners extremely well, but this is something many brands can more or less.
- The "real art" and innovation (and this to me is "essential Spyderco") imo shows more in making really light, but still strong folders - like their linerless FRN models.
Just my 2c. As many times there is no "right or wrong", and concerning the topic of this thread there really can´t be. Very subjective matter!