The Kizer Militaw is the folder Kizer keeps betting on. Designer Jonathan Styles' hummingbird-inspired silhouette shows up in more lineup refreshes than almost any other Kizer model, and the family has grown into a full ecosystem: a full-size Militaw, a Mini Militaw, and even a fixed-blade Militaw. If you are choosing between the two folders — the 3.36-inch original and the 2.82-inch Mini — the good news is that both share the same design language, the same dual opening system, and the same build quality. The real differences come down to size, steel, lock type, and price.
This comparison breaks down the current Militaw lineup so you can match the right variant to the way you actually carry.
The Militaw design: hummingbird DNA in a drop point
Both the Militaw and Mini Militaw come from Jonathan Styles, and both carry the same visual identity: a drop point blade with a pronounced belly, minimalist geometric handle lines, and a silhouette inspired by a hummingbird's wing and tail tip. The front flipper and thumb hole work together as a dual opening system — you can flick it open with the flipper tab or roll it out with the thumb hole. We covered the trade-offs of both openers in our front flipper vs top flipper guide, but the short version is that the Militaw gives you the speed of a flipper plus the fidget-friendly reliability of a thumb hole.
Every variant also gets well-chamfered handle edges, which matters more than most spec sheets suggest — sharp handle corners are the fastest way to make a good knife feel cheap. For the broader history of the folding pocket knife format these knives belong to, Wikipedia's pocketknife overview is a useful background read.
Full-size Militaw: the original 3.36-inch flagship
The full-size Militaw is an 8.00-inch overall folder with a 3.36-inch blade at 0.12 inches thick. It is a true all-day knife: big enough for food prep, boxes, and general utility, still light enough at 106–113.5 g to sit unnoticed in a front pocket. Here is the baseline spec sheet:
| Spec | Militaw (V3634 / Ki3634) |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 3.36 in (85.4 mm) |
| Overall length | 8.00 in (203.2 mm) |
| Blade thickness | 0.12 in (3.0 mm) |
| Designer | Jonathan Styles |
| Opener | Front flipper + thumb hole |
| Weight | 106 – 113.5 g |
| Lock (G10 variants) | Liner lock |
| Lock (titanium variants) | Frame lock |
| Price range | $34.99 – $219 |
The full-size family splits into two price worlds. On the budget side, Kizer pairs the design with Nitro-V steel and G10 handles: the Militaw Nitro-V G10 at $41.97, an olive-and-party-steamers G10 edition at $34.99, and the Militaw Nitro-V G10 + Micarta at $69.95. Step up to 154CM and you get the G10 + PEI version at $69.95 and the G10 + Mkuruti version at $75.95, plus a White Mountain Knives exclusive with a blasted titanium handle and blue Richlite inlay at $129.
On the premium side, the titanium Militaws switch to a frame lock. The Militaw S35VN Titanium + Micarta at $159 is the one most people mean when they say "titanium Militaw," and the S45VN Titanium + Fat Carbon edition tops the full-size lineup at $219. If you are not sure why the lock changes between handle materials, our frame lock vs liner lock guide explains the strength and wear trade-offs.
Mini Militaw: the same knife, 2.82 inches of it
The Mini Militaw shrinks the design to a 2.82-inch blade in a 6.70-inch overall package — squarely in the "just under 3 inches" category that keeps a knife friendly for office and urban carry. It keeps the front flipper + thumb hole opening and the chamfered-handle build, and it ships with a pocket clip for low-profile everyday carry.
| Spec | Mini Militaw (V3634SA / Ki3634SA) |
|---|---|
| Blade length | 2.82 in (71.6 mm) |
| Overall length | 6.70 in (170.1 mm) |
| Blade thickness | 0.098 in (2.5 mm) |
| Designer | Jonathan Styles |
| Opener | Front flipper + thumb hole |
| Weight | 69.4 – 91.8 g |
| Lock (G10 variants) | Liner lock |
| Lock (titanium variants) | Frame lock |
| Nitro-V hardness | 60 – 61 HRC |
| Price range | $39.35 – $189.95 |
The budget Mini variants are the real story here: the Mini Militaw Nitro-V G10 at $39.35 is the cheapest ticket into the entire Militaw family, with a two-tone G10 edition at $55.95 and G10 + Acrylic, G10 + Mkuruti, and G10 + Micarta versions at $59.95. The Nitro-V PEI + Damascus G10 variant sits at $69.95.
The premium Mini variants move to S45VN and M390 in titanium frames: S45VN Titanium + Carbon Fiber at $165.95, Titanium + Jungle Wear at $169.95, Titanium + Zirconium at $179.95, and the flagship Mini Militaw M390 with camo carbon handle and DLC blade at $189.95.
Militaw vs Mini Militaw: side by side
| Spec | Militaw | Mini Militaw |
|---|---|---|
| Blade length | 3.36 in | 2.82 in |
| Overall length | 8.00 in | 6.70 in |
| Blade thickness | 0.12 in | 0.098 in |
| Weight | 106 – 113.5 g | 69.4 – 91.8 g |
| Steel options | Nitro-V, 154CM, S35VN, S45VN | Nitro-V, S45VN, M390 |
| Lock (G10) | Liner lock | Liner lock |
| Lock (titanium) | Frame lock | Frame lock |
| Entry price | $34.99 | $39.35 |
| Top price | $219 | $189.95 |
The most important difference is not the half-inch of blade — it is what the size unlocks. The Mini Militaw in its G10 form weighs 69–75 g, which is genuinely pocket-weightless, and it shares space with a pen in a shirt pocket. The full-size Militaw handles food prep and bigger cutting jobs without feeling like a compromise.
Lock and action: liner lock vs frame lock
Kizer runs two locks across the Militaw family. The G10 versions use a liner lock — a simple, reliable design that keeps cost down and is easy to operate one-handed. The titanium versions use a frame lock, where the lock bar is part of the handle itself; on the premium Militaws this comes with the stiffness and clean lines you expect from a titanium folder. Our frame lock vs liner lock comparison goes deeper into how each one wears over time.
Action-wise, both sizes share the same recipe: front flipper and thumb hole, with Kizer tuning the detent for a crisp flick. If you want to know what separates a good action from a great one, the flipper knife action guide is a good companion read.
Steel lineup: Nitro-V to M390
The Militaw family spans the full budget-to-premium steel range:
- Nitro-V (full-size and Mini): Kizer's workhorse nitrogen steel, found from $34.99 up to $69.95. It takes a fine edge, resists corrosion well, and sharpens easily. We compared it against 14C28N and friends in our Nitro-V steel comparison.
- 154CM (full-size only): a classic mid-range stainless with good edge retention and easy sharpening, in the G10 + PEI, G10 + Mkuruti, and WMK exclusive versions.
- S35VN (full-size and Mini): the balanced premium choice — the titanium + Micarta Militaw at $159 and the S45VN editions carry the flag on the titanium side.
- S45VN (full-size and Mini): a step up in wear resistance, in the $165.95 – $219 titanium editions.
- M390 (Mini only): the top-end steel in the family, reserved for the $189.95 camo carbon Mini.
For the metallurgy behind these steels — what the numbers actually mean for edge retention and toughness — Knife Steel Nerds remains the best technical resource around, and Kizer's own catalog pages on kizercutlery.com are the source for the current variant list.
The fixed-blade Militaw
The family also includes a fixed-blade Militaw in the 1067 series: a 3.83-inch drop point in Nitro-V with a G10 + Micarta handle at $67.95, and an S35VN version with an aluminum + Fat Carbon handle at $156.95. It shares the same hummingbird-inspired profile in a no-moving-parts format for outdoor and camp use.
Which Militaw should you buy?
- Cheapest entry to the family: Mini Militaw Nitro-V G10 at $39.35.
- Best all-day value: full-size Militaw Nitro-V G10 at $41.97 — the most knife for the money.
- Office and light carry: any Mini from $55.95 to $69.95; the G10 + Micarta at $59.95 is the pick.
- Titanium flagship: full-size Militaw S35VN at $159.
- Collector / special edition: Mini Militaw M390 camo carbon at $189.95 or the S45VN zirconium edition at $179.95.
FAQs
Is the Kizer Militaw a button lock? No. The Militaw uses a liner lock on its G10 versions and a frame lock on its titanium versions. The button lock in Kizer's lineup belongs to models like the Drop Bear.
What steel is the Kizer Militaw available in? Nitro-V, 154CM, S35VN, and S45VN on the full-size; Nitro-V, S45VN, and M390 on the Mini.
How long is the Mini Militaw blade? 2.82 inches, in a 6.70-inch overall package.
Who designed the Kizer Militaw? Jonathan Styles designed both the Militaw and the Mini Militaw.
Which is better, the Militaw or Mini Militaw? It depends on carry style: the full-size Militaw cuts better for all-day utility, while the Mini is lighter, more office-friendly, and cheaper to enter.
Bottom line
The Militaw family is one of the most complete lineups in Kizer's catalog, and the full-size vs Mini decision is really a carry decision. If you want one knife that disappears in a pocket and still opens with a satisfying flick, the Mini Militaw from $39.35 is hard to beat. If you want the full hummingbird — more blade, more presence, titanium frame lock — the full-size Militaw from $34.99 is the flagship it is made out to be.