Microtech Knives

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Microtech Knives, Inc.; Microtech Small Arms Research
Type Privately held company
Founded Vero Beach, FL (1994)
Headquarters Bradford, PA
Key people Tony Marfione[1]
Industry knives, firearms[2]
Products knives, firearms
Employees 25[3]
Website www.microtechknives.com; www.msarinc.com

Microtech Knives, Inc. is a knife manufacturing company, famous for its automatic knives, that was founded in Vero Beach, Florida in 1994 and operated there until relocating to Bradford, Pennsylvania in 2005.[1] In 2007 the company began manufacturing an American made version of the Steyr AUG under the subsidiary name of Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR).[2]

The company has long promoted itself as stressing quality with regard to tight machining tolerances, to within one thousandth of an inch (0.001").[1][4] Microtech has also designed knives for use by the US Military such as the HALO, UDT and Curahee models.[1][5] Custom knifemakers, such as Greg Lightfoot have remarked that these tolerances are what makes the factory knives so close to the custom design: "It has the same quality as a handmade custom."[6]

Although Microtech has produced many styles of blades such as kitchen knives, fishing knives, arrow heads, and balisong knives; Microtech is most famous for its tactical automatic knives, also known as switchblades.[7] The most popular designs among collectors are the "Out The Front" (OTF) and the "Double Action" (D/A) automatics.[8] Microtech along with Benchmade Knives was responsible for the resurgence in the popularity of tactical automatic knives in the 1990's.[8] These knives were seen more as a precision made tool utilizing powerful springs and high grade bushings as opposed to a cheap import.[8]

Microtech has collaborated with famous knifemakers such as Ernest Emerson, Bob Terzuola, Walter Brend, Greg Lightfoot, and Reese Weiland on exclusive designs.[6] Microtech Knives have also been featured on the Television series, 24.[9]

Microtech Small Arms Research is a "sister company" of Microtech Knives which manufactures an American-made version of the Steyr AUG known as the MSAR STG-556.[2] Introduced at the 2007 SHOT Show, the MSAR STG-556 is an AUG A1 clone available in either civilian, semi-automatic only and military/LE, select-fire variants. [10]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Walker, Greg (September 1995), “Magnum Autos From Microtech”, Fighting Knives Magazine 8 (3): 12-13,32,52 
  2. ^ a b c Choat, Chris (March 2008), “Microtech's STG-556 An Exclusive First Look”, Small Arms Review 11 (6): 43-50 
  3. ^ Microtech Knives, Inc.. Bradford Office of Economic and Community Development (OECD). Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  4. ^ Microtech Knives - About Microtech. Retrieved on 2007-06-22.
  5. ^ “Microtech Knives: the Currahee”, . Shooting Industry, September 2007, <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3197/is_9_52/ai_n20512796>. Retrieved on 6 February 2008 
  6. ^ a b Hopkins, Cameron (September 2000), “These Hot Profit-Makers Are The Knife Industry's Best Kept Secret For Gun Dealers”, Shooting Industry, <http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3197/is_9_45/ai_65953087>. Retrieved on 6 February 2008 
  7. ^ Rhea, David (September 2005), “Butterfly Knives: Flippin' and Flyin'”, Blade Magazine 32 (9): 66-71 
  8. ^ a b c Karwan, Chuck (March 2005), “Microtech's X-Files: Fast & Furious”, Tactical Knives Magazine 11 (2): 10-14 
  9. ^ Cerasini, Mark & Alfonsi, Alice (2003), 24: The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU, Harper, pp. 224, ISBN 978-0060535506 
  10. ^ MSAR - Microtech Small Arms Research Inc. (html). Microtech Small Arms Research. Retrieved on 2007-10-12.

[edit] External links