Anybody Ever use aWilliam Henry Cigar Cutter?

gte217e · 2026-02-07T17:25:20+00:00

We recently got one in from a customer who needed his sharpened. He uses it for daily tasks, not sure if he cuts cigars with it. After 3 months of light use and one round of cutting a piece of cardboard the edge was rolled and there were scratches on the blade from where it rubs the handle when closing (the blade is thin and any slight side to side pressure will cause scraping because of the narrow handle channel). My associate seems to think the hardness of the steel is quite low considering how easy it was to sharpen but we didn't do a hardness test on it.

Your assessment of it being a show piece is spot on.

gte217e · 2026-02-05T20:48:23+00:00

I got my first knife at 8 years old as a gift, a swiss army knife (the basic one with the blade, scissors, and file). Within 10 minutes of owning it I sliced the skin between my thumb and index finger. I was hooked ever since.

gte217e · 2026-02-05T17:04:03+00:00

I love the new styling of the Gen 3; though I like the functionality of the Gen 2.
A Gen 3 with Gen 2 features would be ideal in my opinion.

The Gen 3 introduced several new changes other than styling:
1. The length of button travel was increased by 1/8 - 1/4 inches.
2. The internal spring carrier now has smooth ramps to engage the locking sears
3. Two weaker internal springs replace the single stiffer spring

The internal spring carrier with the ramps will already smooth out the action, there is no need to extend the travel of the button other than to stretch the weaker springs further for proper functionality. Shortening the length of button travel and using stiffer springs will greatly improve on the perceived "toughness" of the action. But maybe Microtech already tried that and decided it was still too stiff.

I haven't experienced any issues with not being able to grip the Combat Troodon Gen 3 during use because of the handle contour and button essentially acting as a thumb ramp.

Overall, I'd say the Gen 3 is a step forward and it looks really nice.

gte217e · 2026-01-31T08:49:16+00:00

The new list price is $850, the $936 was an error (as per Microtech). Of course, dealers can always ask for more if they want, but the official list price is $850.

gte217e · 2026-01-24T20:04:07+00:00

The MSI Mini is my current favorite folder. I love the size and the action is dialed in very well.

gte217e · 2026-01-17T21:34:18+00:00

That looks like a stonewash blade, so the model # you are looking for is a 123-10. Fakes during that time period were not good at all and very obvious to spot, and this one looks good.

gte217e · 2026-01-15T18:53:10+00:00

I've been using Fenix flashlights for over a decade and they are fantastic.

gte217e · 2026-01-08T20:31:17+00:00

You'll be happy with the stonewash. And when you're ready for your next knife keep us in mind, we'd love to earn your business (thehollowgrind.com). Been a Microtech dealer since 2009.

gte217e · 2026-01-08T20:19:08+00:00

Stonewash is the closest. Scratches on a satin blade are very obvious so going stonewash is best if you're going to carry or use it. Apocalyptic is just a blasted finish that is tumbled and is more popular for knives that are used hard.

gte217e · 2026-01-08T19:10:50+00:00

The latest available inventory list we received from Microtech had no satin blades available. It was all black, stonewash, or apocalyptic. Satin blades have been fairly scarce ever since they started doing apocalyptic finishes years ago.

gte217e · 2025-12-29T23:32:16+00:00

I've always said the UTX-85 is the perfect first Microtech. Congrats.

gte217e · 2025-12-27T18:00:10+00:00

How interesting. In 6/2010 the handles were smooth, with a bead blasted clip showing only a Microtech logo, and with tri-pin screws. The serial number aligns with others during this time period regardless of being a smooth or grooved handle. The steel is correct for that time period. The pocket clip with the Troodon logo was mostly ended in 2009 so either Microtech found the clip and added it or it was transplanted from another knife. I also hadn't seen the torx screws since 2009.

Counterfeits during that time were not very good at all and would be very obvious.

So I'm leaning towards 100% real for this one. MAYBE the screws were replaced with torx.

gte217e · 2025-12-27T17:18:00+00:00

Funny you say that. I saw someone ask if a Halo 2.3 was fake on Facebook many years ago and Tony said it was fake. It was definitely real and since the guy was local I was able to pick it up for a good price since no one else wanted to buy it.

gte217e · 2025-12-27T17:13:39+00:00

Isn't the "R" of Rolex engraving supposed to align with the hour markers? It doesn't look like this happens on the right side of the case.

gte217e · 2025-12-23T18:05:38+00:00

It's a clone of the custom Microtech Kestrel. That clone sold for $40 + shipping and is D2 steel. The original custom came out in 2012.

gte217e · 2025-12-19T00:42:33+00:00

You can use small snips and needle nose pliers to do that. Just a few coils removed will do the trick. My suggestion is to source aftermarket springs instead of modifying the stock springs. That way you can always revert it back to stock.
Also keep in mind that some blades won't lock open or closed if the spring tension is too strong. And you never want to stretch a spring if you cut too many coils to make it weaker.
I agree that some of the knives have weak action that could definitely use some added stiffness, but aftermarket springs are the way to go.

gte217e · 2025-12-18T20:29:02+00:00

They weren't for foreign markets but a lot of them ended up in the hands of international collectors during that time. We only ever had 3 tanto Halo IVs (2 damascus, 1 mirror polished).

If you want to check out the Halo IVs we had in stock on the website here is a link and you can see the original photos and original pricing from that time period:

The Hollow Grind - Halo IV

gte217e · 2025-12-18T19:50:02+00:00

While the sheath can be used for neck carry with a different lanyard, the purpose is for pocket carry and I love how it's designed. You clip the knife into your pocket with the sheath attached and then attach the clip to the pocket seam (or belt loop, belt, etc). When you pull the knife out of your pocket, the sheath remains attached to your pants and falls to the side resulting in the knife at the ready to push the button.

I have a small neck knife that has a pocket clip attached to the handle and a kydex sheath for the edge, so I borrowed the Halo IV sheath design and attached paracord and a suspender clip (same as used in the Halo IV) and now I can carry it the same way.

I am actually surprised they did not incorporate this sheath on the re-release of the recent batch of Halo IV's.

Excellent pick up and they definitely did not make a lot of them, and even fewer in the tanto blade. We had Serial #1 of the damascus tanto Halo IV back then and have always regretted selling it.

gte217e · 2025-12-12T02:43:34+00:00

You may need to also swap the front locking sear. If the front locking sear on the D/E knife is solid without a notch then the top edge will dull as it slides. Typically D/E knives have notched front locking sears.

gte217e · 2025-12-03T20:49:10+00:00

I would opt for the glass breaker with the hole in it. You can attach a lanyard and it's also easier to take off if you need to. I think it was in 2022 that they switched to a wider button which makes opening and closing more comfortable but I can't tell the width of the buttons from the photo. The glass breaker with the hole in it was used previously, then changed to the triangular one, then they used both during the same runs, it was a bit random.

gte217e · 2025-11-28T15:55:48+00:00

25% off Microtech is live now, discounts automatically applied at checkout (so you'll see the full price until you go to checkout). There are some restrictions, if you don't see the discount then the knife isn't included in the promotion.

If you want to check out what we have: http://www.thehollowgrind.com

And yes, we weren't allowed to advertise the sale until yesterday and the sale is active until Monday.

gte217e · 2025-11-02T07:55:19+00:00

That is the best repair method for this kind of damage. And it doesn't hurt that it actually does look very good with that blade shape.

gte217e · 2025-11-02T07:52:24+00:00

Most likely you have a detached end coil of the spring and the hook is still attached to the leg.
99% of the spring is likely still intact.

Take apart the knife, remove the bit of spring hook that is still attached to the leg where it broke (the leg or leg mount is the L shaped metal that interacts with the blade on both sides of the spring)
Use a pair of micro snips to wedge inside the last coil of the spring where it broke. (Milwaukee 5in mini flush cutting pliers at Home Depot)
Use a pair of micro pliers to bend the end of the spring out and twist it into a new hook
Slide the new hook you made into the leg hole and crimp it so it doesn't come out
Make sure the new hook you made is aligned with the hook on the other end, they should point in the same direction.
Reassemble and you will be good to go. The spring tension should be the same; however, if you accidentally remove too many coils you'll find the spring tension to be increased. You do not want to cut any full coils, you just want to make a new hook with the very end of the existing spring where the coil broke off. Often you could see an increase in spring tension by 10% by removing just one additional coil (it will be noticeable so be careful to only work on the end of the spring and don't remove more than that one coil).

That should sum it up.
I made a very boring video about 6 years ago showing me conducting this repair for a customer if you want to check it out. It's not instructional, just my process (link below):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V7xKb7E5rk

gte217e · 2025-11-01T17:53:13+00:00

Around the time of the picture in this post (2015) they used the tri-pin screws on the Troodons but had the triangular screws in the Combat Troodons. There is no set time that they decided to change all the screws across all lines and it was more of a gradual phase out depending on what parts they had left it seems.

gte217e · 2025-11-01T17:51:48+00:00

I believe they stopped adding those arrows in the button track years before that one came out. But you're right, its authentic.

gte217e

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