Created with Sketch. Created with Sketch.

Tony Marifione

Microtech OTF Automatic Folders by Designer Tony Marfione

Anthony "Tony" Marfione is a knife designer, maker, and founder of Microtech Knives. In 1994, working out of a small apartment and storage unit in Vero Beach, Florida, Marfione and his wife Susan established Microtech with the goal of creating high-end tactical cutlery. Alongside Benchmade in the 1990s, Marfione led the revival of tactical automatic knives, engineering the Out-The-Front (OTF) dual-action opening mechanisms that define modern automatic folders.

Microtech gained its reputation early by machining production components to tolerances within 1/1000th of an inch (0.001"). Beyond OTF dual-action springs, Marfione engineered proprietary locking mechanisms, most recently the RAM-LOK crossbar mechanism used in manual folders like the MSI (Microtech Standard Issue) and Stitch RAM-LOK. In addition to overseeing Microtech's large-scale production, Marfione runs his custom division, Marfione Custom Knives (MCK), hand-crafting high-end, limited-run custom variants featuring exotic steels like Damasteel or M390MK, mirror-polished grinds, and premium handle inlays such as carbon fiber, abalone, or titanium. He now works alongside his son, Sean Marfione, who has stepped into design and custom knifemaking with his father.

Marfione's aggressive, angular Hellhound and Warhound blade profiles have become signature looks across his custom and production lines. From the flagship Ultratech OTF to the scaled-down UTX-85, and from heavy-duty Combat Troodon automatics to the compact Exocet, his work spans the full range of dual-action deployment. Browse our inventory to acquire a purpose-built automatic or manual folder engineered to precision tolerances.

Knifeworks Pro Tip: Microtech OTF automatics rely on precise dual-action springs machined to extremely tight tolerances, so keep the blade channel and firing mechanism free of pocket lint and debris with regular blasts of compressed air. Avoid heavy grease that attracts grit inside the channel—a light, dry-film lubricant on the blade rails keeps the action fast and reliable.

Need assistance verifying specific pattern specs, pivot hardware, or shipping policies? Contact our team in Columbia, LA at 888-225-9775 for direct product assistance.

Designer
Tony Marfione
Design DNA
Precision Machining, OTF Pioneer
Core Materials
Aircraft Aluminum, Titanium & M390
Design Origin
Vero Beach, Florida USA
Mechanism Variety
OTF Auto, RAM-LOK, Side-Auto
Style Focus
Precision Tactical Automatics
Who is Tony Marfione?+

Anthony "Tony" Marfione is a knife designer, maker, and founder of Microtech Knives. He and his wife Susan established Microtech in 1994 out of a small apartment and storage unit in Vero Beach, Florida, and he led the revival of tactical automatic knives alongside Benchmade in the 1990s.

What is the Microtech Ultratech by Tony Marfione?+

The Ultratech is Tony Marfione's flagship dual-action OTF folder, featuring a 3.4" blade, an aircraft-grade aluminum handle, and thumb-slide deployment.

Is the Microtech MSI a Tony Marfione design?+

Yes. The MSI (Microtech Standard Issue) is a modern manual folder designed by Tony Marfione utilizing his proprietary RAM-LOK crossbar mechanism with G-10 or polymer scales.

What are the design hallmarks of a Tony Marfione knife?+

His designs are known for aggressive, angular Hellhound and Warhound blade profiles, dual-action OTF automatics engineered to tolerances within 1/1000th of an inch, and proprietary locking mechanisms like the RAM-LOK crossbar system.

What Microtech knives did Tony Marfione design?+

Tony Marfione designed the Ultratech, UTX-85, Combat Troodon, Troodon, Exocet, SOCOM Elite, L.U.D.T., MSI, and the Stitch series co-designed with Sebastijan Berenji of Borka Blades, alongside his hand-crafted Marfione Custom Knives (MCK) line.

What is the RAM-LOK mechanism?+

The RAM-LOK is a proprietary crossbar locking mechanism engineered by Tony Marfione, used in manual folders like the MSI and Stitch RAM-LOK to provide a strong, ambidextrous lockup without a traditional liner or frame lock.

What steels are typically featured on Tony Marfione collaboration knives?+

Production Microtech models commonly run M390 and CPM-S35VN steel, while Marfione Custom Knives (MCK) limited-run pieces feature exotic steels like Damasteel and M390MK with mirror-polished grinds.

Tony Marfione designs: Microtech lineup at Knifeworks

Design PlatformSignature Lock TypeAction / DeploymentBrand PartnerTier
Ultratech Series OTF Dual-ActionThumb-Slide AutoMicrotechPremium
UTX-85 SeriesOTF Dual-ActionThumb-Slide AutoMicrotechPremium
Combat Troodon / TroodonOTF Dual-ActionThumb-Slide AutoMicrotechUltra-Premium
Exocet SeriesOTF Dual-ActionThumb-Slide AutoMicrotechPremium
SOCOM Elite / L.U.D.T.Side-Opening AutoManual / Side-AutoMicrotechPremium
MSI / Stitch SeriesRAM-LOK CrossbarManual / RAM-LOK AutoMicrotechPremium
🛡️
Authorized dealerEvery Tony Marfione design knife ships with full manufacturer warranty coverage.
🚚
Same-day shippingShips from Columbia, Louisiana — 888-225-9775
🏆
OTF innovation historyFeaturing the precision dual-action mechanisms that pioneered the modern OTF automatic.
📞
Call us before you buy888-225-9775 — we carry premium Microtech designer lines in stock.