Recommendations: ludt or Benchmade or?

erhodes

erhodes

Joined
Jan 30, 2012
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536
So I am looking for a gift for myself for giving up nicotine. I'm active duty military and saw that the Microtech ludt is now available for their military pricing. I like the look of it but don't have experience with their side openers. I have had the ultratech and it was fun but it just didn't seem very practical for me. Is the l u d t a good knife or should I look at something from Benchmade or something else. Willing to buy used as well but just thought it might be a good deal from Microtech directly.

I posted this in the auto section as well but thought I might get more opinions for different knives here. thanks in advance
 
erhodes said:
So I am looking for a gift for myself for giving up nicotine. I'm active duty military and saw that the Microtech ludt is now available for their military pricing. I like the look of it but don't have experience with their side openers. I have had the ultratech and it was fun but it just didn't seem very practical for me. Is the l u d t a good knife or should I look at something from Benchmade or something else. Willing to buy used as well but just thought it might be a good deal from Microtech directly.

I posted this in the auto section as well but thought I might get more opinions for different knives here. thanks in advance
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Were you looking at the Benchmade autos?

I bekieve the LUDT has an aluminum frame which may not be ideal for military service. Microtech puts out nice knives but doesn’t have the best warranty.

Benchmade has a much better warranty but sometimes they release knives with some issues like centering issues or bladeplay. If possible ask whoever you are buying either knife from to make sure the knife has a centered blade and no blade play.

That said personally I wouldn’t think an auto would be the best knife for military service.
 
It doesn't necessarily have to be in Auto. I carry a crk sebenza right now and love it. It gets the job done during my normal day-to-day activities, I'm infantry 11 Bravo. I don't have use my knives so I'm looking for something that's just fun
 
I was 11c but used as 11b (mortars were against our ROE in Mosul) and I carried a MT D/A Socom.

I probably would've carried the LUDT but the D/A Socom had more cool factor when I was 21.

The LUDT is probably the best auto ever made. I'm not a Microtech fan.
 
I have two LUDTs, an all tan one in M390 and a bead blast with black handle in Elmax. I love them. They're a great size for edc, have nice grinds, comfy handles, cut well, and open with authority. :thumbsup:

edit: pic!

ludt.jpg
 
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Just got this today. Love it even more than i thought i would. Go for it.
 
Microtech - great knife, proprietary screws, crappy customer service, despicable owner.
Benchmade - great knife, perhaps not as great as Microtech, but still excellent, better customer service/warranty department.

I would recommend Benchmade based on their warranty service vs Microtech. They use simple TORX screws, so if you have to, you can disassemble it yourself.

Also, seriously check out Protech, particularly the Rockeye or the Tactical Respons (TR-1, TR-2, etc) line. Excellent customer service.
 
I'd prefer Torx fasteners, too, but MT bits are available. I picked up a pair (pivot and body) of LUDT bits from pvk. Not cheap (~$50 for the pair), but now I can replace springs and adjust pivots as needed. Yeah, doing so voids your warranty, but meh, I'm of the Charlie Mike school of thought when it comes to knives: Void Your Warranty! :thumbsup: In fact, I've already done so on the tan one. :D I took it apart to see how the innards fit together (very impressive internal workmanship as well, by the way).
 
The AFO II has an adjustable Stop pin and is built for long term hard use. The safety works both open and closed as well. The pommel/breaker works great as a hammer,pry tool and bottle opener .

All day long.

Benchmade offers it for about $185 for Military/ Police/Fire/EMT.

I payed full price for the limited edition gray model from Blade HQ.

IMG_20180305_140413_2~5.jpg
 
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LUDT is really nice. I like mine quite a bit.
I would definitely check out the Protech TR-5 Auto. Awesome smaller version of the TR-4. Protech's have always been a favorite of mine.
I have been happy with my Benchmade's. No problems with them.
 
Get the LUDT. Microtech may have some faults but they make better knives for the money than Benchmade does.
 
BellaBlades said:
One more because I disagree ∆ respectfully.
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Just curious: what do you think they do better than Microtech? Benchmade has great customer service and uses regular torx bits, and I totally understand liking the company itself more than Microtech, but I don't think anything else they do is better.

For the money, it seems that you're getting better build quality, blade grinds, blade steel, and heat treat with the Microtech. I don't believe that one is built significantly tougher than another based on what I've seen of the internals of each, but if that mattered you should use something other than an automatic knife anyway.
 
erhodes erhodes I'd recommend the Protech TR3, it's a damn fine knife and pretty similar to the LUDT in size and action. My LGS has a ton of LUDTs so I've compared them quite a bit. TR3 wins in my opinion, I own one with a pearl firing button.
 
Older HK branded BM. 154CM. BM warranty, common hardware, adjustable stop pin. Proven, however. .big/bulky, as are the AFO's.

LUDT's are indeed one of the best auto ever..great size, great design.

This is were I ended up..still can be found for around $150, I believe

oetI1Jy.jpg
 
marrenmiller said:
Just curious: what do you think they do better than Microtech? Benchmade has great customer service and uses regular torx bits, and I totally understand liking the company itself more than Microtech, but I don't think anything else they do is better.

For the money, it seems that you're getting better build quality, blade grinds, blade steel, and heat treat with the Microtech. I don't believe that one is built significantly tougher than another based on what I've seen of the internals of each, but if that mattered you should use something other than an automatic knife anyway.
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I would say my opinion is based upon this knife model and BM Autos only and not the company as a whole. The engineering that goes into the safety the stop pin and the overall feel of this knife is what has won me over.

I feel the same way about the auto Stryker both of these knives are classics.

I have taken apart multiple Microtech and Benchmade autos and that helped form my opinion.

Benchmade has always taken care of me in the past as well regarding parts and warranty.

Heck I'd like to try out a Microtech that changes my mind if you want to send me one play with.

I use what I like and what I know. I don't follow one company in particular and I am always willing to try something better preferably made in the USA.

That about covers it for now I got a boogie to work.

Ps. My AFO 2 has poor blade centering. Never let it bother me though. Well, more like after a month I stopped letting it bother me.
 
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Ickythump said:
Older HK branded BM. 154CM. BM warranty, common hardware, adjustable stop pin. Proven, however. .big/bulky, as are the AFO's.

LUDT's are indeed one of the best auto ever..great size, great design.

This is were I ended up..still can be found for around $150, I believe

oetI1Jy.jpg
Click to expand...

I forgot about that model and I would definitely try one.

Yes they are bulky Autos.
 
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