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TroodonOne day I was watching 24 when I saw that Jack Bauer, played by Keifer Sutherland, had the coolest knife ever. It was all black and with a press of a button a blade shot straight out of the handle until it was fully extended. I may not do many (ok, any) tactical things like Jack Bauer, but I knew that I needed to have that knife.

I searched all over the internet until I found the brand. It was a Microtech Halo Knife. Microtech is a US based knife manufacturer with an obsession for quality. Just before plunking down around $300 for a Halo I came across another model: the Troodon.

The Troodon has a slightly smaller blade, but the real difference is in the mechanism. The Halo requires a button press to extend the blade, but to retract it one must use two hands to pull back part of the handle of the knife. It’s hard to explain, but the important factor is that it can’t be retracted with one hand. The Troodon uses a flick switch on the side of the knife. Pressing it forward causes the blade to extend straight out, but pulling it back causes it to snap back inside with a satisfying click noise. Here’s a video:

Cool, huh? I ordered the black on black Troodon and couldn’t possibly be happier with it. The fit and finish are all top notch and simply holding the knife gives the impression that it’s perfectly built. It was harder than I expected to move the switch, but a bit of practice makes it easy. I haven’t done much with it other than open packages, but boy does it open those packages with style.

I should mention that even though they’re seldom if ever used in crimes, these knives are not legal everywhere. That doesn’t mean that they’re not very easy to order, but you ought to check your laws first.

I bought mine at Blade HQ


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There are 17 Comments.


Hawt
Jan 31st, 2007 @ 8:46 pm

This is pretty bad ass.

Also, I just found this link on digg to everything Jack Bauer gear related.

http://www.uncrate.com/men/gear/misc-gadgets/jack-bauer-gear-008978.php


Hawt
Jan 31st, 2007 @ 11:00 pm

Also,

Here is a video that shows how the Mach III retracts, that Ty said was hard to explain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKqPii44uc8&NR

Feb 3rd, 2007 @ 8:00 pm

I’ve never used a knife like this, is there much of a possibility of accidentally popping the blade out? Does the blade pop out with much force? Perhaps if one were to temporarily put it in a pocket, then place keys in said pocket, which hooked on the mechanism, and popped the blade out, slicing into your leg?

That being said, the tactical knife looks wicked :)


Katie
Feb 12th, 2007 @ 1:30 pm

Hey, this is in regards to the Smartwool socks, which I left a comment on a while ago. Anyways, I ordered a pair for myself and a friend and they’re absolutely amazing. They’re as perfect as you described them. My friend and I got another pair soon after, and I’ve ordered two more since then as well as ordered some for my parents. Thank you so so much for telling me about them and where to get them inexpensively. :) You’re the best.


Brian
Mar 12th, 2007 @ 5:58 am

Hey, Now I’m not trying to be a jerk or anything, but I’m starting to see that the products your promoting fit a very niche market. At first I thought some were cool (that light oven is badass), but a specialty popcorn maker and 300 dollar retracting knife? As cool as that is, it might be and idea to give some consumer advice on say digital cameras or mp3 players. Stuff that caters to a larger market. Just a suggestion!


strikeforce
Oct 13th, 2007 @ 4:53 pm

that knife is sick. i was thinking about buying one a while ago, but i opted for a $700 night vision scope instead. i do some tactical work, and my $15 Smith and Wesson extreme ops knife has fared me well so far. i used to have a switchblade and i poked a hole clean through my hand, but a sick knife all the same.
Keep on rockin


18B
Oct 16th, 2007 @ 1:06 am

strikeforce: if you were using an OTF knife and it poked a hole through your hand, you were using a poorly crafted knife. Either that, or I call BS. The vast majority (I haven’t found one otherwise) of OTF knifes will not open completly if there is any obstruction. It will start to open, hit what is blocking its path, and then stop. Unless you’re using a spring that has a ridiculously large amount of power, there is no way it will draw blood let alone “poke a hole clean through” your hand.

Matt: You don’t need to worry about that with this knife. I haven’t had it open “accidentally” in my pocket. Use the sheath it comes with, and you will never have to worry that it might happen.

Jan 24th, 2008 @ 9:10 pm

I love blogs like this one. You are 100% on point. Do I detect the least bit of sarcasm in your writing (re: )? Keep up the good work, I was looking around for information about Specialty Knives when I say a link to here.

Mar 23rd, 2008 @ 2:18 pm

Yeah, I had an OTF knife that I accidentally activated while I was scratching my chin with it. The blade came out with such force it pinned my tounge to the roof of my mouth! All could think of on the way to the hospital was how tis situation was just like when I bit into a BLT and ha forotten to remove the toothpick. Upon removing it the doctor was so impressed by the wickedness of the knife, he told me he would comp the medical treatment if hecould use it for surgery that night. I agreed. When it came time to return it in the morning, he refused. He baracaded himself in an air duct. SWAT was called. When they went to look fo him they found he had tunneled out of the hospital with my knife! How? He extended and retracted th blade thousands of time to in effect “jack hammer” his way through the concrete! All that he left behind was rubble and his initials in a boulder a mile away from the hospital.


Ty
Apr 30th, 2008 @ 1:41 pm

I had to chime in. I’ve got a HALO 3, an Ultratech, and a Makora. Thing is very few people know what sharp really is. We all watch cooking shows and watch as they cut with precision and wonder why or 129.00 “pro” set in the kitchen doesn’t do the same. Sharp is one of the things you pay for with microtech, scarey sharp. The spring in a halo won’t punch through your hand but unlike any other otf… it will send you to the hospital for stitches. The Ultratech actually penitrates more than the others from just opening it, it with go threw a cardboard box or a towel. So, there is the truth.


Boomer
Jun 8th, 2008 @ 7:17 am

Spelling, my GOD, people SPELLING!!! buy a thesaurus, a dictionary, ANYTHING!! just use the darn thing!! What´s really scary is that you were all born and raised in the US, yet you spell scary as scarEy!!!
I was born and raised in a latino country, makes you think huh?…well maybe not, that would be SCARY.

Dec 18th, 2008 @ 5:36 am

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Mar 3rd, 2009 @ 12:11 pm

We are getting in the new Halos in less than a week! Cool new design and styling. Limited and serial numbered! Check it out on our website Blade HQ.com for more info. Thanks


joe billy
Mar 6th, 2009 @ 7:16 am

pie is good

Apr 30th, 2010 @ 6:49 pm

awesome knife, the specs are fantastic, feels comfortable in the palm

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