My first microtech - some concerns.

[Comeuppance]

I dipped into my custom fund slightly to pick up a DOC at a price I couldn't pass up. I have some concerns, though:

- Proprietary screws! This will be the first knife in a very long time that I don't dismantle and clean straightaway... Because I won't be able to. My main concern is with the pivot, as it's a flipper and the pivots tend to loosen on flippers with use. Should I invest in a tool?
- The pocket clip seems to be a universal complaint. How can I remedy this without taking the clip off to re-shape it?
- I've heard their customer service is pretty terrible - does that still hold true? If you have an anecdote, please make sure it's within the last 6-12 months.

If you have any tips or tricks as far as makeshift microtech tools, please let me know. The cheapest ones I can find run about 20 bucks, so I'd rather figure something out with materials that are either cheaper or multifunctional. The engineer in me hates single-function tools.

 

[LouDog5446]

What kind of screws are they?
I'm also very interested in this being that I bent my pocket clip and am trying to fix it.

 

[Comeuppance]

What kind of screws are they?
I'm also very interested in this being that I bent my pocket clip and am trying to fix it.

Recessed triangle on the pivot, raised triangle on the body screws. It's the green aluminum S30V plain edge DOC, made in September of this year.

 

[Misanthropia]

1. Microtech's usually come pretty smooth and clean, so it definitely isn't a necessity to take it apart and clean. I know some people are into that, but the knife should definitely be fine without any work. The proprietary screws are annoying, there's no way around that. Fortunately, the DOC pivot can be adjusted with a 3/16" hex wrench, if I recall a video I saw on youtube of it.
2. The new DOC's seem to have an improved clip, which yours should have (all of the colored models seem to have it). You could contact MT to have them replace it with the newer style, otherwise you're going to have to buy the tool, take it off, and bend it yourself.
3. See my thread about my experience with Microtech's CS, it was as detailed as can be. I was thoroughly pleased with what I saw as excellent customer service. A lot of the negativity came in the past from hearsay. It certainly seems that recently they have not been having any real problems, other than slightly slower (but exactly as long as they quote) service.

 

[RamZar]

I have a MicroTech DOC in all-black plain edge with Elmax steel. It's big, strong, heavy and smooth flipper. I have always complained about their stupid proprietary screws and even bought their tool from BladeHQ for an extortionary sum but haven't had to use it... Yet.