Does microtech have heat treat problems?

15mtyler

15mtyler

Joined
Mar 9, 2014
Messages
372
Been hearing in a few places about microtechs hit or miss HT. Specifically speaking about their m390/204p, has anyone had a similar problem?
 
I have several MT's with M390 and no issues. MT is a very good company in my experience. I would like to know how anyone has determined this supposed HT issue; do they have a hardness tester? Sounds like hyped up BS to me.

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vjb.knife said:
I have several MT's with M390 and no issues. MT is a very good company in my experience. I would like to know how anyone has determined this supposed HT issue; do they have a hardness tester? Sounds like hyped up BS to me.

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I agree, somthing on a Facebook buy sell trade group i follow. Someone asking about opinions on 204p and a few people seemed to have had their feelings hurt with it. I have a microtech Socom alpha mini plain and signature series and love them both.
 
15mtyler said:
Been hearing in a few places about microtechs hit or miss HT. Specifically speaking about their m390/204p, has anyone had a similar problem?
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Haters gon hate. I run an M390 Stitch, and UTs in 204P and Elmax, and was previously using a 204P socom elite. IMO, MT’s HT recipe for the alloys you mention are among the industry’s best for those specific alloys. I especially love MT’s Elmax relative to most others’. Don’t let that chatter stop you from buying what you want :)
 
No issues in my case, and I own several Microtech knives. On the contrary, I like them very much.
 
I have heard people complain that their m390 specifically is soft, but personally through use I have found it to be more than acceptable. Unless I find a staple in a box. But thats my own fault. We do have a hardness tester at work. Maybe I should poke my m390 ultratech sometime...
 
RealVendetta said:
I have heard people complain that their m390 specifically is soft, but personally through use I have found it to be more than acceptable. Unless I find a staple in a box. But thats my own fault. We do have a hardness tester at work. Maybe I should poke my m390 ultratech sometime...
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The only soft m390 I've heard about with proof is lionsteel. People complain a lot about m390 which is odd, but I wonder how many actually use the steel. I have a bradford g3 sheeps foot and its stupid sharp and holds a great edge.
 
15mtyler said:
By lionsteel or verified by a third party?
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use the search function, it’s been discussed on here.

I have owned a Shuffler in M390 for probably 2 years now, used it daily for 6 months, and nothing about that knife underperformed.
 
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Danke42 said:
Why not just ask the guy who did the tests and then had to recant and apologize.

Of course him and the rest of his little group don't log in here anymore so you'll have to go to YouTube or Facebook or wherever he is now.
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Who would this be?
 
I'd put them in line with ZT, Spyderco and Benchmade. No better or worse in my mileage.
 
I have not been impressed with my Socom Elites in M390, but YMMV. The scant amount of documented cut testing I've seen (not hardness testing, which by itself won't tell you if a knife performs well or not) did not indicate that their M390 is anything better than typical production M390, which is to say it worked fine but could certainly be done better.
 
My Microtech cp204p and m390 is excellent. Microtech has always been known for premium materials, that's why knockoffs of MT never last the long haul like MTs do.
 
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