The Spyderco Military C36 entered my life before the turn of the millennium. Back then it was a CPM-440V (S60V) wonder, remarkable for its emphasis on lightness. With Fred Perrin, we called it a “quick reaction tool.” At the time, it was a genuinely innovative design: a folder with a nested liner and powder metallurgy steel, both cutting-edge features. It was a real breakthrough in the cutlery world, and a true Sal Glesser design — high performance on a light frame, or as Sal, a racing car enthusiast, would put it: a fast, efficient chassis built for speed and reliability.
The idea was simple:  “If your son were going into the military what folding knife would you send him with?”
(“Do you think we were born in peaceful time ? Put out the lights on the Age of Reason.” Justin Sullivan.)

The very thin, pointy blade and the long handle of the Military were not understood at first. I often heard: “I can break the point!” or “I don’t like the blade-to-handle ratio!”

But Sal’s vision was deliberate. The elongated handle provided a secure grip and safe operation of the knife — even when wearing gloves in harsh conditions. And that needle-like point, when not abused as a pry bar, proved to be a reliable, precise all-terrain tool. What first looked fragile was in fact purpose-built: a cutting instrument optimized for performance, not for reassuring looks.
I remember ESEE (the RAT) founder Jeff Randall having written a review of him bringing a CPM440V Military in the Peruvian Rain Forest. It was requested by Sal Glesser asking Jeff to use it hard in the equatorial zone.
The review has been published in Tactical Knives and on Randall site before he started his knifemaking business. Eventually Jeff Randall prefer the SERE 2000 in VG10 but:
“I have zero complaints against the Military, but for the role I use a folder in, the new SERE is absolutley perfect. Actually in a tactical role, the Military is a little faster to deploy for me. I think the Military is a perfect crossover between survival and tactical, but the SERE is the perfect survival folder.”
The point is, the Military’s thin tip and liner lock were never an issue — even in the rainforest, where I pushed it hard.

Thanks to Spyderco’s CQI (Constant Quality Improvement) philosophy, the Military has been continuously refined over the decades. A titanium Reeve Integral Lock version was later released, giving a sturdier feeling but at the cost of the knife’s soul: it became heavy, losing that unique spirit of lightness and agility that made the original Millie so special. For the record, G10 is already a strong, proven material — it didn’t need titanium to inspire confidence.
Also Eric made his own hardchore liner lock folder: the Tenacious.
Spyderco will continue to promote well-made linerlocks especially those designed by Master Ed Schempp. His Bowie is a master piece.

The Military has always been a huge folder to carry casually, and even more so in the years after 9/11, when knives became heavily restricted and socially frowned upon. Yet, the C36 still managed to slip into pop culture: in Desperate Housewives, Season 2 Episode 8 (“The Sun Won’t Set”), Hector Ramos (played by Danny Trejo) nonchalantly peels an apple with a full-serrated C36 Military. A perfect Easter egg — a knife enthusiast immediately recognizes it, while most viewers just see “a big folding knife.”

It’s funny how pop culture sometimes normalizes what legislation and public opinion try to stigmatize: Trejo’s character wasn’t using it violently, but in the most domestic, innocent way possible — peeling fruit. That contrast says a lot about how the Military can be both a serious tactical tool and, at the same time, a simple everyday companion.

Then, the Market asked for a shorter version. Sal teamed up with Eric to design and produce the Paramilitary. A shorter version with a new strong lock developed for their Martial Blade Craft Line: the Compression Lock.
Then came the Paramilitary V2 or PM2 which stillis a huge success.
Then the Para3 (three inches blade) came for a more compact version and even a Lightweight version which is considered by Shawn Houston as a Compression Lock Delica.

It’s striking how pop culture can normalize what legislation and public opinion often stigmatize. After 9/11, carrying a large folder like the Military became suspect, even frowned upon. Yet in Desperate Housewives (Season 2, Episode 8: “The Sun Won’t Set”), Danny Trejo’s character Hector Ramos uses a fully serrated C36 not as a weapon, but in the most innocent domestic way imaginable — peeling an apple. That small scene perfectly captures the duality of the Military: a knife designed as a serious, high-performance tactical tool, yet just as capable of being a simple, everyday companion.

“More than 25 years after its original release, the eagerly anticipated Military 2 builds on that hard-earned reputation while incorporating several significant design improvements. Instead of a LinerLock, the Military 2’s full-flatground CPM® S30V® blade is supported by Spyderco’s signature Compression Lock® mechanism, which offers greater strength and even safer one-handed operation.” Quoting Spyderco.

To make it clear: the Military 2 is based on the Paramilitary 2 with a longer blade and handle. Is that simple ? It is a PM2 XL ! 😉

Designed in 1995, the first-generation Military (Mil1) came with a single clip option: tip-down carry. That choice wasn’t arbitrary — it was tied directly to Sal Glesser’s preferred opening method, the Spyderdrop. Pinch the hole between thumb and finger, give a flick, and let the weight of the handle swing the blade open. Faster than many switchblades, elegant, and utterly reliable. My Tenacious carries that same spirit: a knife built to be deployed quickly, smoothly, and without fuss — ready for work in an instant.
That opening style is less common today, as most users gravitate toward the “Spyderco flick” or “thumb flick.” But those techniques depend on tip-up carry — the clip has to be mounted at the rear of the handle, not near the pivot. That’s why the Military 2 was so eagerly awaited with its new configuration… yet curiously, it’s still sold tip-down!

“The stainless steel liners that form the foundation of the lock are larger, giving the knife increased structural strength and anchoring its four-position pocket clip, which is configurable for left or right-side, tip-up or tip-down carry. “
OK but comparing the weight between the C36 (128g) and the C36-2 (124g) the Military 2 is 4 grams lighter. (114 grammes on my kitchen scale !)

“The skeletonized liners are nested within peel-ply-textured G-10 scales to maintain a slim profile and complement its open-backed construction to reduce the knife’s overall weight.”

I have been waiting for a Sprint Run before to jump into the M2 wagon.
“C36GBN15V2″ ! (For the record, the first name of the Vanilla Military 2 is just C36G2, plain edge, and the new Mil 2 Salt is C36GMCBK2” and the Paramillie Salt is “C81GBKYLMC2” !…)
My two previous Millie were Gandalf with a CPM-Cruwear blade and grey handle, Ghost with a CPM-M4 blade and jade handle.
This one will bear the name of Gambit.

Now this one carries a CPM 15V blade — a state-of-the-art particle metallurgy tool steel with an extremely high vanadium content, heat treated according to Shawn Houston’s specifications. And 15V is nothing short of astonishing: its cutting ability and edge retention are absolutely breathtaking.
Even Sal himself acknowledged it on the forums:

“The flesh is weak.” That’s the very sentence that made me pull the trigger on the Military 2, right after ordering the Para 3 in CPM-15V. If you want to learn about 15V, this is the review to read: it’s an ultra-high-vanadium steel, heat treated according to Shawn Houston’s recipe — a carefully refined protocol that pushes the alloy to around 65 HRC. The result? Performance that is nothing short of otherworldly. Everyone in the community praises Shawn for his mastery of this steel.

So when the chance came to experience the Military 2 platform powered by such an extraordinary steel, heat treated with this level of care and “love,” it felt like a now or never opportunity. Especially knowing that Crucible, the producer of CPM-15V, has since been acquired.

The Military 2 stands as the new flagship of the Spyderco family, a knife signed by both father and son. And this Sprint Run is truly a gem — a piece that simply oozes quality.

The action on this Golden-made Military 2 is simply wonderful: smooth as silk. Mine has zero lock stick and the blade is perfectly centered. Despite being heavier than a PM2 or Para 3, the blade’s momentum makes opening and locking effortless and confident — and the same goes for closing. In fact, this big folder is as easy to operate as a Para 3, making it instantly ready for use and safely closed just as quickly. The flat profile of the handle helps it disappear in the pocket, meaning you can carry a versatile 4-inch blade while keeping it unobtrusive.

There has been some discussion about the choil evolution between V1 and V2. The Military 2 has a slightly more pronounced choil, but it doesn’t bother me at all. The knife falls naturally into my hand, opening with a smooth middle-finger flick, and its generous ergonomics unfold like origami. The squarish, gritty G10 handle fills the hand securely and confidently.

How does it feel under hard use? The compression lock can be a hotspot without gloves — my friend Pascal even got a blister cutting quinces with his PM2. Gloves can be a good precaution. This sort of discomfort is less of an issue with a backlock or liner lock. I’ve also swapped the pocket clip for a rear flat deep-pocket clip, which gives me better control around the pivot while keeping the knife accessible.

The G10 could use a touch of sanding for my taste, but it’s beautifully executed — and this time, I won’t touch it. The Military 2 “Gambit” is a true quick-reaction tool: you need just enough traction to put the blade in motion and maintain precise control over your cuts.

(I’ve installed titanium slabs on a PM2 before, and while it changed the feel of the knife, it didn’t enhance the reactive, instantaneous handling you get naturally with Gambit.)

One thing I’ve always loved on the Maxamet Para 3 — and now notice on the 15V family — is how the hot spots and angles on the spine are gently rounded. It makes the knife comfortable in prolonged use. Add to that the stonewashed finish of the blade, which gives the Military 2 a satisfying, tool-like aesthetic, and it feels immediately ready for work.

If you add a deep carry clip you got plenty of low profile carrying options.

Tip down carry for Spyderdrops.

A true Heir to the Military first version has always been the Tenacious.
It’s Eric’s answer to his father’s design, and what a brilliant evolution it is. The knife is a joy to Spyderdrop, and it feels incredible in hand during hard push cuts.

For the first time, the Gambit will be my Millie carried tip-up, and I can already tell it will change how I interact with the knife every day.

The clip doesn’t get in the way when I grip the knife firmly, thanks to the relatively long handle.

It also features a larger lanyard hole, similar to the Para 2, which adds versatility without compromising ergonomics.

The Gambit is designed as a worker, not a weapon — a reliable, high-performance 4-inch folder. While it’s not made for city carry, its design has always proven incredibly handy in the kitchen.

The Military 2 feels right at home in the woods, handling all chores during a hike or around the campfire — just as reliably as its father, the M1.

I’ve also noticed that the screws are now flat on this design, unlike the original Millie. (The Para 3 still has rounded screws.) I particularly love the large pivot screw on the Military 2 — bigger than many Spyderco pivots, including the Yojumbo and PM2 — giving the knife a solid, confident feel.

It is a bit longer than the excellent Native Chief.
And notice the larger pivot screw on Gambit.

The Military 2 Sprint Run is the new flagship — the culmination of decades of evolution on an already classic big folder.

A few things to keep in mind: the original Military V1 isn’t a knife to leave by the roadside. As Brock O. Lee pointed out — and I agree — the M1 still has some subtle advantages:

• The broad, curved clip melts into the hand.
• Chamfering on the handle is excellent.
• A smooth back with no compression-lock cutout hot spot.

The M2, however, is a strong evolution, built on the winning formula of the PM2. The compression lock is as strong as ever, though it can create hot spots between the thumb and index finger. Thankfully, the handle chamfering can be refined by hand, and the clip now allows for custom solutions.

This Sprint Run also introduces a steel that is extremely hard to beat in strength and edge retention. While I’m already enchanted by the PARA 3 in 15V, this “Mama Bear” folder brings massive cutting power in a light, flat, pocketable package. In terms of design and material, it’s an apex in modern cutlery.

Now the real testing begins — this review will be updated as I put it through its paces.

I don’t need a strong clip on such a long knife as it will rest gently in the pocket. Also a strong clip can ruin my pocket by shredding it.
This copycat of Lynch is just perfect in term of retention.

Now I need to convex the edge a little. The blade cannot go through the plastic bottle’s butt.

it could not reach the middle of the butt where the plastic is at its thickest… when the convexed Para3 or the Zero Ground Nilakka went through it.

Geometry wise nothing can beat the Nilakka.

Diamonds are a Bear’s best friends! You can see the line where I carefully pass the diamonds to slowly convex the edge. But CPM-15V, in my experience and with my tools, demands patience and tenacity.

To be updated and continued!

There will be blood ! Now it is christen.
That blade is a hair popping sharp razor right out of the box.

After deshouldering the edge, the geometry has improved dramatically — we’re really getting somewhere. On this long blade, the first third is incredibly precise, almost like carrying a scalpel from a smaller knife. With the Military 2, you truly have a highly versatile tool in your pocket.

I’ve loved the Military V1 for almost 30 years — it has long been one of my favorite workhorse folders. The CPM-15V blade, heat treated following Shawn Houston’s recipe, is just the icing on the bear. This Military 2 may well be the ultimate expression of the entire BBB 15V line.

Personally, I see this model as the pinnacle of an era: the most emblematic Spyderco design, paired with state-of-the-art heat-treated steel (Shawn wasn’t alone — big-name beta testers were involved), a proven geometry, and an incredibly versatile blade shape.

In short, I couldn’t miss it — especially since it’s a Sprint Run and, with the end of Crucible, everything about it feels historic.

So, “Gambit”, aka “C36GBN15V2” is really the “Mother Of All Bears” !