Ultratech Gen II Deals Are Everywhere: r/knives Rides the Discontinued Wave

When Microtech discontinued the Ultratech Gen II, collectors knew exactly what would happen next: the deal-hunting would begin. A new r/knives thread — "Anyone else picking up some good deals on Ultratech Gen IIs?" — confirms the wave has arrived, with members showing off discounted pickups and debating the discontinued generation's place in the OTF hierarchy.

The Ultratech is Microtech's most iconic out-the-front automatic, and the Gen II generation carved out its own chapter in the model's long history. With Gen III and Gen IV models now on the market, the Gen IIs have become a value play: same brand, same platform DNA, and — as the thread's members argue — some genuinely distinct characteristics that the newer generations don't quite replicate.

"Personally I like some aspects of the Gen IIs more than the Gen III/Gen IV and vise versa," one member writes. "Even though the Gen II are discontinued that takes absolutely nothing away from them." That sentiment is the thread's throughline: discontinuation isn't a quality verdict, and the secondary market knows it. Another member shows off a Scarab picked up "at a decent price yesterday," and the replies trade knowledge about sizing and variants — "Is that the version that's slightly smaller than the Gen II Combat Troodon?"

The dynamic here is a familiar one in the knife world. Discontinuation creates a temporary window where dealers clear stock and savvy buyers load up, and communities like r/knives are where that intelligence gets shared in real time. It's also a useful reminder for new collectors: the newest generation isn't always the definitive one, and a well-loved previous generation can be the smarter buy — especially when it's suddenly available at a discount.

The Verdict: For OTF fans, the Gen II clearance moment is a genuine opportunity — and the thread's consensus is clear: discontinued doesn't mean diminished.