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Matrix

The Microtech Matrix was part of the groundswell that ushered in the 3rd Era of Microtech and its re-entering into the spotlight as a brand ready to compete on a global scale.

The original Matrix dubbed the "Project X" used the Sub-Frame lock mechanism and was released at the New York Custom Knife Show (NYCKS) in 2011 from the Marfione Custom shop and would eventually be released in early 2012 in production form as the Matrix or "Project X Matrix" this model would evolve more than a few times during its lengthy history from 2011 until current (2024)

The Microtech Matrix is not without controversy involving Kershaw patents and the Kershaw Natrix, however we are here to document model history and development. The original Matrix using the Sub-Frame lock is easily spotted as the lock side has a floating style bar cut in a crescent shape. The Sub-Frame lock mechanism allowed for a traditional style frame lock to be used with a synthetic or different material other than the traditional full Titanium lock side.

2011 Marfione Custom Project X

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: Early example of the adopting of the Triangle hardware soon after the release of the Microtech Cobra

Marfione Custom Project X Bronze blade and hardware with a Carbon fiber handle

2011 Microtech Matrix/Project X

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: These early production examples from 2011 have no dates and feature much less branding. We do see the incorporation of the early Microtech Numbering System on the boxes.

Microtech Matrix 165-1 Two-Tone Black CTS-BD30 Blade with Carbon Fiber handles

2011 Microtech Matrix/Project X

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: The Matrix model would also premiere the use of the Triangle pivot that would go on to be used for years on Marfione Customs and Microtech Production models.

Microtech Matrix 165-1 Satin Finish CTS-BD30 Blade with Carbon Fiber handles

2012 Microtech Matrix/Project X

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: Early example of Microtech Bronze finish on production blades and hardware.

Microtech Matrix 165-13 Bronce blade and hardware with a Lightning Strike Carbon Fiber handle.

2015 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Matrix Satin Finish Blade Carbon Fiber Crusader handle with Satin finish hardware

2015 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Matrix Polished Copper Handles with a Mirror Polished Blade and two-tone ringed DLC hardware

The Microtech Mini Matrix was introduced in early 2013 and would usher in a new blade shape commonly dubbed "The Pelican Blade" the reverse tanto would be seen in a few different styles as time passed including with a recessed fuller style voide and the initial flat style blade. The Mini Matrix would also be the last time the Matrix family would be offered in standard production.

2013 Microtech Mini Matrix

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: The handle design transferred seamlessly to the Mini Matrix while the blade in this production example changed drastically. This would be Pelican Blade V1 with standard flats marked 02/2013

Microtech Knives Mini Matrix 164-4 Flipper Satin finish ATS-34 Blade with Aluminum handles SN00103

2013 Microtech Mini Matrix

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This would be the first time the Katana motif had been seen in a long time including the first time we would see a more creative style laser work on a production knife.

Microtech Knives Mini Matrix 164-1K Katana Flipper Black Plain Edge ATS-34

2014 Marfione Custom Mini Matrix

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This version of the Mini Matrix from the Marfione Custom shop features the Pelican Blade V2 that would go on to be seen on the full size Matrix for some time.

Marfione Custom Mini Matrix Stonewash Blade with Carbon Fiber handle

The "Pelican Blade" Matrix was also available in a full size variant that would unveil an era of super high end customs from the Marfione shop, this series of Matrix would flex the capabilities of the custom shop and help carve out a space for the legend to truly begin.

2013 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: Large Inverted or XL Inverted Triangle (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Matrix Hand Hefted Titanium Chassis with a M390 Mirror Polish blade and polished hardware and Flamed Titanium backspacer Serial Number 003

2014 Marfione Custom Super Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This is an early example of the series of "Super Matrix" that would evolve over the years with amazing fine details and extraordinary inlays, the Super Matrix series were some of the nicest folding knives to ever come out of the Marfione Custom shop.

Marfione Custom Super Matrix Polished Titanium frame with 5 Super Conductor Inlays, Mirror polished blade and polished bronze hardware

2014 Marfione Custom Super Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This era saw many first from the Marfione Shop, including introductions in finishing and material use. The Matrix would be a constant pallet for greatness.

Marfione Custom Super Matrix Polished Titanium frame with 5 Abalone Inlays, Mirror polished blade and polished bronze hardware

2015 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Matrix Tri-Tone Stonewash Blade with Carbon Fiber Crusader handles

2015 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This was part of the 003 Marfione house collection, you can see the heart on the certificate denoting it as a gift.

Marfione Custom Matrix Trillium Copper handles with a Mirror Polished ELMAX Blade and two-tone Black and Copper hardware SN003

In 2016 the Marfione Custom shop would premiere the new Matrix-R, again keeping the wildly stylistic handle that had become synonymous with this model and changing the blade shape for a third and final time. The Matrix-R would begin life with a Sub-Frame Lock and transform into a traditional frame lock as Microtech phased out the use of the Sub-Frame lock mechanism.

2016 Marfione Custom Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This early Matrix-R from 03/2016 is an example of the Sub-Frame lock from previous models, this and others would be some of the last Knives in the catalog to use that mechanism.

Marfione Custom Matrix Carbon Fiber Handle with Apocalyptic Blade and hardware

2016 Marfione Custom Mini Matrix

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Mini Matrix Polished Titanium handle with a Mirror Finish Blade and flamed Titanium backspacer and glass breaker

Part way through 2016 the Marfione Custom Matrix-R would loose the Sub-Frame lock and gain a Carbon Fiber (Or other material) Facia to cover the lock bar relief and somewhat maintain the original floating lock bar appearance of previous versions

2016 Marfione Custom Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: You can see on this full dress example the lock bar relief cover plate is the same Nebula Damascus material as the blade. This example is dated 11/2026

Marfione Custom Matrix-R High Polish Nebula Damascus Blade with polished MokuTi Handles and polished blue hardware SN003

2017 Marfione Custom Super Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: Not to be outdone even by itself the custom shop would continue to push the boundaries on the The Super Matrix-R for 2017 it was also upgraded, this time with pivot collars and a floating inlay in the blade. Note the extended Carbon fiber inlay to conceal the lock bar relief, to the untrained eye this looks very much still like a sub-frame lock.

Marfione Custom Super Matrix-R Mirror polished M390 blade, polished Titanium handles with Carbon Fiber Inlays and pivot collars and two-tone bronze ringed hardware SN#006

2017 Marfione Custom Mini Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: This Mini Matrix dated 02/2017 is an excellent example of the Minis of the time, the Marfione shop began focusing much more on the smaller size Matrix as demand for a more pocketable version grew.

Marfione Custom Mini Matrix-R Carbon Fiber Handle Blue Titanium hardware with a DLC Mirror polished blade SN003

2017 Marfione Custom Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Mini Matrix-R Hysteria Blue Titanium frame with Carbon Fiber Handle and a Fallout finish Blade

2017 Marfione Custom Super Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: The extended Meteorite inlay to conceal the lock bar relief, to the untrained eye this looks very much still like a sub-frame lock. Dated 05/2017

Marfione Custom Super Matrix-R Mirror polished M390 blade, polished Titanium handles with Meteorite Inlays and pivot collars and two-tone blue ringed hardware SN#003

2018 Marfione Custom Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Marfione Custom Matrix-R DLC Titanium Chassis DLC Two-Tone Stonewash Blade with Double Vapor Blast Copper hardware

2022 Marfione Custom Matrix-R

Pivot: (Needs Confirming)

Chassis: Med triangle

Editors Note: These "Galactic Acid" Matrix would be some of the last custom USA made Matrix to leave the Marfione Shop in 07/2022 ending an almost 11 year run.

Marfione Custom Matrix-R Mirror Polished M390 Blade with Galactic Acid Finished Titanium and Two-Tone Bronze Ti Hardware

In 2023 Microtech began a collaboration project with Rike Knives in China to produce a few of their folding knife models including the Socom Brave and Microtech Matrix, an interesting end to this long and complicated story. The Matrix was a masthead for the custom shop for more than a decade proving to the world the possibilities of what can be done and premiering finishes otherwise kept in the small circles of custom knife making. Now available in production form still sporting the crescent shape lock bar cut, Microtech always looking back to ensure it resembles its roots with the Sub-Frame Lock Bar from the original Project-X eleven years earlier.

2024 Microtech Matrix

All Torx Hardware, T8 chassis screws, T20 on the pivot, Glass breaker may require some type of deep socket spline drive...

Editors Note: Notice the pivot collars a clear call to the Super Matrix of old along with the extended glass breaker only seen on the Super Version.

Microtech Matrix 165C-4CFTI Hand Satin M390 Blade, Titanium Handle W/ Carbon Fiber Scales, Blue Ti Pivot Collars

2024 Microtech Matrix

All Torx Hardware, T8 chassis screws, T20 on the pivot, Glass breaker may require some type of deep socket spline drive...

Editors Note: The New Microtech Production Matrix even with titanium scales to make sure the esthetics have the crescent shape lock bar.

Microtech Matrix 165C-4CFITI Hand Satin M390 Blade, Titanium Handle W/ Carbon Fiber Inlay, Blue Ti Pivot Collars

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