Working Up the Spyderco Military...

BOOMER52 · Jan 10, 2019

TIZWIN said:
Gorgeous work, sir. Are tip-up lefty scales for a RH Millie a possibility?

Certainly... it's a simple thing to transplant the threaded insert pockets and holes to the opposite scale for a left hand carry.

xtremejc · Jan 10, 2019

BOOMER52 said:
Finished up the CAD renders of the FIVE textures that will be available for the modified Military...
Small FRAG
Large Diamond FRAG
Combat Blast
Fan Blast
Fan Burst Frag

I’m in for any one of the last 3 styles for tip up carry. Great work.

BOOMER52 · Jan 12, 2019

I have another Military coming my way... so if things go swimmingly with this next rescale I will feel confident enough to add this model to my portfolio and begin taking requests.

Here are the CAD renders of the STOCK profile textures that will be offered...
Small FRAG
Large Diamond FRAG
Combat Blast
Fan Blast
Fan Burst FRAG
Small Hex

Additionally I can offer coarse peel ply G10 in BLACK or OD Green. Many do not like the coarse peel plys as the texture can be hard on the pocket fabric. Sanding the surface eliminates the rasp quality and makes for a great looking texture. Here's an example of OD green coarse peel ply G10 on a D Allara 3...

xtremejc · Jan 12, 2019

BOOMER52 said:
I have another Military coming my way... so if things go swimmingly with this next rescale I will feel confident enough to add this model to my portfolio and begin taking requests.

Here are the CAD renders of the STOCK profile textures that will be offered...
Small FRAG
Large Diamond FRAG
Combat Blast
Fan Blast
Fan Burst FRAG
Small Hex

Additionally I can offer coarse peel ply G10 in BLACK or OD Green. Many do not like the coarse peel plys as the texture can be hard on the pocket fabric. Sanding the surface eliminates the rasp quality and makes for a great looking texture. Here's an example of OD green coarse peel ply G10 on a D Allara 3...

I would love a black fan burst frag for my soon to arrive Rex 45. With tip up right hand carry holes only if that would be possible. I would take OD as well if that’s what’s available. Amazing work.

Pharmagator · Jan 13, 2019

You have a gift!

I am a huge fan of your work in canvas micarta...

Any thoughts on Millie scales in that material?

BOOMER52 · Jan 13, 2019

I'm not a fan of Micarta generally... especially with regards to its machinability.

I run a CNC center that has a high speed spindle... 12,000 to 22,000 rpms. The bit speed operating range generates heat due to friction when machining. Micartas are very hard on tooling. Not all fibers become plasticized or fully saturated with resin during manufacture and razor sharp tooling is a must as a dull tool will exacerbate the heat/coloring situation. The friction factor increases and generates greater heat. That localized heat... where the bit and material interface has caused warping issues for me with Micartas. The heat also can cause a color change in the resin and if the heat is high enough... it can char the unsaturated fibers along a tool path.

I've tried to deal with these issues as best I can and for the most part I have several workarounds that result in a good product.

The Military scales are large... which means longer machining times and longer times will produce greater heat and a higher warping/coloration issue. For that reason I will not be offering scales in Micarta.

red mag · Jan 17, 2019

Impressive work!
So cool.

Pharmagator · Jan 17, 2019

I understand... Thanks for the reply...

JD Spydo · Jan 18, 2019

I find the theme of this thread extremely interesting. Because I feel that I've been where the author of this thread is at this time. It hasn't been all that long about ( probably about 3 years) when I was carrying mid-sized Spyders mostly for EDC purposes and for most general cutting chores that I encounter almost on a daily basis. In a big trade I very fortunately landed an C-36 Military model with M390 blade steel. I had been using a C-36 Military with XHP steel but once I got the M390 unit I immediately fell in love with the M390.

For about the past 8 years I've also carried a wide array of different, full Spyderedged models as a companion blade to go with my M390 Military. Now I truly wouldn't even consider being without two premium Spyderco models ( One SE & one PE) for my everyday EDC uses. I was at first hesitant to carry a folder with a blade as long as the C-36 Military but the more I use it the more I don't think I can do without it. You won't regret using a C-36 Military model as your main EDC. Just make sure your state, city and county were you live allows you to do so legally. I live here in Missouri and we have fairly lenient knife carry laws. I've even carried fixed blade hunting knives during deer season without any trouble at all. If you want to EDC a C-36 Military model then go for it>> you won't regret it.

Bapple · Jan 24, 2019

bump for this!

canonfan11 · Jan 24, 2019

Sent Boomer my millie for a set of coarse peel ply G10 in black. To say I'm a fan of Steve's work, is an understatement. The M4 PM2 in the avatar is his work!

bigolegator · Feb 1, 2019

I’m ready for some scale mods when you get it all squared away

Raymond3 · Feb 1, 2019

The next test Military:

SWEET! And with right side tip up, my Military will finally get some serious pocket time.

Thank you Steve!!!

5-by-5 · Feb 1, 2019

Raymond3 said:
The next test Military:

SWEET! And with right side tip up, my Military will finally get some serious pocket time.

Thank you Steve!!!

Gorgeous , tip down though.

BOOMER52 · Feb 1, 2019

The proofing of the Military machining files is still ongoing.

I have the code locked down on both the stock profile and the modified profile... however I'm dealing with some small issues regarding the installation of the threaded inserts for clip attachment. It's enough of a frustration to cause me to rethink the use of a small nested threaded plate VS three individual threaded inserts.

Using stainless plate to avoid a galvanic response has it's own set of issues when it comes to drilling and tapping. Same goes with titanium.

This is going to delay things until I can figure out the best approach for a final product.

Bapple · Feb 2, 2019

Thanks for the hard work and time spent to get it right! My Rex45 Milli is patiently waiting for a set of the modified profile scales. Looking forward to doing business with you!

PeteyTwoPointOne · Feb 2, 2019

BOOMER52 said:
I
Additionally I can offer coarse peel ply G10 in BLACK or OD Green. Many do not like the coarse peel plys as the texture can be hard on the pocket fabric. Sanding the surface eliminates the rasp quality and makes for a great looking texture. Here's an example of OD green coarse peel ply G10 on a D Allara 3...

Can you mill a set of handles for a Q-Ball like this and would you need the knife shipped to ya? Thanks

sharp_edge · Feb 2, 2019

BOOMER52 - do we need to send knives in or are you going to make batches of these Military handle scales for sale through preorders? Thanks.

BOOMER52 · Feb 2, 2019

PeteyTwoPointOne said:
Can you mill a set of handles for a Q-Ball like this and would you need the knife shipped to ya? Thanks

Sorry... I do not have CAD/CAM/G-code files to machine the Q-Ball...

BOOMER52 · Feb 2, 2019

sharp_edge said:
BOOMER52 - do we need to send knives in or are you going to make batches of these Military handle scales for sale through preorders? Thanks.

I have three Military's now under my belt and I'm thinking the best option is to have the knives sent to me for installation/conversion.

There are a couple of things with my custom scales that make customer installation potentially too challenging.

One is the requirement for a tight friction fit of the lanyard pipe. The lanyard pipe acts as an additional securing/spacer device for the heel end of the scales. The lanyard pipe ends are factory flared or swedged and without disassembling the knife myself I have no control with the care required to keep the pipe pristine. In addition... the flared ends need to be carefully filed down to the pipe diameter and no more for that tight friction fit in the new scales.

Also blade centering can be finicky and I've found the need to adjust the length on a few of the alternate hardware button head hex screws to achieve pivot freedom and centering.

I'm not at all confident that those two things IF encountered can be successfully dealt with during a customer self install. I realize there are all levels of skill sets out there... but my preference is to avoid potential installation issues and frustrated customers.