Microtech Knives
Encyclopedia
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 and to Fletcher, North Carolina in 2009. In 2007 the company began manufacturing an American made version of the Steyr AUG
under the subsidiary name of Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR).
The company has long promoted itself as stressing quality with regard to tight machining tolerances, to within one thousandth of an inch (0.001"). Microtech has designed knives for use by the US Military such as the HALO, UDT and Currahee models. 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."
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 switchblade
s. The most popular designs among collectors are the "Out The Front" (OTF) and the "Double Action" (D/A) automatics. Microtech along with Benchmade Knives
was responsible for the resurgence in the popularity of tactical automatic knives in the 1990s. These knives were seen more as a precision made tool utilizing powerful springs and high grade bushings as opposed to a cheap import.
Microtech has collaborated with famous knifemakers such as Ernest Emerson
, Bob Terzuola, Walter Brend, Greg Lightfoot, and Reese Weiland on exclusive designs. Microtech Knives have been featured on the television series 24
.
of Microtech Knives which manufactures an American-made version of the Steyr AUG
known as the MSAR STG-556
. 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. MSAR markets accessories for its rifles.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in 1994 and operated there until relocating to Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford, Pennsylvania
Bradford is a small city located in rural McKean County, Pennsylvania, in the United States 78 miles south of Buffalo, New York. Settled in 1823, Bradford was chartered as a city in 1879 and emerged as a wild oil boomtown in the Pennsylvanian oil rush in the late 19th century...
in 2005 and to Fletcher, North Carolina in 2009. In 2007 the company began manufacturing an American made version of the Steyr AUG
Steyr AUG
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
under the subsidiary name of Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR).
The company has long promoted itself as stressing quality with regard to tight machining tolerances, to within one thousandth of an inch (0.001"). Microtech has designed knives for use by the US Military such as the HALO, UDT and Currahee models. 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."
Although Microtech has produced many styles of blades such as kitchen knives, fishing knives, arrow
Arrow
An arrow is a shafted projectile that is shot with a bow. It predates recorded history and is common to most cultures.An arrow usually consists of a shaft with an arrowhead attached to the front end, with fletchings and a nock at the other.- History:...
heads, and balisong knives; Microtech is most famous for its tactical automatic knives, also known as switchblade
Switchblade
A switchblade is a type of knife with a folding or sliding blade contained in the handle which is opened automatically by a spring when a button, lever, or switch on the handle or bolster is activated A switchblade (also known as an automatic knife, pushbutton knife, switch, Sprenger, Springer,...
s. The most popular designs among collectors are the "Out The Front" (OTF) and the "Double Action" (D/A) automatics. Microtech along with Benchmade Knives
Benchmade
The Benchmade Knife Company is a knife manufacturer run by Roberta and Les de Asis in Oregon City, Oregon, United States. Its products are geared toward many niche markets, such as outdoor sporting cutlery, rescue, law-enforcement, martial-arts, and military...
was responsible for the resurgence in the popularity of tactical automatic knives in the 1990s. These knives were seen more as a precision made tool utilizing powerful springs and high grade bushings as opposed to a cheap import.
Microtech has collaborated with famous knifemakers such as Ernest Emerson
Ernest Emerson
Ernest R. Emerson is an American custom knifemaker, martial artist, and edged-weapons expert. Originally an engineer and machinist in the aerospace industry, Emerson became a knifemaker known for making decorative knives but later became better known for his combat knives, eventually founding a...
, Bob Terzuola, Walter Brend, Greg Lightfoot, and Reese Weiland on exclusive designs. Microtech Knives have been featured on the television series 24
24 (TV series)
24 is an American television series produced for the Fox Network and syndicated worldwide, starring Kiefer Sutherland as Counter Terrorist Unit agent Jack Bauer. Each 24-episode season covers 24 hours in the life of Bauer, using the real time method of narration...
.
Microtech Small Arms Research
Microtech Small Arms Research (MSAR) is a subsidiarySubsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of Microtech Knives which manufactures an American-made version of the Steyr AUG
Steyr AUG
The AUG is an Austrian bullpup 5.56mm assault rifle, designed in the early 1970s by Steyr Mannlicher GmbH & Co KG . The AUG was adopted by the Austrian Army as the StG 77 in 1977, where it replaced the 7.62mm StG 58 automatic rifle...
known as the MSAR STG-556
STG-556
The STG-556 is a Steyr AUG A1 clone manufactured by Microtech Small Arms Research . It was introduced at the 2007 SHOT Show. The STG-556's working system features a bolt hold-open device as seen on the M16 rifle; otherwise, the STG-556 retains the original AUG features, such as feeding from...
. Introduced at the 2007 SHOT Show
SHOT Show
The ' is an annual tradeshow for the shooting, hunting, and firearms industry. It is the biggest event of this type in the world together with IWA & OutdoorClassics , also taking place annually. "SHOT", besides being a general reference to shooting, is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor...
, the MSAR STG-556 is an AUG A1 clone available in either civilian, semi-automatic only and military/LE, select-fire variants. MSAR markets accessories for its rifles.
External links
- Microtech Knives official site
- Microholics.org - The Original Microtech Discussion Forum