Ladies and Gentleman, what we have here, is a very rare and collectible piece from Microtech. It is a 1999 Vero Beach period Microtech Halo 3 OTF Automatic, one of the legendary knives that put Microtech on the map, and it is in mint condition. I was giddy as a school girl when a friend approached me with the opporunity to procure this fine piece of tactical cutlery history.

Since this is not a dual action OTF, you have to depress the firing button, and pull the charging handle back in order to close the knife. Single Action OTFs are usually more reliable, fire harder, and have a better blade to handle ratio than dual action OTFs.

The handle is precision machined 6061-T6 aluminum, with a Level 3 hard annodized finish. The surface is satin finished with no pocket clip and is very slim. Vertical and horizontal grooves are machined on the sides to provide a bit of traction, and gives the blade a nice feel in the hand.

Overall this is a collector’s piece that I doubt you will see too many of. The Halo 3 remains a key part of the Microtech history and evolution of the OTF Automatic knife. If you can find one, its a great collector’s piece.

Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel
Handle Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum HAIII Annodized
Blade Length: 4″
Overall Length: 9.3″
Weight: 3.6 oz

Microtech’s popular Ultratech 7 small Dual Action OTF knife is finally reviewed here. I posted a video review of the UT7 on youtube a while back, and have also embedded it at the end of this review for your reference. This is a post Vero Beach period Microtech, and is from the 2006 period, during which production took place in Bradford, Pennsylvania.

Blade
The 3.5″ blade is 154CM, made in the USA. Satin is the finish, and dagger shape is the profile. This blade is completely sterile, and was not sharpened very well from the factory. After the move from Vero Beach, Microtech’s QC took a minor dip. Given that they company is now manufacturing firearms, I would say that’s probably not a good thing! Overall, however, this is still a very nice piece of steel. Keep in mind while I say that Microtech’s quality is not as good as before, they still make an exceptional knife that is worth owning and using. I just really like their Vero Beach stuff.

At any rate, the double edged blade is stylish and probably good for thrusting, but in generally, the shape of the blade in conjuntion with the handle just doesn’t make it a very utilitarian design. These UT7′s are more for show than they are for utility. The straight blade does lend itself to be a good letter and package opener, however, which is what I probably use these kinds of knives for more than anything else. It does have a nice “blood groove” and some drilled holes for style and which also lighten the blade.

Handle
Hard Anodized Machined Aluminum handles, with three pin screws requiring a special Microtech driver to disassemble. The Talon logo is featured on the handle, and the pocket clip has the birth date. Unlike the Scarab and Makora from this era of Microtech knives, the Ultratech 7 does not have the grip tape inserts that give the knife better retention and purchase, which can be very useful when hands are when or when under duress in a self defense type of situation. On the other hand, many people find the grip tape ugly.. I kind of like them!

Fit & Finish
Very good fit and finish on this little Microtech, especially given what kind of prices they go for online these days. I think they are some of the better values in OTF’s when it comes to picking them up used. While they are far from my favourite dual action OTF out on the market, they are definately the best value, and for that, it gets some points. Quality is still microtech, but I would have preferred a few more features.. but from a fit and finish standpoint, very well executed.

Overall
Overall, its an outstanding value at the $175ish they typically fetch on the secondary market. The dual action mechanism is the same as most Microtech D/A OTFs I’ve fired, a bit on the stiff side, but not too bad. This is necessary since you are also charging a spring while you are firing the blade. The machining quality is excellent, as is with all Microtechs, even later models. Really happy with the UT7, and it will have to tide me over while I save up for a Masterpiece!

Specs:
Blade Lenght: 3.45″
Blade Steel:154CM
Handle: Black Anodized Mil-Spec Aluminum Frame
Closed: 4.6″

Video Review:

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.

As usual, Microtech has done an extremely fine job of crafting this knife to perfection, and it’s similarties to custom knives from Greg are astounding. I would have to say that the knife feels more custom than production, which is quite the compliment. You can snag one for around $200 on the secondary market in it’s manual configuration.

Steel on this fairly large folder is 154CM, like much of the stuff from Microtech. Bolsters are a bead blasted Titanium, with Carbon fiber used on the handles. Liners are also a bead blasted Titanium, giving it the classic tactical folder look and feel. The wide handles work well with gloves as well as bare hands as do the thumbstuds.

A very nicely designed folder from Greg Lightfoot, and perfect fit and finish from Microtech means you are getting an outstanding knife, for a reasonable price. Overall this is one of the better values out there, with custom quality materials and performance, for production knife pricing.

Specs:
Blade Length: 3.60″
Overall Length: 8.27″
Handle Material: Carbon Fiber
Bolsters: Titanium
Liners: Titanium
Blade Steel: 154CM

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!

Blade steel is the unbiquitous 154CM, black coated and razor sharp. The hawksbill style blade makes the Microtech Kestrel a bit less versatile than drop point or clip point blades, but is still great for opening mail or boxes. There are many details about this knife that are now fairly common, that at the time made the knife stand out. The perfectly countersunk allen head screws, the large beautifully machined thumbstud, fairly complex inlaid kraton rubber inserts, machined fine grooves in the lock back: all of these things lend to the incredibly polished and confident style that makes a Microtech.

The Kestrel fits my hand like a glove, but my hands to lean towards the smaller side, so larger handes will definitely find this knife on the small side. To be honest, aside from the very cool styling, the Microtech Kestrel isn’t a knife i could see myself carrying, and I never carry it really. The backside of the knife is devoid from any details, aside from a pocket clip. The clip is not reversible. I would have liked to see an additional Kraton rubber insert on the back.

Like all Microtechs, this knife is finished with the same perfection and attention to detail that you will be used to, and will be a nice surprise if it is your first. If you are looking for an EDC, you may want to check elsewhere, but this is a very finely finished knife either way.

Blade Length: 3″
Overall Length: 7 1/4″
Blade Steel: Black Coated 154CM
Handle Material: Annodized Aluminum with Rubber Inserts

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!

There are some questions as to whether or not Microtech is a good company to deal with, and based on what I’ve read, I would never support the company again. I usually don’t like to step on toes, but this is the case. However, it doesn’t mean that they don’t make first rate knives, because they do. Tony Marfione and the rest of the guys at Microtech may not be stand-up guys, but they make a mean knife.

Overall I think the Microtech Dragonfly is probably one of the best values in high-end butterfly knives being that you can get one for under $100. The spyderfly also falls into this category, but is not quite as easy to flip with. Perfectly made knife with excellent fit and finish.

Overall Lenght: 8 3/4″
Blade Length: 3 3/4″
Blade Steel: Latrobe 14-4 CrMo
Handle Material: Aluminum

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.

The grey annodized aluminum scales have Krayton rubber inserts on one side, with a pocket clip on the other. Firing buttong is sort of an oblong almost football-like shape. The curved handle gives it a great grip with superb retention. The Microtech Amphibian is a very versatile knife because of these features. The big belly on the blade does pose a problem for some urban mall ninja tasks such as opening letters and packages, where the belly isn’t quite as useful.

Blade fires strong and hard, fit and finish is perfect as it usually is with Microtech. As much as I love how the aluminum handles feel when using the knife, I dont like how they are not easy to refinish when scuffed. With Titanium such as on a Sebenza its easy to just re-blast it to take the scuffs out, which for me makes it easier to use a knife the way it was meant to be used.

All in all this is a great knife with a great ergonomic feel and unless the blade shape isn’t what you are looking for, would be a great choice as an auto.

Overall Length: 8.25″
Blade Length: 3.625″
Blade Steel: 14-4CrMo
Handle Material: 6061 T6 Aluminum

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…

The Mini-Socom Elite Auto and Manuals were the first Microtechs that were really affordable in my mind. They made an auto MT available at not much more than $110US. Previously, you were looking at paying closer to $200US for any of their automatic knives. Now the price of this knife has increased quite a bit however.

As you can see from the pictures, this model has the stonewash blade (which I think MT does one of the best jobs of in the inudstry) and black aluminum handles with black grip tape inserts. This is around the time that Microtech also started using the tri-spanner screws in all their knives, making it extremely difficult to disassemble them. Bits are now easy to get for those screws, and available on most sites that carry Microtech.

The Mini Socom is very light, with substantial kick. The scales are thinner than most similarly sized autos, with nice purchase and a comfortable grip. Blade is flat ground, 154CM steel, medium-sized at 3.4″ and clip point in shape. A very practical EDC user. I really do recommend this knife for an all-round user in the Automatics category.

Blade Length: 3.4″
Overall Length: 7.75″
Blade Steel: 154cm
Handle Material: Annodized Aluminum
Blade Steel: 154CM

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.

Blade is a green coated 14-4CrMo is very good, 14-4CrMo is made by Latrobe and is a stainless tool steel that is similar in make up to 154CM. It’s been said that Microtech used 14-4CrMo when Crucible’s 154CM is harder to get. I’ve found it to be an excellent steel, and similar in performance to 154CM. The narrow blade means a steep grind, and in this case, it makes the GreenFly only an “okay” cutter. Most people aren’t going to be using this knife for EDC, so its probably not a concern.

I’m not a very good bali flipper, but I gave it a few flips. The handles are light, so it is a bit different than flipping a normal balisong. I found it a bit hard to “feel” the centrifugal force of the handles. I did take the knife apart though and looked at the bushings and pivots. The knife is very well made.

Overall it’s a nice looking and very well made knife, but not the most useful knife and limited appeal because it is a butterfly knife. Butterfly knives also have limited use as far as EDC since they are illegal in many countries and states of the USA.

Overall Lenght: 8.75″
Blade Length: 3.75″
Blade Steel: Latrobe 14-4 CrMo
Handle Material: Aluminum