Reddit reviews Spyderco Military Model Signature USA-Made Folding Knife with 4" CPM S30V Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Black G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C36GPE
We found 5 Reddit comments about Spyderco Military Model Signature USA-Made Folding Knife with 4" CPM S30V Stainless Steel Blade and Durable Black G-10 Handle - PlainEdge - C36GPE. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
ICONIC DESIGN - Originally created to meet the demanding needs of forward-deployed military personnel, it incorporates all the best elements of Spyderco's unmistakable style while exemplifying our commitment to "Reliable High Performance"SUPERIOR BLADE STEEL - Since the steel is the spirit of the knife, CPM S30V seemed the logical choice for the blade given its reputation for long-term edge retention and rust resistance. It is available in satin finish or non-reflective DLC coating.LIGHT AND DURABLE - The Military Model is modified with a clip-point profile and a full-flat grind for balance strength and exceptional cutting performance.VERSATILE - A defining feature of the Military Model is the fully accessible 14mm Round Hole. It ensures swift, ambidextrous, one-handed opening - even while wearing gloves.DEPENDABLE - Each knife includes a nested Linerlock mechanism, textured G-10 scales, lined lanyard holes, and right-side, tip-down pocket clips that keep your knife poised and ready for immediate access.
You can still find most old Benchmades on the used market. I don't see that many of the older 800 series AFCK models kicking around (yours is a Benchmade 804 AFCK) but they do turn up. See this one (the round hole version) as an example on ebay.
FWIW, I actually greatly prefer the Benchmade 710 myself, and it's a regular production model you can buy all the time.
Alternately, if you think he loves the opening hole on the AFCK, you could just buy him a Spyderco Military.
The AFCK, 710, and Military are all very nice knives in any case, though I prefer the 710 of the bunch.
The black g10 millie is only $132 on amazon right now, for those of you who are not doing this for the potential upgrade.
https://www.amazon.com/Spyderco-Military-Handle-Plain-Knife/dp/B000N4Q3YK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483894316&sr=8-1&keywords=spyderco+military
Or pay $13 more than massdrop and be guaranteed S110v.
https://smile.amazon.com/Spyderco-Military-Model-Folding-Knife/dp/B0199VGEGE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483894471&sr=8-1&keywords=s110v+military
Back when I bought it (~2 years ago, maybe 3) they were 120 and plentiful on amazon. Clearly things have changed. The Military is bigger (still love it though) and only 143 though, link
Spyderco Military may fit your needs. Also, if you're a LEO, you can probably get your hands on an automatic knife easier than many of us if you want one. The whole Benchmade Black line is designed for LE/Military use; they're tough, made for hard use, and make reliable weapons if need be (could be out of your price range tho).
Regarding Spyderco, they're popular because they have a wide range of blades that fit any budget. Even their inexpensive knives like the Tenacious/Persistence are beloved by knife enthusiasts for their value (a quick search on here or Bladeforums will confirm this).
Not everyone loves Spyderco tho. Some people don't like the look of them. The Spidey Hole can be a devisive issue. Personally, I love them and I've been buying them since I was in high school. I'm not a huge fan of serrations, but Spyderco does serrations about as well if not better than anyone else. Just my opinion, tho. This is the knife world, which means there's plenty of people that would call me a raging idiot for liking Spyderco so much. Honestly, the best way to find out for yourself is to go to your local blade shop and handle a few. Check out your buddies' knives and ask lots of questions. There's a knife for everyone out there somewhere.
as a general rule, you overpay if you buy knives directly from their makers. Look at the MSRP on spyderco's website for example: they're all way above regular retail prices. The Spyderco Military is 259,95 on their website, but bladehq has it for 149,95, and Amazon for 147,37. Their MSRP is almost 70% above normal retail!