HTM knives out of business?

B

Bechbum2588

Joined
Oct 27, 2018
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HTM Knives out of business? I spoke to Mike Manrose a few times about a new knife and nothing came to a new knife. I heard they were going out of businesse.He emailed me back and said no way. Just went to there site and is no longer there . Any body got some news? I really like their knives.
 
I looked at them a few years ago, when Darrel Ralph was involved with them.
Then people started having some quality issues, and there was a falling out. Things kind of went to hell, and I don't think HTM has ever really recovered.
I haven't really been interested in taking a chance on them. Kinda thought they just imploded.
 
I fondled a lot at a Darrell Ralph/HTM table a couple of yeara ago. Never felt impressive enough to spend the money on one.
 
I looked at a bunch at Texas Knifemaker's Supply a few years back. Meh, meh, meh. Bad lockups, blades way off center, cheap feel in general. They were charging big money for these too.
 
I picked one up for ~$50 a few years ago, because I liked the blade shape. It's the Lightfoot Bullwhip. A/O is decent, and their mechanism seems as though it *might* be more fatigue resistant than the regular torsion bar. Flipper tab is sharp and pointy. Frame relies on raised shelves, instead of bushings, supporting the blade. Fasteners and tapping on my specimen were excellent, but I'd want stainless threaded inserts, if I'd paid new-money for it.

I'd pass, unless you find a really good deal. This will probably be a gift, in the not too distant future, or headed back to the 'bay.
 
Rob72 said:
I picked one up for ~$50 a few years ago, because I liked the blade shape. It's the Lightfoot Bullwhip. A/O is decent, and their mechanism seems as though it *might* be more fatigue resistant than the regular torsion bar. Flipper tab is sharp and pointy. Frame relies on raised shelves, instead of bushings, supporting the blade. Fasteners and tapping on my specimen were excellent, but I'd want stainless threaded inserts, if I'd paid new-money for it.

I'd pass, unless you find a really good deal. This will probably be a gift, in the not too distant future, or headed back to the 'bay.
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It's funny you said that. I bought a Gun Hammer for $50 on eBay.lol. I think I am going to pick up ZT 562 CF .
 
This is a case study in how to blow a good thing.

HTM was very highly anticipated mainly due to their Gunhammer model coming out right when the Titanium Framelock fad was just picking up serious steam. Unfortunately the knives they released had every problem imaginable, lockslip, lockrock, lockstick, side to side and up and down play, poor centring on a huge number of knives. Even the Manual Action Bullwhip I bought had bad lockslip.

They quickly lost all the hype they had built, an ammount of hype any new knife company or maker would have killed for.

Now hardly anyone mentions them.
 
Lapedog said:
This is a case study in how to blow a good thing.

HTM was very highly anticipated mainly due to their Gunhammer model coming out right when the Titanium Framelock fad was just picking up serious steam. Unfortunately the knives they released had every problem imaginable, lockslip, lockrock, lockstick, side to side and up and down play, poor centring on a huge number of knives. Even the Manual Action Bullwhip I bought had bad lockslip.

They quickly lost all the hype they had built, an ammount of hype any new knife company or maker would have killed for.

Now hardly anyone mentions them.
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Yeah.They had a money printing machine.This day and age people would kill to have a company name,known so fast.I wish I had the money to buy the company and patient rights.I could turn it around with a lot of work.
 
I just ordered a HTM Madd Max 4 from a reputable sports company. $97. It's been on back order for 3 weeks+. Maybe it's time to cancel the order.
 
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They also advertised quite heavily on the back covers of Blade and Knives Illustrated a few years ago too.

That had to be expensive.
 
Who's htm? Honestly wouldn't know if they went out or not.

Someone mentioned they did a collab with ddr? Thats probably why. Ddr is a pretty bad and shady manufacturer.
 
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Darrel really got screwed on that deal. Sure, he got paid for the license of the design but he had no say in the production end. They made him a front man and the rest was history.
 
what I liked was darrels designs, what I didnt like was the pricing and hit and miss in quality. I have an auto from them that I got on a sale years ago. its not bad and works fine. fit and finish is pretty good. guess I got lucky on mine.
 
I only have one HTM - the 2012 forum knife (green handled, s90v gunhammer). The story I got was that it initially had many issues & was made right by DDR.
From what I read of that process, and the problems associated with the knives, I've never been tempted to try another.
 
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