Zombies

Zombies weren’t always so threatening.

It took a lot of work and juju to turn a person into a Zombie.  They mostly stood around until the Zombie master gave them commands.  Even then, they were primarily insistent; nothing stopped them from carrying out their instructions.  And they weren’t infectious.

In Piers Anthony's 'Castle Roogna', they were pretty nice people, had a lot of friends, fell in love, and did other ordinary things. 

The first record of zombies in literature goes to the English poet Robert Southey in 1819.  Later, Richard Matheson published  'I Am Legend' in 1954.  Sparked by that idea, George Romero directed 'Night of the Living Dead' in 1968, and zombies became insatiable, highly infectious, deadly creatures driven by a killing desire for brains.

Most of the TV shows and movies copied this idea.  It seems there is limited originality in the entertainment media.

We saw a shift in 2005.  Inspired by an old folk legend, Tim Burton produced ‘The Corpse Bride,' suitable for children and adults.  Later in 2019, 'iZombie', a comedy crime drama TV show, ran for several seasons.

MicroTech's ZombiTech

I'm not a Zombie fan, but I fell hard for Microtech's ZombieTech out-the-front auto.

Something about the blood splatter.  I've always been interested in blood splatter, and the almost florescent green handle appeals to me.

The classic way to stop a zombie was to destroy the brain

MicroTech released the ZombieTech in 2012.  I have one from 2019 celebrating Microtech’s 25th anniversary, but I don’t know how much longer they were in production.

I contacted MicroTech, but they remain closed-lipped about everything and have yet to respond.

Real blood doesn't splatter this way, unless it's a high speed splatter

The internet claims that every ZombieTech has a random and different splatter pattern.  I admit that some patterns are a lot nicer than others. 

The 3-inch blade was available as a drop point, tanto, and a double-edge dagger.  I have found images of bright blades and ones with a black finish.  While some websites claim to have a few high-end ZombieTech sets in stock, most say 'Out of  Stock,' which is seller speak for can't get it anymore.

MicroTech uses M390 steel from Böhler Edelstahl GmbH & Co KG factory in Kapfenberg, Austria.  Originally designed in the late 1980s for molds used in the injection molding industry, it has found a home in the knife community.

I like OTFs, or Out the Front, but they have their limitations too.  Blade can slip off the internal carriage.

I really shouldn’t bang on the entertainment industry too hard.  Originality is hard to come by.  In 2021, MicroTech released a version of their knife called 'Outbreak.'  https://microtechknives.com/the-outbreak-unleashing/  It sports the same blood splatter on bulbous green and a Biohazard symbol.  It, too, is out of stock.

Christmas Knife Connections

 Is it too late to brag about Christmas presents?

My wife got me a Microtech Zombietech 85 OTF for Christmas and backed it up with a vintage Zombietech tee-shirt.  It is way too cool and I’ve wanted one for years!

I’ve always liked Microtech.  They make a high-end knife with tight precision.  That drives the price up, but makes for an amazing knife.  Knife designer Greg Lightfoot has remarked that these tolerances are what makes Microtech factory knives so close to custom-designed knives: "It has the same quality as a handmade custom."

You might not be familiar with Microtech Knives.  You should be ashamed of yourself.

Beginning in 1994, Susan and Anthony Marfione created Microtech with a simple idea: Create the best knives possible.  Like many entrepreneurs they started in their apartment and later moved to a storage bay in Vero Beach, Florida.

Now headquartered in Western North Carolina Microtech Knives operates with the same mission statement:  Make the best knives possible.  This concept has grown the company to over 150 employees.

Quality stands out and there is a market for it.  Microtech along with Benchmade is credited with the responsibility for the resurgence in the popularity of tactical automatic knives in the 1990s.  These knives are seen as precision-made tools utilizing powerful springs and high-grade components.  They aren’t toys, as many auto knives are perceived.  

I have a few other Microtech knives from the Blade Shows, but nothing this fancy.  I’m really happy to have it.

On Christmas Eve Karen and I cooked pheasant paprikas so I had to dissemble the pheasant.  I used my CRKT Taco Viper and it worked great.

Pheasant and CRKT's Taco Viper

Since it was a new knife, I pulled out the poultry shears, just in case.  My wife got the shears from her mother, so they have to be at least 60 years old.  I know my mom had one, but I believe it is with one of my sisters.  At least I hope so.  It’s been a while since I needed poultry shears so I took a few moments to check them out.

Guess what?  They are made by Boker in the USA.  Boker is an underappreciated knife line. 

Boker and Chromium

Böker traces its origin to the 17th century as a tool maker in Germany.  By the 1860s the company had fractured with a branch of the family emigrating to North America and setting up plants in Canada, New York, and Mexico. The German and North American factories produced similar knives and used the "Tree Brand" trademark. 

Boker Poultry Shears

WWII rolls up and we can’t have a German company operating in America.  The outcome, Boker America, no umlaut, is established.  During the war the Solingen factory was destroyed and "Boker USA" took control of the trademark until the German factory was rebuilt in the 1950s.  It’s difficult for me to understand, but even during war, business law rules.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the company changed hands several times, with the New York facility (Hermann Boker & Co) shutting down in 1983.  In 1986, Boker reacquired the rights to the American brand and Boker USA was started in Denver, Colorado for US production.  They also make knives in Germany, China and Argentina.

 

All three companies, Microtech, CRKT, and Boker make nice knives.  You owe it to yourself to check them out.