- Joined
- Jul 2, 2000
- Messages
- 2,357
I just bought a L-UDT the other day with a plain edge and a Stonewash finish. Here are my thoughts.
BLADE: The blade is 3.4" long and has a clip point made of 154-cm. There is a false edge on top, however the point is quite thick despite the extra top swedge grind. It acually reminds me of the top of a BM stryker blade. It has the same top profile. This should be good for hard work with the tip. You could probably also do some light prying with it as well. The finish is stonewashed. I like this finish. You can use this knife without worrying about any major scratches showing up. Also, I have found this finish to be quite corrosion resistant. A guy I work with has a LCC with a SW finish and he has not oiled it for the last 5 months. He has not experienced any rust. The blade has the usuall MT markings. On top there are markings that say L-Underwater Demolition Team. Mine is number 0884 and was born on 04/2001. Nice blade design.
Handle: It looks like the newer M-UDT handle only larger. It is coated with the same black finish that MT uses on thier other knives. I like thier finish because it seems to be the toughest out there. I have heard stories of people carrying thier MT's in a pocket with change, and the finish holds up. In fact, when they get marked up, it's just on the outside. That is good from a users standpoint. The handle has 4 grooves milled into it as opposed to the older style with the kraton inserts. There is a nice feel to these handles. All the hardwear is bead blasted grey. The firing button is on the left side of the knife, just like most other autos. It is easily operated with either the right thumb or the left pointer finger. It is flush with the handle and has a cutout around it to facilitate your finger. I have been carryng this knife in my pocket for the past 3 days and have not had any problems with it inadvertantly firing. I actually found that to release the blade you need to depress the button all the way into the handle. It will not fire with just a little bump or nudge. You have to want this knife to open. Not to say it is difficult to fire when you depress the button with your finger. It isn't. It's just nice to know the knife will not likley open in your pocket. Also, the handle is of the open back design with nice bluish grey spacers. It looks very nice.
Clip: This is the only part of the knife I have a problem with. Microtech advertises the clip is reversable. Well they do provide threaded screw holes on both sides of the knife, but the clip was not made for this purpose. It is shaped in such a manner that if you place it on the button side of the knife (the side for left pocket carry), it will hang off the handle. I give thanx to MT for providing an option for leftys, but , they should provide a clip with this knife for left handed people. I tried to bend the standard clip to fit the the button side of the knife, but, I screwed that up badly. It is now a small piece of scrap metal. For this reason I am carrying the knife now without a clip in the bottom of my pocket. I will call MT on monday to voice my complaint, and ask for a clip made for left handed people. Maby they can make me one. I'm sure all they need to do is bend the clip the opposite way than they are now. I'm sure it's not a difficult task for them. Maby they can even provide 2 clips with each knife form now on. More to follow on that.
Conclusion: I have never held the older version of the L-UDT, but this one is a winner. I love this knife. This one will not be for my collection. I will carry this everyday. And happily use it too. I am definately going to buy another one for my collection though. Once MT fixes the clip problem this will be, in my eyes, the ultimate auto. For the prices I have seen these advertised for, this knife gives an excellent value. I'm sure MT could have charged much more for this knife. Thank god they didn't
BLADE: The blade is 3.4" long and has a clip point made of 154-cm. There is a false edge on top, however the point is quite thick despite the extra top swedge grind. It acually reminds me of the top of a BM stryker blade. It has the same top profile. This should be good for hard work with the tip. You could probably also do some light prying with it as well. The finish is stonewashed. I like this finish. You can use this knife without worrying about any major scratches showing up. Also, I have found this finish to be quite corrosion resistant. A guy I work with has a LCC with a SW finish and he has not oiled it for the last 5 months. He has not experienced any rust. The blade has the usuall MT markings. On top there are markings that say L-Underwater Demolition Team. Mine is number 0884 and was born on 04/2001. Nice blade design.
Handle: It looks like the newer M-UDT handle only larger. It is coated with the same black finish that MT uses on thier other knives. I like thier finish because it seems to be the toughest out there. I have heard stories of people carrying thier MT's in a pocket with change, and the finish holds up. In fact, when they get marked up, it's just on the outside. That is good from a users standpoint. The handle has 4 grooves milled into it as opposed to the older style with the kraton inserts. There is a nice feel to these handles. All the hardwear is bead blasted grey. The firing button is on the left side of the knife, just like most other autos. It is easily operated with either the right thumb or the left pointer finger. It is flush with the handle and has a cutout around it to facilitate your finger. I have been carryng this knife in my pocket for the past 3 days and have not had any problems with it inadvertantly firing. I actually found that to release the blade you need to depress the button all the way into the handle. It will not fire with just a little bump or nudge. You have to want this knife to open. Not to say it is difficult to fire when you depress the button with your finger. It isn't. It's just nice to know the knife will not likley open in your pocket. Also, the handle is of the open back design with nice bluish grey spacers. It looks very nice.
Clip: This is the only part of the knife I have a problem with. Microtech advertises the clip is reversable. Well they do provide threaded screw holes on both sides of the knife, but the clip was not made for this purpose. It is shaped in such a manner that if you place it on the button side of the knife (the side for left pocket carry), it will hang off the handle. I give thanx to MT for providing an option for leftys, but , they should provide a clip with this knife for left handed people. I tried to bend the standard clip to fit the the button side of the knife, but, I screwed that up badly. It is now a small piece of scrap metal. For this reason I am carrying the knife now without a clip in the bottom of my pocket. I will call MT on monday to voice my complaint, and ask for a clip made for left handed people. Maby they can make me one. I'm sure all they need to do is bend the clip the opposite way than they are now. I'm sure it's not a difficult task for them. Maby they can even provide 2 clips with each knife form now on. More to follow on that.
Conclusion: I have never held the older version of the L-UDT, but this one is a winner. I love this knife. This one will not be for my collection. I will carry this everyday. And happily use it too. I am definately going to buy another one for my collection though. Once MT fixes the clip problem this will be, in my eyes, the ultimate auto. For the prices I have seen these advertised for, this knife gives an excellent value. I'm sure MT could have charged much more for this knife. Thank god they didn't
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