Greg Lightfoot is a famous and popular Canadian Knifemaker, member of the Canadian Knifemaker’s Guild, and all ’round cool guy. He lives on a farm in Alberta, and consequently also sells his designs to a select few production knife companies, Microtech being one of them. Microtech produces the Lightfoot LCC in both manual and dual action automatic versions.
This Microtech Kestrel was my first Microtech, and I remember being very excited when I was waiting for it to arrive. This was many years ago when Microtech was not nearly as big as it is now, and the company was still respected by the majority of the people in the knife world. I ordered it online sight unseen like I do most of my knives… and when it came I was blown away by the quality!
This is one of two Microtech Dragonflies I have owned, with the beautifully milled Aluminum handles and smooth stonewashed blade. This one was made during the period when 154CM was unreliable and has the 14-4CrMo steel blade. This specimen has the combo edged blade, which in my opinion is less desirable, however sometimes you can’t be picky when there’s a sale!
More Microtech goodness. The Amphibian is my favourite of the Microtech side-opening automatics. Beautifully machined and finished hard annodized aluminum handles, with 14-4CrMo steel from Latrobe, which is similar to 154CM. I picked this one up a while ago and had drooled over one for a long time before actually getting it. It was one of those knives that caught my eye immediately, and upon receiveing, did not dissapoint. Not even a bit.
This was my first Microtech Automatic knife, and even though it was not expensive, I really cherished it because of the fit and finish that Microtechs have gave it such an appealing look to me. Within a week of purchasing it, a buddy of mine at the Dojo I train at fired it for the first time, and the kick made him drop the knife right onto the concrete, putting several dents into the aluminum of the knife. It was painful moment…
When I first saw the Microtech Dragonfly I really liked it, so when I saw the Greenfly I had to get it. It was a cheaper alternative to the Tachyon that came out earlier, with an aluminum handle instead of Titanium. Microtech excels at machined aluminum handles so I think this model fits with their brand better anyway.