brj's OTFs & miscellaneous others

[brj]

Same as others on here, I've found myself gravitating away from Spyderco in the last years, the main culprit in my case being the oversized choil they've decided to use on almost everything - don't get me wrong, I fully enjoy a similar choil on my T-Mag where it's actually needed, just don't need/want it there only for the sake of (supposedly) providing a better profile of the closed knife. For full transparency, in the last 4 years I've only bought 4 Spydercos (St.Nick's OG Millie, Stretch 2 XL, Catcherman, Crucarta Military 2). As expected, I love 2 of them, and pretty much don't care for the other 2, I'll let you figure out which is which .

Anyway, after agreeing with everything David said in a post over in the restricted sub-forum related to Spyderco having a lot of potential towards the OTF market, as there seems to be on ongoing trend on here, let me also recap what 'others' I've been using over the last 4 years. Please note I've used and carried OTFs almost exclusively.

Have been mainly carrying Ultratechs, rotating them has become an equally daunting task as rotating my OG Millies















Miscellaneous others make it into rotation at times








Lately I've been rotating Manticores


In my pocket as I type



I guess what I'm trying to say is I'd buy a Spyderco OTF

[Mk-211]

I'd buy one too, I just don't see them getting into that side of the market.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Those are some cool looking knives. Do you think the springs will stand up to hard utility use?

[brj]

Yes. While not without their quirks, I've learned that modern quality OTFs are a lot more tougher than people give them credit for.

[brj]

Also carry/use Vics quite a lot.
This is currently in my pocket (G10 liners & wire clip mod on a Pioneer), a very good (albeit minimalistic) EDC option.

[brj]

Also carried a bit these



Particularly the Feather, is carries nice and flat, the hawkbill is not as pronounced as to make it utterly useless for utility work, and has similar edge length to some Spydercos I also enjoy carrying, but with a more substantial handle to grab unto.

[Evil D]

Yeah 2023 was also the year of OTF's for me, and it all started because I came across the torture test videos of Microtechs being hammered through 2x4's. I was under the impression that these mechanisms were really fragile and really couldn't handle abuse but it turns out that lateral forces and crud inside them are really their only weaknesses.

I still don't care for the notch at the base of the blade but it's mandatory for the way they operate so I've tried to live with them. I really did fall in love with the action, especially of the Scarab and Livewire, they really are so convenient to operate and very fluid in use. It's a real shame that OTF's have been vilified because I think they have a lot of real world advantages in everyday use.


I started with this Ultratech. I didn't think I'd like the "urine yellow" Ultem but it really goes well with black. I like it a lot but the action is ridiculously stiff and the blade cuts like a brick even after reprofiling it.



Then the new Scarab 2 Gen 3 came out and I couldn't resist so I got a Proof Run, then immediately reprofiled the edge because who cares about resale value

I really like this one. It's a bit of a brick in your hand and the blade also cuts a bit like a door stop but the new Dual Fuel action is a huge improvement and it's much more forgiving to operate. I took this one to Gatlinburg and played around in the woods with it quite a bit and it's a lot more capable than people assume an OTF could be.



Then I found out Kershaw makes a better OTF than the almighty Microtech. The action is better, the blade slices way better, and the ergonomics are amazing by comparison. For a true EDC OTF the Livewire is very very hard to beat. It's also less expensive than an Ultratech and still made in USA.




But after all that I'm still back to carrying a Spyderco. I think in the end I value ergonomics higher than just about anything else and right now the Bodacious is King for me.

[brj]

Thanks for the comments, definitely on a similar journey here.
As with Spydercos, Microtechs cut so much better after you put in a bit of elbow grease



I like my Livewire as well and carry it from time to time



but feel that action on Gen III Microtechs is so much better than anything else on the market. These days it's the CT that gets major pocket time.

[Evil D]

I actually had 2 other Microtechs before the Ultratech that all got returned, one was a Sith Lord Ultratech and one was a Dirac Delta, and I learned from both that double edge is just never going to be my thing because I have too much of a habit of extending my thumb out onto the spine of the blade. I did it one time with the Delta, not even to get cut but the realization of it was enough to return it. I also don't like how they do their serrations, but if they did them like Spyderco does I would likely have a few combo edges.

[brj]

Winter magic 2024 Spartan with matching mini-screwdriver and my GITD MegaFob

[brj]

Currently carrying a Polispectral Spartan with Ultem scales



And this Cybertool M in my coat pocket

[Naperville]

Fantastic collection. I like the feather, was looking for one once and never found it available so I stopped looking. Thanks for reminding me!

I like your otf collection but I don't have any. Maybe some day.

[brj]

I think you'll like the Feather, it carries so slim and unobtrusive no one has been batting an eye, not even in my office/corporate environment.



And yeah, there should be room for a bit of OTF goodness in any knife collection . This week I'll be rotating some 'combo' edges.

[brj]

Weekend carry

[brj]

Playing with the GT Scout, so far I like a lot what I see

[RustyIron]

I learned from both that double edge is just never going to be my thing

Back in the 80's I discovered that I could buy all the switchblades I wanted through mail order catalogs, so I bagged a few OTF's. Although they were kind of cool for the time, they were junky imports. The whole concept seemed inherently flawed, so I never considered buying an OTF from a legitimate manufacturer.

Fast forward a few decades... Microtech is dropping their newfangled Ultratech ZBT later this afternoon. I'm intrigued. But the blade is double edged and the prices will be MSRP. I'm not so intrigued that I'll pay that much for something that I'm still ambivalent about. Maybe they'll flesh out the line with a tanto, and maybe there will eventually be sales. Maybe then I'll fork over some cash.

[Evil D]

I learned from both that double edge is just never going to be my thing

Back in the 80's I discovered that I could buy all the switchblades I wanted through mail order catalogs, so I bagged a few OTF's. Although they were kind of cool for the time, they were junky imports. The whole concept seemed inherently flawed, so I never considered buying an OTF from a legitimate manufacturer.

Fast forward a few decades... Microtech is dropping their newfangled Ultratech ZBT later this afternoon. I'm intrigued. But the blade is double edged and the prices will be MSRP. I'm not so intrigued that I'll pay that much for something that I'm still ambivalent about. Maybe they'll flesh out the line with a tanto, and maybe there will eventually be sales. Maybe then I'll fork over some cash.

Yeah I'm also watching those very closely. I'm not getting in on the double edged ones but when they do a single edge I'll probably bite. I really hope they give their Scarab 2 with the ZBT treatment.

[brj]

Think I'll be waiting for one of the DLC options, I kinda dig 'em

[brj]

Elections on our national day, let's hope we don't botch this up

[brj]