Shopping for a new OTF

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It's all your fault @Armored farmer :what:

I do really like the S&W M&P OTF I got and I do plan to incorporate it into my EDC.

However, this thread led me to BladeHQ and then to Microtech and then to THIS:

upload_2019-8-9_18-25-53.png
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Microtech-Ultratech-SE-OTF--91665?__s=vidk4yhbwmt8hwonitsy

And then there was the big orange button ... :(

I already have an Infidel and this will go into my collection, the four sub $40 OTFs I have will go into EDC rotation. One is a Shrade (which essentially a clone of the S&W ) I ordered a second S&W and another is a Chinese double action that is in the mail).

The MIcrotech will go into my collection with the Infidel.
 
It's all your fault @Armored farmer :what:

I do really like the S&W M&P OTF I got and I do plan to incorporate it into my EDC.

However, this thread led me to BladeHQ and then to Microtech and then to THIS:

View attachment 854313
https://www.bladehq.com/item--Microtech-Ultratech-SE-OTF--91665?__s=vidk4yhbwmt8hwonitsy

And then there was the big orange button ... :(

I already have an Infidel and this will go into my collection, the four sub $40 OTFs I have will go into EDC rotation. One is a Shrade (which essentially a clone of the S&W ) I ordered a second S&W and another is a Chinese double action that is in the mail).

The MIcrotech will go into my collection with the Infidel.
My bad.
I'm gonna have one soon if that helps.
 
I've got a Benchmade Barrage and a Benchmade Volli and I lost a Mini Barrage out mowing one day. Still hoping to see it again someday. A big thing I like about the Benchmade spring assisted knives with Axis lock is they are true one hand open one hand close knives.
 
Dual action OTF are true one hand open and close. You can also do so with your hand completely wrapped around the handle and not in some form of pinch grip. Of course there are other trade offs.
 
Ohhhh woe is me, Woe is me Please send anything, send me your gold, your silver, your discarded failed 1911 builds ...
My budget has been brutalized by @Armored farmer I can no longer eat, I can't feed, bathe or clothe my family, Oh woe is me :(

Actually, I got the MIcrotech, and, while it will remain in my collection, the $40 S&W is really a more practical knife:

Advantages of the S&W M&P
--------------------------------------
MORE EASILY OPENED (single action)
MORE EASILY CLOSED (single action)

Less than 1/10 of the cost
Aus8 steel blade
tight lockup

Advantaged of the Microtech:
Double action (this results in a MUCH MUCH harder actuation and deactivation pressure).

I find it quicker and easier to slip off the safety on the M&P and flick out the blacd.
'
 
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Ohhhh woe is me, Woe is me Please send anything, send me your gold, your silver, your discarded failed 1911 builds ...
My budget has been brutalized by @Armored farmer I can no longer eat, I can't feed, bathe or clothe my family, Oh woe is me :(

Actually, I got the MIcrotech, and, while it will remain in my collection, the $40 S&W is really a more practical knife:

Advantages of the S&W M&P
--------------------------------------
MORE EASILY OPENED (single action)
MORE EASILY CLOSED (single action)

Less than 1/10 of the cost
AR 8 steel blade
tight lockup

Advantaged of the Microtech:
Double action (this results in a MUCH MUCH harder actuation and deactivation pressure).

I find it quicker and easier to slip off the safety on the M&P and flick out the blacd.
'
Now whoa.....whoa....wait. what.?
The s&w is your favorite?
I was ready to drop $$ on the microtech!
Tell all !
 
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@SharpDog The Microtechs are a little stiff when new. They do break in and get easier. What is AR-8 steel? All I can find on the S&W assisted OTFs is AUS-8. Unless you simply don't have the right abrasives to sharpen harder more wear resistant steels, I'm struggling to understand why you consider AUS-8 an advantage over steels like CTS-204P that Microtech uses. Ohh, and I'm completely jealous of your copper handled Microtech. :)

@Armored farmer GP Knives, which probably isn't too far from you, just get the new Dirac side switch DA OTFs in from Microtech - https://www.gpknives.com/microtech-...lain-double-edge-top-slide-otf-automatic.html.
 
Now whoa.....whoa....wait. what.?
The s&w is your favorite?
I was ready to drop $$ on the microtech!
Tell all !

'AR-8' steel is assault weapon steel ... it is used to make those "shoulder thingies that go up" :D

Sorry, it was a typo. Corrected in post. :oops:

The S&W works well albeit a single action. The Microtech has all the stuff, Elmax steel, etc but it has a VERY stiff 'triggger pull' if you will, maybe 20# - 25# so not really any faster once you master the S&W. I can now open the S&W faster (closing it still takes 2 hands).

and I can buy ten S&W's for one Microtech (I got the more expensive microtech)

but still 6x S&W's for one Microtech on sale. and if I lose one it's not so bad.

The Microtech is in my collection with my Benchmade but I got a second S&W and it's in my edc rotation.

It's definitely worth the under $40 to try the S&W and see if you like it. The steel is Aus8 and the handle is aluminum. Nice hefty feel. Very little play in the blade. Looks nice too.

btw do not get a Shrade, ergonomics are terrible, seems well made otherwise tho.
 
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I have had a Benchmade Infidel for about 10 years now. And it will likely be my only OTF knife because of price. Sure I can buy cheap Chinese crap for 50 and under, but why would I want to?
 
Here you can see the expensive Benchmade Infidel (upper left), Microtech Ultratech (upper right), my two S&W M&P's in the middle and a Shrade Viper OTF (not recommended) on the bottom:

20190816_184035.jpg
 
for anybody who is still shopping, I handled the hogue OTF, and it was ok, but I kind of liked the ultratechs better. I know I liked the benchmade phaeton better. I have not handled the guardian tactical recon 35, but it is on top of my short list. I hear good things about the action on the D rocket knives, but I don't like the styles and sizes. I have had a couple of the $50 chinese ultractech clones. They have great action and hold up well, but the blade steel is garbage. 8cr13mov or worse. Handles are slick too. I've got a halo V clone that I'm tired of playing with that I'd be willing to part with. I like the double action knives better as fidgety playthings.
 
What changed your mind?

Curiosity.

For forty dollars I can find out if they're better than I remember them and cheaper than I can take the time to drive up to SMKW to handle one again.

I was impressed by some of the Chinese OTFs yesterday. The Chinese OTFs have now started using machined buttons and anodized aluminum handles and their "D2" blades and you can pick them up for under $100 easily.

I had to chuckle at a guy selling "pakimascus" who was handling some of Walter Brend's knives yesterday (Walther sets up with me at the RK shows here). He had one of the typical pakibowies in his hand and was complimenting Walter on his knives. Walther was polite to the guy, but he could see me winking at him and had trouble keeping a straight face. I heard the guy tell Walter that he had a lot of work in his knives and that the finishes were exceptional...all the while holding this knife like object he was selling to the uninformed. After, I pointed out to Walter that if the best reference anyone has is something pretty pedestrian manufactured by the thousands upon thousands their compliment might seem to be nothing more than damned with faint praise, but in reality they are at least recognizing the superior workmanship even if they can't see all the details of it. Then another dealer praised his work as being "better than a Randall" and Walt looked at me and I winked again. When that guy walked away I commented that Walt was coming up in the world since his work was now better than a Randall instead of a pakibowie. He chuckled over that. Finally one of the gents who first met Walter at the NY Custom knife show came by and then another collector and another who knew the level of Walter's work and I gave him the same wink each time. I reminded him that all of these guys, from the pakimascus seller to the NY Custom collector all recognized the superiority of his work, but they all just had different reference points to work from. I tell this because that's how I feel about OTFs. I've seen everything from the Harkins to the first Halos to the Chinese Lightnings and appreciate them for what they are...but I don't mistake them for being the same.
 
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OK I got a cheap Double-action Chinese 440c OTF for $38. It is crap with about 2-3x the blade play of my S&W Aus8 single action for the same price. For the single action S&Ws The 'trigger pull" is prolly at #6 after a dozen or so pulls.

I'm planning to use it for fooling around, maybe as a package and letter opener. All around it is a decent knife except for the blade play and the non deep concealment clip.

What I am studying is the weight of the 'trigger pull' so to speak.

It started at over #20 each way and now is down to around #18 after a few dozen openings. Maybe after a while I can be comfortable and not be straining my thumb. As it is, doing 5 open / closes rapidly, I can barely make the last close at all.

So what sort of a break-in period am I looking at ?

After that period, what sort of useful life until it just becomes too loose ?

Remember, this is just a Chinese knockoff so no feelings hurt here. This is likely destined to be a letter opener.
 
At that price you would be better to ask how soon it is going to break and become another busted thing in a junk drawer that you can't get any warranty on.
 
At that price you would be better to ask how soon it is going to break and become another busted thing in a junk drawer that you can't get any warranty on.
I dont know, I've had 3 of the $50 ultratech clones over the years, and other than having soft steel (prolly 8cr13mov) they're fine. Thousands of firings and still going strong.
 
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