Microtech Combat Troodon: $530 Real vs. $45 HiFinder Clone Pt. 2 - Internals

[@billbertagnoli4226]

This is pretty fascinating. You're got to wonder if the structural differences between the two really matter to folks who buy otf knives just to watch the blade go In and out. ? Thanks for the detailed descriptions of the major differences.

[@GigiEDC]

Thank you for your comment! I wonder the same thing and from my experience, I don’t think it matters. If you plan on using it as a nail and hammering into a 2X4 (some torture tests do this) - no doubt the real one will last longer. For light to moderate use I think it’s more than sufficient. Take care!

[@Elmax17.5dps]

The cut outs save weight and mitigate the inertia

[@Elmax17.5dps]

Very good video btw🎉

[@GigiEDC]

Thank you brother!

[@stevekusma9183]

Good video, I'm a new subscriber!

[@GigiEDC]

Thank you!

[@discordjunkie]

Cool videos brother, would love to know what is your favorite OTF Aliexpress Clone? or What one specific seller and knife you would recommend someone looking to get their first OTF knife?

[@GigiEDC]

I appreciate it brother! I believe the HiFinder Combat Troodon clone is great for the money. On AliExpress they go for around $38-$55. They have a Gen III Combat Troodon in this price range as well but I don’t have experience with it. I typically recommend “China High-End EDC Store”. There you can find the clone in this video and the Vespa Big Dragon (other video you commented on) as well. It’s around $180. You can also find HiFinders with better blade steel (M390 rather than D2). Their store has good customer service as well.

[@xxArsen1xx-OnPsn]

​​​@@GigiEDCim thrilled with the hifinder gen3 troodon i picked up from CHEedc. Good fit and finish, minimal wiggle when locked open, came shaving sharp and has kept the edge well especially while sending the abuse like stacks of cardboard to the serrated side to spare the plain edge for more delicate tasks. Had it side by side with an OEM MT gen iii, hard pressed to tell the difference, cant really without opening it up. Arrived in 9 days from ordering. Best $50 ive ever spent. Cons, i think the aluminum finish is softer, getting some holster wear from the kydex that i think the legit ones would brush off. Otherwise, great knife 👍

[@xxArsen1xx-OnPsn]

The blade weight is going to be directly correlated to the strength of spring needed to launch it stiffly and force needed to deploy it, so when they skeletonize the blade, the switch would have gotten a bit lighter to activate. Considering theyre still a bit of a PITA im not too mad at it.

[@GigiEDC]

Thank you for your input! That makes perfect sense. Take care and thank you for commenting!

[@xxArsen1xx-OnPsn]

Anytime! It made me nervous too coming from full tang is king fixed blades but they really are little marvels of engineering, MT deserved their profit but i think theyve taken it to a point of explotation, at some point we gotta call it public domain for the sake of healthy competition. Your review of the vespa CT Gen3 gave me the confidence to pull the trigger and I'm absolutely thrilled with the purchase, if they don't want to make an affordable otf somebody else will lol. Appreciate ya!

[@GigiEDC]

Brother I absolutely agree. Although their original mechanism wasn’t made by them, Microtech deserves their profit because of the innovation they’ve brought to the OTF world. Especially recently with the dual fuel system and the new Atreus’s lock up mechanism. Like you said though - there’s a fine line between profit and gouging. Their customer service is what originally sent me to Vespa though, not the prices. I hope they realize these things. I hope you enjoy your OTF my friend and I’m glad I could help!

[@Redspeciality]

That little bit of a difference between the two knives doesn’t come anywhere near justifying the $500 price difference. I’d take the counterfeit

[@GigiEDC]

I hear you! Holding the two I certainly tell a difference and I feel better when I have the real one in my hands - however I’m much more included to use the $50 knife which makes me enjoy it as much as the real one. I’d certainly recommend having both if possible 😅

[@3quartertim3]

Anyone know where to get clone parts? Screws springs etc

[@GigiEDC]

What are you looking for specifically? I may have extra!

[@SteppingR]

the/my older C-troodon from ali have 2 springs

[@keness4768]

Ive got a small size genuine troodon and a full size vespa clone. The genuine knife ive had for 3 years and with maybe 8 months of dedicated use, the springs now sometimes fail to fire the blade all the way out. By comparison, the vespa has way more power when firing. I've had it longer and it never fails to deploy. I just dont see the value in the real deal...

[@GigiEDC]

I hear you! I love having the genuine model but Vespas are my EDC for various reasons. My Vespa Scarab is by far my favorite OTF and if I drop it, so what? It was 1/4th the price of my genuine model. If has virtually no blade play, has M390 steel and it’s never misfired. I genuinely enjoy every Vespa I have and I’ve had less issues, well 0 issues, with them compared to my authentic Microtechs. I get accused of pushing counterfeit products but in reality I’m only being honest. Thank you for commenting and take care!

[@andrejbolcha3368]

Thank you so much dude! Finally someone did it! Those blade cut outs is exactly the thing i was wonder. That is actually the reason i’ve sold my ct dagger cause it just didn’t seems right and sturdy almost feel cheap. That is the exactly point where the blade is most under pressure. All older dagger blades are full tho. All daggers have cut outs even scarab surprisingly. Not sure when they started doing this. Only ultratech series has still full dagger blade. Any other blade types are also without those cut outs. I appreciate it your video! Keep it up

[@GigiEDC]

Absolutely brother, thank you for your support! As for the cut outs, I completely agree with you. I agree that the CT doesn’t feel as sturdy as it should also. It’s a good knife, don’t get me wrong, but I was expecting the Gen II to be better quality for the price. Part of the reason I started making videos is because I’ve been consistently let down by Microtech and I hoped to bring a little attention to it. I don’t want to see them end up like Benchmade.

[@Bladez0087]

I’ll just say this, when it comes down to a life or death situation I’ll take the 530$ option that is guaranteed to fire and lock out completely without issue over the 40$ dh gate special.

[@GigiEDC]

To be fair, none are guaranteed to fire and lock out but I hear you! I’ve had minor issues with both which is to be expected - just a little dust inside from use. I’d absolutely prefer my real Combat Troodon though. Thanks for commenting and take care bro.

[@timewave02012]

It's gotten a lot better, but one of the big problems with the Chinese clones isn't necessarily the construction of any particular example, it's that you never know what you're going to get. I have a few clones and a few real MTs. Obviously with the real MT you know exactly what you're getting every time. I've had clones show up without the springs installed, with a plastic body instead of aluminum, wrong dimensions, finish, or hardware style for the knife they're cloning, etc. Then if you actually get a good one, which happens, especially with recent Ultratech clones, you can't decide a year later to get another, because the listing and original seller are long gone.

[@GigiEDC]

You’re absolutely right. When it comes to the counterfeit market, quality ranges wildly. If I find a good brand and seller I generally stick to them. Vespa, HiFinder, Miker and Jufule tend to be the most reliable in my experience. The pages are always being taken down as you said but from my experience, emailing them helps a lot. Thanks for commenting and take care!

[@OGtripple123]

I just can wrap my head around paying 500+ dollars for a dam knife lol

[@GigiEDC]

I hear you brother. I like it a lot and I enjoy making videos about them but it’s absolutely not worth $500. It’s worth maybe half that..maybe. I get more enjoyment from $20-$100 knives because I can abuse them without worrying about the price. Thanks for commenting!

[@GigiEDC]

Link to first video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jpiYfpVogrOciqcsi=TrZfHNhTEyPtPG9f