Medford Merc-1 OTF, New from MKT
This Medford Merc-1 OTF dagger is one of the most highly sought-after specs in the new MKT out-the-front automatic line. Medford Knife & Tool built it in Phoenix on April 9, 2026, and the Certificate of Creation and Authenticity carries Greg Medford’s signature and that date.
The blade is 154CM in a double-edge dagger, 3.75 inches, tumbled. The chassis is 6061-T6 aluminum in green. There are no external screws anywhere on the body. It fires and retracts on a stepped thumb slide. Browse the rest of our automatic knives.
Medford’s First OTF, and Why It Took Two Years
Medford built its reputation on folders. The Praetorian and the Slim Midi are what most collectors picture. The Merc-1 is the shop’s move into out-the-front automatics, and it took close to two years of engineering before it shipped.
The problems Medford set out to solve are the ones that separate a good OTF from a bad one. Blade-to-handle ratio. Blade play when extended. Consistency of the fire across thousands of cycles. The Merc-1 came out with internals of its own design rather than a licensed engine, which is the reason it took as long as it did.
Look at the body and you will not find a screw. The chassis is milled to go together without external hardware, which removes the most common failure point on an OTF and gives the outside an uninterrupted surface. A crossbow is cut deep into both sides. Our knife knowledge library covers what separates OTF mechanisms.
154CM, the Dagger Grind, and the Thumb Slide
The blade on this Medford Merc-1 OTF is 154CM, a stainless steel with a long service record in American production knives. It takes a working edge easily and holds it, which matters on a knife that will be deployed and retracted rather than babied.
The profile is a true double-edge dagger, sharpened on both sides, with twin fullers running each face. Blade length is 3.75 inches at 0.15 inches thick. The finish is tumbled, which hides scratches rather than showing them. Read how to choose a custom knife for what steel and finish actually do.
The thumb slide is stepped and deliberately stiff. It takes a specific amount of force to overcome the spring, which is what keeps the blade from firing in a pocket. It works the same from either hand.
Condition and What’s Included with This Medford Merc-1 OTF
This Medford Merc-1 OTF is new and unused. It has never been carried and never been sold to an end user. The action fires crisply and the blade locks out with no play. It arrives with the complete factory package exactly as Medford shipped it. See the rest of our direct from maker inventory.
Included with the knife:
- Certificate of Creation and Authenticity, dated 9 April 2026 and signed by Greg Medford, carrying the lifetime warranty seal
- Black Medford nylon zippered storage case with the MKT logo
- Medford decals
- Original Medford box
Medford Merc-1 OTF Specifications
Figures below are measured or read off the knife and its paperwork. Compare it against our new arrivals.
- Maker: Medford Knife & Tool, Phoenix, Arizona
- Model: Merc-1 OTF
- Model Number: MK2135TG-40AG-TSCS
- Date of Manufacture: 9 April 2026
- Type: Double-action out-the-front automatic
- Deployment: Stepped thumb slide, ambidextrous
- Overall Length (open): 8.75 in / 222.3 mm
- Blade Length: 3.75 in / 95.3 mm
- Closed Length: 5 in / 127 mm
- Blade Thickness: 0.15 in / 3.81 mm
- Handle Width: 1.25 in / 31.8 mm
- Blade Steel: 154CM stainless
- Blade Style: Double-edge dagger with twin fullers
- Blade Grind: Flat
- Blade Finish: Tumbled
- Edge: Plain, sharpened both sides
- Handle: 6061-T6 aluminum, green, no external screws
- Handle Detail: Chevron milling and deep crossbow engraving, both sides
- Pocket Clip: Stonewashed steel, marked with the Medford shield and Made in USA
- Weight: 4.5 oz / 127.6 g
- Country of Origin: United States
- Condition: New, unused
- SKU: 00188-MKT-MERC1-DAGGER-154CM-20260409
- Included: Certificate of Creation and Authenticity, nylon zippered case, decals, original box
Video Description: Medford’s First Out the Front Automatic Knife
The Medford Merc-1 OTF automatic, new from the maker and never carried. Medford Knife and Tool built this one in Phoenix, Arizona on 9 April 2026. The blade is 3.75 inches of 154CM in a double-edge dagger with a tumbled finish. Twin fullers run each side. The handle is 6061-T6 aluminum finished in green.
Medford milled the chassis with no external screws. A crossbow is engraved deep into both sides. It fires and retracts on a stepped thumb slide. The pocket clip is stonewashed steel, marked with the Medford shield and Made in USA. Overall length is 8.75 inches, closed 5 inches, weight 4.5 ounces. It ships in its Medford box with the nylon zippered case, decals, and the Certificate of Creation and Authenticity signed by Greg Medford.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this knife new or preowned?
New. It has never been carried and never been sold to an end user. The factory package is complete and the Certificate of Creation and Authenticity is dated 9 April 2026. Most of what we sell is preowned; this one is not.
What does double-action OTF mean?
The blade fires out and retracts using the same control. Push the thumb slide forward and the blade launches and locks. Pull it back and the blade withdraws into the handle. A single-action OTF fires out automatically but has to be re-cocked by hand.
Why does “no external screws” matter on an OTF?
Screws back out. On an out-the-front automatic they sit in a chassis that absorbs the impact of the blade launching and stopping, thousands of times. Medford milled the Merc-1 body to go together without external hardware, which removes that failure point and leaves the outside uninterrupted.
What documentation comes with it?
A Certificate of Creation and Authenticity, dated and signed by Greg Medford, carrying the Medford lifetime warranty seal. See how we document provenance.
How does it ship?
Insured, in its original Medford box with all packaging. Full terms sit in our shipping and return policy.
Buy This Medford Merc-1 OTF
We inspected this Medford Merc-1 OTF in hand and described exactly what we found. Nothing here is guesswork. See what else is in from the shop on the Medford Knife & Tool brand page. If automatics are sitting unused in your safe, we will make you an offer when you sell your knife collection.
About Medford Knife & Tool
Greg Medford runs a veteran-owned shop in Phoenix, Arizona, and builds knives entirely from American components. Every stage happens in house: design, machining, heat treat, hand grinding, final fitting. Nothing is outsourced and nothing is imported.
The house style is overbuilt. Thick stock, heavy chamfering, tolerances held tighter than the price suggests. Medford knives get bought by people who would rather carry four ounces than worry about whether something will hold. See the rest of the makers we follow on our shop by maker page.
Automatic Knife Legal Notice
This is an automatic knife. Laws governing purchase, possession, and carry vary by state, county, and municipality.
The buyer must know and follow the laws that apply where they live before ordering. We do not give legal advice. For current state-by-state information, consult the American Knife and Tool Institute.
