Microtech Socom Elite VS Spartan Pallas 

The pallas actually does come in a tanto as well

I had a Socom. Excellent fit & finish & a premium blade steel. Having a glass breaker was nice, but I never ever needed it. I did not like the position of the pocket clip or the tip down carry. It was a very good knife, but I didn't like the textured grit on the handle. I didn't care for their warranty. The Spartan Pallas that I have, had a perfect bevel, nothing uneven about it. The fit & finish is also excellent. I have to give it to the Socom, it just has a sound to it when it opens up that sounds more solid. I am surprised at how much I like the locking mechanism on the Pallas. Very simple & easy to use. Never have to worry about your fingers getting cut. The action on it is really smooth. Opening with the flipper or the thumb studs is nicer IMO, than pretty much ever other knife I have owned. Spartans customer service has exceeded my expectations ever time. Even after I butchered up my Enyo fixed blades bevel terribly trying out a new sharpener, their guy Lannie fixed it up & had the knife back to me very quickly. Seriously, if you haven't given Spartan Blades any consideration before, do so. BTW, I really appreciate you doing this video. It was great! Only thing I think people would like to see added to your list, how is the knife when pulling it out of your jeans pocket? Is the pocket clip really tight or does it pull out easily or too easily? I got rid of my Microtech Combat Troodon because it was a mother to get out! One of the tightest pocket clips ever. The pocket clip on my Microtech Ultratech has a different shape to it & was much easier to put in & pull out of my pocket. Just a thought. I've had no issues with the Pallas in that catagory. I'm really floored by that knife. I just need to see how well the all black finish will hold up. Thanks again!

Great video! These are a lot more alike than I thought. I also agree that they are overpriced, but I do really love my Socom and, frankly, was able to get mine for $185 on the secondary market so the price was good for me.

Good video !! You are right about the pricepoint.Both real nice knives , for me it's the Palles.Like the multiple deployment options and the S35VN (easy of sharpening).

Man I wish the Socom was still made in 7075 Al. One thing you didn't mention for durability (and maybe even value w/ the engineering) is that the Socom has steel races for the bearings to wear against, thus theoretically increasing the life of the aluminum handles. The machining of the Socom impresses me more and its design draws to me.

Love at first sight for the SOCOM ever since I saw it in a magazine long , long ago.

Great review brotha just picked me up a socom elite clip point!

I like that Spartan so much more but I wasn't a big fan of the socom anyways. I think the Spartans a great alternative and to me it's the better of the two. Thanks for the video.

Enjoyed the discussion. I think both of these knives would be users for me so Palles is a win for me because of tip up carry and thinner in the pocket.

Prefer knife steel that keeps edge retention longer than being easy to sharpen. Then using diamond Sharpener takes care of that also.

Really good review. I have both the Socom manual and Pallas and it’s really a tie for me. I really like both equally for different reasons. Both are great knives made by great USA companies who back their products 100%. I purchased both of mine directly from Microtech and Spartan Blades and both were amazing to deal with.

Great video. Im always drawn to the Solcom.

Heya MC just curious, do you still have the SHF all black with the spartan helmet on the scales

Got both, like both. SOCOM is auto. Pallas is addictive to flip and smooth. I prefer manual folders but the SOCOM is great. Pallas is S45VN. Both are fine to sharpen. For me, Pallas is hard working knife. SOCOM is my fantasy tacticool auto with blue handles and two tone blade that won’t see much work. I would use a LUDT hard.

Great video BUT I’m sorry the socom is an aesthetic master piece and Icon. Both great knives but to give the same score for aesthetics is just sacrilegious to the knife GODs.

Great video! Where did you hear that the socoms are being make in 6061 aluminum now?

I just got both of them.

Spartan Blades warranty: I emailed them about jiggle in the lock of a new cheaper pocket knife (Astor *great btw*) and they simply sent me a brand new unit and a padded return envelope with paid for 3 day shipping. I have 3 Socoms, 1 is flawless, 2 got dropped and their locks immediately developed jiggle... Gotta use the warranty on these. I started knives by collecting a Socom Elite, now I have a Spartan Pallas, Difensa, and my baby the Shinto (just concerning the bleeding point of price and quality without going in Chris Reeves)--which I shan't purchase. I love microtech and I have come to be a complete supporter of Spartan Blades. Either one is legit. I've seen more personal consistency from SB. Work hard, blow cash on super steel AYYYAYYYYYYYYY!

Would u put the hogue 4inch ex02 in the same category as these two?

Would you still recommend the pallas?

I like the overall shape of, and love the blade shape of the Pallas, but I want the SOCOM. Just got a SOCOM Bravo (my second Microtech after a Scarab Executive) and my next knife will likely be a SOCOM Elite either the 160-1T or 160-10.

I've got to have that Spartan. Love me a button lock.

Spartan really wants you to know they use S35VN dont they?

I know this is a super old video but if you remade it with the s45vn pallas and the socom bravo microtech i wonder if results would be the same. $350 for the bravo right now $250 for Pallas on sale now.

This was a well balanced video, but I disagree with the decision in at least 2 of the categories. The Durability category should go to the Socom due to its oversized pivot and thumb studs that act as exterior stop pins. That construction should provide a lot more side to side stability. I also disagree with the Disassembly category since the Pallas has a button lock. I think the Socom Elite is overall in a different category than the Pallas, and is more similar to a Hinderer or a Strider.

I'll take the socom elite.

I remember when I first started watching you, yesterday...

pallas has also a tanto: www.g-gear.com/de/pallas-tanto.html good review btw :)

The Spartan has been upgraded to S45VN.

If WE Knives does a version of the AD10..... it’ll be the last knife I buy. (Yea right)

Ive always loved the look of the Socom Elite and so immediately chose it over that Pallas, but by the end of the video i found myself impressed with the Pallas. I love these types of videos, thanks MC

I don’t have any Microtech really need to get one. Any suggestions?

How about badass factor that’s all that counts when you hold the microtech people know you mean business

i thought socom handle was 7075?

The tip down clip design on the socom is a HUUUUUGE design flaw. Thank God there are people out there than will flip the clip for you!

I’m not sure why you’re calling the Pallas a new design. I bought mine used maybe 4 years ago. And unless Sparton has dropped it, the Pallas also comes in a very nice tanto.

I can’t stand tip down carry. I know it doesn’t matter on a non-flipper, but the Pallas would be my choice for that reason alone

you know the microtech has a stop pin INSIDE the handle too

I agree. I think they are both a bit overpriced.

I just received a manual Socom and after filming and posting the unboxing, I sliced my finger on the closed knife. Apparently the knife doesn't recess all the way down and hits the internal blade stop too soon. I messaged Microtech and they requested I pay to have it shipped to them and in 2 months they will get it back to me! WTF???? I haven't even used the knife yet and now I have to pay additional money to make it safe, assuming I don't mind waiting for months. This company reputation of poor customer service and quality control is apparently spot on.

Great video 👍

The socom elite is a tactical masterpiece built from the ground up to ride with military and police. The more you carry it the more attention to detail you see surrounding it’s from and function. You will see the socom elite riding in and around the LBE of those who serve you won’t see the Pallas.

M390 from microtech is rumored to be extremely soft

GANZO !!!!!!

Microtech really missed an opportunity to update the design on the socom instead of just re-releasing it. They could have rounded off the pommel, added tip up carry, and slimmed up the bolster while keeping the overall lines. Seems either lazy or stuck inside the box. All that said, it’s love at first sight for the socom.

omg common!!