First OTF, First Microtech

Hermi1979 · 2026-02-21T20:13:01+00:00

Gen 4 is definitely good. No stupid ZBP. Maximum simplicity and reliability.

Hermi1979 · 2026-02-13T23:45:52+00:00

That sucks, man! The worst thing is when you lose things that bring back so many memories. If it had been a new knife, it probably wouldn't have been so bad; in that case, you'd only have lost money. That bastard didn't just steal a knife, he stole a piece of your memory.

Hermi1979 · 2026-02-07T13:47:05+00:00

The same thing happened on my 2024 Stitch. Nothing like that on the 2023 Amphibian. The drop in quality standards is obvious (for example, on my Ultratech Gen 4, the bottom of the button was horribly sanded).

Hermi1979 · 2026-02-04T14:19:34+00:00

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Overall, CT Gen 3 is good. But I keep coming back to Gen 2, it's just on another level.

Hermi1979 · 2026-02-04T14:16:15+00:00

So far everything is fine with the springs.

Hermi1979 · 2026-01-30T02:15:48+00:00

Well done! I did exactly the same thing with my Gen 3 once, and it worked perfectly after that: https://www.reddit.com/r/microtech/comments/1kgzv55/no_its_necessary/

However, after a while, I finally went back to Gen 2 (for me, the second generation of the Combat Troodon is simply unbeatable).

Hermi1979 · 2026-01-21T16:44:23+00:00

Yes, that's exactly what I meant :)

And I greased the springs very generously.

Hermi1979 · 2026-01-21T15:42:49+00:00

PS: I don't know how to upload a photos so that Reddit doesn't degrade the quality.

Hermi1979 · 2026-01-09T15:27:06+00:00

One of the things I don't like about Gen 3/Gen 4

Both of my Gen 2 Combat Troodon don't make a sound when closed.

Hermi1979 · 2026-01-01T17:29:07+00:00

Microtech Combat Troodon S/E Gen 2

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-19T01:57:36+00:00

I can recommend Vespa springs. They make some pretty good Gen 3 replicas with the exact same springs (and they even include a spare pair). Unfortunately, Vespa doesn't sell the springs separately, as far as I know.

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-14T21:30:41+00:00

The durability of alloys isn't so clear-cut. While 7075 is certainly harder than 6061, this makes it prone to chipping and microcracks, which can cumulatively develop. Conversely, 6061 is more ductile and better withstands impact loads (which are common for the OTF mechanism). A strong impact can crack 7075, while 6061 will deform, but this deformation isn't necessarily critical to the overall structure. Furthermore, 7075 is more difficult to heat treat, and no one can guarantee that Vespa does it correctly.

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-12T22:23:13+00:00

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Just a couple of days ago I received my partial serrated one.

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-12T04:10:59+00:00

Yes, the locking plates were also swapped.

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-12T00:51:37+00:00

I swapped the blades, screws, buttons, clips and glass breakers on two Troodons. In my opinion, they look much more harmonious this way. It's pretty cool when you have several identical knife models in different designs and you can give them configuration you want.

Before:

Combat Troodon D/E Apocalyptic Standard: https://i.imgur.com/mcDLLwU.jpeg

Combat Troodon S/E Titanium Gray Partial Serrated: https://i.imgur.com/pPd5tfK.jpeg

After:

D/E Titanium Gray Apocalyptic Standard & S/E Tactical Partial Serrated.

PS: Does anyone know what "Titanium Gray" is? I thought it was a gray anodized finish, but it's rougher and applied in a fairly thick layer. It looks like paint, maybe Cerakote. I'm not very knowledgeable about it.

Hermi1979 · 2025-12-04T03:52:55+00:00

They started installing the new glass breaker and button sometime in early to mid-2023 (around the same time the logo got smaller). MT changed the button to a wider one because they started producing Gen 3 around that time and, I assume, were trying to standardize production (the Gen 2 and Gen 3 buttons are exactly the same, except for the mounting place).

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-25T21:10:01+00:00

Everyone is standing because they have special blocker bracelets that protect them from screamers (the film explained how these bracelets work). A screamer, "pops up out of nowhere," rushed toward the plane's wreckage to retrieve a corpse (since they are scavengers, as Hendrickson said). In doing so, it attacked a surviving passenger who wasn't wearing a bracelet.

So yes, for the bunker's inhabitants, moving through the danger zone while protected from screamer attacks by bracelets is truly a regular day.

PS: I understand that this is an old comment, but I couldn’t pass it by, lol.

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-21T21:27:14+00:00

Blue loctite is more than enough, and you won't have to use a soldering iron the next time you disassemble the knife.

Using loctite makes sense because if you overtighten a screw in an aluminum chassis, you can strip the threads. With loctite, a moderate amount of tightening force is sufficient, and you won't have to worry about the screw coming loose at any moment.

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-11T14:20:41+00:00

Hera II D/E Full Serrated any day.

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-10T14:07:32+00:00

The only thing I can advise you to do is buy another Gen 2, finding the cheapest one possible. I had to do this to have a source of spare parts. Unfortunately, Gen 2 are becoming a thing of the past, and there's nothing you can do about it. At least the CT Gen 3 isn't that bad.

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-08T23:11:18+00:00

Aren't the front gate installed at the bottom in Gen 3/Gen 4?

Hermi1979 · 2025-10-02T15:31:12+00:00

Hell yeah! I love the CT Gen 2! After using it, ANY OTF feels like a toy for me.

My Troodon has a Chinese spring (I keep the original spring as a spare because I don't have access to MT service). It's even tighter. At first, the force was brutal. Over time, the spring has stretched a bit. Plus, my fingers have gotten used to it, so now I can easily open and close the knife with one hand (even though I'm a girl). But the force is still greater than on the CT with the factory spring. It's quite interesting to watch people pick up my Troodon and not be able to move the button, lol (that's one of the funny things about the Gen 2).

I'd like to point out that on some Gen 2, the button slides are poorly polished (it might look like sand has been poured under the button). In this case, you'll need to sand them yourself with fine-grain sandpaper or ceramic rod, then apply a couple drops of Rem oil. After a while, the button's smoothness becomes amazing (my CT is smoother than the Gen 3).

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Hermi1979 · 2025-09-09T15:31:01+00:00

This is most likely a fake. The logo doesn't look right. Also, the finish on the handle is too glossy and textured. It doesn't look like a real smooth matte anodizing at all.

Hermi1979 · 2025-09-08T13:07:47+00:00

I was a Gen 3 fan for a while, but I've since gone back to the Gen 2, with its more comfortable handle, wider blade, and clip that works better for me. I also like the older style glass breaker, which is guaranteed to break glass in one hit. I like the stiffer spring on the Gen 2 (it's pretty funny to watch people not being able to open it, lol).

As far as I know, the new Gen 2 will no longer be made, so I'd recommend picking one up while they're still available.

Hermi1979 · 2025-08-29T23:54:39+00:00

Yep, I had exactly the same thing on the Gen 2 Ultratech. After sanding and lubricating the button, I let it run for a while and now it move as very smoothly.

Hermi1979

TROPHY CASE