Microtech/Benchmade rummors?

B

bali-flip

Joined
Aug 30, 2008
Messages
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So I've been out of the knife scene for a while, I moved onto guns although I'm still a big knife fan. Autos & Balisongs. However recently when I started getting back in the hobby and wanted to order some MT's the main dealer I used to go to stopped selling them. His reason was that their latest shipment was largely deffective and he was no longer purchasing D/A autos from them until this "issue" was fixed. Their's also a lot of threads about Microtechs bad customer service, sertain knives like UTX70's breaking a lot. Generally a lot more complaints against MT then I remember. Another forum I used to go to which was Microholics now has a policy against bashing MT and Another Marfione.


I've been in the dark for a while and I'd like to know what, if anything happened/changed in regards to the company. And if anybody has any news on Bencmade. I see they aren't selling their Red class anymore and don't have Benchmite products either. From what I've read they were getting knives made in China along with parts and Benchmade has been under investigation from ICE for illegal importation along with hiring illegal aliens.

Can anybody confirm these storys or shed some light on the situation with MT. This thread wasn't made to cause any defemation to either company I just want to know what's been going on these past 4 years, b/c thats how long I've been out of the scene.
 
For Microtech, take a look into some of the threads about their ZT and Strider knockoffs. Lately they've been copying designs and selling them as their own. I didn't know about Benchmade having trouble with the ICE...
 
Tsujigiri said:
For Microtech, take a look into some of the threads about their ZT and Strider knockoffs. Lately they've been copying designs and selling them as their own. I didn't know about Benchmade having trouble with the ICE...
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Makes ya wonder why a company as well known as Microtech would be doing this public tailspin of evill things. Then on 2nd thought, we're in a knife community, the masses probably never hear a word of of these shenanigans. :rolleyes:
 
cziv said:
Makes ya wonder why a company as well known as Microtech would be doing this public tailspin of evill things. Then on 2nd thought, we're in a knife community, the masses probably never hear a word of of these shenanigans. :rolleyes:
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As long as they're still on 24, someone will buy them....
 
A couple of the Benchmade Red Class knives are now sold under other labels. The Benchmite is under the Harley Davidson label and is now the Levitator. The Monochrome and Instigator are under the HK line.
 
Tsujigiri said:
As long as they're still on 24, someone will buy them....
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Heh, that's actually what got me interested in knives and how i stumbled onto bladeforums. In season 1 Jack says, "What kind of businessman carries a Microtech Halo." It was such obvious product placement.
 
I'll tell you what I know about Benchmade and Microtech. I bought a Mini-reflex from Benchmade in the 1990s. It worked fine, and I used it on Patrol for many years. Later, Benchmade made me an offer: I could trade it in for one with the "safety". They also offered to let me trade it in for a higher priced knife with a safety, if I paid the difference in suggested retail. I traded in the Mini-reflex for the Benchmade 9100. I used it hard on patrol for several years, and it never failed me. I've used it in Afghanistan sinc 2007. I'm still in Afghanistan. The knife runs 100%. I cut open ammo, straps, you name it. I am not kind to this Benchmade. I keep it reasonably clean. The sand, dust, etc. is not an issue. It works. Now, on to MICROTECH: where shall I start? I'm paid very well. So, I orderd in an Ultratech, double edged, glass breaker, etc. I also ordered in a UTX-70. Both failed within days. The UTX locked open, and wouldn't retract. Yes, I know how to reset the blade. I also figured out how to take it apart, and put it back. It works for about 2 to 5 deployments, and then jams open. The Ultratech just bounces when retracted. Yes, cleaned it with solvent, completely dry, blew it out with air. I used Rem. oil, all the B.S. I was told to do and try. Both Microtechs are complete junk. No help from the factory, in fact, they won't even respond to my emails or phone calls. I bought these Microtechs from "Not Your Moma's Knivs". Another completely worthless company. I won't deal with them ever again, and I trash them every chance I get. By the way, I lost a pocket clip screw from my Benchmade. I emailed them, and they sent me a new pocket clip, and a screw set for the entire knife! I took the Benchmade completely apart, cleaned it very well, and changed every screw. Benchmade is a perfect knife! I've seen a few of the Gerbers here as well. They seem to be good "Big" knives, but they deploy a little slow. The Benchmade is much faster. I understand you can buy replacement springs for the Gerbers, and they are suppose to be really fast with the new springs. I have not seen a fast Gerber, just been told about them. If you are shopping, I would suggest a Benchmade. I really wish I had bought the Benchmade-HK OTF Knife, rather than MT Junk. At least I know that Benchmade will back their OTF. Microtech should be shut down. I really, really don't like them. Be safe.
 
Well see that was the thing for me, I am looking for a new auto OTF knife. However my UT6 and Makora II have both been letter openers since I bought them. I sold the UT6 and the Makora II is simply too large for EDC so it will remaine a letter opener. I was thinking Ultratech but I hear many problems about those so I was leaning towards a Benchmade Infidel however rummors that they might have issues with ICE and hire illegal imigrants troubles me. I don't like dealing with scumbags like that who shaft normal Americans. Then again that's probably just that, a rummor. Only thing is it came from one of my trusted dealers who I've bought dozens of products off. John Benson at Assisted Knife. And lately hes been trashing benchmade in his videos. Benchmade even sued him. So I really don't know who to trust. Anybody else familliard with John Benson @ Roadsideimports youtube channel and the videos about Benchmade he makes?
 
The roadsideimports guy had an account here and was banned for being a belligerent moron. You have to be pretty bad to be banned from this forum as the moderators are very lenient here. I wouldn't believe a word that guy says.
 
Haha you mention the one guy I can think of who has a full-blown vendetta against Benchmade. I wouldn't take him too seriously, he has some pretty odd ideas about knives.
 
The dude from Roadside Imports may be a reliable seller, but nothing that he says about Benchmade should be trusted.
 
bali-flip said:
Then again that's probably just that, a rummor. Only thing is it came from one of my trusted dealers who I've bought dozens of products off. John Benson at Assisted Knife. And lately hes been trashing benchmade in his videos. Benchmade even sued him. So I really don't know who to trust. Anybody else familliard with John Benson @ Roadsideimports youtube channel and the videos about Benchmade he makes?
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I was worried until you mentioned John Benson/AK/RSI. Then I had to laugh derisively. The guy is quite insane. A rumor from him is like a rumor started by the Weekly World News. He was sued (successfully) by Benchmade because he was selling a Benchmite auto clone that used "Benchmite" (a registered trademark) on the packaging. Thus began his vendetta with BM. His claim that BM is illegally importing auto (parts) is erroneous. He thinks that Benchmade is making/made an auto Benchmite in Taiwan, but the truth is the Taiwan made Benchmites/Levitators were never made automatic, and the only auto Benchmite was USA made. If you watch his video about this, he misinterprets what the sales rep says to think that the Benchmite II is an auto, when it never was, and the rep is either confused or mistaken herself when she says that auto version was made in China (both think it was China, when it was actually Taiwan).

Yet he's quite OK with selling plenty of illegally imported autos and balisongs himself.:rolleyes:

He's also upset about BM suing Boker for violating their automatic knife safety patent - he thinks a company protecting their interests is "bullying".

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/729617-Benchmade-Boycott

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...e-with-Roadside-Imports?p=9004712#post9004712
 
Well I guess that settles that. I just always thought him as a no BS guy b/c that's what he seems like. No PR bs or company lines, just straight answers. Always was a reliable seller to me, no BS. He has auto kits and kit balis which I am dependant on b/c that's the only what I get stuff where I live until now since I found another dealer who does sorta the same thing but cheaper.


So the Infidel is not a piece of junk after all. And with Microtech's quality somewhat dwindling I guess I'll be looking at the Infidel.
 
mongomondo said:
In season 1 Jack says, "What kind of businessman carries a Microtech Halo." It was such obvious product placement.
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Maybe, maybe not. Kiefer Sutherland is rumored to be a knife collector, so it's quite possible it was he himself that suggested the knife (or even provided it). He used a Troodon in later seasons as well.

OTOH, there was a ton of other product placement in the show. I really liked the series, but the later seasons were basically Sprint and Hyundai commercials.
 
I carefully selected my MicroTech UltraTech D/E, dated 4/11, last July from quite a few... it was the orange/bronzish one. It matched my wife's 'orange blast' colored '05 SRT-4, which she special ordered and loves. I got it because I 'thought' she wanted it - she wanted me to have it. A block from the store, I turned around and returned it. She shocked me with it later that month as a b'day gift. So, I didn't really want one - likely would never carry one - but I got one. After all of that, what do I do with it??

Well, I 'play' with it. Tried the drop of gun oil on each side. The action smoothed out nicely - very even, in & out. Slices paper nicely... except on the thumb actuator side of the S35VN D/E blade - it must drag on something inside, as it won't keep a razor edge for long there. I do have several auto Benchmades - out the side types. They all work great - and like their regular BM counterparts, have great build quality. From my viewpoint, my only MT is of similar quality to BM - they will likely have some marketing help from a BM acquisition. My 'pusher' told me his MT supply was a bit spotty. So was his Lone Wolf source, pre-BM acquisition of LW. Post acquisition, he got a nice supply of Paul Defenders - but couldn't re-order the good sellers... not even for the Christmas season. So, I don't know re marketing improvement - may just be conjecture.

I guess I just wanted to report a 'good' Utratech - it has functioned flawlessly through hundreds of open/close cycles. My complaint of it is the clip - the glass-breaker attachment screw bottoms out without the clip - and you lose the lanyard hole with the clip removed, too. Minor point... but I hate clips! It came with a nice belt case, anyway. Minor aggravation, I suppose.

Stainz
 
Planterz said:
Maybe, maybe not. Kiefer Sutherland is rumored to be a knife collector, so it's quite possible it was he himself that suggested the knife (or even provided it). He used a Troodon in later seasons as well.

OTOH, there was a ton of other product placement in the show. I really liked the series, but the later seasons were basically Sprint and Hyundai commercials.
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I should point out that it wasn't just a few Microtechs that were featured in 24. Autos by Benchmade, Protech, Paragon, Piranha, MOD, and even the Sandshark all made appearances. Non-autos included a Strider fixed blade and a Sebenza. Somebody on that show was a serious knife guy.

http://www.24-knives.com/home.html

OTOH, it certainly is odd that Jack Bauer mentions the Halo by name. There are quite a few movies that the Halo has made an appearance in.

Eraser 1996
High School High 1996
Men In Black 1997
The Long Kiss Goodnight 1998
Reindeer Games 2000 (quite a few scenes with it prominently featured)
Anaconda 3: Offspring 2008
Red 2010

http://www.talkblade.info/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14846
 
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Microtech used to be great, they have bought in to their own buzz. They need to get back to real work.
 
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