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 …
I gotta admit- I love me a quality OTF. There’s something about the staccato twang of an auto that’s at the same time romantic and intimidating, conjuring images of 50′s vagrants snapping their fingers and dancing in step. However, this is not one of those knives. Instead the Microtech Scarab is a knife that for me is straight out of James Bond, especially this Navy Seal edition knife. Made with exotic materials, exceptional craftsmanship and heaping helpings of WIN, this special edition Scarab not only looks the part, but it preforms too. Capable of opening underwater and sporting a tritium inlay in the slide, the Seal Scarab is a technically complex and very, very cool switchblade that boasts tremendous cool factor. It’s easy to carry, lightweight and compact, making it the ideal spy tool for your every day system. Thanks for watching and as always, if you like this video please subscribe to my channel!
Vienna, VA-based microtech video introduction presented at Fairfax County (VA) Chamber of Commerce govcon event, November 2009. microtech is an award winning Small Business that provides Information Technology solutions, management consulting, and technical services to the US Federal Government and private sector. For more details: www.microtech.net
