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Head to head

Cold Steel AD-10 vs Spyderco Military 2

Cold Steel AD-10 runs a 4″ drop point blade in CPM-S35VN; Spyderco Military 2 runs 4″ of clip point in CPM-S30V. The Spyderco Military 2 is the lighter of the two by 2.43 oz.

01234567 in
  • Cold Steel AD-10 · Drop Point
    4″ blade · 0.15″ spine · 6.8 oz · ~1.57″ tall
  • Spyderco Military 2 · Clip Point
    4″ blade · 0.145″ spine · 4.37 oz · ~1.32″ tall
Spine thickness, same scale
0.15″
0.145″
Length and spine thickness drawn to true scale from published specs. Outline traced from the maker's side-profile photo.
SpecCold SteelCold Steel AD-10Check priceSpydercoSpyderco Military 2
Blade length4″4″
Spine thickness0.15″0.145″
Overall length8.375″9.51″
Closed length4.875″5.51″
Weight6.8 oz4.37 oz
Blade shapeDrop PointClip Point
SteelCPM-S35VNCPM-S30V
GrindFlatFull Flat
LockTri-AdCompression
Handle materialG-10G-10
Country of originTaiwanUSA
Price bandPremiumPremium

Tinted rows are where these two differ.

The steel difference

CPM-S35VN

S30V with niobium swapped in for some vanadium: slightly tougher, noticeably easier to sharpen, marginally less edge retention.

CPM-S30V

The long-time American benchmark. Holds an edge far longer than 420HC and still sharpens on ordinary stones. Chippy if you pry with it.