Protech TR4 manual - shall I consider one?

Herlock

Herlock

Joined
May 13, 2015
Messages
841
Hi! Happy New Year :)! Sometimes ago, in the EDC thread, a Protech TR4 really caught my eye. I am not very familiar with these knives and this company (not really known and its products are rather difficult to source here) and never paid much attention to it because, it seemed to me, they are mainly into automatic/assisted opening types of folders which I am not so much fond of and are, for the most, illegal to carry around here. But then, impressed by the design of the TR4 (blade shape in particular – amazing!), I did some further research and discovered this is also coming in a manual version. So now I am pretty interested :).

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(Pic from the web)

I write here in the need for some help, informed opinion, direct experiences, etc. from you. It looks to me the TR4 it’s a sizeable knife, a solid slicer and I like its clean lines, design and ergos, at least on paper. On the other hand the materials seems to be nothing “special”, so to say, even a bit “outdated”, if you want, compared to today average offers. Aluminium handles I’m basically OK with, I have a ER BF2 CT and a Mcusta with those and I kind of like the feel; about 154 CM steel I know very little. How will it perform? What does it compare to? Does it keep and edge? Is it easy to sharpen with a Lansky system?

Another concern I have is Protech is famous and renowned for its auto/assisted mechanisms. How is this manual configuration of one of their most popular knives? I would avoid going to McDonald for a salad or, like my former boss was saying – in a less poetic but funnier way - to a hooker for a hug :D. Also, I am able to source the TR4 here, at a reputable dealer, with all the warranties, etc. for around 250 EUR delivered, which, I think, it’s quite high price, considering what I’d get. My go-to brick and mortar stores aren’t dealers, so no option to handle before purchasing.

What would you say, shall I go for it or I’d better take a breath and look around for something similar with more value for money (I’m also looking the ZT 0095 quite hard – it comes around 260 EUR)? I’d really like to get a Protech product, since this brand it’s missing from my “collection”, but also I still miss a ZT.

I found a couple of old threads here talking about Protech and the TR4 specifically. Anything new/different you can add?

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1307209-Pro-Tech-knives-what-say-you

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...-ProTech-TR-4-–-with-a-little-personalization

Thanks a lot for attention, any suggestion/comment and kind support!

Take care!
 
Happy New Year Herlock!!
Glad you brought this up. Pro Tech is my favorite company! High quality knives and excellent customer service!
I have a TR-3 Ti manual and a bunch of autos. They are nothing short of amazing!
Never handled a TR4, but I will have one very soon.
The manual TR-3 is stupid smooth, perfectly centered and locks up TIGHT! It has been bomb proof!! I dropped it onto concrete a few months ago and put a major chip in the blade. Panic!!!
Called Mapi, customer service chick extraordinaire, and she told me to send it in for a blade replacement. I sent the knife and $40 and got a brand new coated blade installed. They also replaced the hardware, cleaned & tuned it.....had it back in less than 2 weeks. They also put a bad ass edge on the new blade! Excellent customer service!!
It is VERY rare you'll hear a negative word about the knives or the company.
I would highly recommend them!!
Go for it brother.......you'll love it!!
Joe
Knife porn!!!
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The manual Ti TR-3......like it so much I had it anodized.......like it even more now!!
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I have a TR4 auto and it's a nice knife and Pro-Tech's customer service is probably the best in the business. Wile you can get better materials for 250 you won't get better support at 250
 
Honestly, I'm a little surprised that pro-tech isn't talked about as much or more than spyderco and zero tolerance. Their knives are just as good or better with great customer service and in the same price range. Maybe because they don't use fad materials? I don't know, but pro-tech is legit.
 
That knife is on my bucket list. I would buy one now. But they still use 154cm on all of their knives. My next knife is going to be a ZT 562CF.That's a bang for the buck. But Protect makes very quilty knives. I had a Blacke Collins Protect and it was perfect.
 
I recently replaced a PM2 with a manual TR4. I prefer it over all other folders I've owned, except for the Kershaw Tilt, which I foolishly sold after it bit me.
 
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