why are Microtech folders so expensive?

Wow such ignorance... ZT wasn't even the one that invented the subframe lock LOL

Also things get copied all the time but I guess I only matters when it comes to knives
 
My LCc is a tank.
And fired multiple times daily
Always has worked and ten years later still fires strong.
Just keep lubricated and I'm set
 
They make some eye appealing edgy designs (or borrow them in some cases :rolleyes:) I had one of the original 1997 socom M/A's that was a great knife at the time and initial price was pretty reasonable. I'd love to get an LLC user down the road. However, I just bought a Socom Delta G10, that went from the box strait back to Microtech with a $15 check about a month ago, we'll see how long that takes to get back, they cashed the check fast enough. Pivot was gritty, and the lock easily failed under just moderate spine pressure, a slight tap snapped the blade closed like the lock wasn't even there. Can't say I'm impressed about having to send $15 in to get warranty work, and a $180 proprietary tool to tear down the knife, use common fasteners, especially when they do for the pivot, if they can't keep them all the same the design is already compromised, so just go to all common ones.

With me their designs are really hit and miss, I either love a particular model or hate it, in that area they are kind of unique I think a lot of companies try to make designs that will appeal to the widest market share.
 
They use expensive materiels and then the labor, but I think they also charge for the name and specialness/exclusivity. They may be overpriced but for some people its worth that to them personally. The only microtech I have is an ultratech (the only reason I have it is cause my friend gave me a great deal on it) and one thing can be said for sure the quality of construction and materiels is just superb, but those $1,000+ marfione customs are ridiculously overpriced as cool as they are. If I had more money I would buy alot more microtechs, alot of their knives are some of the coolest I have ever seen, the quality is also at a very high level.
 
I have been actually contemplating a DOC,...I really like it but also thought the price was a little high ..but I still may buy one.
 
Can't bite my tongue any longer.

Have you ever picked one up? Have you held one?
Sometimes in life, things aren't what they seem, sometimes they're over-hyped, over inflated and ultimately worthless.

Do I own a Microtech? Yea... I do.

How many? ..... Too many.

Up until I held my first one, I thought "Wow, thats dumb..... $350 for that?....... Pfft."

Just got another one today, a DOC and it's been a user since it was purchased by the previous owner.
I GLADLY paid more for it than just about any knife you've probably ever acquired and for one reason, quality.

The fit and finish, attention to detail and most importantly, the design's are very, VERY impressive. Granted, Microtech's are cheap knives. Yes, let me repeat that to you, Microtechs are CHEAP (price wise) for what you receive. Look at the other knives ZT, Kershaw, Spyderco, etc put out in the price range of say a Socom Delta and compare the design, the materials, the hardware etc..... THEN the lockup, deployment etc.

You get what you pay for and in a Microtech, usually you get something you can't pay for.... this, magical little air of awesome that sometimes comes and goes and lately, everytime I put my D/A Socom, my DOC, the ultratech etc in my pocket, I feel THAT much better about whipping it out and doing some work that day... $250 to smile everytime I put a knife in my pocket or use it? ...... PFFT, CHEAP thrills for what I get in return baby.


I've owned every sprint run Para 2 (except the KW sprint), Still own a Lion Spy, Valloton, Sprint millie's, moonglow manix, manix sprints etc etc etc... and bottom line, everytime I TRY and pull one of those out, I reach for the Delta, or the D/A... they're on another level to me... but hey, what do I know.

One man's junk.....
 
I'm waiting til they come out with a new D/A Socom.
 
Reignman said:
Easily, one of the koolest knives
Of all time....

Mine never fail to bring a smile to my face :)
Click to expand...

I never should have sold mine. Had a 97 plainedge bead blast tanto.
 
I just bought a mini matrix. I paid a lot for it, but I have never had a Microtech before and I liked the size and design. I wanted to see what the fuss is all about. I mean, I have two Striders and love them both whereas some people hate them, so, you never know until you try right?

As a flipper, this Microtech is poorly designed, it doesn't work very well. I have other flippers that fire perfectly, including a $30 Kershaw Skyline. How hard can this be?

The bearing pivot system seems gritty compared to anything else I own with bearing systems.

The overall appearance- F&F, is alright I guess, but nothing special at all.

After flipping it less than 100 times, one of the blade stop screws fell out. It isn't stripped or anything, it just wasn't tightened properly, and certainly never had any locktite or anything like that on it. Of course I have no way of tightening it very well since I have no proprietary tool....

Seriously? A $300+ folder that literally falls apart with minor use? I have never had any knife, at any price, lose a screw like this one did.

Why ARE Microtech knives so expensive?
 
Microtechs, ProTechs, Emersons, and Benchmades are all consistently overpriced for what they are in my opinion.
 
They're not overpriced. They're not charging for a name. They're making a high quality product from high quality materials, not a product designed to meet a price point. As a result, their products are expensive. If they started using FRN scales and 440C blades I'm certain they could easily produce knives under $50. That's not what they do. There are plenty of companies that do that, and do it better.

I hear this same BS constantly about my primary personal interest, guitars. "Fender is overpriced! Gibson is overpriced!" Well, no, not really. They produce products at all price points and the methods and materials used are comparable to other manufacturers across that range. Same with Microtech. If you put a Microtech and a Cold Steel next to each other and can't tell the difference... you probably need some glasses. The further up the chain you go the less noticeable these differences are, but they are still there.
 
bearcut said:
I just bought a mini matrix. I paid a lot for it, but I have never had a Microtech before and I liked the size and design. I wanted to see what the fuss is all about. I mean, I have two Striders and love them both whereas some people hate them, so, you never know until you try right?

As a flipper, this Microtech is poorly designed, it doesn't work very well. I have other flippers that fire perfectly, including a $30 Kershaw Skyline. How hard can this be?

The bearing pivot system seems gritty compared to anything else I own with bearing systems.

The overall appearance- F&F, is alright I guess, but nothing special at all.

After flipping it less than 100 times, one of the blade stop screws fell out. It isn't stripped or anything, it just wasn't tightened properly, and certainly never had any locktite or anything like that on it. Of course I have no way of tightening it very well since I have no proprietary tool....

Seriously? A $300+ folder that literally falls apart with minor use? I have never had any knife, at any price, lose a screw like this one did.

Why ARE Microtech knives so expensive?
Click to expand...

That's a shame you got a poor example of one. After buying a 0770 I picked up the mini-matrix last month and love it. The flipper action is great and I was so impressed I got SOCOM a couple of days ago.





 
Doesn't matter what the PRODUCT, ie cars, tires, tools, skateboards, firearms, kitchen cabinets, flooring material, concrete, nails, bolts, light bulbs, cereal , computers, etc, etc... (this time it's about a particular folding knife) if it's a low cost price point item all that means is they had to make compromises to get the price down in order to make a profit. This is business.

Cheaper labor,
unskilled labor,
Cheaper materials,
Quicker manufacturing techniques that may cause minor inconsistency, and on and on....

Think of it this way, if a company makes a product that sells for $5,000 ea, and that company has a startup cost of $250,000, how many products would you have to produce,sell, and collect funds for to break even? Make a profit to support family? How long will this take?
 
bearcut said:
I just bought a mini matrix. I paid a lot for it, but I have never had a Microtech before and I liked the size and design. I wanted to see what the fuss is all about. I mean, I have two Striders and love them both whereas some people hate them, so, you never know until you try right?

As a flipper, this Microtech is poorly designed, it doesn't work very well. I have other flippers that fire perfectly, including a $30 Kershaw Skyline. How hard can this be?

The bearing pivot system seems gritty compared to anything else I own with bearing systems.

The overall appearance- F&F, is alright I guess, but nothing special at all.

After flipping it less than 100 times, one of the blade stop screws fell out. It isn't stripped or anything, it just wasn't tightened properly, and certainly never had any locktite or anything like that on it. Of course I have no way of tightening it very well since I have no proprietary tool....

Seriously? A $300+ folder that literally falls apart with minor use? I have never had any knife, at any price, lose a screw like this one did.

Why ARE Microtech knives so expensive?
Click to expand...

Give it time to break in, my Mini Matrix was gritty as hell at first but now it is even smoother than my Domino. I bought one of the drivers from BladeHQ for like $22, and once I tightened the blade stop screws on mine it is my favorite knife.
 
bearcut said:
I just bought a mini matrix. I paid a lot for it, but I have never had a Microtech before and I liked the size and design. I wanted to see what the fuss is all about. I mean, I have two Striders and love them both whereas some people hate them, so, you never know until you try right?

As a flipper, this Microtech is poorly designed, it doesn't work very well. I have other flippers that fire perfectly, including a $30 Kershaw Skyline. How hard can this be?

The bearing pivot system seems gritty compared to anything else I own with bearing systems.

The overall appearance- F&F, is alright I guess, but nothing special at all.

After flipping it less than 100 times, one of the blade stop screws fell out. It isn't stripped or anything, it just wasn't tightened properly, and certainly never had any locktite or anything like that on it. Of course I have no way of tightening it very well since I have no proprietary tool....

Seriously? A $300+ folder that literally falls apart with minor use? I have never had any knife, at any price, lose a screw like this one did.

Why ARE Microtech knives so expensive?
Click to expand...

This has been covered...... reading is fundamental.

In regards to your pivot loosening, I can honestly say there hasn't been one knife I've owned which ultimately hasn't loosened over time nor had an issue.
I see your complaint if it was "why is the screw not adjustable with normal tools" if they're not going to lock tite it however, I've had people complain that the 800hp engine they wanted spun the tires too much...... there's always someone you can't make happy.
 
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