MA-1 Tactical Folder: Tactical Edged Weapon for Serious Social Purposes

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by David Crane
david@defensereview.com

Speaking of tactical edged weapons (a.k.a. tactical knives), Miltner Adams Company has just introduced an interesting tactical folder called the MA-1 Tactical Folder, which was designed and developed by company co-owner Richard Miltner. There are several interesting aspects of this knife. First, it has a very agressive blade profile, reminiscent of the Warren Thomas Model 5 modified tanto fixed blade. The MA-1’s blade is billed as being "razor sharp" and just looks like it was designed/developed for serious social purposes.

Also interesting is the…

blade’s material, PM Elmax Superclean stainless steel (Sweden), which Miltner Adams claims is less susceptible to chipping and has more chromium (18% Cr vs. 14% Cr) than CPM S30V stainless steel. While a high-grade stainless steel like Elmax Superclean can be difficult to sharpen, the combination of the MA-1’s Integral Folding Knife Sharpener (IFKS) and HollowFlat™ Blade (patents pending) are said by Mitner Adams to completely eliminate this problem. The HollowFlat blade is similar to a chisel grind blade, except the HollowFlat’s flat side is hollow ground, producing a raised flat bevel that makes it possible to sharpen on the flat side.  The HollowFlat blade is only sharpened on the flat side.  The Integral Folding Knife Sharpener is a built-in four-sided diamond sharpening/steeling element featuring two diamond-plated sides (coarse and ultra-fine diamond grits) for sharpening and two plain steel sides for steeling. The IFKS is housed inside the handle, even while in use. For instruction on how to use it, see the link provided below.
 
On a side note, DefenseReview wouldn’t mind seeing a non-magnetic version of the MA-1 with a titanium blade with carbide cutting edge. 

For fast opening under stress, the MA-1’s blade incorporates an elongated Spyderco-type opening hole. This opening hole extends approx. half the length of the blade. Blade length is 4" (4 inches), by the way. The MA-1 utilizes a push-button locking mechanism and sports a titanium pocket clip for carry. The MA-1 Tactical Folder’s handle is also interesting. Made from either titanium (MA-1/T model) or hard-anodized "high-strength special aluminum" (MA-1/A model), it has a rounded/curved profile and looks to be very comfortable and ergonomic. Gutjahr GmbH (Germany) OEM-manufactures the MA-1 for Miltner Adams, and Diamond Machining Technology (DMT) manufactures the actual sharpening element portion of the Integral Folding Knife Sharpener (IFKS) exclusively for the MA-1.  The IFKS, as a whole, was invented by Miltner Adams company.

Defense Review hasn’t yet gotten the opportunity to handle, use, and carry the MA-1 Tactical Folder, but we hope to remedy that in the not-too-distant future. We also look forward to interviewing Richard Miltner, the MA-1’s designer/developer, in order to gain further insight into the knife. That said, the knife looks good on paper (and on the screen), and appears to be "all business". It should perhaps be noted that the MA-1 recently won a 2006 IWA Internation Knife Award.

Click here to learn how to use the Integral Folding Knife Sharpener (IFKS).

Click here to view additional MA-1 Tactical Folder photos.


Click here
to view all MA-1 Tactical Folder specs (specifications).

If you’d like to learn more about the MA-1 Tactical Folder, you can contact Miltner Adams Company by phone at 310-857-6671 or toll-free at 866-625-9386. If you’d prefer to contact them via email, you can email Juli Adams (co-owner) directly at juli.adams@miltner-adams.com.

There’s an article on the MA-1, written by Chuck Karwan, in the latest issue of Tactical Knives Magazine.
MA-1 Specifications:

Type: Tactical Folder
Designer: Richard Miltner
CNC machine made in Germany.
Left-hand models available (MA-1/A only).
Length closed: 131.5 mm / 5.18"
Length open: 233 mm / 9.12"
Overall weight: 7.3 oz

Sharpening Element:

Integral Folding Knife Sharpener (pat. pend.)
Diamond/Steeling Element made in the U.S.A. by DMT® exclusively for the Miltner Adams Company.
Type: Exchangeable, 4-sided rod-shape. Two sides are Diamond plated for sharpening – Coarse Diamond grit on one side and Ultra-Fine Diamond grit on another side, plus two sides are Plain Steel for Steeling. Built-in convenience – Sharpening on Demand. All the sharpening and steeling takes place in the handle only when you decide to do so.

Blade:

Type: HollowFlat™ (pat. pend.)
Material: PM Elmax Superclean stainless
Harden: 60 – 61Rc
Length: 103 mm / 4.0"
Thickness: 4.0 mm / .157"
Finishes: Plain Polished and Plain Sandblasted. Ti ALN coated: Flat Black, Bright Black.

Handle:

Type: Skeleton – two parts 3-D machined, finger-joined and attached with six stainless steel screws Length: 131.5 mm / 5.18"
Two models available:

MA-1/A – High-Strength Special Aluminum hard anodized in the following choices:

– 7075 Military Green (Aircraft Grade Aluminum)
– 5083 Grey (Comparable to 6061)
– 2017 Silver (High Strength – tough and durable.)

MA-1/T – Titanium machined, sandblasted with hand-polished accents.

A limited numbered series available in late 2005.
Lock: Push-Button

Clip:

Type: Skeleton

Material: Titanium

PM Elmax Superclean typical analysis %:

C – 1.7
Si – 0.8
Mn – 0.3
Cr – 18.0
Mo – 1.0
V – 3.0

MA-1 Tactical Folder: Tactical Edged Weapon for Serious Social Purposes by

About David Crane

David Crane started publishing online in 2001. Since that time, governments, military organizations, Special Operators (i.e. professional trigger pullers), agencies, and civilian tactical shooters the world over have come to depend on Defense Review as the authoritative source of news and information on "the latest and greatest" in the field of military defense and tactical technology and hardware, including tactical firearms, ammunition, equipment, gear, and training.

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