An overview of two beautiful OTF knives from Microtech, the UTX-70 and the Scarab.

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 …

My good friend attended the 2011 blade show and while he was there he called to tell me about this little gem. He asked if I wanted it and I had to bite, a well checked knife straight from the show that had only been touched by it’s creators, my good friend and now me. My friend is also a great knife collector who knows what I went through with my last few Microtech’s thoroughly checked this one out for me, he did well and has since asked to buy it several times. He also bought me the awesome ray skin pouch as a gift, what a great friend.

MT106-1 Microtech Makora II AUTO Out the Front 4.45″ S30V Double Edge Plain Blade

Just a quick comparison video requested by a viewer. She wanted to know how UTX-70 and Mnandi looks like when put together. I just happen to have my Spyderco Lava around so I also threw it in