While all automatics have a strong forbidden fruit cachet among cutlery users, its the out-the-fronts (OTFs in auto geek lingo) that really increase their pulse rate. And of that general cutlery category, the modern double-action out-the-fronts are the most sought after. I think all of us find the functioning of these knives a little like magic. Push the release forward and the blade snaps straight out of the hollow handle and locks into place. Nothing too unusual there. It is when you pull the release back a short distance and the blade snaps closed just as fast as it opened, that you start wondering, how did they do that? Microtech, one of the leaders in the new generation of auto makers, has long favored OTFs for many of their models. Their latest introduction is the Combat Troodon family of blades. (I vaguely knew a Troodon was a type of dinosaur but didnt know much more than that. After Googling, I found it was a relatively small, bird-like animal around 6-feet high that may have had feathers. Like its more famous cousin, the Velociraptor of Jurassic Park, it had a large, hooked talon on each hind leg well suited for use as a tactical knife.) Currently, blade options for the Combat Troodon include a full double-edge blade, a clip-point, a wharncliffe point, and the ever-popular tanto point. All of these blades are S30V stainless and vary from around 3-3/4 inches to 4 inches depending on point style. Serrations and a wide variety of blade finishes are available as …

Microtech Fired Katana Daytona D/A OTF Knife Limited Microtech’s new out the front knife- the Daytona. This Daytona is part of the new Katana series. The Katana Daytona has a heat fired blade (this is what gives the metal its color) made from S30V. The handle is black anodized and has heat fired diamond plate inserts on the front and back. The beefy pocket clip and all hardware is also heat fired. Includes a black nylon sheath. Blade: 3.1″ Overall: 7.5″ Closed: 4.3″ Weight: 3.0 oz. Microtech …

The Currahee is a full tang fixed blade originally designed for US Special Forces Boat team 20. The original run of the CURRAHEE was limited, with the first few put in the hands of those best suited to test the knife, the United States Special Forces. Field use has proven that these knives can endure extremely high intensity, and adverse conditions. Currahee is a Cherokee name, which translates Stands alone. CURRAHEE is also the name of the last mountain in the Blue Ridge chain of mountains …