After more than two decades of dedicated service, the Military Model has established itself as one of the most iconic and enduring folding knives ever produced. While it has seen minor design and engineering changes over the years, its form has remained basically unchanged—until now.
At the 2022 BLADE Show in Atlanta, Spyderco unveiled the second-generation Military 2. Designed by company co-founder Sal Glesser and his son Eric, it incorporates many of the proven features of the Paramilitary 2, as well as subtle ergonomic refinements. The reaction was overwhelmingly positive, earning it BLADE magazine's prestigious American-Made Knife of the Year award.
Instead of the original design's LinerLock, the Military 2 uses Spyderco's signature Compression Lock mechanism. Although seemingly similar, the Compression Lock is mechanically very different from the LinerLock and offers much greater strength. Located on the spine of the handle, it reduces the possibility of inadvertent lock release during hard use and allows the blade to be safely closed with one hand without placing fingers in the path of the edge. The Military 2 also features a precision-machined bushing for exact alignment and tensioning of the blade.
The stainless steel liners forming the foundation of the Military 2's lock are nested within its peel-ply-textured G10 scales to keep the knife slim and pocket-friendly. However, they are markedly larger than the liners of its predecessor. To reduce weight and allow easy cleaning, the liners are skeletonized and teamed with stainless steel standoffs to create an open-backed construction style. Together, these features trim the knife's weight by 0.2 ounces (6g) and give it an exceptionally lively balance. The larger liners enhance the knife's structural strength and provide a solid anchor for its four-position pocket clip. Unlike the lone carry position of the first-generation model, the pocket clip of the Military 2 is fully configurable for left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. This greatly enhances the design's versatility and allows it to be fine-tuned to fit personal carry preferences.
Ergonomically, the Military 2 features some subtle but significant changes. Its 50/50 index-finger choil is slightly larger for improved control when held in a forward, "choked-up" grip. Both the forward and rear portions of the handle have also been narrowed slightly for enhanced comfort.
On the business end, the Military 2 features a full-flat-ground blade crafted from CPM S30V stainless steel. A long-time standard, CPM S30V has proven to be extremely consistent and predictable in Spyderco's manufacturing processes. Based on their extensive in-house testing, its performance equals or exceeds that of other steels. Like its predecessor, the Military 2 will likely evolve to feature other blade steels over time; however, in its inaugural form, CPM S30V will be the standard.
The Military 2 is a proud and highly evolved successor to a legendary design. For now, it will serve alongside its predecessor, which will remain in Spyderco's product line for the foreseeable future. Like the knife that inspired it, it seems destined to become a canvas for a wide range of variations, Sprint Runs, and Exclusives highlighting the benefits of different blade steels, handle materials, and other defining features.
Specifications:
- Blade Length: 4.00" (102 mm)
- Closed Length: 5.51" (140 mm)
- Overall Length: 9.51" (242 mm)
- Cutting Edge: 3.65" (93 mm)
- Blade Thickness: 0.145" (3.7 mm)
- Blade Material: CPM-S30V Stainless Steel
- Blade Style: Clip Point
- Blade Grind: Full-Flat
- Blade Finish: Black DLC
- Blade Edge: Combo
- Handle Material: G10
- Handle Colors: Black
- Locking Mechanism: Compression Lock
- Pocket Clip: Tip-Up/Down, Right/Left Carry
- Model Number: C36GPSBK2
- Model Name: Military 2 Black
- Weight: 4.3 oz. (122 g)
- Designers: Sal and Eric Glesser
- Made in the USA
- UPC Code: 716104005284
Discover the next evolution of an icon with the Spyderco Military 2 Black, a cutting-edge blend of innovation and timeless design.