midtechs, whats the point

RevDevil said:
Isn't that exactly what Ken Onion defined a Mid Tech to be? Something that is better than a regular production line knife, with some of the characteristics of a custom; but not quite the level of custom fit and finish/quality? I guess we each have our own ideas, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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Actually, under Men's definition, almost ever custom made these days would be a mid tech.

On Ken's customs, he does everything himself. Cuts everything out on a band saw, does all the grinding, heat treat etc.

He started using the term mid tech to refer to a knife where he had any operation outsourced. Water jetting, sending it our for heat treating, anything like that made it a midtech in his eyes.

He didn't feel it was right calling the knife a custom if he didn't do every operation himself.
 
Lost Cosmonaut said:
Those aren't really midtechs, those are just high-end production knives made for guys who also make a few customs. Sometimes they have a direct hand in making them but for the most part they are all 100% made by guys working in the shop under the maker's direction.

Midtechs are generally "production" knives made by a custom maker, who usually still has some hand in the making (assembly, blade grind, something of that nature). They're also usually patterned after a hand made custom. The idea is being able to access a custom maker's design and handiwork at a much much lower price. For instance, Southard's "Performance Series" knives, the Tolk and Avo, are half the price or less of one of his customs. The difference between a Tolk or Avo and something like a Spyderco Southard, is that Brad has a hand in making his Performance Series (midtech) knives, where the only hand he had in the Spyderco Southard is designing it.
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I see the term tossed around and I honestly never really knew what mid-tech knife was. I had always considered ZT's, Sebenzas, Fallkniven folders, and the higher priced Spyderco's mid-techs.

My sense of mid-tech is consistant with this.

Isn't that exactly what Ken Onion defined a Mid Tech to be? Something that is better than a regular production line knife, with some of the characteristics of a custom; but not quite the level of custom fit and finish/quality? I guess we each have our own ideas, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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i
Scurvy092 said:
Actually, under Men's definition, almost ever custom made these days would be a mid tech.

On Ken's customs, he does everything himself. Cuts everything out on a band saw, does all the grinding, heat treat etc.

He started using the term mid tech to refer to a knife where he had any operation outsourced. Water jetting, sending it our for heat treating, anything like that made it a midtech in his eyes.

He didn't feel it was right calling the knife a custom if he didn't do every operation himself.
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I'd say he defined non-custom pretty well.


But mid-tech? Today it is just a very cool sounding fancy term for the self justification of buying expensive mass production knives. Albeit very nice, mass produced is still mass produced even if it is hand assembled, fitted and sharpened.


I'd say mid-tech is something from a 1 or 2 guy knife company that isn't fully custom and/or handmade.
 
patrickthealmighty said:
I see many people who preach about there sebenza, xm18 or sng but are they really worth it over many high end production knives for example zero tolerance and emerson
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Value is generally in the eyes of the beholder. What I consider expensive is a normal priced knife to others. I personally don't think "sebenza, xm18 or sng" are worth the price for my usage. But that is me and I make these judgements based on my view of the overall quality, the value, my finances, and whether or not I would be willing to use such a knife beyond tossing it in a dresser drawer.
 
I buy midtechs and high end productions because I like 'em. I haven't owned a lot of customs other than fixed blades. Mainly because the custom folders I find interest in are crazy expensive. Kinda strange... I'd rather own one Sebenza than four Benchmade/Spyderco/Kershaw... and I'd rather own a Seb, SnG & an XM-18 than one custom.
 
patrickthealmighty said:
finally a rationall thinking person on this forum
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Why don't you f*¢k off? eh?
You only just joined BladeForums THIS WEEK and you're creating all kinds of lame topics and just trying to get your post count up, for whatever reason.
If I had to guess, I'd say you're a 13yo boy playing on the internet.
 
RevDevil said:
You really should search for this topic, there have been some really decent and not so decent threads about it. Worth is a relative term, as is the case with much of the opinions on things.




Isn't that exactly what Ken Onion defined a Mid Tech to be? Something that is better than a regular production line knife, with some of the characteristics of a custom; but not quite the level of custom fit and finish/quality? I guess we each have our own ideas, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
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I thought Ken Onion said that Midtechs are custom knives with outsourced work.

Personally I don't see the point of midtechs, but for a different reason. With high end productions like the Sebenza, XM18 and SNG, you have the assurance that the manufacturer is responsible for the work done. If something's wrong, then it's their fault, period, and you can pursue appropriate courses of action.

In addition, I suspect large operations like those by CRK, Hinderer and Strider are better able to service your items as they have the resources, components, and manpower to do so.

If you have a problem with your AdV, Graham, or Southard midtech, who are you going to send it to for service? Whatever firm did the machining of the parts? The makers themselves? Will those makers be able to get your knife fixed in a timely manner seeing as they are one or two man operations with tons of commitments and work? Who do you hold responsible if your knife has problems? What happens years down the line when that particular model has come and gone? Will your knife be serviceable?

The parts stream has dried up for many knives like the Benchmade 970, the Microtech Chameleon, and old discontinued Spyderco models. You cannot get parts for these knives any longer. Those were mass produced knives with numbers in the thousands. What's going to happen when your limited midtech has problems a decade later?
 
We get it. You like ZT. But you like stirring the pot more. Get over yourself.
 
Soooo what's next? Hmmm. My guess is "Are Striders really worth it, and how about the QC?" We haven't had one of those in days.
 
GronK said:
Soooo what's next? Hmmm. My guess is "Are Striders really worth it, and how about the QC?" We haven't had one of those in days.
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Is there anything wrong with discussing topics like those? Things change, sometimes from month to month, as new knives are introduced, quality standards change for the worse or for the better, etc.
 
Rasco, this isn't W&C - please watch your language. Thanks...
 
patrickthealmighty said:
nah not just zt, i like pretty much any over built knife for a good cost
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Problem with overbuilt is they may make you misoverestimate their capabilities. Even when they're not cheap!

brokestrider.jpg
 
GronK said:
Problem with overbuilt is they may make you misoverestimate their capabilities. Even when they're not cheap!

brokestrider.jpg


If you talkin to me that's not a "Spydie". It's a Stridie.
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Yep, judging from that picture alone it's apparent that Striders actually have really weak blades that snap at the first sign of 'hard-use'. That overbuilt thing sure is just a facade, isn't it? Thicker material actually doesn't have any relation to strength, despite what those pesky physicists tell you! Those blades aren't at all stronger than on knives with thinner blade stock. Good on you for crusading for the truth and exposing con artists for what they are.
 
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