Micro Tech Mini-Socom....thoughts!
- Thread starter synergize
- Start date
Im not going to rag on benchmade because I sell them and use a mini reflex for daily use along with 10 other knives I carry on my person
IMOHO there is no comparison with other production knives when you talk about microtechs quality. The tolerances on their knives are also no comparison to any og the others. Oh yes, I forgot there is no comparison to the inovation or feel of microtechs either.
Hmmmmmm im begining to feel partial here
Well you get my feelings anyways. I also like paragons for the price and the ever faithful spydies.
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
Hmmmmmm im begining to feel partial here
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
I've got two black plain bladed clip point mini socoms. I've recently become reinterested in them after being in my collection for awhile. I collected benchmade autos before I bought my first mt. I haven't bought another since. I hate sounding like a cliche or a spokesperson for microtech, but I've really enjoyed the pieces they've put out. I would get a mudt before a msocom, you'll will be giving up a quarter inch in blade length.
Cordially
Ode
Cordially
Ode
being a born-again microholic, i highly recommend the mini socom. i was into MT heavily in '96/'97, then drifted into fixed blades. a new friend [and employee of MT] has renewed my interest.[talking about the skill, quality of manufacture, etc...]. if you buy ANY MT you will not be dissappointed. they are virtually without parallel in the $ range you are talking about.just my .02 .
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russ aka bladezealot. a cat almost always blinks when hit in the head with a ball-peen hammer.
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russ aka bladezealot. a cat almost always blinks when hit in the head with a ball-peen hammer.
I'm with you Mike, Benchmade is for sure a great blade, but man............you can't beat a MT! My personal preference in a small MT would be the MUDT, however, the satin finish Mini-Socom Auto is an extremely nice looking blade. You will find that Microtech is like potato chips, you just can't have only 1!
Hey, ask Russ there, I think he told me he rammed his new CT II that I sold him into a 55 gallon steel drum with no damage... Eeeek.
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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
Hey, ask Russ there, I think he told me he rammed his new CT II that I sold him into a 55 gallon steel drum with no damage... Eeeek.
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Knives & Things
Mike Payne
I would make a suggestion to perform a search on the Mini-Socoms and read what MANY people have had to say about the locking ability (or lack thereof) of the mini's. This was a pretty hot topic some months back (6-8 months ago?).
I used to have numerous Mini-Socom's and they have all been sold off, except for a Purple one that stays in a display case.
TheM/T line is a well crafted line of knives as far a tolerences and appearance is concerned, but when it comes to the lock holding in the Mini's it is very suspect.
Myself and many others have performed a "Spine Whack Test" and the Mini fails miserably. Some people have said that it will fail a bunch of times and then it will "seat in". This in my opinion is a bunch of crap. ANY knife that costs that much money had better pass a simple spine test EVERY time period.
Also remember that the "Leaf Lock" is just another type of liner lock and while some are better than others, a liner lock is not exactly the best locking device ever invented for a knife.
You are free to form your own opinions, but I felt that I should give you a glimpse of the "other side of the story".
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
I used to have numerous Mini-Socom's and they have all been sold off, except for a Purple one that stays in a display case.
TheM/T line is a well crafted line of knives as far a tolerences and appearance is concerned, but when it comes to the lock holding in the Mini's it is very suspect.
Myself and many others have performed a "Spine Whack Test" and the Mini fails miserably. Some people have said that it will fail a bunch of times and then it will "seat in". This in my opinion is a bunch of crap. ANY knife that costs that much money had better pass a simple spine test EVERY time period.
Also remember that the "Leaf Lock" is just another type of liner lock and while some are better than others, a liner lock is not exactly the best locking device ever invented for a knife.
You are free to form your own opinions, but I felt that I should give you a glimpse of the "other side of the story".
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
- Joined
- Apr 7, 1999
- Messages
- 514
I handled the mini Socom today, and I have to say it seems to be a very well made knife. Grinds on the blade and handle were perfect. But I hope you are looking for a really small knife, because when they say mini, they really mean key chain sized. At 4inches closed, it is just a tad longer than my finger, and that is way too small in my opinion.
I personally think the spline whack test is crap
respectfully
I cant think of any situation in where I will be useing a knife as a hammer . IMOHO if you use the TOOL like it was intended for CUTTING there is no way in heck that lock will fail.I have made this statement before if you have a lock that fails send me the knife and I will personally deliver it to microtech for inspection. If there is anything in anyway wrong with the lock I will have it fixed for you.
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
- Joined
- Oct 7, 1999
- Messages
- 1,749
Synergize,
My daily carry knife is a Mini-Socom and I use it everywhere. I've never been in a situation where I needed to whack the back of the blade on anything but the lock has never failed on me.
The more I use this knife the more it impresses me. I've carried and used the Benchmade Pinnacle but it is a little too large for daily carry as the people in my office would FREAK OUT if they saw me using it. The Mini-Socom is a little more subdued and easier to whip out, cut something, and put away than the Pinnacle.
Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
My daily carry knife is a Mini-Socom and I use it everywhere. I've never been in a situation where I needed to whack the back of the blade on anything but the lock has never failed on me.
The more I use this knife the more it impresses me. I've carried and used the Benchmade Pinnacle but it is a little too large for daily carry as the people in my office would FREAK OUT if they saw me using it. The Mini-Socom is a little more subdued and easier to whip out, cut something, and put away than the Pinnacle.
Brian_T
brianthornburg@home.com
Mike,
No offense taken
And I should point out that M/T is not the only culprit of test failure, it just seems to be prevalent in the Mini's.
The major point of a "spine whack test" is to find out how a knife will stand up to a stabbing/penetration move.
Picture if you will, a person holding the opened knife in a regular grip and stabbing into a body at a slight upward angle (which is how most thrusting in real world knife uses take place). When the knife goes into a body it will strike not only skin but most likely bone and cartilage. As the knife either flexes off of, or goes into the bone, it will put tremendous pressure on the lock of the knife spine in a downwards (remember that the knife is traveling upwards)and quite possibly sideways motion. This is where most liner lock type knives will fail because they just can't handle the twisting downward pressure.
Will you ever have to use your knife in a defensive mode? Hopefully not, but I will not carry a liner type of lock anymore because I am just not willing to find out at the wrong time if it will hold up. There are too many other types of locks (rolling, button,axis,etc.) that are more reliable and make more sense. And obviously, a fixed blade is the strongest, but not always the easiest to carry.
These are my opinions and you are more than welcome to differ with them or comment on them.
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
No offense taken
And I should point out that M/T is not the only culprit of test failure, it just seems to be prevalent in the Mini's.
The major point of a "spine whack test" is to find out how a knife will stand up to a stabbing/penetration move.
Picture if you will, a person holding the opened knife in a regular grip and stabbing into a body at a slight upward angle (which is how most thrusting in real world knife uses take place). When the knife goes into a body it will strike not only skin but most likely bone and cartilage. As the knife either flexes off of, or goes into the bone, it will put tremendous pressure on the lock of the knife spine in a downwards (remember that the knife is traveling upwards)and quite possibly sideways motion. This is where most liner lock type knives will fail because they just can't handle the twisting downward pressure.
Will you ever have to use your knife in a defensive mode? Hopefully not, but I will not carry a liner type of lock anymore because I am just not willing to find out at the wrong time if it will hold up. There are too many other types of locks (rolling, button,axis,etc.) that are more reliable and make more sense. And obviously, a fixed blade is the strongest, but not always the easiest to carry.
These are my opinions and you are more than welcome to differ with them or comment on them.
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
Hi jailhack ,very valid argument and point well taken
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
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Thank you , Mike Kyle.
- Joined
- Oct 11, 1998
- Messages
- 707
My take on the mini-socom is this. Very high quality compared to Benchmade. Great blade to handle ratio. Great blade but most I have seen are coated which I do not like. The handle shape is uncomfortable in use. Many claim that the locks on theirs would not pass the wack test, mine did. I sold mine mainly due to the uncomfortable handle.
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Roger Blake
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Roger Blake
being a knifemaker...I am definately prejudiced...I have one...i carry it...its super stiff to open...cant get it to loosen up for nothing...but i really like: the design...all of their knives have a great look the steel:154cm is first class blade steel...the overall concept is great...they are good knives...a bit overpriced.. but again..my opinion....they are a lot cheaper than my folders....I carry mine all the time, that should say something...despite my criticisms....
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http://www.mayoknives.com
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http://www.mayoknives.com
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2000
- Messages
- 2
Good timing!
Bought a mini socom yesterday. Wanted to step away from the BMs and i think i did. Wish I'd have known about the spine whack controversy earlier, but I haven't been lurking long enough. Please keep this thread going, as I now have active interest in it also.
Or am i too late?
Bought a mini socom yesterday. Wanted to step away from the BMs and i think i did. Wish I'd have known about the spine whack controversy earlier, but I haven't been lurking long enough. Please keep this thread going, as I now have active interest in it also.
Or am i too late?
the spine whack test is a very vague thing, if your knife fails it....i would say just flip it open with great force a few times and the problem will go away....if it doesnt, it may take a few more times...but its no big deal, the lock slipping off the ramp is not a permanent problem and can be easily remedied.
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http://www.mayoknives.com
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http://www.mayoknives.com
after rereading all the posts i think i should add this...not as a critcism...but as a bit of reality....a frequent poster to these forums that has become a good customer of mine cut his finger VERY BADLY when his msocom closed on his finger...not doing the whack test mind you, but cutting up cardboard boxes....so while the whack test is a standard here on the forums...real life is something else, and when a lock fails as above....it can have dire consequences. the aforementioned no longer owns any microtechs.
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http://www.mayoknives.com
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http://www.mayoknives.com
Brian,
The problem is with the manuals not the auto's.
Tom (and others),
As you stated that your customer had his lock fail while cutting a box and this is a LIGHT DUTY use, you can see that the Mini-Socom lock (and all liner locks), are suspect.
The "Spine Whack Test" is just a way of attempting to somewhat re-create a given force put on a lock in a given situation.
Everyone please read my little scenario from a few days ago and try to visualize (not to gross you all out, but it is fact)what occurs when you are in a life or death situation and you have to use your knife.
The last thing that you want is to have your blade enter a subject and have the given torque and pressure fold your knife. First off, you better hope that it was a incident ending strike (because you probably won't be able to pull it out), Secondly, you might get cut in the proccess, and Third, you had better hope that you think quick enough to let go and get away and your opponent doesn't strike back.
Will you ever have a life threatening situation occur? Let's hope not, but I am not willing to take the chance. I have seen MANY stab wounds and knife cuts, it is not a pretty sight. I sure wouldn't want to become the victim because of my knife lock failing.
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
The problem is with the manuals not the auto's.
Tom (and others),
As you stated that your customer had his lock fail while cutting a box and this is a LIGHT DUTY use, you can see that the Mini-Socom lock (and all liner locks), are suspect.
The "Spine Whack Test" is just a way of attempting to somewhat re-create a given force put on a lock in a given situation.
Everyone please read my little scenario from a few days ago and try to visualize (not to gross you all out, but it is fact)what occurs when you are in a life or death situation and you have to use your knife.
The last thing that you want is to have your blade enter a subject and have the given torque and pressure fold your knife. First off, you better hope that it was a incident ending strike (because you probably won't be able to pull it out), Secondly, you might get cut in the proccess, and Third, you had better hope that you think quick enough to let go and get away and your opponent doesn't strike back.
Will you ever have a life threatening situation occur? Let's hope not, but I am not willing to take the chance. I have seen MANY stab wounds and knife cuts, it is not a pretty sight. I sure wouldn't want to become the victim because of my knife lock failing.
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C.O.'s-"It takes balls to work behind the walls "
actually brian...just getting to the finish line makes you a winner in my book....If you are dragging all those toys you will probably come in dead last
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http://www.mayoknives.com
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http://www.mayoknives.com