This elite expression of the Military 2 showcases a full-flat-ground blade crafted from CPM-Magnacut. This state-of-the-art particle metallurgy steel offers an exceptional balance of edge retention, toughness, and superlative corrosion resistance. Cloaked in a non-reflective Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating, the PlainEdge blade is housed in a handle featuring peel-ply-textured black G10 scales machined with the signature Caribbean Bi-Directional Texture pattern of Spyderco’s US-made Salt Series knives. The interior of the scales is also machined to accept the knife’s nested, skeletonized stainless steel liners, which form the foundation of its high-strength Compression Lock mechanism. To complement its blade steel and finish, this Military 2’s liners, four-position pocket clip, and all other hardware are crafted from ultra-corrosion-resistant, marine-grade materials and have profile black coatings.
Getting Salty
CPM-MagnaCut steel is one of the hottest blade materials in the knife world. Although Spyderco explored its history and remarkable qualities at length in previous editions of the byte, in case you missed them, here's a quick overview: MagnaCut was conceived by Larrin Thomas, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and son of renowned Damascus steel maker Devin Thomas. Developed specifically for use in the cutlery industry, its finely balanced alloy composition challenges the logic of conventional stainless steel chemistry by reducing the amount of chromium in the steel to a precise range. At the same time, the addition of vanadium and niobium promotes the formation of carbides that achieve a superior balance of wear resistance and toughness. This prevents the formation of chromium carbides and leaves the steel's chromium “in solution” to provide exceptional corrosion resistance. The result is a material that offers an incredible fusion of all the most desirable properties of a blade steel.
Although MagnaCut's impressive corrosion resistance does not quite match that of Spyderco's other ultra-corrosion-resistant steels—LC200N and H-2—based on their rigorous in-house testing, they determined it was worthy of inclusion in their Salt Series. In the process, they also launched the current knife-industry trend to showcase MagnaCut in knives specifically designed for use in and around the water.
Logically, featuring this remarkable steel in the best-selling Military 2 platform was a no brainer. However, making the resulting knife a true member of the Salt family involved a lot more than just crafting MagnaCut blades and installing them into Military 2 handles. Spyderco also had to prevent the phenomenon of galvanic corrosion - corrosion caused by the interaction of dissimilar metals when a conductive solution electrically connects them. That involved extensive research and development to choose and properly process the materials used in all the knife's other metal components.
To visually distinguish the Military 2 Salt from its brethren and enhance its grip texture for use in wet environments, we also wanted the knife's handle to be distinctive. Borrowing from other highly successful Salt models—the Caribbean Salts—Spyderco designed a CNC-machined pattern called the "Caribbean Bi-Directional Texture" pattern. Starting with medium-textured peel-ply G10, they machine a series of arced grooves emanating from the center of the handle. A raised ridge down the middle of the handle's length adds sophistication to the pattern and creates a "pad" for the pocket clip's contact point to ensure a smooth draw regardless of carry position. The result is a visually stunning pattern that offers enhanced traction and grip security in even the most demanding environmental conditions.
The first version of the Military 2 Salt to be released is an all-black expression of the design ideal for tactical applications where light discipline is a requirement. Its full-flat-ground MagnaCut blade features a stealthy black Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC) coating and a PlainEdge configuration. The handle's metal components are crafted from highly corrosion-resistant materials chosen to be compatible with one another and, with the exception of the stop pin, feature black coatings to complement the blade's DLC finish. All the knife's other features are consistent with the proven Military 2 platform, including nested stainless steel liners, a high-strength Compression Lock mechanism, a generously sized lined lanyard hole, a versatile four-position pocket clip, and a fully accessible Trademark Round Hole in the blade for swift, positive opening with either hand.
"Ultimate" is indeed a strong word, but when you combine the incredible reputation of the revered Military 2 with the remarkable qualities of MagnaCut and an enhanced grip texture, it fits—at least until we raise the bar even higher.
Spyderco Knives, Spyderco Military Folding Knife Series, MagnaCut Blade Steel, G10 Handle Material, Folding Knives, Folding Knives Compression, Made in USA, Sal Glesser, Eric Glesser
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