Haven't seen that many head-to-head comparisons so I thought I'd post some impressions.
Microtech only sends you the knife, Heretic seems a bit more generous. However, Microtech's box feels sturdier so if you store your knives in boxes, you might have a bit more peace of mind.
Ergonomics
Shapes and dimensions are pretty much alike and equally functional. I like a lot how the Combat Troodon handle swells in the middle and gradually thins out back and front, I kind of dislike how the curvature that hosts your index and middle finger totally lacks chamfering, I'd rather they'd built it more akin to the Ultratech, with a nice chamfer all across the chassis. Manticore is a tad more subdued design-wise, with less pronounced lines, but feels a bit more comfy in hand. Winner in a direct comparison the MX by a very small margin.
MX 1 - CT 0
Clip & glassbreaker
The clip used on the Troodon and Dirac family is my absolute favorite. Excellent retention, due to the 'double-dip' design you get to decide how low or high in your pocket you'd like to carry, easy to get out of pocket, easy to insert, no hotspots in use. The clip on the Manticore feels like a thermoplastic (a magnet doesn't stick), seems to work fine and you can buy replacement clips from Heretic, but also feels a bit cheap though. Glassbreaker is more of a personal preference thingy (and I don't think knives should necessarily come with such a feature) but I do happen to like Microtech's dome and it doesn't bother me in use or carry. Manticore has done a better design job by integrating it in the handle itself, looks smooth and neat. However, if you do come to having to use a glassbreaker, I think a separate metal piece might provide a bit more structural integrity behind your punch that an aluminum-wrapped ball-only design.
MX 1 - CT 1
Fit & finish
The marketing geniuses have come up with similar notions, apocalyptic vs. battleworn, probably aiming to appeal to the same demographics. Microtech's apocalyptic finish seems to hide well scratches (and the cringy amount of billboarding) and takes well abuse. I also like the pre-distressed handle, less qualms to not throw it immediately in the pocket. Manticore has again the more clean design with virtually no markings (apart from the upper part of the handle and steel type on blade) but, personal preference again, the heavy stonewashing used in the median area of the blade (in my particular example) has left a lot of scratches that are in stark contrast with the coated parts, and I find the overall two-tone color scheme a bit meh, so
MX 1 - CT 2
Action
The CT is unnecessarily (bordering on ridiculously) hard to retract. Manticore uses a wider, lower-positioned, sparsely-jimped switch that improves tenfold the action.
MX 2 - CT 2
Bladeplay/rattle
Absolutely comparable (a tiny amount) of bladeplay on both, no rattle on either.
MX 3 - CT 3
Weight
Manticore weights some 20 gr less, not much in the grand scheme of the Universe but to me lighter is better, so half a point goes to MX
MX 3.5 - CT 3
Price
ManticoreX is less than half the price of a Combat Troodon with comparable materials and built quality, no contest here, I'll even give it a point and a half so we dispense with the fractions.
MX 5 - CT 3
There you have it, if the matter of how there 2 compare against each other was keeping you awake at night
, glad to have helped.
Edited to add: you might notice I've absolutely ignored blade steel (as I've come to realize geometry is the more important parameter) and cutting performance (my CT is now roughly 18.5 dps, so no fair comparison either).
Microtech only sends you the knife, Heretic seems a bit more generous. However, Microtech's box feels sturdier so if you store your knives in boxes, you might have a bit more peace of mind.
Ergonomics
Shapes and dimensions are pretty much alike and equally functional. I like a lot how the Combat Troodon handle swells in the middle and gradually thins out back and front, I kind of dislike how the curvature that hosts your index and middle finger totally lacks chamfering, I'd rather they'd built it more akin to the Ultratech, with a nice chamfer all across the chassis. Manticore is a tad more subdued design-wise, with less pronounced lines, but feels a bit more comfy in hand. Winner in a direct comparison the MX by a very small margin.
MX 1 - CT 0
Clip & glassbreaker
The clip used on the Troodon and Dirac family is my absolute favorite. Excellent retention, due to the 'double-dip' design you get to decide how low or high in your pocket you'd like to carry, easy to get out of pocket, easy to insert, no hotspots in use. The clip on the Manticore feels like a thermoplastic (a magnet doesn't stick), seems to work fine and you can buy replacement clips from Heretic, but also feels a bit cheap though. Glassbreaker is more of a personal preference thingy (and I don't think knives should necessarily come with such a feature) but I do happen to like Microtech's dome and it doesn't bother me in use or carry. Manticore has done a better design job by integrating it in the handle itself, looks smooth and neat. However, if you do come to having to use a glassbreaker, I think a separate metal piece might provide a bit more structural integrity behind your punch that an aluminum-wrapped ball-only design.
MX 1 - CT 1
Fit & finish
The marketing geniuses have come up with similar notions, apocalyptic vs. battleworn, probably aiming to appeal to the same demographics. Microtech's apocalyptic finish seems to hide well scratches (and the cringy amount of billboarding) and takes well abuse. I also like the pre-distressed handle, less qualms to not throw it immediately in the pocket. Manticore has again the more clean design with virtually no markings (apart from the upper part of the handle and steel type on blade) but, personal preference again, the heavy stonewashing used in the median area of the blade (in my particular example) has left a lot of scratches that are in stark contrast with the coated parts, and I find the overall two-tone color scheme a bit meh, so
MX 1 - CT 2
Action
The CT is unnecessarily (bordering on ridiculously) hard to retract. Manticore uses a wider, lower-positioned, sparsely-jimped switch that improves tenfold the action.
MX 2 - CT 2
Bladeplay/rattle
Absolutely comparable (a tiny amount) of bladeplay on both, no rattle on either.
MX 3 - CT 3
Weight
Manticore weights some 20 gr less, not much in the grand scheme of the Universe but to me lighter is better, so half a point goes to MX
MX 3.5 - CT 3
Price
ManticoreX is less than half the price of a Combat Troodon with comparable materials and built quality, no contest here, I'll even give it a point and a half so we dispense with the fractions.
MX 5 - CT 3
There you have it, if the matter of how there 2 compare against each other was keeping you awake at night
, glad to have helped.Edited to add: you might notice I've absolutely ignored blade steel (as I've come to realize geometry is the more important parameter) and cutting performance (my CT is now roughly 18.5 dps, so no fair comparison either).
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