How to tell if fake Microtech?

[REK Knives]

I found a local listing for a Microtech OTF w/ CF handle... said it's flawless and basically new, husband divorced, getting rid of. I know there are a TON of fake MT's on the market. Can you guys look at the pictures or tell me what you think or what I should check for? I don't want to get scammed...

 

[jac_solar]

I've no experience with this, but my impression, based on reading a little about Microtech copies, is that the pocket clip, the logos and logo placements, are often giveaways. Also, hardware, finishes, coloring, and so forth.

 

[PURPLEDC]

I dont think any fake makora II's have been seen. From the pics it looks legit to me. And at that price its more than a steal. In fact I am jealous.

as to spotting fakes here are a few tells

1. handle material. Most fakes are much heavier than the original model they are based on. This is because instead of aircraft aluminum the handle is made of a zinc based pot metal and possibly even lead. No one really knows what is in it but the stuff is heavy. The handles are usually always cast and many have poor fitment. Look for gaps in the seams where the top meets the body. And if the knife is supposed to weight 3.5 ounces and you have a 8 ounce knife its pretty obvious.

2. The actuating button- Often cast like the handle. There many times will be little bubbles in the finish and it will lack the sharp crisp lines in it like a genuine machined button.

3. The blade- The shape is usually NEVER correct. The taper at the tip is usually wrong and if the blade has a center fuller with holes they are often off center. If the shape looks odd look for other tells.

4. painted anything- Microtech did not make scarabs or makoras that looked like they were dipped in gold stage paint. Some of the atrocities have fake shell inlays and are an attempt to make them look like a marfione custom. If there is a gold mt it would be anodized and extremely well executed. Not painted.

5. Logos and serial numbers - If your at a gun show and he has 3 troodons with all the same serial number look for the above signs. Logo placement and dates are a hard indicator as M/T has never been consistent in these things and often change even between runs of the same knife. I have had 3 of the same knife will completely different locations for production dates, serialization and logos. Also logos can be very light or very dark. There is no right or wrong with how deep a logo is. Logos are laser etched. Never painted so if it rubs off there is a problem.

 

[REK Knives]

Thanks guys! I just wanted the expert opinions of BF members before I spend the money

 

[PURPLEDC]

I would jump on it. Its an amazing deal. Those had really nice blued Ti screws and very nice C/F inlays. She obviously doesnt know what she has.

 

[Powerstroke219]

It's real. I would by that sucka ASAP.

 

[REK Knives]

Ok, so I went and looked at it and got some pics for you guys. The F&F looked fine, but it definitely wasn't as nice as she said, it is a user as you can see from the pics. Not a bad thing, and still a good deal if genuine. So I found the specs and ended up measuring it. My scale I brought to weigh it didn't go up that high (4.3 oz) unfortunately. The over-all length was 10 1/8" if I measured from the base of the tip to the handle. If I measured from the tip to the end of the glass break it was about 10.5-10 5/". Does this sound right? Also, I bought a new scale that goes up to 3lbs so I can go back and re-measure (she only lives 5 min from me). The carbon fiber on it looked more like a sticker and didn't have the texture that my CF on my Gayle Bradley does... it also says S35VN on the base of the blade near the handle (you can barely see from pics). sorry for all the hassle guys, I just haven't ever gotten into Microtech's before and the plethora of fakes on the net makes me weary. She said that he bought it from ebay a while back.