Convince me to buy a Microtech Knife! Or not!

[Poez]

I have had Socom for a while a few years ago but have never used it for anything. I could not understand the handle: it felt so uncomfortable and sort of cheap. The blade was nice but it was like from a different knife.
Now I am eyeing a Whaleshark. It looks interesting and has a handle shape different to Socom: it might be worth trying.
If I buy it from one well-known US retailer it will come to Canada with the pivot screw tightened: but it should be OK for no unique tool is required for that adjustment!
So it looks like a good knife! But there are so many nice knives I want to buy: Microtech is not quite in the top of the list yet!

 

[The_Iron_Joe]

Microtech does a pretty damn good job of being right between the big 3 (Spyderco, Kershaw, Benchmade) and Midtechs in product and in price. They use the same materials as the big 3 (G10/aluminum) but have the fit and finish of CRK. I owned several MTs in their past life. Honestly it's hard to convince myself that 1 Socom @ $275 is worth almost two Spyderco Militarys @ $140/ea. ...and $125 just doesn't seem that far away to acquire say a CRK Sebenza or a Strider SnG. I can understand that someone may want to use that "spare" $125 to feed their hooker/blow habit though.

Take a look at the Hogue EX01 Aluminum handled knife (~$165). I would say this it the best comp. for someone weighing against Microtech. I have the G10 model but I believe that the Al one should be the sturdier knife.

Woah, you weren't kidding. I think I'll take a closer look at Hogue...

I have had Socom for a while a few years ago but have never used it for anything. I could not understand the handle: it felt so uncomfortable and sort of cheap. The blade was nice but it was like from a different knife.
Now I am eyeing a Whaleshark. It looks interesting and has a handle shape different to Socom: it might be worth trying.
If I buy it from one well-known US retailer it will come to Canada with the pivot screw tightened: but it should be OK for no unique tool is required for that adjustment!
So it looks like a good knife! But there are so many nice knives I want to buy: Microtech is not quite in the top of the list yet!

How did the handle feel cheap?

 

[Tony8179]

If you like to disassemble your knives, professional customer service, a warranty that you can actually rely on if you need to, and buying from a well respected knife manufacturer, then you may want to steer clear of Microtech.

MT is really all about the autos anyway. If you want a solid manual action knife then there are plenty of other manufacturers or custom makers to choose from.

 

[J85909266]

People don't like them because they stole a knife design out from under Kershaw a little while back. Most of the responses will be negative.

That said, the Socom Elite is an amazing knife. Most of their manual folders are very cool. The complaints about propriety screws are legit, though. It's annoying.

They are using a lot of really cool technology and features like ball-bearing pivot action, steel-reinforced titanium lockbars and the fit an finish is definitely a cut above "the big three" as they are called here.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

Considering the hundreds of dollars you still have to pay for the knife itself, does an extra $20 really matter that much?

I'd love to have a Microtech, if they came out with a double edged, single action, back loaded OTF approximately the same size and price as the Ultratech. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

 

[Tony8179]

People don't like them because they stole a knife design out from under Kershaw a little while back. Most of the responses will be negative.

That said, the Socom Elite is an amazing knife. Most of their manual folders are very cool. The complaints about propriety screws are legit, though. It's annoying.

They are using a lot of really cool technology and features like ball-bearing pivot action, steel-reinforced titanium lockbars and the fit an finish is definitely a cut above "the big three" as they are called here.

From what I've handled, MT does a sloppy job with their bearing pivots. Grinding sounds and feel, others do it better. To say that MT's fit and finish is a cut above Spyderco, BM, or Kershaw is purely your opinion and not fact at all. I would say that old school MT fit and finish was really good, the new stuff not so much. Even back in the day the fit and finish was sometimes shoddy.

In good conscious, I can not recommend MT products to anyone unless they are looking for an OTF. If someone is looking for an OTF, I would recommend trying to find a Vero Beach model.

Since the OP if looking to get an M/A then I would recommend something other than MT.

 

[J85909266]

From what I've handled, MT does a sloppy job with their bearing pivots. Grinding sounds and feel, others do it better. To say that MT's fit and finish is a cut above Spyderco, BM, or Kershaw is purely your opinion and not fact at all.

My Socom Elite has the best, smoothest action of any folder I've owned, even my Sebenzas. Nothing sloppy about it.

I can also state, as a fact, that my 2012 Socom Elite has better fit an finish than any of the 50+ Spyderco, Kershaw and BMs that I've owned. It's not an opinion, at all. 90% of the production folders I've bought have had flaws including unfinished plunge cuts (Spyderco is bad about this), slight blade play, off center seated blades, poor, uneven grinds, etc. Things like this are very common in entry level production knives.

I've seen none of that in my MT. It's nearly as nice as my Sebenza. I can't say if they are all this nice, but my experience is very positive.

 

[Razorsharp1986]

Hello there neighbour.
I know exactly how you feel about being locked-in to manual action folders. I live in Canada as well, and had looked at Microtech knives many times over the years.
I can second, that as far as OTFs go, Microtech is some of the best out there. However, I've had a few manual action folders by Microtech, and have found them rather disappointing for the money. Don't get me wrong, they make a good knife, but I don't really see the value there.
If you want a good knife, with great fit and finish and a tight lock-up, you should look at some Benchmade knives and Spydercos. With that being said, if you just wish to spend some money on a knife that will be smooth, well balanced and an absolute join to handle- get a CRK Sebenza or an Umnamzaan. I've been fairly sceptical until I purchased one myself. Since then I've aquired 4, and couldn't have been happier. I also find the CRKs much more consistant as far as quality goes.

Maybe I've just had a bad experience with Microtech, or maybe I just didn't exactly "feel it".

Just my 2 cents.

 

[GMAHN]

The MT SOCOM Elite is a fantastic tactical knife. The strong detent and the amazingly smooth pivot make it feel like it is assisted instead of simply a manual. The only downside of some MT knives are the proprietary screws. Some such as the newer whalesharks, SOCOM Deltas, and some of the SOCOM Elites have torx head screws. The way the SOCOM Elite is made I don't believe that it is possible to tighten the pivot too much unlike a lot of other knives so it may not even be an issue for you. Also, be aware that MT and ZT have had a bit of a spat recently and some members here will give negative responses to you simply because of that.

 

[Tony8179]

The only two people that have brought up the MT / ZT debacle are two of the guys that are supporting MT in this thread. I never mentioned it once, but did happen to bring up some other valid points and personal observations.

 

[Dr Heelhook]

People don't like them because they stole a knife design out from under Kershaw a little while back. Most of the responses will be negative.

That said, the Socom Elite is an amazing knife. Most of their manual folders are very cool. The complaints about propriety screws are legit, though. It's annoying.

They are using a lot of really cool technology and features like ball-bearing pivot action, steel-reinforced titanium lockbars and the fit an finish is definitely a cut above "the big three" as they are called here.

From what I understood, the original cause of the beef between Microtech and Kershaw/Zero Tolerance was this:

Zero Tolerance made a prototype of an OTF knife somewhat similar in appearance to the Microtech QD Scarab. Due to the conflict, the ZT knife never came in production, but Tony Marfione, as it seems, still saw it as a good enough excuse to make a knife very similar to the ZT 0777, called Matrix. Neither the ZT 0777 nor the Microtech Matrix seem to be in production anymore, so I guess this is all old news, but I still felt like telling both sides of the story. (and yes, I like beating dead horses, so what? )

 

[J85909266]

From what I understood, the original cause of the beef between Microtech and Kershaw/Zero Tolerance was this:

Zero Tolerance made a prototype of an OTF knife somewhat similar in appearance to the Microtech QD Scarab. Due to the conflict, the ZT knife never came in production, but Tony Marfione, as it seems, still saw it as a good enough excuse to make a knife very similar to the ZT 0777, called Matrix. Neither the ZT 0777 nor the Microtech Matrix seem to be in production anymore, so I guess this is all old news, but I still felt like telling both sides of the story. (and yes, I like beating dead horses, so what? )

Interesting. I never looked into MT's side of the story.

 

[Hadji Flip Me Over]

Here in PA, one can purchase an Auto knife but cannot carry it.

Yup. At least we have the option to buy them and they're not banned outright.

That said, I still find it baffling how we can legally carry guns around (infinitely more dangerous than most any knife) but knives with a little spring in them are considered too dangerous.

 

[hippi97]

I have a 2012 Socom Elite and it`s probably the best knife i have owned. Fit and finish is second to none. Very smooth with no blade play at all..

 

[ryanh121]

I love my Microtechs. I have a Socom Elite, a Whale Shark, Matrix (x2), and a Marfione Custom Whale Shark. All of them use ball bearings in the pivot. Although, some may requite a little break-in period in order to operate smoothly.

Here are two of them:

 

[lemmuhj]

I absolutely love my custom Socom Delta...the BEST fit and finish i have ever seen...incredible knife!

 

[Kyui Su Kim]

I loved the old Mircrotech knives I have gotten, but I cannot get over the price tag these new knives come at new.

My knives are from the 98/99 year group and have flawless fit and finish except for one of my auto mini socoms. The spring snapped inside and rather than send it in, I chose to dissasemble it into a button lock folder.(Picked it up for $40 from another person who may or may not have treated it very well.)

 

[jwinkeler]

I have a Socom Elite and love it, the screws may be annoying but i have not needed to take mine apart or mess with my pivot at all. the first week or so was rough getting it open as the knife "broke in" but now works flawlessly and is smoother than any of my spydercos,benchmades(even the axis locking folders),emersons, and kershaws.The Fit and Finish is amazing absolutely no blade play the handles line up perfectly with each other and after about seven months of constant use and me playing with it mine still has an edge( i have not sharpened it once) and a lock up with no blade play. I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it. Although i would try to handle which ever one you want to buy first, when it comes to handle designs people seem to either love them or hate them.
Joe