Knife Review: Microtech Orange Ultratech Dagger OTF Automatic Knife

The Microtech Orange Ultratech Dagger 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 discussing the Microtech Orange Ultratech Dagger OTF automatic knife, which is a new arrival at BladeOps.

The Blade:

The blade on this version of the Ultratech 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 Ultratech, 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 satin finish. The satin finish is the most popular finish on the market. This is due to a few reasons. The first is that the satin finish is very classic and traditional. It is created when the manufacturer repeatedly sands the blade in one direction with an increasingly fine level of an abrasive, which is normally a sandpaper. This works to show off the bevels of the blade as well as showcase the fine lines of the steel. Both of these things work to give the blade that elegant and traditional look.

The second reason that it is this popular is because the satin finish falls in the middle of the spectrum in terms of luster. It is not matte, and it is not mirror or even super reflective. Instead, it hits a happy medium.

The third reason that it is so popular is because the satin finish does increase the corrosion resistance levels of the blade some. This elevates the knife and helps to make it lower maintenance.

The blade has been carved into a dagger shape. This is a double-edge blade that is most often sued for stabbing. Often times, the dagger blade shape is used in self-defense, which makes perfect sense for why it would be the optimal blade shape for a tactical knife such as this one. The two edges of the blade rise and fall equally, which creates an axis that sits in the middle of the blade, which also means that the point is going to be directly center. The tip is fine and sharp, ideal for piercing.

The Handle:

The handle on this OTF 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. Confident enough to take on whatever comes your way. Confident enough to rely on the Microtech Ultratech. That being said, it is not going to weigh you down. This is a larger knife, so any lightness is going to be appreciated.

6061-T6 aluminum is the most common aluminum alloy that is used. This is also because it is the toughest of all the aluminum alloys. It has the highest yield resistance of any. It is going to give you everything that aluminum originally would have and then increase it. With this handle, you are going to have a reliable and solid knife to use.

The handle has been adonized orange. There are a few major benefits of having your aluminum handle anodized. The first 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 handle on this knife is a standard shape for an OTF. It is mostly rectangular with the top of the knife flaring out only slightly. There are a few rows of jimping scattered across the handle to work to give you a more secure grip. There are two rows of jimping on the belly and two on the spine. These rows can be important and crucial since the aluminum handle is not going to give as much texture as some would desire.

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip is finished in a darker silver, which does perfectly match the rest of the hardware on the knife. It is a thick pocket clip. The thickness will help it stay securely inside of your pocket with no issues. The pocket clip is attached to the butt of the blade, like is often the case when it comes to OTF knives. On the clip, the Microtech logo has been stamped into it. Also, you can see when the knife was made as well as the serial number on the pocket clip. This is not a deep carry clip, but it shouldn’t give you any problems staying put in your pocket.

The Mechanism:

The Ultratech Dagger 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 this knife measure sin at 3.35 inches long with a handle that measures in at 5.01 inches long. This means that when the blade is deployed, the knife is going to measure in at an overall length of 8.36 inches long. This is fairly standard of a size, especially for an OTF. The knife weighs in at 3.5 ounces, which is the perfect weight for a knife that you hope to have with you at all times. This Microtech Ultratech was proudly made in the United States of America.

Conclusion:

This out-the-front knife features an orange anodized handle and a dagger style blade in a satin finish. The Ultratech without question has been Microtech's flagship model since its inception in 1999. Pound for pound, this knife offers an incredible value of superior craftsmanship and premium materials that set it apart from many other double-action auto knives on the market today. 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 is a new arrival at BladeOps that is currently in stock. To order yours today, click here.