Knife Review: Microtech Merlot Troodon Hellhound OTF Automatic Knife

The Microtech Merlot Troodon Hellhound OTF Automatic Knife

For over 20 years, Microtech has been working to build a long-standing tradition of innovation and quality with each knife that leaves our facility. In a world of ever-changing technology, they strive to ensure their customers have access to the latest advancements in knife making, while still continuing to maintain a humanized element throughout the manufacturing process. As the company continues to grow, their focus remains the same: to deliver revolutionary products that exceed the industry’s ever-increasing desire for groundbreaking ideas. They appreciate their customers, for the years of loyalty and support, and for motivating them to better themselves so that they may continue to rise about your expectations.

Microtech Knives was established in 1994 in Vero Beach, Florida relocating to Bradford, Pennsylvania in 2005. They have always operated with a simple mission: To make the best possible knives. The mission is still true today. Their goal is to attain and maintain extremely high-quality knives throughout the evolution of growth and change. Founder, Anthony Marfione’s objective is to ensure that every day, each customer will receive the highest quality knife that money can buy. They deliver personalized service with exceptional attention to detail. Even though they produce thousands of specialized knives, the quest for quality remains their primary focus.

The Microtech Reputation has continued to stress quality which means that they have extremely close tolerance—their designers and technician measure to the thousandths to ensure precision action. They also only use USA manufactured parts, material, and labor. They research and test only the highest grade of Tool Steel, Aircraft Alloy, and component pieces—all developed by USA Manufactures. Also, approximately 95% of all parts are fabricated by them not for them. All of their knives are designed and engineered by experts—aiming to meet and exceed customer needs, targeting ease in application and effectiveness. They also have a lifetime limited warranty of all Microtech Worldwide products. Microtech does not compromise on quality.

During their history, they have produced revolutionary tactical knives and in keeping with their tradition, they continue to introduce new innovative products, striving for excellence.

Microtech is a leader in the industry. They will continue to be one of the World’s finest in pioneering creative and inventive designs. Microtech’s goal is to attain and maintain extremely high-quality knives throughout the evolution of growth and change. They deliver personalized service with exceptional attention to detail. Even though they have produced thousands of specialize knives, the quest for quality remains their primary focus.

Today we will be talking about one of BladeOps’ newest arrivals, which is the Microtech Troodon Hellhound OTF automatic knife in Merlot.

The Blade:

The blade on the Troodon Hellhound is made out of CTS 204P stainless steel. This steel can reasonably be compared to Bohler-Uddeholm’s M390 steel. However, it does have a little bit more tungsten than the other steel. This steel is known for having an incredibly high wear and corrosion resistance. Part of this is due to the fact that it does have a fine-grained alloy, which also means that this is a good choice for high end folding knives, such as the Troodon, as well as some fixed blades.

Other than that, it is going to preform like a high-end stainless steel is expected to. You can expect it to keep its high level of quality without too much maintenance. You will want to wipe down the blade after each use, but you won’t have to worry about scrubbing it after each use, like you might on some. This is a harder steel, so it might be slightly complicated to sharpen, but nothing that an experienced sharpener can’t handle.

This steel is not a super common one, but it is a high-end steel. It will be able to hang with most tasks, so you won’t ever have to question whether or not it is going to be able to defend you when you need it most—it can handle it.

The blade has been finished with a stonewash finish. The stonewash finish is the perfect choice for this rugged, brute of a knife. The finish is created when the blade is tumbled with small ceramic stones, which creates a textured look. The blade is then smoothed out, but the textured appearance remains. This also makes the blade look matter, which adds to the toughness of it.

The blade has been carved into a patented hellhound tanto style blade. The tanto blade shape is a knife that has a high point with a flat grind. The unsharpened edge meets the sharpened edge at an angle, instead of the better-known curve. The tanto blade shape has a rich history. The shape has evolved from the ancient Japanese Samurai swords. However, in the 1980’s, Cold Steel modernized the shape and popularized the American tanto blade shape.

This style of knife is interesting because it is not versatile in any way. This blade is not going to be your all purpose, everyday knife. However, it does one thing, and it does it better than any other knife will be able to do that. It has a crazy strong tip because of the amount of metal that is near the tip. Because of this, it can pierce through hard and tough materials easily. This blade shape can also endure repeated stabbing, without breaking, snapping, or chipping, like other blade shapes would. Not only that, but you will actually be able to hammer, dig, or pry with this blade shape. Because the two edges meet at an angle, instead of the regular curve, the tanto blade shape has no belly. And while the ancient Samurai swords could produce some long slicing movements, a belly is going to give you the best slicing ability.

While you will be able to manage some slices with the Microtech Troodon Hellhound, it is not going to act like a drop point blade shape. The tanto blade is one of the strongest blade shapes, so this knife makes for an excellent tactical, fighting, or survival knife. One of the drawbacks to the tanto blade is that even though the point is strong, it is hard to control. This means that it will not be a great option for delicate detail or tasks like skinning or peeling. While this knife is not going to be able to manage performing all of your tasks, it is going to excel at the tasks that it is designed to do.

The blade has another unique characteristic about it that really makes it into the Hellhound style. The back of the blade has some deep teeth cut into it. Under these teeth are small circles cut out of the steel. This adds a very unique look that you aren’t going to find on other blades.

The Handle:

The handle on this knife has been made out of 6061-T6 aluminum. Aluminum itself is a widely popular option for high-quality knife handle materials. Aluminum is tough, durable, incredibly corrosion resistant, and best of all, it is lightweight. However, it is also prone to getting scratched.

Aluminum is known to be a low-density metal, which is where the low weight of the handle comes in from. A low-density metal is a metal that is going to provide you with the heft that you need to take on all of your tasks. It is not going to make you feel that you cannot rely on the handle—instead, it is going to give you enough heft in your hand that you feel confident. That being said, it is not going to weigh you down. This is a larger knife, so any lightness is going to be appreciated.

The handle has been adonized Merlot, which is a deep, rich maroon. The first benefit of this is that the anodization is actually a chemical change of the surface of the aluminum. This means that the sleek black color is not going to peel off like a regular coating could and would do. That does not mean that the color cannot be scratched off though. While the aluminum can still be scratched, the anodization process is going to make it harder to do so. If the surface was scratched, you would be able to see the original silver aluminum underneath the anodized surface.

The rest of the handle is rather basic, especially for an OTF knife. It is relatively rectangular, although the belly does have two slight curves to it. The first one is slightly deeper than the second one. Both of them stretch about half of the length of the handle. Across the face of the handle, to add in the required texture that aluminum cannot offer, are two sections of curved grooves. These rest in places that will provide plenty of texture for you to feel confident while using this knife.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip is standard for an OTF, being attached at the opposite end than where the blade comes out of. This means that the clip can only be attached for tip down carry, which is the safer way to carry a blade. The clip has also been finished in a more matte silver, it’s not quite stonewashed, but it definitely isn’t satin. The clip is thick, ensuring that this knife will stay securely in your pocket as you go about your day.

The clip has the Microtech logo, a signature, and even the date of production etched into it.

The Mechanism:

The Troodon Hellhound is an Out-the-Front Automatic knife. The fact that it is an automatic knife does mean that it is going to fall under a strict set of laws in the United States. These laws state that automatic knives are not going to be legal in all states, cities, or areas. It is your responsibility as the user and purchaser, to know your local knife laws before buying and definitely before carrying this knife with you. You are the responsible party, not BladeOps.

While the legality of an automatic knife can serve as a disadvantage, there is a major advantage of owning an automatic knife: it is going to be easy to deploy. All you have to do is push the lever up that sits on the side of the handle and the blade will be open and ready to use in mere seconds. In situations where every second counts, Microtech has made it a breeze to bring this knife into play. There should be no fumbling with this knife.

This is an Out-the-Front knife, or an OTF knife, as it is commonly referred to. Wikipedia explains OTF knives as a type of pocketknife that has a blade that opens and closes through a hole in one end of the handle. This is different than other pocketknives that have the blade come out of the side. They go on to explain that OTF is only referring to the basic portion of the knife’s mechanical operation.

Like has been previously mentioned, this is an automatic OTF knife, which means that the blade travels within an internal track or channel in the same manner as a manual OTF knife. However, the automatic main spring drive and button mechanism that are enclosed in the handle do require the handle of an automatic OTF to be thicker and longer than a manual one.

The lever on the side of the handle is stepped, so that it has enough texture that you can easily find the mechanism and keep your grip on it while you are deploying the blade.

The Specs:

The blade on the Troodon Hellhound measures in at 3.02 inches long with a handle that measures in at 4.55 inches long. This means that the overall length of the knife when the blade is deployed is going to come in at 7.57 inches long. The knife weighs in at 2.8 ounces. This Microtech was proudly made in the United States of America.

Conclusion:

This out-the-front knife features a merlot red anodized handle and a patented hellhound tanto style blade in a stonewash finish.

The Troodon is 25% smaller than the traditional Combat Troodon OTF (Out The Front) model and boasts a sleek slender contoured handle that is as ergonomic as it is functional and is ideal if you are looking for a smaller double-action automatic knife that sits well in the pocket. Each Microtech OTF knife has extremely sophisticated internal mechanisms which improve the overall operational functionality and reliability and its ability to be operated with just one hand makes it all the more practical.

This new knife is definitely going to turn heads whenever you pull it out. To get this showstopper, click here and order yours today.