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Microtech Exocet Review

In these uncertain times, it feels like an indulgence to sit down and write a knife review. I ask, should I even be doing this? To go about reviewing expensive pocket trinkets while the world unravels like a ball of yarn? The website has always been a bit of a guilty pleasure, but I’ve yet to actually feel guilty working on it.

The only comfort I can offer is that after every setback I have suffered, I’ve found the best medicine is to get up and get back to work. Well maybe in this case we should stay at home and get back to work, but regardless, keeping a routine and moving forward is the only option I know. The current situation a disaster in every sense of the word, but things will eventually get better. In the meantime, I hope you and your family are holding up OK.

And that is where the Microtech Exocet comes in. Today’s guilty pleasure. This knife is the epitome of a pocket bauble. Something I had no immediate need for, but I had to have the moment I saw it. God forbid my spare hundos gather some dust, or lack an expensive pocket knife to be clipped to. Not sure which is worse.

Regular readers know I’ve been on a Microtech bender lately. You could consider these the mid life crisis pieces of my knife collection. Hey, they are cheaper than a Corvette. But the reason I keep coming back is that Microtech makes an exceptional product. And the value proposition is actually pretty good when you consider what you are getting.

The Exocet is a new release. Maybe not hot off the press, but released sometime in late 2019. The name sounds cool, and apparently it’s French for “Flying Fish” and a French guided anti-ship missile. I kept admiring the knife on BladeHQ. I’ve made plenty of impulse purchases, but when you keep coming back to something weeks later, then you know it’s time to buy it. In that sense the Exocet was a carefully considered acquisition.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Excocet has an overall length of 5.625″, a 1.98″ blade, weighs 2.75 and is made in the USA. This is a California legal dual action out the front automatic pocket knife. Microtech advertises it as a money clip knife, and its has a prominent pocket clip where you can stuff some cards and cash. Here’s a picture of the Exocet in it’s native habitat:

I’ve been using mine as an EDC knife, albeit carefully. Check your local laws before buying this knife or carrying it in public. While it’s a “Cali legal” auto it may not be entirely kosher in your jurisdiction.

The Exocet features a broad, dual edge, dagger ground blade. This is a notoriously blade pattern to grind, as it’s actually 4 grinds, and the goal is to have them perfectly symmetrical and to line up. My knife is ground well, but if I study it I can see that it’s not perfect. Like I mentioned, this is a difficult grind to master, and Microtech is mass producing them. All things considered I think they did a great job on a $250 knife. As usual, they offer this blade in a variety of finishes. I went for the stonewashed with satin flats. I prefer the contrast of an uncoated blade, and the way an uncoated blade holds up to wear.

I think it’s also worth mentioning how exceptionally sharp this blade was out of the box. The edge will pop hair off your arm with the lightest bit of pressure. This is the kind of blade that is so sharp, you won’t even notice you have been cut by it. I’ve handled my share of knives over the years. It’s rare to impress me with out of the box sharpness, but I’m impressed.

Here’s another size comparison with the Endura and Delica:

Blade steel on this model is M390. At the risk of oversimplifying things, M390 is great stuff. A high end stainless made by Bohler Uddeholm, M390 is known for it’s fine grain structure and excellent edge retention while remaining relatively easy to sharpen and highly stain resistant. It’s one of my favorite steels. It’s a great choice on most folders, and was certainly an appropriate selection here.

In practice, the Exocet took care of all of the basic EDC tasks I put it up to. I’ll admit it has mostly been “dry” tasks like opening mail and packages. I didn’t cut an overripe pear or field dress a possum, but I’ve opened plenty of bags and packages.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is constructed of black anodized aluminum. The anodization looks great, but it will show wear with use. One commentor lamented that I didn’t disclose that in my Benchmade 940 review. Anodized aluminum shows signs of wear if it brushes up against hard objects. Keep that in mind if you like your knives to look new.

As usual for Microtech, the handle has been meticulously machined. Also typical is the use of Microtech’s proprietary hardware. Normally I service all my knives, but this is one I have no desire to take apart. If you wanted to do that you would have to purchase a special tool and possibly risk voiding your warranty. That’s a potential downside for sure if you were to religiously carry and use this knife. I know you can spray it out with compressed air or WD-40, but eventually it would need to go back to Microtech.

That said, the handle is immaculate. An interesting detail is the chunky triangular impact tool bolted to the pommel. It looks cool, is potentially useful, secures the pocket clip, and successfully integrates a lanyard hole.

You don’t buy a knife like this for stellar ergonomics. It’s basically like holding a stack of credit cards. Not the most comfortable handle for sure. However, it doesn’t feel terrible for light duty. There is plenty of traction thanks to a gratuitous amount of milling. The hard anodization offers a little grip as well, while your thumb rests naturally on the slider. That said, this design is not going to win any ergonomics awards. I can get 4 fingers onto the handle, but it most naturally works with a 3 finger grip.

The pocket clip is also a little unusual. Like the blade, it’s broad and flat. It’s designed to serve double duty as both a pocket clip and money clip. It doesn’t do either of those things particularly well. It holds cash and cards fine, but compared with a normal money clip it’s bulky. And as far as pocket clips go, well, it’s enormous. It works fine, but it’s not terribly discreet.

In pocket the Exocet carries pretty well. It’s reasonably thin and light, but it is also wide. I haven’t had any issues carrying it, but it isn’t exactly a Dragonfly II in the pocket either.

Here is your in the pocket shot:

Deployment and Lockup

If you already own an Ultratech, or a Troodon, or any other dual action out the front automatic by Microtech, then you will know what you are getting into with the automatic mechanism. The slider is stepped and easy to get to. The slider is also easy to use. It strikes an excellent balance between requiring a conscious amount of force, so it doesn’t open up accidentally, but it doesn’t require so much force that it wears out your thumb. I think they struck the perfect balancen.

The action is snappy and fun. As usual the blade shoots out with a satisfying “clack” and withdraws with a similar amount of panache. This is Microtech’s bread and butter, and their dual action system translates perfectly to the smaller Exocet.

Once deployed the blade has a little wobble as you would expect. Both up and down and side to side. Nothing abnormal or crazy, just what you would expect from a knife like this. Eventually I’d like to acquire a G&G Hawk Deadlock, just to see what that’s all about. In the meantime I’m cool with a little blade play. This Exocet still gets the job done.

Here’s a parting size comparison with my Troodon:

Microtech Exocet Review – Final Thoughts

This is something that will either immediately speak to you, or be a total turn off. For me, I had to have it. In practice the Exocet has been a lot of fun. That is what this knife is all about: fun. The novelty of a Cali Legal OTF that doubles as a money clip. It’s a pleasurable way to part with $250. I actually think there is a good amount of value here. All the parts are made in house in the USA. The fit and finish is beautiful. The action is a lot of fun. Sure it’s a luxury good, but you get something for your money.

That said, I’d be remiss to not point out that compromises abound with a knife like this. You may want to think twice if this is going to be your day in / day out, ride or die knife. It’s more of a secondary blade or a light user. I have a buddy who daily carried an Ultratech. He’s an electrician, so his knife saw some action. It got beat up quickly. I’m not saying a knife like this couldn’t be carried and used zealously every day, but I’m not sure I’d recommend it. That said, who am I to suggest what you do. Buy a Microtech and use the piss out of it. Enjoy it in good health. From what I’ve seen they are reliable knives. Just don’t be upset if it picks up some battle scars in short order.

If you are a Microtech fan then I think you will like the Exocet. I like mine and plan on keeping it. As always, be careful if you decide to carry it. Check your local laws before purchasing or carrying this knife.

Microtech Exocet – From $250.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Exocet at BladeHQ. Thank you for reading.

Benchmade Infidel Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

To be completely honest, my first association with the Infidel is nutnfancy. I recall his video review from years back. He may have replaced it with this one. The Infidel struck me as a cool knife, but a total novelty piece. At the time I watched his videos, buying a $400 automatic out the front pocket knife was exceedingly low on my list of priorities.

Buy the Benchmade Infidel at BladeHQ

But I’ve slowly gotten more into automatic knives. They are a sub-niche of the already niche hobby of knife collecting, but it’s a sub niche I’ve enjoyed exploring. For a layperson like myself, I see them more as a novelty than a daily carry tool, but the novelty has yet to wear thin. After checking out a few Microtech OTFs I’ve decided to venture into the realm of the Infidel, Benchmade’s flagship automatic.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Infidel has an overall length of 8.95″, a 3.95″ blade, weighs 5.00 ounces and is made in the USA. This is a big knife. Compared to the Halo VI it isn’t, but compared to everything else in my collection this this an objectively large knife. Benchmade offers a mini version, which may be better for daily carry, if you can carry it. This full size Infidel has a certain heft in the hand, and it stretches out in an instant. Definitely a piece for the professionals or the collectors.

Benchmade does make a Mini Infidel with a blade a little over 3″. I haven’t handled one, but it looks a little more pocketable.

The blade is a spearpoint affair, double edged and hallmarked by a long fuller that descends down the blade, terminating in a shape that resembles either a heart of set of dog testicles. The edge is applied to only the button side of the blade, a chisel edge not unlike an Emerson. Speaking of edges, the have been almost perfectly applied. This was either done by a robot, or some had an exceptionally steady hand at the grinding wheel. The 4 flat grinds are also all beautiful. Totally even and symmetrical. The blade has been well done.

You have a choice or an uncoated blade, or coated in Benchmade’s black BK1 coating as shown here. All things equal I would have preferred an uncoated blade, but I won’t complain about this coated option. It subdues the knife a bit and suggests that the Indifdel is strictly for business. Of course in my case “business” entails opening an especially stubborn bag of Cheetos, rather than assisting an outspoken insurgent shuffle his mortal coil, but as Nutn’ would say “your mileage may vary.” Indeed, Dude. Indeed.

Benchmade offers the Infidel in D2 steel. Back in the day when this knife first came out, D2 would have been a fine choice, but today it’s considered more of a budget steel, and we are even seeing it appear on bargain knives like the Rat 1. Benchmade needs to revisit this and update the blade steel.

My reasoning for this is that D2 has a reputation for being stubborn to sharpen. I believe that reputation is deserved with Benchmade’s heat treat. My 710 is a workhorse, but it’s a bitch to sharpen that recurved D2 blade. On the flip side, D2 has good edge retention and excellent toughness. It can be a real workhorse steel if you know how to keep it sharp, and the story goes that heat treat wizards like Bob Dozier have been able to heat treat D2 in a near mythical fashion that transcends what you get with a Benchmade.

But I’m writing this review at the end of 2019. In a few weeks it will be 2020. The D2 that was a good choice back in the early 2000s when this knife was originally produced, is not such a great choice today. Personally, I’d love to see M390 or an equivalent on this $500 piece. I think the price tag commands that. But even a decent stainless like 154CM or S35VN would be preferred here, although at the price point the consumer likely deserves M390 or CPM-20CV. D2 has the added wrinkle of D2 being “semi-stainles” and prone to patina. That’s another reason why springing for the coated version isn’t a terrible idea.

While the D2 blade can assuredly get the job done, I’m not a big fan of D2 on this uber expensive knife. And we live in a day in age where we don’t need such a compromise steel on a knife like this. Benchmade should at least give us another option.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle is made mostly of black anodized aluminum. There are a couple visible liners that appear to be stainless steel or titanium. Everything is held together with torx bolts. Handle construction is solid. There are no unintentionally sharp edges, and the parts line up perfectly. The handle has a pleasant heft to it, and the entire package reminds me of a meticulously built tiny hard-anodized aluminum coffin. What’s not to like?

The Infidel feels great in hand. I like how the weight meaningfully shifts as you deploy the blade. The open knife is blade heavy, with the balance point back behind the thumb slide. That may have some significance if you are using the knife in more of a martial arts capacity, as if you hold the knife with your thumb behind the button it gives you a neutral feeling in hand. My plebian tasks for the Infidel don’t really take advantage of that balance. I find myself more forward on the handle, bearing down on a block of cheese, angling under the fold of an envelope, or slicing the top off a plastic bag.

Still, the knife feels good in the hand. There are 2 dramatic finger choils that make natural resting spots for your thumb, or they can be grasped securely in a fist. The anodized aluminum has that light texture that reminds me of a chalkboard. The handle itself is generous and is bound to work well for most people. I give the ergonomics high marks.

You know you have acquired a serious piece of hardware when your folding knife comes with it’s own MOLLE equipped pouch. I enjoyed that with the old Benchmade Adamas and I am enjoying it here with the Infidel. There is something satisfying in a “who let the dogs out?” kind of way when you pop open the pouch with your thumb and pluck out the Infidel. Of course a pouch like this could be practical for law enforcement, military, or some other use case where it’s appropriate to wear MOLLE gear. Sadly, I find those occasions are few and far between for me.

Thankfully, Benchmade also equipped the Infidel with a deep carry pocket clip. This is much more practical for a civilian like me. The pocket clip is large, black chrome, and has “THE INFIDEL” emblazoned on it in distressed lettering. Oy vey. It looks cool in the way a Ford Raptor looks cool, gauche and unnecessary. Again, not appropriate for every occasion, but when you can pull off a piece like this it fits the bill.

And the pocket clip itself works great. It’s large, offers excellent spring retention, and buries your pocket knife deeply and securely in the pocket. And I want a secure clip for my $500 pocket knife. The last thing I’d want to do is lose it, or have it clatter out onto the floor when I sit down.

Here is your overexposed pocket clip shot:

That shiny clip is tough to photograph.

Deployment and Lockup

The Infidel is a dual action out the front automatic, meaning you can both open and close the blade with the pull of a button. The button on this knife is a large stepped block of raw aluminum. It stands out from the handle, a stark point of contrast on my otherwise black knife. That’s fine as it is a very functional button. You press forward on it with your thumb to get the knife open. A good amount of travel and force is required, but when you push back hard enough the blade springs forth with a substantial clack.

I think the amount of force and travel required is just right. You don’t want this knife accidentally opening, and the long throw switch makes this a purposeful knife to use. But isn’t so bad that it tears up the pad of your thumb. I can absentmindedly flick this blade open and closed all day, much to the chagrin of my girlfriend or anyone else within earshot.

Here is another size comparison with the Spyderco Delica and Spyderco Endura:

Lockup is pretty darn tight. There is a little wiggle in each direction, but not much. There will almost always be that compromise in an out the front auto, unless you are willing to spring for something like the Deadlock. But those start at $1,000, assuming you can get your hands on one. I’ll review one eventually. But this is about the Infidel, and I’d say the lockup on the Infidel is pretty good for what it is.

Benchmade Infidel Review – Final Thoughts

The Infidel is beautifully made and over the top. While there are practical uses for a knife like this, “normal” knife users like me will mostly enjoy the Infidel for its novelty. I’ve enjoyed putting this knife through its paces around the house, but that’s about all I can do with it. That says more about me than the Infidel, but suspect that my use case represents a lot of the people that buy this knife. And that’s totally OK. I think the Infidel is a satisfying collectible, and it’s resting comfortably next to my Combat Troodon and Halo VI.

If I were to update the piece I’d select some different blade steel. D2 has almost always been considered a compromise steel. That’s inappropriate on a knife that has such an uncompromising price point.

I think there are some compelling use cases for a dual action out the front auto. It’s hard to beat the convenience of a knife like this. It’s true one hand use, and 4″ of blade appears at the touch of a button. It’s practical in that regard. And for some professionals, this is a legitimate tool. It’s not a toy and it’s not a novelty. I’ve enjoyed the Infidel and respect it for what it is.

Again, I’d draw an analogy between the Benchmade Infidel and Ford Raptor. There is a serious “want vs. need” conflict within this knife. Few people that buy the Ford Raptor actually will bomb it down the sand dunes of Baja California. Most will drive it to work, and maybe tow a boat or trailer with it on the weekends. Who knows, they may even play in the mud with it on occasion.

The Infidel offers a similar proposition. Totally cool, capably built, and entirely impractical for most people most of the time. But that’s OK. If you have the means and the interest, the Infidel is well done and worth checking out. And if you are looking to scratch this kind of itch, it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than a Raptor.

Benchmade Infidel – From $437.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Benchmade Infidel at BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website (including Amazon) helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Cold Steel Hide Out Review

by Travis Pike 3 Comments

You can’t not love Cold Steel. They make some odd, but often innovative knives, as well as super fun and cheesy videos. I never needed a Gladius machete but damn do I want one. Today we are going small, super small, and looking at Cold Steel’s Hide Out. The Hide Out is an ultra small neck knife designed as a last ditch weapon.

Buy the Cold Steel Hide Out at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The Cold Steel Hide Out is designed for discreet carry. It’s easily worn and carried around the neck, or with an added loop it can be carried in an IWB position. The knife is inexpensive, and super lightweight. It’s also a formidable knife should you find yourself in a last ditch scenario. The Hide Out is my go to knife when I go for a run because it’s easy to carry and easy to use.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Hide Out has a 3 inch blade and a 3.5 inch handle for a knife that’s 6.5 inches long total. The Hide Out weighs a mere 1.9 ounces. The knife is made from Japanese AUS 8A stainless steel, and has a Kray Ex handle.

AUS 8A steel is an affordable steel that is certainly well suited for the Hide Out. AUS 8A is a heat treated steel, and it has excellent corrosion resistance. This is a must have since the knife sits against my sweating chest as I run. The steel itself is also very quick and easy to sharpen, but the downside is it will dull somewhat quickly. The steel itself is reported to be very strong and I have no reasons to think it isn’t.

The blade is a dagger design that ends with a sharp spear point. The blade is a V-grind and is quite attractive and evenly ground. The blade is extremely sharp from the factory and keeping the edge sharp is easy to do. Integrated right below the blade is a very small handguard. In a traditional fencing grip it’s not very useful, but it’s incredibly handy in an ice pick style grip.

The Hide Out is not designed as a working man’s knife and not exactly a tool designed for EDC. It’s a weapon designed for concealed carry. A dagger style blade also means its designed more for stabbing that slicing or cutting. That being said the handguard also acts as a point of leverage for your thumb and you can slice through most common materials if necessary.

The Hide Out is super simple and from a last ditch self-defense perspective that is all it needs to be. The blade is short enough to make it easy to handle and to make repeated stabs easy. The blade is pointy and sharp and needs no special techniques to use. Just point the stabby end at the bad guy and thrust it. It will most certainly get the point across.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is very thin, but long enough to fill your hand. The handle flares outward near the bottom and the Kray Ex coating makes it easy to grip and allows the user to easily draw the knife from a neck worn sheath. The long handle gives you an outstanding grip on the knife.

The handle is merely coated with Kray Ex, and the knife does have a full tang. Kray Ex rubber is a Cold Steel material they use for their grips. It’s soft and comfortable, but also heavily textured to provide a solid grip on the knife.

As I mentioned before the grip is exceptionally thin, but it’s easy to hold onto. It’s a valuable thing to have for a knife designed for self-protection. The handle’s Kray Ex coating makes it easy to grip, especially when it comes to wet and sweaty hands.

I’ve never needed to use it for actual self-defense, but I’ve practiced with it during runs and I’ve always been able to draw it without issue. The knife’s design means regardless of which side you grab it’s positioned for use and for an easy grab. Perfect for a defensive situation where there is no time to think about which way you are grabbing the knife.

Manipulating the Hide Out and cutting through cardboard was surprisingly easy to do. The handle gives you a lot of leverage and you can control the blade with very little effort. The handle is also very thin and it will wear on your hand while you work with the knife.

Sheath

The Hide Out sheath is molded kydex and is called Secure-Ex. The Secure-Ex sheath offers excellent retention for the Hide Out. It has four points of retention. Two on the front and two on the back. The blade is absolutely not coming out of the sheath without a sure tug.

The sheath is made from two polymer molded halves that are held together with 8 eyelets. These eyelets allow you to position your chain higher or lower for an easier reach depending on your size. I like to position it low enough for easy and quick access.

There are also four wider slots to weave webbing through if you so decide. Overall the sheath is top notch and it’s perfect for low profile carry. It seals the knife in and ensures it going nowhere even when being worn from the neck upside down.

Cold Steel Hide Out Review – Final Thoughts

The Hide Out is a super small, and affordable neck knife designed for concealed carry. It’s extremely convenient for daily carry and comfortable as well. As a design it’s simplicity makes it effective to employ and very easy to carry. The Cold Steel Hide Out retails for under 40 bucks and serves a niche purpose.

The Hide Out isn’t a good EDC knife and basically any mid-tier folder would be a better choice. The Hide Out is perfect for situations where your dress or activity doesn’t allow you to carry a traditional knife. It’s a neat design and as a weapon it serves its purpose. If you need a do it all knife choose something else, if you need a light and easy to carry weapon then the Hide Out is for you.

Sale

Cold Steel 49NDEZ Hide Out Blade Knife, Black/Silver

Product Type: Knife
Unit Count : 1.0
No batteries required
Made in China

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Cold Steel Hide Out from Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

Microtech Troodon Review

by Dan Jackson Leave a Comment

I’ve got a couple Microtech knife reviews under my belt at this point, and as far as their automatics go I’ve reviewed the Halo VI and the Stitch. Something that is obviously missing from the picture is one of their dual action Out The Front (OTF) knives. The OTF autos are are the knives Microtech is best known for making. And of course for some reason I waited to pick one up.

Buy the Microtech Troodon at BladeHQ

Oddly enough, it was when a buddy of mine in the real world told me he was picking up a couple Ultratechs to daily carry, it prompted me to think about a dual action OTF of my own.

I went for the Troodon because I thought it looked cool with its angled front. I went with a double edge spearpoint blade for added coolness, but as usual for Microtech you can configure this knife in a myriad of ways. Plus, the knife is named after a dinosaur. I’ll get an Ultratech soon.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Troodon has an overall length of 7.65″, a 3.00″ blade, weighs 3.00 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is a nice size knife for EDC, provided you are in a jurisdiction that allows you to carry an OTF knife. They do make these with a single edge, so it’s possible this could be a daily carry for some. Personally, this has been more of a collectible than a true daily carry for me.

Here is a picture next to a Spyderco Sage 5:

As you can see it’s a nice size for EDC. Provided you are in a jurisdiction that permits you to EDC it.

For those wanting something significantly bigger, Microtech offers the Combat Troodon with an overall length of 9.5″ and a 3.8″ blade. Weight comes in at 5.35 ounces.

As I’ve mentioned a couple times, this knife has a dual edged spear point blade. You can also get the knife in a drop point, tanto, or hellhound tanto. Additional options include partial serrations, full serrations, coated, or uncoated in a variety of finishes.

My knife features a satin finish. It has been beautifully ground. All grinds are crisp and uniform. The edges are also nice and even, not an easy job for a double edged knife. There is a deep fuller down the blade that has been further pocketed. It looks cool.

Blade steel is the tried and true M390. I have waxed semi-poetic about this steel for a long time. It’s one of my favorite high end steels, blending the qualities of good edge retention and easy sharpening. It also polishes nicely and exhibits good rust resistance.

I can’t say I’ve used this knife a whole lot. Besides it probably being illegal to carry outside my home, the double edged blade is kind of dangerous for my usual box cutting, apple coring shtick. I’ve used it lightly and treated it as more of a collectible. While I know some people will daily carry their Troodons, a lot will keep them as collectibles.

I will say the Troodon came extremely sharp out of the box. It cleanly cuts thin receipt paper. It will open a letter or a package without a problem. And I have to confess these dual action OTFs are actually very handy because you can use them easily with one hand. My Troodon was epic in the kitchen for opening up bags of produce. It also sliced some roma tomatoes easily, although I was careful to clean the blade after prior to retracting it back into the handle of the knife.

On the subject of sharpening, it’s interesting to review Microtech’s FAQs. They say improper sharpening voids their warranty. I’d be curious to learn what that entails. I’m sure gentle stropping or running the edge on a ceramic rod like a Sharpmaker will not void the warranty.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Troodon features a hard anodized aluminum handle, fastened together with Microtech’s proprietary hardware. Usually, this is the part of the review where I’d take a moment to whine about the proprietary hardware, but this is a knife I have no desire to open up.

Fit and finish is excellent. All the parts line up perfectly, and everything has been finished to a high standard. The hard anodizing is good, but it’s not impervious to wear. My anodizing has worn slightly underneath the pocket clip, and my electrician friend’s Ultratech shows some significant battle scars after a couple months of heavy duty daily carry.

Capping things off is an aggressive glass breaker / “skull crusher” on the pommel.

The Troodon is comfortable in hand. There is a lot of traction on this handle thanks to deep scallops all over the handle. That, combined with the box handle shape, means that this is not a knife that will melt into your hand. But you can definitely get a good grip on it, which is essential for using the dual action button. More on that later.

While the knife will never be as comfortable as an Emerson, the handle design serves its purpose and looks good doing it.

The pocket clip is a deep carry “double dip” clip, a la Chris Reeve Knives. I’ve always liked double dip clips as they help anchor the knife in your pocket. That, combined with the good spring retention and aggressive texture under the clip, means that this knife isn’t going anywhere. Comforting when you shell out almost $400 for a pocket knife.

The clip is another precision machined part marrying form and function. It looks cool without being over-the-top, and is both serialized and production date stamped. It’s anchored in place with that impressively machined glass breaker pommel. The clip can be swapped for right or left side tip up carry, but you will need either a special tool or some patience to un-thread the pommel without marring its finish.

In practice the Troodon carries great. The pocket clip is secure and the knife is light. I’ve carried this knife around the house and quickly forgot the Troodon was in my pocket. I literally forgot I was carrying the knife, to the point where I ended up taking it on an hour long bike ride. Generally I don’t select $400 knives for bike rides, but the Troodon performed admirably, thanks in large part to that double dip clip.

Deployment and Lockup

This section is why you buy a Troodon. It’s a dual action out the front automatic knife. That means the blade both opens and closes with the push of a button. It’s an “Out The Front” automatic because the blade shoots and retracts out the front of the knife. None of this should come as a surprise, but it’s worth mentioning to be thorough.

So how does it work? The button is stiff, and takes a good amount of pressure to actuate. That’s a good thing, as you don’t want the knife to accidentally open up in your pocket. Thanks to the significant force required to actuate the blade, I think it’s almost impossible that the blade would open up accidentally.

When you do apply enough force to trigger the blade it shoots out with a satisfying snap. It feels punchy, but its actually not enough force to be considered a “penetrateor”. This means it’s not designed to be shot into it’s target like a light saber. If you hold an index card an inch or two in front of the knife, it will not punch through the card, and it will instead derail the blade. You can then reset the blade by pulling it out manually. I consider this to be a feature, not a bug. As it stands a knife like this requires a certain level of respect. It’s not a toy and you need to be careful with it.

Here it is next to my Halo VI:

When the knife is open there is a little blade wiggle. Not a lot, maybe half millimeter. That’s the nature of most dual action knives, although, the Deadlock is a notable exception. The blade wiggle is to be expected with these production dual action OTFs. The knives will hold up fine under normal use, but you definitely don’t want to do any prying or chopping with a knife like this.

The blade retracts by pulling back on the button. It shoots into the handle with the same speed and sound. The entire process is novel and satisfying.

Microtech Troodon Review – Final Thoughts

Each Microtech I’ve bought has encouraged me to buy another. They are unique and memorable knives. They aren’t cheap, but they are beautifully made in the USA. The visual flair, attention to detail, and robust nature of their offerings elevates their offerings beyond gimmick.

The Troodon is no exception. These dual action OTF knives are Microtech’s bread and butter, and it’s easy to see why. The action is smooth, satisfying, and undeniably cool. While this knife isn’t a daily carry for me, plenty of folks like to carry these D/A OTFs. Part of the appeal is that you can easily open and close the knife with one hand. In that sense, this is actually a practical tool. But it’s Microtech’s ability to blend form and function that keep me coming back.

Recommended to those who are interested in the design, or a high end dual action OTF automatic. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Microtech Troodon- From $374.00
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Microtech Troodon at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Kershaw Launch 4 Review

by Dan Jackson 5 Comments

Regular readers may recall I’m attempting to step outside of my comfort zone and review more automatic knives. I started with a couple high end Microtechs, swung down to the Boker AK-74, and have now changed course towards something resembling the middle ground: The Kershaw Launch 4.

Buy the Kershaw Launch 4 at BladeHQ

The Launch 4 is one knife in a series of Kershaw Launch automatics. The Launch series was released a few years ago. These are simple, USA made knives with clean lines, and aluminum handles that come in a number of colored anodization choices in addition to a more standard matte black offering. The knives in the series appear to hover in that $75-$125 price point. So it’s a premium offering, but won’t break the bank.

I selected the Launch 4 due to it’s unique size and profile. It’s unlike anything else in my collection. Kershaw has plenty of Launch knives with 3-3.5″ blades, and I may check one of those out later on, but there was something about the diminutive Launch 4 that caught my eye.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Launch 4 has an overall length of 5.10″, a 1.9″ blade, weighs 1.98 ounces, and is made in the USA. The Launch 4 is a “Cali Legal” automatic with its sub 2″ blade. Cali Legals are an interesting class of automatic knives, that feature blades that are 2″ long or less. This is a category I wouldn’t mind exploring further.

At any rate, this small knife, suitable for daily carry, assuming it’s legal for you to do so. As always, please check your local laws before purchasing an automatic knife. In many places these sorts of knives can be either illegal to own or carry. Be careful.

Here is a size comparison with the Spyderco Dragonfly 2 so you can see how small this knife is:

The spear point blade is stout, and made from blade stock that is just over 3mm thick. Adding to the ruggedness is the partial hollow grind and partial swedge. The end result is a knife with a sharp yet meaty tip. Kershaw offers this knife with both a black DLC coated blade as well as uncoated versions.

Blade steel on this knife is CPM154, a tried and true American blade steel I have grown to both know and love over the years. CPM-154 is easy to sharpen and holds a nice edge. It’s the powder metallurgy version of the classic. The powder metallurgy process results in a finer grained steel, and is an upgrade over standard 154-CM. I have noticed some of my 154CM blades will rust on me if I’m not careful, so I’m kind of glad I got the coated version here. At this price point I’m glad to see CPM-154 stamped on the blade. That’s not a steel I recall seeing Kershaw or ZT work with before. It’s a nice surprise and a great choice for this price point.

In practice I have had the chance to use my Launch 4 as a daily carry utility knife. I bought this knife around Christmas, and like most households we received a lot of packages during that time period. The Launch 4 has gotten a lot of work with cardboard. It cuts cardboard capably. Not the absolute best slicer with its short stout blade, but it gets the job done. It’s not my choice of knife for cutting apples, or for food prep in general, as the blade is too short and the juices end up flowing into the pivot area, but then again this knife probably wasn’t designed for preparing apple slices.

I’m pleased to say the DLC coating has held up really well. DLC is my favorite blade coating because it is so durable. Cardboard is highly abrasive and can mar up the look of a coated blade easily. Here, there are a couple micro scratches on the finish but that’s it. Also, I found the knife easy to sharpen on my [easyazon_link identifier=”B001JL1I6Y” locale=”US” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″]Spyderco Golden Stone[/easyazon_link].

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Launch 4 features beautifully machined aluminum handles that have been given a brilliant royal blue hard anodization. This is a two piece handle with an integrated backspacer. I am impressed with the handle of this knife. The design is extremely clean and thoughtful, the engineering is top notch, and I love the contrast with the black hardware and blue handles. The handles have an almost iridescent quality to them, shimmering in the light. However, the ultimate beauty lies in the simplicity of this knife.

That same simplicity carries over to the ergonomics. The coffin shaped handle clocks in at 3.2″. There isn’t much to grab, but the knife still manages to fill the hand and disappears into your palm. You can comfortably hold the knife in both forward and reverse grips. The knife probably does best in a reverse ice-pick grip. In that way it feels very shank like. But you can also hold the knife normally and it will certainly open a letter.

There is no jimping on this knife, or any aggressive texturing. However, the hard anodization has a light texture that provides some nice tactile feedback, and the Launch 4 doesn’t feel slippery. Still, those actively seeking out knives with “traction plans” may want to stock up on skateboard tape, or pick something else to shower with.

The pocket clip dominates the back handle of this knife. It’s a standard Kershaw clip given a black parkerized finish. The handle is drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only, but you can hardly fault Kershaw for that given the diminutive size of this knife. Really, that’s the only place where you can place a clip and not interfere with the deployment button.

In practice this is a discreet knife. Kershaw has pushed the clip as far back to the pommel as they could without opting for a full on deep carry clip. I think the knife is small enough as it is, and I’m not sure having it completely buried in the pocket is a good idea. That said, if you get the all black version of this knife my guess is that it would be pretty stealthy. Especially if paired with some black leather pants for a black on black on black effect. Just sayin’.

The Launch 4 is easy to carry. Sub 2 ounces and tiny, it’s a little thicker than a Dragonfly 2, but in practice I didn’t notice it much.

Deployment and Lockup

This is a push button auto with a coil spring. It’s just like the Microtech Stitch and Boker AK-74 I have reviewed in the past. A tried and true design that should offer years of trouble free use. The action is stiff and snappy. Not quite Microtech levels, but pretty damn good. You need to pay attention or the knife could fly out of your hand whilst deploying the blade. I haven’t taken this one apart yet, but it appears to be a washerless design where the aluminum frames act as integral washers. That is similar to some of Hogue’s designs.

There is no safety of any kind, but the button requires a good deal of travel to open the blade. Opening the knife accidentally is unlikely, but like any knife you need to treat this tool carefully and with respect.

Lockup is secure and play free thanks to the stout button lock. The one nice thing about reviewing autos is that you do see a lot of button locks with this category. I’ve warmed up to good button lock knives over the years. They aren’t as in vogue as frame locks, but done right they are strong and practical. This Launch 4 is no exception.

For our parting shot, I have selected a size comparison with the Benchmade Bugout. My streak of buying blue knives has continued…

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

Kershaw Launch 4 Review – Final Thoughts

The Launch 4 is dialed in. The clean design, tight tolerances, and excellent choice of materials give the knife a premium feel.

In an age where you can spend a lot of money on exotic materials and design flourishes, there is something refreshing about buying a knife that strikes that perfect balance of form and function. Kershaw didn’t go super cheap, and they didn’t gild the lily either. They managed to find that sweet spot and allocated their budget to good blade steel, tight tolerances, and durable finishes. The end result is a rock solid small format auto for well under $100.

If you are looking for a premium Cali legal auto, then I think the Launch 4 is an excellent option. It’s reliable and durable. I can see why this is a popular choice.

Kershaw Launch 4 – From $79.95
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Kershaw Launch 4 at BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website (including Amazon) helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.