I feel like it's been pretty hit or miss with the shootout, I've had half of people say it broke within a few months and half say they love it. If mine didn't break I'm sure I would've loved it, but I never really had a chance to use it... thanks for watching!
The glykon is an awesome knife, just seems a little impractical to use! I love the one with the green inlay and would love to get it if it ever goes on sale but I think there are others higher on my list. Thanks for watching!
Probably gonna piss off some loyalists here but i just picked up a livewire and the feel of the switch and the action is leagues better than my microtech ultratech ever did. Just feels like a much better quality build and sold lockup. Granted, my microtech is like 10+ years old, so I'm sure the otf technology has improved. But for the price, you can't beat the livewire. I still prefer my pro tech godfather in rose gold though. That copper look is so nice.
The livewire is an awesome knife, I really like the ultratech as well though. In my opinion the ultratech feels just a bit more sturdy and well made, but with a more stiff action. The livewire has an awesome action and is also well made, but excels from a "value" standpoint as it's like $100 cheaper than an ultratech but is on par with the quality. Thanks for watching!
They are also so easy to disassemble and re... User serviceable... I just am dying to see a test similar to the ultratech I saw where a guy hammers the knife through a 2x4 and then shows it still functions flawlessly 😊
Have two benchmade OTF; The Infidel & The Phaeton and have had them for about 5 years and both have been perfect. I just received the Kershaw Livewire in carbon and magnacut. It is sweet!
@@DXSharpening forgot to mention I also just received a Kershaw launch 7 in carbon fiber with magncut! It is not OTF but auto and the blade is hefty and sweet!
@planoman0935 the Launch series is awesome, kershaw has done such a nice job with their autos... hoping to seem them do some manual versions of them soon!
Yes - at the show Microtech was saying a couple of months which would be now and then I heard by Christmas - I can’t wait!!! I did grab a Combat Troodon Tanto in Natural Clear (probably my favorite combo) - that should hold me over until it’s launched!
Those troodons are badass. Especially the new(er) tanto ones that have come out. I am pumped for the new ultratech and it feels like it's extremely overdue! Thanks for watching!
I've got a microtech that's my EDC for 3 yrs and I've put it thru blue hell. Good edge retention, i did have the glass breaker come loose just tightened it up with pair of pliers and piece of leather. To me the stiff switch is a benefit. I have oiled it a couple of times.
Glad to hear you're enjoying it! I don't mind the stiff switch either but I think you should definitely check out the newer generation models and feel their new technology that's inside the combat troodon and cypher now, it really is incredible how they make it so much easier to open yet still feel very sturdy. Thanks for watching!
I sort of collect Benchmade knives, and would personally say they’re in last place. Not just the issues you described, but the price and performance versus the other two. It’s a tough call for me personally between the Kershaw and MT. I’m a big fan of MT, but the price for what you get in the Kershaw is one hell of an offering. I don’t like the pocket clip on the Livewire, but for the price, I’ll get over it.
I actually just put out a more in depth video comparing the ultratech and livewire that addresses some of what you're talking about. I own several Benchmade knives but it is getting harder and harder to pick them when they're falling so far behind these other brands... Thanks for watching!
I’d say for EDC; the Shootout. For JOAT; Livewire. For customization; Microtech. Overall I think the Livewire is the best in most cases. Great action, good steel, decent design, pretty comfy, well-priced, the tanto one looks better than the others IMO, good materials, and is just sexy. The clip kinda sucks though.
Great points, the Livewire is certainly hard to beat especially with all the improvements that have already been made with the steel update and new designs coming out. Thanks for watching!
I would probably pick the livewire as well, however it has it's cons. Livewire clip sucks, mine came fairly dull, it is also so light weight it kind of feels like a toy.... Lastly it starts to show wear pretty quickly, the coatings aren't great. I bought a guardian tactical and it should be here soon, hoping that will be better.
@DXSharpening it's amazing, much better than my livewire. Craziest difference is blade thickness, recon 35 much thicker, recon does have a big fuller, but still is just a heftier blade that feels way better when fired
I collect OTF's but won't carry one as a utility knife. Between the side-to-side play of the blade and the unreliable deployment compared to a side-folding auto. The only Benchmade I have is the Osborne 9400 auto side-folder and that only because the 940 folder has such a good reputation.
Never had the chance to hold an autocrat, also never heard it recommended before honestly. I might have to check it out at a store. Thanks for watching!
Don’t usually drop comments… great video man. If you get another shootout, a review would be cool. The options for the blade styles and all behind the micro tech seem really attractive compared to the live wire. If you could go back and do it again, would you change your blade type on either of those two?
I appreciate the comment, thanks for watching! I really like the drop point blade on the Microtech, I have thought about a tanto but I think I prefer the drop point to actually use. I had a cheaper double edged dagger style otf and it was incredibly difficult to sharpen without messing up the point so I've tried to stay away from those for now, but I hope to get another in the future sometime. I'm not a huge fan of the livewire tanto blade for some reason and I don't love the new Dagger ones that have come out, I am really pleased with the blade shape I have on the basic model that comes to a very fine point. I will definitely put together another video on the shootout after I get it fixed, however it might be a few weeks. Thank you again for watching, let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see!
I am aware they will fix it but it takes several weeks to get it back and I feel like I am constantly having issues with Benchmade products which is incredibly frustrating. I love their designs and they do a great job with their steel but the springs/components used to make their knives are constantly breaking. Thanks for watching!
i own and love all three of these. my biggest issue with the microtech and kershaw are that if your hands are wet they dont have the grip to keep you hand in place and deploy the blade safely. That being said depending on your life they are all great edc choices. with work my personal choice is the benchmade.
I have got to give an update here. About two days after watching this my shootout broke in the same place. I figured since mine was the second generation it may have been fixed as I have put it through intense use. Sadly that is not the case. It’s a wonderful knife when it works, but I wouldn’t recommend buying one until that issue is resolved by Benchmade
I think if you wait it out they'll have a lot more than Ultem/Carbon Fiber/ whatever else there is out there. This seems to be an incredibly popular model for them and I'm betting they plan to capitalize on it. Thanks for watching!
Sorry to hear it! Outrageous pricing like most Benchmade's but I bet if you contact warranty department they'll help you out. Be careful mailing automatic knives in the mail as there are certain legal ramifications that come with it, I thjnk you have to ship it back to them through a dealer. Definitely look into it before you send it in the mail. Thanks for watching and for the comment!
@justin02239 just be careful with the laws, I'm not trying to give you legal advice or anything like that but I believe there are federal laws against mailing automatic knives if you aren't a police officer or govt employee etc.
Just because the spring holder thingy broke doesn't mean the shooutout is junk. I have an ultratech that the spring broke in the first month but I wouldn't call the knife junk. Conversely, my shooutout I have had for a year and a half and it has only ever failed once at work while cutting boxes. There was probably tape gunk that got stuck somewhere for that one cycle. There has to be thousands of cycles on the mechanism from me playing with it and from use, and everyone at work that likes to "use" it (realistically they just want to cut the box open then play with it lol). My Benchmade Phaeton had constant failures from the day I bought it. I sent it back 3 times, with the 3rd time because the springs broke. My Dad has had it for 3 months now with the new springs and so far so good. The shootout is hands down my favorite knife overall, great ergos, great steel that's easy to sharpen, great slicey thin blade. A distant 2nd is the Microtech Combat Troodon Gen3, but I suspect the M390MK steel is garbage, it doesn't hold an edge very well. With that said, I need to pick up a livewire.
Fair enough, I think I'm just sick of the springs breaking in Benchmade's along with the poor grinds and other problems right out of the box. I really did like the shootout until this happened, and if it was a one time thing with Benchmade I would totally understand but it seems to be a consistent problem across almost all of their models. I hope the new 710 spring designs coming out fix a lot of their problems going forward because I really like the designs/colors of almost all their knives. Thanks for watching!
Iv had mine for 8 months works perfect and why not send it in ? They have lifetime warranty iv used they would 100% fix thay for you within a week or 2 @DXSharpening
@@danelhernandez4875 I am in the process of sending it in right now, nothing but good experiences with Benchmade warranty... jist frustrating that I feel like I am constantly sending knives back to them and waiting when I'm not dealing with that with any other company. Thanks for watching!
my favorite knife is my Chris Reeve Large Inkosi with S35 at 58 - I can sharpen it in 5 minutes and my knife is hair whittling sharp (I don’t cut enough on my EDC to need a steel any harder). Some guys and gals cut a lot and edge retention is important but my Inkosi will slice a paper towel and it’s still sharp after 4 years. Same with my Ultratech - I carry a second knife - it’s razor sharp after 2 years (I sharpened it just to see how well I could get the edge to cut and even though it’s thick, it can slice a paper towel and whittle a hair). I prefer a premium steel like S35VN or above but for my cutting needs, Rockwell is meaningless (I am like an every day commuter - don’t need a Bugatti when my M5 is way more than enough). That’s what Rockwell and latest greatest is r an issue for me - the extent of my cutting is a tag from an umbrella or a stubborn cigar band here and there lol - softer M390 or S35 will last me 20 years before it’s needs a sharpening
I appreciate the comment, would love to get my hands on a Chris Reeve at some point but it might be a few months/years down the road. I think a lot of people probably wouldn't notice a huge difference in steels but would notice a better heat treat, but I could be totally wrong. Thanks for watching!
I've owned 7 CRK. . . let's get real, they're overrated. They did no harden their blades like they should have because they were having issues with blades cracking from the thumbstud to the spine. You can try to argue all yo want, but I have my 12 years experience with them. Overrated.
I picked up a brand new Livewire on BHQ on sale for 190 dollars and that alone makes it unbeatable. The ultra tech is cool but 300 for baby food soft m390 vs a great heat treat on magnacut is asinine.
@@DXSharpening oh I agree. Great knife action is solid. Button kinda sucks to use and the blade play is arguably better than the livewire. Just hate that they refuse to use a decent steel. Hell id take m390 if they could guarantee a low of 60hrc.
@@DXSharpening That knife is definitely on the list especially if they do it in Magnacut like the sprint run ultratechs with the green switch. Magnacut isn’t even a necessity. Something with a good heat treat would suffice. They’ll never do it but Cruwear would be an awesome sight to see on it.
I have a cobratec and I have enjoyed using it, just a bit heavy to carry all the time. I think they're a brand worth checking out, I talked to them for awhile at Blade Show last year and they seemed to be genuine people who wanted to make a quality product for their customers.
Have the ultratech and livewire-hardly ever carry the ultratech-the glassbreaker pokes my hand when reaching in pocket,think the ultratech has better blade,good geometry and superiorr steel,but hey magnacut is no slouch.I have tge raw aluminom livewire,and it looks really sick
Have you tried spraying some air into it and then flooding it with rem oil? That seems to fix a lot of issues with Microtechs and OTFs in general. I haven't had any issues at all with mine especially not after doing that, so definitely give that a shot. If that doesn't work I would contact Microtech support and let them know what the problem is, they will likely tell you to try the same thing I said above and if that doesn't work I have no doubt that they will fix it for you if you send it in for warranty -- be aware of automatic knife shipping laws. Really sorry to hear you're having problems with it, and I hope you can figure it out. If all of that fails and you still can't get it fixed let me know and I can try and help you with some other things. Good luck!
Sorry to hear it, I would be careful with the shootout just because of the poor experience I had... lots of other people have had great experiences though
Wow see now there was some reason why I avoided ever trying to purchase the shootout again I did once and it got lost in the mail so they returned my money and after that I lost interest in trying to get it again now see it has been more hype than high strength durability.
It's a shame because it is a very nice design, I've just had so many problems with Benchmade folders recently that it might be best to stay away from them for a little bit until they figure out quality control issues. Thanks for the comment!
If I could do it over I wouldn't buy an Ultratech, the action is horrible and the blade grind is so thick it doesn't cut worth a crap. The Livewire is a far better cutting tool and the action is fantastic, and it's actually really ergonomic. I'm still going to check out the new no blade play Ultratech when it comes out, it'll also have the Duel Fuel spring setup so the action should be improved. I also have a Scarab 2 Gen 3 and it's a fantastic OTF, but it's huge and not as good of a true EDC knife as the Livewire is. Plus Kershaw are doing an awesome job at heat treat on their Magnacut and it's cheaper than the Ultratech so it's just win win win. I wouldn't own the Benchmade for free.
Great points! I actually think I prefer the grips of the ultratech a little more than the livewire but I think the livewire wins in a lot of the other ways you mentioned
Does anyone happen to know of a retail place that sells these? I'm curious on a return or exchange policy. I want to get one for my brother in law. But I'm not sure which blade style he likes. I live in Michigan. We used to have Gander Mountain. Maybe a bass pro? Dunhams? Dicks sporting goods? I can check online. But I like hearing from the people!
Bass pro/cabelas will occasionally have them varying on the store, if you have sportsmans warehouse around you they'll have a decent selection sometimes or you can order to pick up in store, and many local pawn shops or gun shops will have them in store as well. You can go to microtechs website and search for dealers or just search the knife you're looking for online and see if any local places around you carry them. I would be careful with ordering online as there are some laws regarding the legality of shipping them, I only buy them in brick and mortar stores to be safe and ship them through dealers... hope this helps!
I got it bsck from the factory this past week and we'll see if I have any issues over the next few months. I had lots of people say they've never had any issues and lots of people say they had the same issue so we'll see! Thanks for the comment!
The Ultratech is by far the Toughest . The Liveware is easy to open but the Ultratech .In a torture test the microtech will win easily. The Gen 3 Combat Troodon is as easy as The liveware to open .My gen 2 troodon is hard to open . I have been waiting sense November 8 2022 For a Strike Proof Medford OTF Hope to get it Before Christmas 2024 Here .The Microtech with the Double Spring is easy .
Absolutely agree with you, I think a big strength of the Livewire is the price point but Microtech will likely win 10/10 times in terms of strength and QC. I'm really excited to see the new generation of Microtechs that come out in the coming months. Check out Cutting Board Reviews channel (@cbrx I think) he had a review of the Medford OTF and it seemed to have some problems if I recall, just FYI. Thanks for watching and the comment!
Yes I am planning to ship it through a dealer later this week for warranty repair, just a pain to have to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get it back. Thanks for watching!
Bench made will never get another dollar of mine. The problem is there are not a lot of knife retailers where you can go inside and put the knife in hand to test it’s quality of parts and how it feels in the hand.microtech definitely has the better product, but you wouldn’t know that until you ordered all three of those knives and they arrived in the mail.
@tims_always_fishing7117 definitely check it out, a lot of times smaller shops have more flexibility on pricing or will have sales that apply to knives... that's how I do a lot of my shopping!
I have all 3 of those knives and the Benchmade shootout is the best by far. It is unfortunate yours broke. You should have sent it back to benchmade they have the lifetime warranty you paid for.
It's on the way back to the factory now, unfortunately I have received several comments saying the same thing happened after a few short months... thanks for watchingA
I plan on it, I have used Benchmade's warranty numerous times before and had nothing but a positive experience other than having to wait a few weeks. Most other American Knife companies have similar warranties but I haven't had to use them because their knives don't break... just frustrated with Benchmade and I have had probably 5 or 6 other people comment with the same problem happening to their shootout. Thanks for watching!
@adonisdelacampa7057 i have one that is a bit stiff but extremely sturdy and another that has probably the best action I've ever felt on a frame lock and it still sturdy, one of my favorites right now for sure. How is yours?
That benchmade just blew my mind time and time again benchmade fails to impress me selling their logo on criminally overpriced junk. As for ultratech/ livewire. U can get a used ultratech for 150. A time tested and proven reliable knife. Livewire is just great for its price. But the ultratech is just a staple in the knife world and there are just too many torture tests on it for me to not grab one and trust it.
Not even close. Benchmade is plastic, live wire is good but I don’t trust Kershaw to keep making it. Microtech just seriously upgraded the Ultratech with dual fuel system, milled titanium pocket clip with a silicone carbide ball and something no one does for under $2,000, zero blade play (it’s coming soon)… Microtech is one of the only companies upgrading their knives with sometimes a lower cost, sometimes no change and sometimes a minimal increased cost. The new Ultratech that’s coming soon is vastly superior to the livewire (and I prefer M390 to Magnacut but 99.99% of people wouldn’t see and difference).
I would like to think Kershaw will continue to make the Livewire as I think it's been a huge hit from them but who knows... I am super excited for the new Ultratech, I really think it's going to change the entire market with those upgrades/new innovations. I have the Cypher II and it has everything but the 0 blade play and it is absolutely awesome, so really excited to see the Ultratech with a huge upgrade. Thanks for the comment!
if that is true, I'm definitely gonna get a new ultratech. Haven't been keeping up with knives for awhile now, but few years back the only OTF with no blade play was the deadlock one that is $1000+.
I think they make a decent product, it's just a shame that they're so absurdly overpriced. It probably costs $30 or $40 AT MOST to make a bugout and a normal company would sell for double or maybe even a little more than double that, call it $100. Benchmade goes a step farther and nearly doubles that to $180 which is absolutely insane. That being said, the bugout and lots of their other models are decent products, it's just hard for anyone to justify paying almost $200 for 2 pieces of plastic... thanks for watching!
I agree with you. They have a great warranty and customer service I just wish I didn't have to ever deal with the warranty program. Thanks for watching!
Microtech knives are not made in china. They have released knives that were collabs with good china based manufacturers to cut cost, but all of their otfs are definitely made in the USA.
You don't have to imagine it, they make a Dagger style version although it might be a little difficult to find somewhere in stock! Thanks for watching!
I have one and this is the first time I've heard anything truly negative about it from anyone. I think you got a dud. Send it back for repairs. Tons of reviewers crow about how good that model is, so you had some bad luck there.
If I didn't have to sell a kidney to be able to afford one I would probably agree with you, got to hold one in a store a few weeks ago and it was very cool. Thanks for watching!
Why not include Cobratec? They’re made in Texas. Is it because they don’t overcharge like the rest of the knives you reviewed? Never understood why people think because they pay more, they’re getting a superior product. My Cobratecs are top notch and the biggest one with a 4 inch blade was just over $100🤷♂️🫡
@@DXSharpeningohhh gotcha understood, I didn’t think of that! I guess if a company is made in America and uses only materials from America, it justifies the significant price difference. Idk personally I couldn’t spend more than $200 on any knife, especially when I can find the same quality and functionality in another knife for drastically cheaper. But a knife enthusiast I can definitely understand, I’m a tool and firearm enthusiast 🫡
I have all three of these knives. The Livewire is overall the best for the price, steel and function.
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Same. Also Kershaw blade replacements are cheapest too…
I’ve had my shootout for a long time and had no problems with it. It’s actually one of my favorite oft that I have.
I feel like it's been pretty hit or miss with the shootout, I've had half of people say it broke within a few months and half say they love it. If mine didn't break I'm sure I would've loved it, but I never really had a chance to use it... thanks for watching!
They feel cheap as hell to me with the poly chassis.
This is the comparison I needed.
Glad to hear it! Let me know if there is anything else you would like to see and I'm happy to try to make it work in a video. Thanks for watching!
I have the livewire and the Microtech glykon and the livewire is a dream to use the Glykon is just beautiful to look at.
The glykon is an awesome knife, just seems a little impractical to use! I love the one with the green inlay and would love to get it if it ever goes on sale but I think there are others higher on my list. Thanks for watching!
Probably gonna piss off some loyalists here but i just picked up a livewire and the feel of the switch and the action is leagues better than my microtech ultratech ever did. Just feels like a much better quality build and sold lockup. Granted, my microtech is like 10+ years old, so I'm sure the otf technology has improved. But for the price, you can't beat the livewire.
I still prefer my pro tech godfather in rose gold though. That copper look is so nice.
The livewire is an awesome knife, I really like the ultratech as well though. In my opinion the ultratech feels just a bit more sturdy and well made, but with a more stiff action. The livewire has an awesome action and is also well made, but excels from a "value" standpoint as it's like $100 cheaper than an ultratech but is on par with the quality. Thanks for watching!
They are also so easy to disassemble and re... User serviceable... I just am dying to see a test similar to the ultratech I saw where a guy hammers the knife through a 2x4 and then shows it still functions flawlessly 😊
@@DXSharpeningbut can you hammer it through a board?
@@tenbrooks83 ha, good point!
Axial makes an excellent US made OTF and for a great price.
Recently introduced to them, I have to check them out and NYX out! Thanks for watching!
I agree with the reviewer. If you want the smoothest operating OTF get the Livewire. If you want the prettiest get the Microtech.
Great choice, thanks for watching!
Have two benchmade OTF; The Infidel & The Phaeton and have had them for about 5 years and both have been perfect. I just received the Kershaw Livewire in carbon and magnacut. It is sweet!
That's awesome, I got to hold the cf version and it felt really nice compared to aluminum! Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening forgot to mention I also just received a Kershaw launch 7 in carbon fiber with magncut! It is not OTF but auto and the blade is hefty and sweet!
@planoman0935 the Launch series is awesome, kershaw has done such a nice job with their autos... hoping to seem them do some manual versions of them soon!
Ive used all those and kershaw was best for me.
I'm loving the Livewire, glad to see that it's so popular and getting the credit it deserves. Thanks for watching!
Yes - at the show Microtech was saying a couple of months which would be now and then I heard by Christmas - I can’t wait!!! I did grab a Combat Troodon Tanto in Natural Clear (probably my favorite combo) - that should hold me over until it’s launched!
Those troodons are badass. Especially the new(er) tanto ones that have come out. I am pumped for the new ultratech and it feels like it's extremely overdue! Thanks for watching!
I've got a microtech that's my EDC for 3 yrs and I've put it thru blue hell. Good edge retention, i did have the glass breaker come loose just tightened it up with pair of pliers and piece of leather. To me the stiff switch is a benefit. I have oiled it a couple of times.
Glad to hear you're enjoying it! I don't mind the stiff switch either but I think you should definitely check out the newer generation models and feel their new technology that's inside the combat troodon and cypher now, it really is incredible how they make it so much easier to open yet still feel very sturdy.
Thanks for watching!
I sort of collect Benchmade knives, and would personally say they’re in last place. Not just the issues you described, but the price and performance versus the other two.
It’s a tough call for me personally between the Kershaw and MT. I’m a big fan of MT, but the price for what you get in the Kershaw is one hell of an offering. I don’t like the pocket clip on the Livewire, but for the price, I’ll get over it.
I actually just put out a more in depth video comparing the ultratech and livewire that addresses some of what you're talking about. I own several Benchmade knives but it is getting harder and harder to pick them when they're falling so far behind these other brands...
Thanks for watching!
Guardian Tactical makes a great OTF, I’ve EDC’d one for 2 years straight
I have heard good things about them, I also want to check out heretic as they have some cool designs
@@DXSharpeningPick up a GT 035 or 040. They just released the 035 GEN 2 and it's beautiful
I’d say for EDC; the Shootout. For JOAT; Livewire. For customization; Microtech.
Overall I think the Livewire is the best in most cases. Great action, good steel, decent design, pretty comfy, well-priced, the tanto one looks better than the others IMO, good materials, and is just sexy. The clip kinda sucks though.
Great points, the Livewire is certainly hard to beat especially with all the improvements that have already been made with the steel update and new designs coming out. Thanks for watching!
I'm a Microtech guy since the late 90's. 30 years later, they were the first, and I will always be loyal.
Awesome to hear, they have some really cool stuff in the works. Thanks for watching!
How do you feel about the durability of their elmax blades vs the m390? I love elmax when its thick, but not sure how durable it is this thin
I would probably pick the livewire as well, however it has it's cons. Livewire clip sucks, mine came fairly dull, it is also so light weight it kind of feels like a toy.... Lastly it starts to show wear pretty quickly, the coatings aren't great. I bought a guardian tactical and it should be here soon, hoping that will be better.
How is the guardian tactical? Everyone that has commented on here about them says they're great
@DXSharpening it's amazing, much better than my livewire. Craziest difference is blade thickness, recon 35 much thicker, recon does have a big fuller, but still is just a heftier blade that feels way better when fired
I collect OTF's but won't carry one as a utility knife. Between the side-to-side play of the blade and the unreliable deployment compared to a side-folding auto. The only Benchmade I have is the Osborne 9400 auto side-folder and that only because the 940 folder has such a good reputation.
Fair enough, the 9400 is supposed to be a great knife. Thanks for watching!
Ive had all these i kept the ultratech for how solid it feels. Best otf for edc is the bm autocrat
Never had the chance to hold an autocrat, also never heard it recommended before honestly. I might have to check it out at a store. Thanks for watching!
Don’t usually drop comments… great video man. If you get another shootout, a review would be cool. The options for the blade styles and all behind the micro tech seem really attractive compared to the live wire. If you could go back and do it again, would you change your blade type on either of those two?
I appreciate the comment, thanks for watching! I really like the drop point blade on the Microtech, I have thought about a tanto but I think I prefer the drop point to actually use. I had a cheaper double edged dagger style otf and it was incredibly difficult to sharpen without messing up the point so I've tried to stay away from those for now, but I hope to get another in the future sometime. I'm not a huge fan of the livewire tanto blade for some reason and I don't love the new Dagger ones that have come out, I am really pleased with the blade shape I have on the basic model that comes to a very fine point.
I will definitely put together another video on the shootout after I get it fixed, however it might be a few weeks.
Thank you again for watching, let me know if there's anything else you'd like to see!
Have 2 microtechs, 1 utx 70 and 1 utx85, love them
The utx 70 is definitely too small for me but the 85 seems like a good size. Regardless they are both fantastic knives. Thanks for watching!
Ya do know Benxhmade has fast friendly customer service, id be shocked if they didn’t gladly fix that.
I am aware they will fix it but it takes several weeks to get it back and I feel like I am constantly having issues with Benchmade products which is incredibly frustrating. I love their designs and they do a great job with their steel but the springs/components used to make their knives are constantly breaking. Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening fair point…
Ya you have to go to a dealer just can't send it in garage on benchmade
Possible fake
Kershaw. Price.
Functional.. Quality and reliability.. love me pretty much every model of the live wire
Totally agree with you. Even if it isn't quite as nice as a Microtech, the value is certainly there. Thanks for watching!
Glad to hear it!
Yeah your right, but I got my shootout at bhq for 220
His experience with his was 😮😢
i own and love all three of these. my biggest issue with the microtech and kershaw are that if your hands are wet they dont have the grip to keep you hand in place and deploy the blade safely. That being said depending on your life they are all great edc choices. with work my personal choice is the benchmade.
Great points, thanks for watching and for the comment!
I have got to give an update here. About two days after watching this my shootout broke in the same place. I figured since mine was the second generation it may have been fixed as I have put it through intense use. Sadly that is not the case. It’s a wonderful knife when it works, but I wouldn’t recommend buying one until that issue is resolved by Benchmade
@veryhasty5283 really sorry to hear it, I hope that Benchmade customer service will help you out! Let me know if you end up getting it fixed!
I don't have any of these 3 but the Livewire is much higher on my wishlist than the others. Ultem and Magnacut version still less than the others.
I think if you wait it out they'll have a lot more than Ultem/Carbon Fiber/ whatever else there is out there. This seems to be an incredibly popular model for them and I'm betting they plan to capitalize on it. Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening yeah but the Ultem bug has caught hold of me, at least for now lol!
@EDCwDBD I don't have any ultem but I'm sure some is coming soon. Thanks for the comments!
My mini infidel is sticky after limited use. The blade doesn’t shoot out to locking position in certain angles …crazy for a $400 knife
Sorry to hear it! Outrageous pricing like most Benchmade's but I bet if you contact warranty department they'll help you out. Be careful mailing automatic knives in the mail as there are certain legal ramifications that come with it, I thjnk you have to ship it back to them through a dealer. Definitely look into it before you send it in the mail.
Thanks for watching and for the comment!
@@DXSharpeningthanks! Usually no issues in FL
@justin02239 just be careful with the laws, I'm not trying to give you legal advice or anything like that but I believe there are federal laws against mailing automatic knives if you aren't a police officer or govt employee etc.
Just because the spring holder thingy broke doesn't mean the shooutout is junk. I have an ultratech that the spring broke in the first month but I wouldn't call the knife junk. Conversely, my shooutout I have had for a year and a half and it has only ever failed once at work while cutting boxes. There was probably tape gunk that got stuck somewhere for that one cycle. There has to be thousands of cycles on the mechanism from me playing with it and from use, and everyone at work that likes to "use" it (realistically they just want to cut the box open then play with it lol). My Benchmade Phaeton had constant failures from the day I bought it. I sent it back 3 times, with the 3rd time because the springs broke. My Dad has had it for 3 months now with the new springs and so far so good. The shootout is hands down my favorite knife overall, great ergos, great steel that's easy to sharpen, great slicey thin blade. A distant 2nd is the Microtech Combat Troodon Gen3, but I suspect the M390MK steel is garbage, it doesn't hold an edge very well. With that said, I need to pick up a livewire.
Fair enough, I think I'm just sick of the springs breaking in Benchmade's along with the poor grinds and other problems right out of the box. I really did like the shootout until this happened, and if it was a one time thing with Benchmade I would totally understand but it seems to be a consistent problem across almost all of their models. I hope the new 710 spring designs coming out fix a lot of their problems going forward because I really like the designs/colors of almost all their knives. Thanks for watching!
Iv had mine for 8 months works perfect and why not send it in ? They have lifetime warranty iv used they would 100% fix thay for you within a week or 2 @DXSharpening
@@danelhernandez4875 I am in the process of sending it in right now, nothing but good experiences with Benchmade warranty... jist frustrating that I feel like I am constantly sending knives back to them and waiting when I'm not dealing with that with any other company. Thanks for watching!
my favorite knife is my Chris Reeve Large Inkosi with S35 at 58 - I can sharpen it in 5 minutes and my knife is hair whittling sharp (I don’t cut enough on my EDC to need a steel any harder). Some guys and gals cut a lot and edge retention is important but my Inkosi will slice a paper towel and it’s still sharp after 4 years. Same with my Ultratech - I carry a second knife - it’s razor sharp after 2 years (I sharpened it just to see how well I could get the edge to cut and even though it’s thick, it can slice a paper towel and whittle a hair). I prefer a premium steel like S35VN or above but for my cutting needs, Rockwell is meaningless (I am like an every day commuter - don’t need a Bugatti when my M5 is way more than enough). That’s what Rockwell and latest greatest is r an issue for me - the extent of my cutting is a tag from an umbrella or a stubborn cigar band here and there lol - softer M390 or S35 will last me 20 years before it’s needs a sharpening
I appreciate the comment, would love to get my hands on a Chris Reeve at some point but it might be a few months/years down the road. I think a lot of people probably wouldn't notice a huge difference in steels but would notice a better heat treat, but I could be totally wrong. Thanks for watching!
I've owned 7 CRK. . . let's get real, they're overrated. They did no harden their blades like they should have because they were having issues with blades cracking from the thumbstud to the spine. You can try to argue all yo want, but I have my 12 years experience with them. Overrated.
@@staticfrequency2250 100% incorrect, 100% underrated.
I picked up a brand new Livewire on BHQ on sale for 190 dollars and that alone makes it unbeatable. The ultra tech is cool but 300 for baby food soft m390 vs a great heat treat on magnacut is asinine.
The Ultratech is probably just as good a knife in terms of quality, just not $100+ more in quality. Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening oh I agree. Great knife action is solid. Button kinda sucks to use and the blade play is arguably better than the livewire. Just hate that they refuse to use a decent steel. Hell id take m390 if they could guarantee a low of 60hrc.
@dat_boi3372 I am definitely excited for the new Ultratech with 0 blade play and the easy action, should totally shake up the market
@@DXSharpening That knife is definitely on the list especially if they do it in Magnacut like the sprint run ultratechs with the green switch. Magnacut isn’t even a necessity. Something with a good heat treat would suffice. They’ll never do it but Cruwear would be an awesome sight to see on it.
@dat_boi3372 that would be pretty cool, appreciate the comments!
😎
Thanks for watching!
I'd like to know the best sub 100 otf. There is a company tacknives that had a decent knife, but I would like to know what is the favorite.
I have a cobratec and I have enjoyed using it, just a bit heavy to carry all the time. I think they're a brand worth checking out, I talked to them for awhile at Blade Show last year and they seemed to be genuine people who wanted to make a quality product for their customers.
Nice review, thanks.
Thanks for watching and for the comment!
I'll tell one of the toughest ones I've seen recently looks to be the new Maxace OTF
Not as familiar with Maxace to be honest, but I will take a look at it. Thanks for watching!
Have the ultratech and livewire-hardly ever carry the ultratech-the glassbreaker pokes my hand when reaching in pocket,think the ultratech has better blade,good geometry and superiorr steel,but hey magnacut is no slouch.I have tge raw aluminom livewire,and it looks really sick
I think the new glass breaker is supposed to be a little more rounded!
That's good to know about the shootout! I have both the Micro and Live and was just about to pull the trigger on the Bench! So glad I watched this!
Glad to be of some help! Thanks for watching!
Kershaw. Price, design, steel and TORX SCREWS.
Keep an eye out for the new ultratech that will have torx screws... thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpeningWhat is it called & when is it launching?
@@GenZBiker gen iii ultratech launches i believe this tuesday!
Dont get the ultratech i just got it yesterday and it doesn't retract all the time such bs I'm so frustrated
Have you tried spraying some air into it and then flooding it with rem oil? That seems to fix a lot of issues with Microtechs and OTFs in general. I haven't had any issues at all with mine especially not after doing that, so definitely give that a shot. If that doesn't work I would contact Microtech support and let them know what the problem is, they will likely tell you to try the same thing I said above and if that doesn't work I have no doubt that they will fix it for you if you send it in for warranty -- be aware of automatic knife shipping laws. Really sorry to hear you're having problems with it, and I hope you can figure it out. If all of that fails and you still can't get it fixed let me know and I can try and help you with some other things. Good luck!
Id go benchmade because of the scale materials & i have a utx85 & im not happy with it.
Sorry to hear it, I would be careful with the shootout just because of the poor experience I had... lots of other people have had great experiences though
Wow see now there was some reason why I avoided ever trying to purchase the shootout again I did once and it got lost in the mail so they returned my money and after that I lost interest in trying to get it again now see it has been more hype than high strength durability.
It's a shame because it is a very nice design, I've just had so many problems with Benchmade folders recently that it might be best to stay away from them for a little bit until they figure out quality control issues. Thanks for the comment!
If I could do it over I wouldn't buy an Ultratech, the action is horrible and the blade grind is so thick it doesn't cut worth a crap. The Livewire is a far better cutting tool and the action is fantastic, and it's actually really ergonomic. I'm still going to check out the new no blade play Ultratech when it comes out, it'll also have the Duel Fuel spring setup so the action should be improved. I also have a Scarab 2 Gen 3 and it's a fantastic OTF, but it's huge and not as good of a true EDC knife as the Livewire is. Plus Kershaw are doing an awesome job at heat treat on their Magnacut and it's cheaper than the Ultratech so it's just win win win. I wouldn't own the Benchmade for free.
Great points! I actually think I prefer the grips of the ultratech a little more than the livewire but I think the livewire wins in a lot of the other ways you mentioned
Benchmade I’m pretty sure has a lifetime warranty, send it back to them they will make it right.
It's on the way back to the factory right now, just frustrating to have to constantly use the warranty...
You left out the Axial Shift 3.0. Kills all 3 of these.
I'm going to have to check it out, I've had a handful of people recommend it to me. Thanks for watching!
That’s my edc. Never failed me.
Thanks for watching!
The answer is actually Guardian Tactical
I looked up their designs and really want to check them out, would love to get my hands on one before dropping $300 though
Doesn’t Benchmade have a warranty?
Yes, got everything fixed up!
Does anyone happen to know of a retail place that sells these? I'm curious on a return or exchange policy. I want to get one for my brother in law. But I'm not sure which blade style he likes. I live in Michigan. We used to have Gander Mountain. Maybe a bass pro? Dunhams? Dicks sporting goods? I can check online. But I like hearing from the people!
Bass pro/cabelas will occasionally have them varying on the store, if you have sportsmans warehouse around you they'll have a decent selection sometimes or you can order to pick up in store, and many local pawn shops or gun shops will have them in store as well. You can go to microtechs website and search for dealers or just search the knife you're looking for online and see if any local places around you carry them. I would be careful with ordering online as there are some laws regarding the legality of shipping them, I only buy them in brick and mortar stores to be safe and ship them through dealers... hope this helps!
@@DXSharpening thank you.
Been carrying a shootout for over a year with no problems
Hope it stays that way. Thanks for watching!
Don't be so disheartened with the first could be a defect. Notify the company for a replacement is best suggestion
I got it bsck from the factory this past week and we'll see if I have any issues over the next few months. I had lots of people say they've never had any issues and lots of people say they had the same issue so we'll see! Thanks for the comment!
The Ultratech is by far the Toughest . The Liveware is easy to open but the Ultratech .In a torture test the microtech will win easily. The Gen 3 Combat Troodon is as easy as The liveware to open .My gen 2 troodon is hard to open . I have been waiting sense November 8 2022 For a Strike Proof Medford OTF Hope to get it Before Christmas 2024 Here .The Microtech with the Double Spring is easy .
Absolutely agree with you, I think a big strength of the Livewire is the price point but Microtech will likely win 10/10 times in terms of strength and QC. I'm really excited to see the new generation of Microtechs that come out in the coming months.
Check out Cutting Board Reviews channel (@cbrx I think) he had a review of the Medford OTF and it seemed to have some problems if I recall, just FYI.
Thanks for watching and the comment!
You could have sent the shootout to benchmade for free right.?
Yes I am planning to ship it through a dealer later this week for warranty repair, just a pain to have to wait 3 or 4 weeks to get it back. Thanks for watching!
DKW Sand Shark! Nuff said!
Hadn't heard of that before but just looked it up... awesome looking knife but I might have to sell a kidney to get one. Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening good thing God gave you a spare! 😆
@@argonianaccount1876 ha!
Had an old Benchmade D2 OTF. Quality did not match price.
They aren't bad knives but if you're trying to get the best value there are lots of better options out there
Bench made will never get another dollar of mine. The problem is there are not a lot of knife retailers where you can go inside and put the knife in hand to test it’s quality of parts and how it feels in the hand.microtech definitely has the better product, but you wouldn’t know that until you ordered all three of those knives and they arrived in the mail.
It definitely is tough, it takes some shopping around to do and it might take awhile to do... thanks for watching!
I just found a small shop right by my house that has every top brand. I need to go and check out the ultratech or utx-85.
@tims_always_fishing7117 definitely check it out, a lot of times smaller shops have more flexibility on pricing or will have sales that apply to knives... that's how I do a lot of my shopping!
I have all 3 of those knives and the Benchmade shootout is the best by far. It is unfortunate yours broke. You should have sent it back to benchmade they have the lifetime warranty you paid for.
It's on the way back to the factory now, unfortunately I have received several comments saying the same thing happened after a few short months... thanks for watchingA
Not shocked that benchmade is the highest price with the crappiest parts
Unfortunately it is not surprising
Any one got a heritic hydra I been eying one yet to pull the trigger
Not super familiar with Heretic brand but I have only heard great things about them. Thanks for watching!
You pay for the lifetime warranty when you buy benchmade. Why not send it in to get fixed?
I plan on it, I have used Benchmade's warranty numerous times before and had nothing but a positive experience other than having to wait a few weeks. Most other American Knife companies have similar warranties but I haven't had to use them because their knives don't break... just frustrated with Benchmade and I have had probably 5 or 6 other people comment with the same problem happening to their shootout. Thanks for watching!
Neither of them. The best price to quality ratio is from Cobratec
I have a cobratec that I like but I'm gonna have to disagree when the livewire isn't much more expensive and is noticeably superior
Holy crap never buying a benchmade after seeing that. Microtech or kershaw
Let me know if you need help looking for them! Thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening went with 3 livewires and a toor merchant 2.0 folder. Blade HQI would check out they’re new knives toor is definitely under the Radar!
@@adonisdelacampa7057 I actually just ordered a merchant, really excited to see how it is!
@@DXSharpening how is you’re merchant? They’re a bit stiff for a few weeks I noticed. Just bought the launch 14 magnacut I’d recommend
@adonisdelacampa7057 i have one that is a bit stiff but extremely sturdy and another that has probably the best action I've ever felt on a frame lock and it still sturdy, one of my favorites right now for sure. How is yours?
That benchmade just blew my mind time and time again benchmade fails to impress me selling their logo on criminally overpriced junk. As for ultratech/ livewire. U can get a used ultratech for 150. A time tested and proven reliable knife. Livewire is just great for its price. But the ultratech is just a staple in the knife world and there are just too many torture tests on it for me to not grab one and trust it.
My thoughts exactly, thanks for watching!
Not even close. Benchmade is plastic, live wire is good but I don’t trust Kershaw to keep making it. Microtech just seriously upgraded the Ultratech with dual fuel system, milled titanium pocket clip with a silicone carbide ball and something no one does for under $2,000, zero blade play (it’s coming soon)… Microtech is one of the only companies upgrading their knives with sometimes a lower cost, sometimes no change and sometimes a minimal increased cost. The new Ultratech that’s coming soon is vastly superior to the livewire (and I prefer M390 to Magnacut but 99.99% of people wouldn’t see and difference).
I would like to think Kershaw will continue to make the Livewire as I think it's been a huge hit from them but who knows... I am super excited for the new Ultratech, I really think it's going to change the entire market with those upgrades/new innovations. I have the Cypher II and it has everything but the 0 blade play and it is absolutely awesome, so really excited to see the Ultratech with a huge upgrade. Thanks for the comment!
I paid Less for my Gen 3 Combat Troodon than my First Troodon The Gen 3 is so much easier to open and has Dual springs .
if that is true, I'm definitely gonna get a new ultratech. Haven't been keeping up with knives for awhile now, but few years back the only OTF with no blade play was the deadlock one that is $1000+.
@xhango0kx definitely stay tuned! They were supposed to be out by now but rumor has it that it'll be Q1 25
I don't understand why people love Benchmade so much. Every one of their knives I've ever touched feels cheap and underwhelming to say the least.
I think they make a decent product, it's just a shame that they're so absurdly overpriced. It probably costs $30 or $40 AT MOST to make a bugout and a normal company would sell for double or maybe even a little more than double that, call it $100. Benchmade goes a step farther and nearly doubles that to $180 which is absolutely insane. That being said, the bugout and lots of their other models are decent products, it's just hard for anyone to justify paying almost $200 for 2 pieces of plastic... thanks for watching!
Benchmade has a great Warranty they will get you right if you contact them
Initial quality matters… reliability matters… too many people are worried about status
If you got a good 1 then im happy for ya 😊
I agree with you. They have a great warranty and customer service I just wish I didn't have to ever deal with the warranty program. Thanks for watching!
Absolutely. Thanks for watching!
I’m quite certain by opening up the chassis had voided your warranty with Benchmade.
ive been carrying a no name OTF gun show knife for at least ten years. your mostly buying a name. all production knives are built in China
Surprised to hear it's lasted 10 years but that's great!
Microtech knives are not made in china. They have released knives that were collabs with good china based manufacturers to cut cost, but all of their otfs are definitely made in the USA.
Can yall just IMAGINE that Kershaw with a double edge…?
You don't have to imagine it, they make a Dagger style version although it might be a little difficult to find somewhere in stock! Thanks for watching!
My Kershaw live wire jams up and comes off the track all the damn time that knife is not worth the damn money
Sorry to hear that, reach out to Kershaws warranty department I am almost certain they will be willing to help you. Thanks for watching!
I have one and this is the first time I've heard anything truly negative about it from anyone. I think you got a dud. Send it back for repairs. Tons of reviewers crow about how good that model is, so you had some bad luck there.
None of those, king of OTF will be the DeadLock plus they will never outsource and will always be Made In America.
If I didn't have to sell a kidney to be able to afford one I would probably agree with you, got to hold one in a store a few weeks ago and it was very cool. Thanks for watching!
Benchmade is trash They're also a horrible company that doesn't care about anyone's rights. They'll never get a dime from me
Fair enough, thanks for watching!
Where is the benchmade I watched the video for nothing?
It broke after barely any use due to crappy internal components, not worth wasting your money on it in my opinion
it was the broken crap at start !!! what u need more to see????
Wow that is genuinely shocking from Benchmade.
Ha, thanks for watching!
@@DXSharpening no worries!
Clark Michelle Thomas Frank Thompson Mary
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Wow, so disappointing from Benchmade
Yeah I wasnt happy about it at all
None of the above; it's Heretic
I don't have any heretics as they seem to be hard to find, but the 1 or 2 that I have handled were awesome! Thanks for watching
Johnson Lisa Jackson Dorothy Jones Lisa
Bot?
You’ve got tiny hands
Thanks
Love my infidel ❤
The infidel is awesome, I just wish they didn't charge and arm and a leg for it. Thanks for watching!
Why are you wearing a glove? Maybe knives aren't for you fella. 😉
Ever work with gloves on?
@DXSharpening , Yes, but not when I'm simply playing with a knife.
@@ERICMANN71 gotta keep the look of the videos the same sir, sorry to disappoint
Micro tech definitely
Gotta love the ultratech
Why not include Cobratec? They’re made in Texas. Is it because they don’t overcharge like the rest of the knives you reviewed? Never understood why people think because they pay more, they’re getting a superior product. My Cobratecs are top notch and the biggest one with a 4 inch blade was just over $100🤷♂️🫡
Cobratec is actually assembled in texas with all imported parts I BELIEVE (could be wrong) and I do actually have one that I really enjoy
@@DXSharpeningohhh gotcha understood, I didn’t think of that! I guess if a company is made in America and uses only materials from America, it justifies the significant price difference. Idk personally I couldn’t spend more than $200 on any knife, especially when I can find the same quality and functionality in another knife for drastically cheaper. But a knife enthusiast I can definitely understand, I’m a tool and firearm enthusiast 🫡