What's up with Microtech?

Comeuppance

Comeuppance

Fixed Blade EDC Emisssary
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
4,765
I really don't know how to interpret these guys. They make good knives, and then they don't. They've blatantly stolen designs ( ZT 0777 vs Microtech Matrix ), but then also come out with awesome originals. Their warranty department used to be a joke, and now it's okay? They can't seem to produce enough, and they're always switching blade steels like crazy. They're also one of the few remaining companies to put out quality OTFs and Balis, if I'm not mistaken (not my field of interest, my apologies).

Seriously, what's with these guys? Half the time I feel like I should shun them, and then I realize I've been watching Whaleshark reviews like its some sort of secret shame.
 
Tony is Tony and he is one of the very best knife makers (IMO),,,,he can sell every 2K plus knife he makes regardless of any alleged actions.
 
Having extreme love/hate with a DOC. So much right, so much wrong. Not sure I'd buy another Microtech.
 
Kinda feel the same, OP. I collect them, (focus on HALOs, but have others) but they really piss me off sometimes.
Their idiotic policy of not allowing you to buy spare screws is the latest peeve. It seems minor, and it should be, but their stupid policy turns a lost screw into a major 2-way shipping + multiple months wait.

A pox on...oh wow, that Microtech is really cool.
 
They're a mixed bag. Some of the company's actions & policies are annoying. Anthony Marfione has a history of not-so-savory actions. There's no denying that he's a good knifemaker though, I've never heard someone complaining that the quality of one of his custom knives was not up to par. Microtech's production knives are very consistently high quality with good quality control, performance, fit and finish (excluding a few batches of knives produced during the firearms foray). And the SOCOM pattern, in my mind, is one of the best folder designs of all time.
 
See, yeah, the proprietary screw thing. Don't they charge some exorbitant amount for the tool? I don't get that. If they will service the knife for free, why not allow people to adjust their clips and pivots at home?
 
Have heard everything under the sun about Tony and his company. Have handled his knives and can say they're awesome. They're not bad people, they just make some bad choices. The troubled kids. Gonna meet Tony next weekend so that should be fun!
 
Microtech is a strange outfit. I'm also of the opinion that they blow hot and cold. I found the ergonomics on the Whaleshark to be really terrible and sold mine. I've got a Socom Delta which is brilliant ... great ergonomics. If the same person designed both I am puzzled at how the ergonomics ended up being so very different.
 
Nellem said:
Microtech is a strange outfit. I'm also of the opinion that they blow hot and cold. I found the ergonomics on the Whaleshark to be really terrible and sold mine. I've got a Socom Delta which is brilliant ... great ergonomics. If the same person designed both I am puzzled at how the ergonomics ended up being so very different.
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The Socom is Anthony's original design. The Whaleshark is a production version of a custom knife made by Jonny Liao.
 
bigmark408 said:
Tony is Tony and he is one of the very best knife makers (IMO),,,,he can sell every 2K plus knife he makes regardless of any alleged actions.
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Not sure about that. A knife shop here in Tarzana, CA has at least 20+ $2k+ customs by Tony that are just sitting there. I was at the store yesterday and was told they do not fly off the shelf.
 
What's currently frustrating me, is they ONLY seem to be producing OTF autos, DOC's, and high-end customs.

A lot of us can't carry an auto. I was lucky enough to snap up a couple Socom Delta Zombie's with the plain tanto blade last year. I really want to try out the plain edge, satin, standard drop point blade. I've been checking for more Socom Delta's for months, but they're all sold out everywhere.
I've seen a few pop up here and there, but they're either not the configuration I want or they're more than I'm willing to pay.

The demand sure seems to be there, so I don't understand why they're not producing any more Socom Delta's... :confused:
 
I got a Socom Delta clip point with a satin Elmax blade from KC, it's a MCK dated 01/2015. The blade is 4.125" in an aluminum frame.
 
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It's like my family Thanksgiving Dinner. Everybody brings stuff and it's mostly great. Mostly a great time...and then with no warning...bam, food sucks and everyone is fighting.
 
evltcat said:
What's currently frustrating me, is they ONLY seem to be producing OTF autos, DOC's, and high-end customs.

A lot of us can't carry an auto. I was lucky enough to snap up a couple Socom Delta Zombie's with the plain tanto blade last year. I really want to try out the plain edge, satin, standard drop point blade. I've been checking for more Socom Delta's for months, but they're all sold out everywhere.
I've seen a few pop up here and there, but they're either not the configuration I want or they're more than I'm willing to pay.

The demand sure seems to be there, so I don't understand why they're not producing any more Socom Delta's... :confused:
Click to expand...

I was thinking the exact same. I was looking for a Socom Delta forever and finally got one about a year ago in black tanto. I would still like a satin clip point but all I've found for months and months are OTF's and customs. I have a bunch of OTF's already, I just want another S/D!
 
Was the 777 a in house ZT design? I figured the designer just sold the design to both companies.
 
Microtech is just another strange brew..... I started collecting them years ago and haven't had any problems with any of them, however I used to set up at Gun shows and would hear story after story of how guys hated dealing with warranty issues...
I would also like to see Tony produce more folders, I have enough OTF's!
 
This is a pretty good thread. I have the same questions about MT regarding the lack of availability of the more popular models. I've owned one OTF from them and multiple LCC's, SOCOM Delta's and Whalesharks. I really regret selling my clip point SOCOM Delta... that one should've stayed with me. I'll definitely be on the hunt for another one whenever they decide to do another run.

I agree with one of the previous posts, the Whaleshark, while I really wanted this design to work for me, the ergos were just way off. FWIW, I've read numerous posts on "issues" with MT warranty service. I've dealt with them 4 times in the past 6 years (missing screws on an OTF, replacement clip for an LCC, screws for an LCC, etc). Never had an issue with them, not even once. I am not a MT fanboy and don't currently own one. But I can say that their warranty and service has always been top notch in my experience. I've purchased an old beat up LCC here in the Sales Forum, sent it in and had it completely serviced. Just sayin'.
 
Microtech we want more folders!! Socom delta in green camo with the talon claw logo would be ideal. Or you could bring back the socom elite
 
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