I sold my Military 2 in CPM-15V back in August. Yes I did !
Why? Because, for me, it was an overkill design. I could never quite get that 15V edge where I wanted it with my equipment, and—more importantly—I was almost afraid to use it hard. Such a Sprint Run deserved to be kept pristine for later…
In my knife rotation, that niche of hard use folders was already well-covered by my Lil’ Temperance in K390, my Adamas in CPM-CruWear, and even my semi-serrated Tenacious in CPM-M4. The Military 2 felt like nothing more than an rare XXL Para 3, or at best a precious XL Paramilitary 2.

So I sold it to a friend, who was thrilled with the convex edge I had put on it.
And with the money, I invested in a Microjimbo in CPM-15V—nicknamed Shard.

But then I kept catching myself looking at the Military 2 Salt, which in my book might be the best “military-style” folder ever designed: light, stainless, and equipped with a Magnacut blade. Then I even drifted toward the Manix 2 XL Salt… not released yet…
Eventually, I had to admit it: I was missing the big boy that is the Military 2.

As you know, for reasons I can’t fully explain, I give names to my EDC knives. The habit probably comes from my youth, devouring Michael Moorcock’s Elric saga and Fritz Leiber’s Swords cycle.
My CruWear Military was named Gandalf (grey handle).
The CPM-M4 with jade G-10 was Ghost.
My Military 2 in 15V was Gambit—after the chess term meaning to sacrifice material for positional advantage.

Well… I sacrificed Gambit.
To invest in Gambit again.

A friend was selling his own M2 in 15V—bought after reading my reviews—because, just like me, the knife lived in a drawer and never found a place in his rotation. I immediately noticed he had put painfully a superb edge on it, better than the one I had given mine. So I bought it back. Somehow Gambit returned—sacrificed once, resurrected better.

This time, I have decided to use it hard. The blade already has patina and even some pitting. It will be a user, not a safe queen. I have reinstalled a deep-carry clip, dropped it into my pocket, and off I go.
Go figure, in those days on “Knife Angst”, I even carry it in the city—I don’t care. If I need to enter a museum, I just drop it in my bag with my keys. Again this is not a weapon, this is a tool. Always been. All those dreams of self defense with a knife are just marketing nightmares.

And as for mundane tasks being “unworthy” of such a mighty blade… I don’t care either. Cake, rose stems, cardboard with staples, plastic zips—bring it on. The geometry on that knife makes it brutally efficient.

One detail I especially love: the oversized pivot screw on the Military 2. Compared to the Bodacious or the Paramilitary 2, it gives the knife a wonderfully toolish, purposeful look.

Nano Oil is a great way to keep the action smooth.
And so far I only use leather to keep it super sharp.
So the Military 15V is back in action and will be used also as a benchmark in military tactical knives production.