Sharpening a Microtech voids it's warranty?

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Dean Crail said:
Other than the two separate instances under their website that clarify this particular issue and specifically say IMPROPER BLADE SHARPENING IE: "If you mess up the pretty double edge it is not our problem"

http://www.microtechknives.com/support/our-warranty/

http://www.microtechknives.com/knives/knife-care/

I have sent in no less than 3 Microtechs for service with mirror polished re-profiled edges with a note included telling them not to mess with the edge and I have never once had an issue. Once again everyone is jumping on the proverbial bandwagon kinda like when someone mentions Mick Strider or Strider Knives.
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Stolen valor!!! :mad: :p
 
FlaMtnBkr said:
I guess it would depend how they come from the factory. A couple dozen strokes on a ceramic at a slightly steeper angle starts putting a micro bevel that is easy to spot in the right light. And stropping will start to polish the bevel after a few sessions.

A knife is meant to be sharp and they get dull with use. It is insane for a knife company to expect their customers to not sharpen their knives and will void the warranty doing so. They might as well not have a warranty.

What a joke.
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Imho that's the whole point , it's the no warranty " Warranty " .
 
I think it's apparent that this line is to protect them from having to cover blades that have been sharpened in a way that damages or compromises the strength and integrity of the blade.

I had a customer experience with Microtech that was completely satisfactory, and I have sharpened the blade many times. I snagged my clip by my own error and bent it pretty badly. I couldn't remove it due to the proprietary screws. I emailed and was responded to within 24 hours explaining the return instructions. A couple weeks later, I got the knife back with a new clip. No complaints, and everything was withing a range that I consider timely.

The stolen 777 design was definitely a poor choice, but that story is more complicated than many portray. If you read Microtech's side of the story, they were insulted and provoked by someone from Kai first, and Microtech openly admits that they took the design and technology the knife had and manufactured it quicker than Kai could to prove that they could after Kai gloated about the 777 and claimed it to be beyond Microtech's manufacturing capabilities.

I have personal experience with this kind of rudeness and antagonistic behavior from one of Kai's ambassadors here at BF, in the past, as have many others. it doesn't sound that far fetched.

Regardless the entire exchange, if to believed, is petty and unethical, and I'm disappointed that Microtech and Kai (allegedly) behaved this way.

That said, the Microtech Socom Elite that I have in carbon fiber inlay is one of the best folders I have ever owned, both in design and fit/finish, and I will continue to love and carry it for the foreseeable future. I would be hesitant to buy from either company in the future, after all of this pettiness.

Source: http://knifenews.com/microtech-responds-to-kershaw-natrix/
 
If that's the case, they should hire someone with enough brain cells to write a proper clause on sharpening, instead of painting such a broad strokes with garbage like that.

It's laughable, they're laughable, and they're pocket clips are hideous.
 
SurfisLove said:
Other than its ability to cut better, so maybe Microtech does a cut test when your knife comes in for warranty work and if it will slice paper then they won't service it... ;):D
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My UTX-85 had the sharpest factory edge I have ever experienced. Sharper than ZT, Spyderdo, or Benchmade.

sticktodrum said:
If that's the case, they should hire someone with enough brain cells to write a proper clause on sharpening, instead of painting such a broad strokes with garbage like that.

It's laughable, they're laughable, and they're pocket clips are hideous.
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The broad language is designed to protect themselves (as is most legalese) from someone who ruins the blade by sharpening it improperly. Their policy is clarified in other areas. If you screw up the sharpening, the blade won't be replaced under warranty (you get to pay for one). Proper sharpening won't void the warranty. If you let the local gun shop's resident "knife expert" sharpen your Microtech on his belt-driven Sando-o-matic and ruin the temper/scratch the life out of it/grind it to oblivion/etc., don't expect a free blade replacement.

Folks on here are making a mountain out of a molehill regarding MT's sharpening stance.
 
Has anyone gotten an answer from actual Microtech? It seems like folks are getting worked up, and diswayed, over other people’s comments. I’ll try to contact them, and maybe this thread can be revived. Maybe everyone won’t stay “mad” at Microtech as a knife company. ;-}. MM
 
I wouldn't expect quick answers from them, I emailed a request to order a ultratech through the military/le program. Silence for two years, then they sent me an email flyer about sales on .mil/le knives. I have a second hand one that is fine, hope it never needs service.
 
Despite the Necromancy, my Socom Alpha Mini T/E and Stitch are outstanding.

My Ultratech, not so much...
 
From the current Microtech FAQ:

Sharpening my Knife​

Modified on: Mon, 7 Sep, 2020 at 11:57 AM
We understand that some customers may prefer to maintain their own knives. Sharpening your knife does not automatically void the warranty. The warranty will remain in effect so long as the blade is not improperly sharpened and the handle is not damaged or stripped due to disassembly, determined at our discretion. If you void your warranty, parts and services may still be available for purchase based on availability.

Do not sharpen the knife if you are not confident in sharpening or if you feel the warranty could be compromised.
 
Another Shepherd said:
From the current Microtech FAQ:

Sharpening my Knife​

Modified on: Mon, 7 Sep, 2020 at 11:57 AM
We understand that some customers may prefer to maintain their own knives. Sharpening your knife does not automatically void the warranty. The warranty will remain in effect so long as the blade is not improperly sharpened and the handle is not damaged or stripped due to disassembly, determined at our discretion. If you void your warranty, parts and services may still be available for purchase based on availability.

Do not sharpen the knife if you are not confident in sharpening or if you feel the warranty could be compromised.
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IOW,

We made the knife. Don't mess with it. Send it back to us and we'll restore it.
 
Though some of their knives are nice and I still have one or two - I'm just not a fan of Microtech, not even a little bit.

Comparatively, many years ago I was on a motorcycle camping trip near Cherokee, NC and foolishly was batoning kindling with a Buck 110 my grandfather gave me. I broke the lock. Duh!

I wrote a polite and completely honest letter to Buck explaining how the knife broke and asking them to fix the knife, at my expense. In a very short amount of time I got the knife back - no charge, not even return shipping and could not believe it was the same knife; it looked like new! I've been a fan of Buck Knives ever since.

ESEE, "No questions asked warranty."
KaBar - Becker, they right wrongs even when it's not their wrong - and they do it quickly.
I'm sure there's more, though I am not personally familiar based upon experience.

For us here, knives are not like a $5 screw driver from Home Depot or Harbor Freight; they are more personal. Buying a knife, for us, is like entering into a relationship - with the knife and the manufacturer. I've been so done with Microtech so long ago. This thread doesn't surprise me.
 
They lost loads of respect for becoming a part time Chinese company, now they pull this, won't be long before microtech becomes a reminder "microtech? Ohh, yeah I remember that company
 
ShaiHulud said:
They lost loads of respect for becoming a part time Chinese company, now they pull this, won't be long before microtech becomes a reminder "microtech? Ohh, yeah I remember that company
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Jsega51 said:
Dude don’t get all worked up, this is crap from 6 years ago and it’s not even the case any longer, the thread was dead once, it needs to die again.
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What J said. Where's a mod when you need one. Oh, wait...
 
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