Gonna Try My First Microtech

Wolverine666

Wolverine666

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Dec 7, 2009
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I saw the Microtech DOC today online and I instantly fell in love. It looks superb and I'm fairly certain that I will order one this week. However , I don't know much about Microtech. Today's project for me is to learn all about Microteck Knives.

So what's the word on Microtech knives ?
Good build quality ?
Nice fit and finish ?
Decent lock mechanisms ?
 
I've been carrying and using Microtech knives for several years now. I've been quite happy with the quality and usability of their products. A few weeks ago, I picked up a DOC for EDC. I'm very pleased with this knife. It was a little stiff out of the box, but after playing with it for a while, began to operate more smoothly. The lock up is rock solid. It is a very large folder, but that's what I like to carry. I am pretty hard on my carry knives. I use them around the shop and on the farm for many things that they weren't intended, and so far, Microtech products have passed all my tests. Pull the trigger on this purchase and I think you'll be very happy that you did.
 
I personally like Microtech knives very much and think the company is good. Others may disagree and there are a few things the company has done that I do not agree with, but overall I find it to be a good company. The have great build quality from my experience with the Microtech Socom Elite (multiple ones) and the Ultratech and UTX-70. The quality is there and I find the fit and finish to be very nice as well. I will say I do not own and knives more expensive than a $300 at the time so I have not had the luxury of owning a Sebenza yet but after seeing them at the shows I can tell that they are also excellent and are in a way kind of a different level than Microtech. When I think Microtech I think tactical, the lock is strong and I find the thickness of the liner lock at least to be very pleasing. The machining is nice and well done. I like the inserts they do and the handle is contoured fairly well. The quality of materials matches the price range too. The proprietary hardware is always a nice touch and makes the knives look more attractive to me. Now I really do like their knives as you can tell, but like many of the more experienced knife guys will tell you that the knives are not perfect. The DOC if you look at any youtube review has a clip that is just terrible everyone says. I like the look of the Blackout DOC personally. One thing I like about Microtech which is true with many high end production and midtech knives is that they only do smaller runs of knives or usually make a knife for so many years. Usually they change some small thing about the model each year until they discontinue it completely.
 
I was checking out the Sebenza but it just looks so plain and almost boring. The design of the Mictotech lineup (esp the DOC) looks to be a much beefier and aggressive style. I like it.

I'd like to keep my price cap at $400 or less. And that DOC at about $300 really has my attention.
 
Just don't judge it from its action out of the box. In my (very limited) experience, microtech flippers were slow and tight at first but break in VERY well over time. My mini matrix has a smooth yet subdued feel to it that I love. The DOC's I've handled were bigger than I would ever want to carry (I don't like anything over 3.5") but if you like beefy blades I would highly recommend it.

One thing I hate about microtech though is the stupid proprietary hardware. One of the screws on my mini matrix was loose just after breaking the knife in, and it was a real pain in the butt to get it tightened. I wasn't about to spend $180 on a screwdriver.
 
bpeezer said:
Just don't judge it from its action out of the box. In my (very limited) experience, microtech flippers were slow and tight at first but break in VERY well over time. My mini matrix has a smooth yet subdued feel to it that I love. The DOC's I've handled were bigger than I would ever want to carry (I don't like anything over 3.5") but if you like beefy blades I would highly recommend it.

One thing I hate about microtech though is the stupid proprietary hardware. One of the screws on my mini matrix was loose just after breaking the knife in, and it was a real pain in the butt to get it tightened. I wasn't about to spend $180 on a screwdriver.
Click to expand...

$180 on a screwdriver ?
 
Wolverine666 said:
$180 on a screwdriver ?
Click to expand...

The proprietary bits for the screws aren't very easy to come by...

Microtech_Screwdriver.jpg
 
There's a couple people who make bits for Microtech knives out there. Last I saw was about $40 for a set of three.

I think Microtech builds an excellent knife, and they are typically well designed, and most are decent cutters with good steel. They also have a great heat treat quality and machining quality.
 
Wolverine666 said:
So this "tri-wing" bit set will fit the DOC knife?
Click to expand...

Yes, with the exception of the pivot I think, which can be adjusted with a 3/16" hex wrench actually. But in reality, you can get third party bits for about $20 each if you google them. I think quite highly of Microtech's knives; I have a Socom Delta and a Whaleshark, and both are phenomenal. They really get the action right with their bearing system, and they just exude quality. A DOC might just be my next purchase actually. Also, if you are worried about their customer service, check out my comprehensive thread explaining my experience with them (which was overwhelmingly positive).

I think the only real criticism of Microtech you will see will not be about their knives, but of their ethics. That's for each to decide on their own.
 
Misanthropia said:
Yes, with the exception of the pivot I think, which can be adjusted with a 3/16" hex wrench actually. But in reality, you can get third party bits for about $20 each if you google them. I think quite highly of Microtech's knives; I have a Socom Delta and a Whaleshark, and both are phenomenal. They really get the action right with their bearing system, and they just exude quality. A DOC might just be my next purchase actually. Also, if you are worried about their customer service, check out my comprehensive thread explaining my experience with them (which was overwhelmingly positive).

I think the only real criticism of Microtech you will see will not be about their knives, but of their ethics. That's for each to decide on their own.
Click to expand...

Sounds good. Thanks for the info.

So what about their ethics?
 
Wolverine666 said:
Sounds good. Thanks for the info.

So what about their ethics?
Click to expand...

They have a history of robbing designs from other companies. Most recently they blatantly stole the design from the ZT 0777 and called it the Microtech Matrix. Pretty sad. But it doesn't take away from the fact that they make wicked high quality knives with great original designs as well. They are also notorious for their great heat treated steels.
 
I've been wanting to try Mircotech (particularly a Socom Delta) for a while now, the main thing stopping me was the proprietary screws. To me they just seem like an inconvenience and added cost that provide no benefit to the user.

With that said I saw one listed for an excellent price and now it's en route, impressions to follow upon it's arrival.
 
I had a socom elite and I hated it. It was my 1st $200 plus knife.
The glass breaker would wiggle. I hate those Tri wing screws.
 
My experience is that microtech doesn't use locktite. That combined with their unique screws might be a problem.
 
Yep, if your morals prevent you from buying a Strider, then you best avoid the Microtech also.

I see knives as collectible tools, and don't read much into the drama. I also sleep well at night.
 
10 years ago there was a large quality gap between companies like Benchmade, Kershaw & Spyderco and Chris Reeve Knives. In that gap was Microtech & they were priced accordingly. I recently bought a Socom Delta. It's definitely a nice knife. The thing is that the "big 3" have come a long way in the past several years and CRK remains unmatched (still wins the quality awards!). I do like the knife but it is poised in a strange place. A $150 Spyderco Military is as well made as the Microtech. The Microtech is just a tad fancier (cool titanium backspacer, ect., nifty machining). The Sebenza, for example, is $137 more expensive than my MT and what that buys is VERY noticeable.

Also were gonna buy what we're gonna buy. Design and aesthetics are a huge part of that. That's why I bought the MT I currently have! I guess I just wanted to say that a Sebenza is certainly a better built product and there are several less expensive USA made knives out there that can do everything a MT can do...except please everybody!
 
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