Version 1 had taller cross bar tabs and some people experienced spine whack failure. Microtech at some point during the summer last year updated their manufacturing process and shrunk down the tabs. They also changed the lockbar geometry to fix the spine whack failures. I have the 2 tone black blade with FRN handles with a born on date of 11/2023 and a buddy at work has the stonewash finish with FRN with a born on date of 06/2023. Both of us have tried to spine whack our knives with no failures.