Marfione Custom Knives Blade Show Strider Knife Review

In 1994, just a year after the first prototypes were created in Anthony and Susan Marfione’s apartment, the release of the UDT marked the official beginning of Microtech. The company began renting a building in Vero Beach, Florida, which quickly expanded to nearby empty buildings as the demand for a larger facility became apparent. Since then, Microtech has carved itself a place in history by building a long-standing tradition of innovation and quality that leaves an impression on its customers. Some of their memorable moments include:

• 1995 brought the release of the HALO, which has become a prominent line throughout Microtech’s history and earned the cover spot of the 1995 edition of Fighting Knives magazine.
• In 1999, the Ultratech, the most popular Microtech ever, first hit production. Microtech also earned Blade Magazine’s Manufacturing Quality Award for the second year in a row.
• In 2000, Microtech released the company’s first balisong knife, the Tachyon, which was later followed by the Tachyon II and the Metalmark in 2012. The Lightfoot Compact Combat was awarded Blade Magazine’s Knife Collaboration of the Year, and Anthony Marfione was also featured in “Le Chasseur a L’arc” for the uniquely designed Tomahawk.
• In 2004, the MTX2 was awarded American Made Knife of the year by Blade Magazine, while the original, limited run of the Currahee was produced for testing by the United States Special Forces.
• In 2005, after the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Microtech relocated from Vero Beach, Florida to their current factory in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
• In 2007, Microtech’s sister company, Microtech Small Arms Research engineered the original STG-5.56, becoming the first knife company to establish a firearms division.
• IN 2009, with their recent expansion in the firearms industry, Microtech & MSAR set up a second shop in Fletcher, North Carolina to better meet the increased production demands.
• In 2011, Microtech’s Select Fire won Most Innovative American Design at blade Show 2011.
• In 2012, after a successful Blade Show, where the Socom Delta won American Made Knife of the Year, Anthony Marfione entered into a collaboration with Mick Strider to create the DOC. 2012 also marked the launch of the Siphon, Microtech’s first high end pen. Both of these pieces were originally only launched as Marfione Custom’s production.
• In 2013, MSAR introduces the new line of XM Series magazines.

Today we will be going over the Marfione Custom Knives Blade Show 2017 Antique Green Strider MSG 3.5 Titanium Flipper Knife, with copper inlay and a bronzed satin blade.

The Blade:
The blade on this custom knife is made out of M390 stainless steel. This is an ultra-premium stainless steel. It is also considered one of the new super steels on the block. This steel is manufactured by Bohler-Uddeholm. This steel uses third generation powder metal technology and developed for knife blades requiring excellent corrosion resistance and very high hardness for excellent wear resistance. Added into the steel is chromium, molybdenum, vanadium, and tungsten to promote sharpness and outstanding edge retention. This steel actually has most of its carbides formed by vanadium and molybdenum, which leaves more “free chromium” to fight corrosion. M390 steel usually hardens to about a 60-62 HRC. The manufacturer calls this steel “Microclean” and it can be polished to achieve a true mirror. This steel is relatively hard to sharpen, but as long as you have the right tools, you will be able to manage it.

The steel has been polished to a bronzed satin finish. A satin finish is created by sanding the steel in one direction with an increasing level of an abrasive. This abrasive material is usually sandpaper. The satin finish is one of the most common blade finishes that you can find on a knife, but Marfione Custom Knives has switched up this classic finish to give you a unique finish that you aren’t going to normally find. With the bronzed finish, you get all of the benefits from having a satin finish, but the blade is more aesthetically pleasing than your average blade. The satin finish is a semi-shiny finish. This finish is not matte, such as a blasted finish, but it also is not reflective, such as a mirror finish. This finish does provide you with average corrosion resistance, cuts down on wear, and slightly cuts down on glares or reflections. This finish is added to knives to show off the bevels and fine buffing lines in the steel. This finish does create extreme hand skill to accomplish. This blade has been bronzed, which does help to make this knife more of a collector’s edition. Because let’s be real, how many quality knives have you seen with a bronzed blade?

The blade on this Marfione and Strider knife has been carved into a spear point blade shape. The spear point blade is relatively similar to the needle point blade because they are both designed to be good piercers. The spear point blade shape does prove to be superior though, because the point is stronger than the point on the needle point blade and it sport a small belly, that gives you the ability to slice with this blade. To describe the shape of a spear point: the spear point is a symmetrically pointed blade with a point that is in line with the center lien of the blade’s long axis. Both edges of this shape of blade rise and fall equally to create a point that lines up exactly with the equator of the blade. One of the benefits about a spear point blade shape is that it does have a lowered tip, which makes a blade controllable and able to perform fine tip work. All in all, the spear point blade shape has a phenomenal balance between its piercing and slicing ability. It does sport a belly that is usable—but when you compare it to the drop or clip point, the belly seems very small. And, it has the sharp point of a dagger style blade with the strength of the drop point blade. Overall, this is a very functional design because of how great the hybrid is. This custom knife does have plain edged blade.

 

The Handle:

The handle is made out of anodized titanium, with copper inlays. Titanium is a very popular knife handle material and for very good reason. For starters, titanium is a lightweight metal alloy and it offers the best corrosion resistance of any metal. While it is a little heavier than aluminum (its younger brother), it is still a lightweight metal and it is much stronger than aluminum. So while it is a little heavier than aluminum and more expensive to machine, you get phenomenal return on investment: for a little bit of weight, you get a lot more strength. A fun fact about titanium is that it is one of the rare metals that has a warm feel to it. This comes in handy when you are working with your knife during the winter, because it won’t bite into your hands like aluminum would. Unfortunately, titanium is prone to scratches. The titanium handle is given its unique color through the anodization process.

Anodizing is an electrolytic passivation process used to increase the thickness of the natural oxide layer on the surface of metal parts. This process is called anodizing because the part to be treated forms the anode electrode of an electrical circuit. The anodization process increases the materials resistance to corrosion and wear. This process also changes the color of the metal. This custom knife has been anodized to an antique green finish.

The inlays on this knife handles are made out of copper. Interestingly enough, copper was one of the first metals that was ever extracted and used by humans and since then has been used for a very wide variety of uses. Some of the best benefits about copper in this knife is that it is very resistant to corrosion (copper can even be submerged in sweater and not corrode), it is very durable and strong, and it is also easy to work with.

The handle on this knife is one of the most unique aspects of the knife. The handle is almost triangular, with the butt of the handle flaring heavily. There is jimping near the butt of the handle, helping to provide you with grip and control over the knife. There is a large finger groove, keeping your fingers comfortable and safe during use. The spine of the handle is completely straight.

 

The Pocket Clip:

The pocket clip is also made out of titanium and is statically designed for tip up carry only. The clip is also anodized to an antique green and is completed with its own copper inlay. The clip on this knife is kept in place by a large copper screw. The clip also is triangular, with a circular end. All of the hardware on this knife is bronze.

 

The Mechanism:

There are two ways to open this knife: you can either open it with the ambidextrous spine flipper or the unique thumb window. This custom blade is outfitted with a frame lock.

Let’s start by talking about the thumb window—because that is the more traditional opening mechanism. What started out as a thumb hole mostly on Spyderco’s has developed into a new, very popular opening mechanism. And there is a big reason for so many knife companies jumping on the wagon—it works and it works well. Opening a folder equipped with a thumb window is just like using a thumb stud. And by its very design, it is ambidextrous. Plus, it is out of the way, unlike a thumb stud, because it is carved out of the knife instead of being screwed into the blade.

The other option for your opening mechanism is the flipper. This is a sharks’ fin shaped protrusion that juts out of the spine of the handle when the knife is closed. To open a knife that is equipped with a flipper, you pull back on the flipper and it flips the blade out of the handle and then locks it securely into place. The flipper by design, is also naturally ambidextrous. And, if you are worried about the safety of your fingers, I would recommend that you use the flipper as opposed to the window, because it keeps your fingers out of the way during the whole process. As a total bonus, the flipper acts as a finger guard when the knife is opened.

The frame locking mechanism is basically the liner lock on steroids. Frame locks are stronger than liner locks, because instead of an internal spring bar moving into place, it is a metal piece of the handle that slips into place. To close a knife with this locking mechanism, you just push down on the spring bar so it no longer blocks the butt of the blade, remove your thumb form the pat, then fold the knife closed.

 

The Specs:

The blade on this custom knife is 3.5 inches long, with the handle measuring in at 4.75 inches long. The overall length of this Marfione knife is 8.25 inches long. The knife weighs in at 5.9 ounces. This knife was made in the USA. This is a custom collector’s knife and BladeOps has the serial #008.

 

Conclusion:

Marfione Custom Knives (MCK) are well known for their high-end custom knives and products that feature exotic materials that turn mere tools into works of art. The MSG 3.5 is a collaborative effort between Tony Marfione and Mick Strider of Strider Knives that showcases an integral frame–meaning the handle was milled out of a single piece of titanium. Additionally, the Hinderer Lockbar Stabilizer™ that each model is outfitted with makes for a solid and consistent lock up without fail. Every frame lock designed MSG 3.5 model rides seamlessly on a ceramic bearing system and can be operated with the ambidextrous spine flipper or the unique thumb window. This Blade Show 2017 exclusive model features a titanium handle in an antique green finish, a copper inlay on both the front handle scale as well as the pocket clip, standard bronze hardware, a spear point style blade in a hand-rubbed bronzed satin finish and the titanium pocket clip is statically designed for tip up carry only. Package comes complete with a presentation box, zipper pouch as well as a certificate of authenticity.

This really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get this knife, so contact BladeOps today to get 008!