DPx Gear

DPx Gear HEST/F Urban Review

DPx Gear has been at it for a while now. They caught everyone’s attention with the original HEST fixed blade knife in 2008. Their first folder was the HEST/F, a knife I reviewed back in 2012. It was promising in a lot of ways, but ultimately a sticky lock and ponderous footprint kept it from being a truly covetable piece of urban EDC gear in my book.

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Since then we’ve reviewed a couple other DPx Gear folders, including the elegant Aculus and the cherry bomb proportioned HEAT/F. Both were beautifully made Italian knives. The HEST/F Urban is different from the other folders in that it is their first folder 100% made in the USA. Some may remember that DPx ran a Kickstarter campaign for this knife back in 2015. The Kickstarter campaign was a success, and the knife has since made it’s way into production.

Robert Young Pelton himself reached out to ask if I would review a HEST/F Urban, and this knife was provided to me by DPx Gear for review. All thoughts on this knife are my own.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Urban has an overall length of 6.75″, a 2.875″ blade, and weighs 4.27 ounces. The knife is made in the USA. As the name suggests, this is a smaller folder designed for urban or suburban Every Day Carry (EDC). DPx Gear has made some big and interesting stuff over the years, including their HEFT 12 Chopper, so to see them move towards a true urban daily carry knife is interesting.

Here is a size comparison with the Urban next to my Spyderco Sage 1:

The HEST/F Urban features the same signature blade profile of their entire HEST series. It’s a drop point with a big sweeping belly, that tapers upwards towards the tip. The shape reminds me of the profile of a boat. The integrated cap lifter / wave feature is another novel aspect of the blade and a signature RYP design element. I’ll discuss the functional aspects of that further in the “deployment” section of the review.

The blade is ground from over 4mm thick stock. It’s substantial for a small folder like this, but the high flat grind gives the knife decent slicing performance. I found the Urban to be very capable with cardboard working through several thick cardboard boxes that I encountered in my latest round of work with my rental property.

The blade was extremely keen out of the box, and edge retention was excellent. The thick stock and partial flat grind means it won’t slice an apple like a traditional folder, but the knife will get the job done, and there are plenty of practical touches. The stonewashed finish on the blade hides wear and matches the hardware. There is a sharpening choil. And the edge has been evenly applied, a detail I always consider, as it can be a good indicator of quality control.

In 2015 the Urban was originally offered in S30V blade steel. These days the Urban has been upgraded to S35VN. I’ve reviewed dozens of knives in S35VN at this point. Although it may not be the most exotic choice of blade steel, S35VN is excellent stuff and was a good choice for the Urban. This is a proven steel that holds a good edge, sharpens easily, exhibits high corrosion resistance, and is reasonably tough which means it will not chip out easily. S35VN is a great all round high performance blade steel.

I find that if you don’t completely dull the knife, then all you need to do to maintain a hair shaving edge is run the knife along the fine stones of the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Those fine stones are all you need to keep a razor edge on this knife.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle of the Urban is comprised of two thick titanium slabs and a black hard anodized partial aluminum backspacer. The handle has been beautifully executed. Fit and finish is top notch. The titanium handle slabs have been chamferred and left with a bead blasted finish. The silver hardware and all the pieces are perfectly flush. There is a decorative oversize pivot. Everything exudes a level of quality that you would expect from a knife at this price point.

The Urban is a small knife, but the spare design gives you plenty of room for a full 4 finger grip, and the thick build fills the hand. I found the Urban to be both a comfortable and capable work knife.

My only gripe with the ergonomics relates to the “wire stripping jimping”. Specifically, the biggest jimp farthest away from the tip of the blade. I find that to be too grabby for my tastes and would prefer either a smaller jimp, or more traditional toothed jimping. I levied this same criticism against the original HEST/F. While I understand that the Urban is designed to have a few multi-tool features integrated into the design, I’m still not sold on the wire stripping jimping.

The Urban features a reversible tip up deep carry pocket clip. The clip has excellent spring strength, and it buries the knife into your pocket. While the knife is relatively thick and over 4 ounces, I don’t notice it during carry thanks to the small footprint and the excellent clip. The knife stays in place and out of the way until you need it. That is exactly how I like my folding knives to carry.

Deployment and Lockup

The Urban is interesting because it is a bearing equipped folder with thumb studs or a wave opener. As a lefty I find the thumb studs to be a little tight as there is not as much room to access the stud on the locking side of the knife, but there is plenty of room on the right side and once you get placement on the thumb stud the blade almost explodes open thanks to the strong detent and bearings.

The bottle opener on the blade doubles as a wave opener. It’s an easy knife to wave off your pocket. Additionally you can use this as another spot to flick the blade open in addition to the thumb studs. The bearings are smooth to the point where you can easily shake the blade closed.

For lock up DPx Gear went with a titanium framelock reinforced with a steel lock bar insert. The steel insert doubles as an over-travel stop, but it also fixes the sticky lock issue that plagued the original HEST/F. Lockup is early. Around 40% of the lock face engages with the blade. Lockup is also secure. There is not a shadow of blade play in this knife. It’s rock solid.

Here is another size comparison with the ZT 0454CF:

I think DPx Gear nailed the lockup and deployment section. The knife rivals any Zero Tolerance folder I’ve handled. I think ZT is a good benchmark as their knives are consistently good. I think at some point DPx will need to use this OEM to build them a flipper of some sort.

Blade centering is perfect on my knife.

DPx Gear Urban Review – Final Thoughts

Hands down this is the best DPx Gear folder I’ve handled to date. I think they took all the lessons learned from their prior designs and built on those lessons to develop the Urban. I also think that the choice to work with a US based manufacturer is a good one. I like Lionsteel knives, but was never a big fan of the original HEST/F and the way it was built or the rotolock. This Urban is simply a better knife with its bearings and stainless steel lockbar insert. The rest of the knife has been beautifully built. The parts line up perfectly. The machining is crisp and clean. The finish work is superb.

For constructive criticism my biggest gripe is probably that one section of wire stripper jimping. It’s a little too sharp and toothy for me. But in practice I didn’t find that to be a deal breaker as I didn’t notice the jimping much when I actually cut things. Beyond that I don’t think I would change anything on this knife.

If you are a fan of sturdy little full titanium knives, knives like the Spyderco Techno, then I think you are going to enjoy this one. It’s nicely built, performs admirably, and is entirely unique. It’s not inexpensive, and the full titanium version here will set you back about as much as a Small Sebenza, but I think the quality is comparable. Additionally, DPx Gear offers a version of the Urban with a G10 scale that is around $200 and weighs about 3.6 ounces. At that price and with a near 1 ounce weight reduction, I think that is a highly competitive offering.

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I recommend purchasing the DPx Gear Urban at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

DPx Gear HEFT 4 Assault Review

by Chad McBroom 4 Comments

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Robert Young Pelton is a journalist, author, and documentary filmmaker with a reputation as an adventurer with an uncanny ability to enter into violent and deadly areas of the world return with a stunning story. Pelton’s experiences led him to create his own brand of knives after much frustration with the inadequacy of other knives on the market. As a result, Pelton founded DPx (Dangerous Places Extreme) Gear, Inc. in 2011, to create a line of gear based on his own “specific needs for equipment in hostile and deadly environments.”

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Touted as the big brother to the DPx HEST, the HEFT 4 (Hostile Environment Survival Tool), designed by Italian knife designer Tommaso Rumici and Robert Young Pelton, is one of the newer models in the DPx Gear lineup.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The HEFT 4 Assault has a four-inch “sword-ground” blade made from 0.19-inch (4.83 mm) German Lohmann Niolox® 1.4153.03 steel, which has been cryo-hardened to a hardness of 61 HRC. Niolox® is a niobium-enhanced, high-performance stainless blade steel produced in Germany by Lohmann Stahl (Steel). Niobium is one of the best stable carbide formers, aiding in the formation of martensite, a crystalline microstructure of iron atoms that is formed during quenching and what gives a blade its hardness.

Although my HEFT came extremely sharp out of the box, I have read complaints by others who have said theirs were not sharp enough. I don’t know how to answer to that. All I can say is that this was not an issue for me. Even after spending some time in the field cutting away at wood and other common materials, I have yet to find the need to re-sharpen this blade. That being said, I would not be at all surprised if it takes a lot of elbow grease to put an edge back on it (if you ever need to), considering the hardness of this blade.

The HEFT 4 weights 6.95 ounces with an overall length of 9.05 inches. The length and weight makes the knife very manageable. In fact, I expected the knife to be much heavier at first glance, but it is surprisingly light given its beefy design.

The Stonewashed version of the HEFT 4 Assault has a matte black TiCN PVD coating that is tumbled for a grey stonewashed look. The result is an intimidatingly beautiful finish that is as functionally durable as it is aesthetically pleasing.

Handle and Ergonomics

The HEFT’s ergonomic handle and black G10 handle scales are hollowed out to offer a mini storage cavity for carrying fire starter, cordage, fish hooks, a button compass, or whatever survival necessities you deem worthy of residing inside. The handle scales are secured in place with 304 stainless steel hybrid slotted/Allen screws. These screws can be removed with a standard screwdriver, 3mm Allen wrench, or even better, the DPx Mr. DP Skull Tool. A ¼” magnetized hex driver is located on the right side of the handle near the pommel, adding even more functionality to this awesome piece of hardware.

The HEFT features a bottle opener/pry bar that also functions as a striker pommel (read skull crusher) at the end of the handle. This innovative pommel design has an integrated lanyard hole, which no survival knife would be complete without. The most unique feature on a knife loaded with “extras” is probably the wire-stripper “jimping” on the thumb ramp. These three wire-sized cutouts that provide thumb traction during cutting are also, in fact, wire strippers. It is a subtle addition that is easily overlooked if you are not in the know.

The handle fits very nicely in the hand, providing an angle and grip similar to that of any one of the ESEE® brand knives (interestingly, several of DPx Gear’s knives are made by Rowen Manufacturing, the company that manufactures ESEE Knives), but with a bit more purchase area. The upward sloping thumb ramp mentioned earlier provides a convenient backstop that aids in cutting and penetrating tasks alike. If you lose control of this blade, it’s because you weren’t holding on to it.

Sheath

The HEFT 4 comes with a black CORDURA® sheath that has a hard plastic insert. A single MOLLE attachment point is present on the back of the sheath, which allows it to be mounted to the outside of a MOLLE equipped pack or vest. The addition of two grommet holes at the bottom and plastic D-rings at each end of the sheath allow for quite a few mounting configurations. A retention loop with a button snap holds the knife securely in place when housed inside the sheath. There is also an outside pocket that can be used to carry a sharpening stone, ferro rod, hex bits, or whatever small item(s) you may find convenient to have around while in the brush.

DPx HEFT 4 Assault Review – Final Thoughts

I highly recommend the DPx HEFT 4 Assault as an all-around, hard-use knife. Its array of unique features lends it to be a fixed-blade multi-tool with pry-bar durability. It is the total package when it comes to beauty and functionality—the Land Rover of knives if you will. For the price of this knife, you can’t go wrong.

The HEFT 4 Assault is made in Maniago, Italy by LionSTEEL. The Italians have a pretty solid reputation when it comes to making knives, and LionSTEEL, owned by Gianni Pauletta and family, is one of the most reputable knife-making companies in Italy.

DPx Gear offers a lifetime, no-questions-asked warranty on their knives, so you can buy in confidence, knowing that if anything happens to your knife, they’ll have you covered, and you won’t have to tear you house apart looking for that warranty card that you actually threw away with the box.

DPX Heft 4 Assault Fixed Blade Knife

Matte black PVD TiCN coated Niolox stainless tool steel
Wire strippers jimping
1/4" magnetized hex driver in scale
Hollow scales
Lifetime warranty

I recommend purchasing the DPx Gear HEFT 4 Assault at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading.

DPx Gear HEAT/F Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: August 3, 2019
It has been a long time since I have examined a DPx Gear product. You may recall a review done on the HEST back in 2012. This was DPx’s first effort, and is the knife that put them on the map. The HEST is a solid tool and is well made, but there was a lot going on in terms of integrating various multi-tool features. There is nothing wrong with attempting to push the envelope and bring something new to the table, but the HEST was a DPx’s first crack at bringing a production knife to market.

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The HEAT is a more recent offering. First of all, this is a knife, not a multi-tool. I happen to like that. The idea was to shrink down the HEST to something a little more gentrified and pocketable, yet retain the distinctive styling of the HEST. I have long had an affinity for “little big knives”, and I still enjoy pocket knives that are small but stout. Sadly I have little use for a knife like the HEST in my day to day dealings, but the HEAT is something I could get away with carrying. I suspect I am not alone with that dilemma, which is why I was curious to get my hands on a HEAT.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The HEAT has an overall length of 6.25″, a 2.375″ blade, weighs 4.15 ounces (4.35 for the full titanium version shown here), and is made in Maniago, Italy. The knife was made for DPx Gear by LionSteel. Clearly the HEAT was designed to fit into the role of an every day carry (EDC) piece, although it is very stout, and is not just built for opening up letters or slicing fruit. I have been carrying and using mind in as an EDC knife.

My particular knife is the full titanium 3-D machined version. The 3-D machined handles are stunning. DPx also offers the knife in a less expensive titanium/G10 combo and a titanium/carbon fiber version as well.

The blade is a simple drop point with a high flat grind and your choice of stonewashed or phosphate coated blade. Blade thickness is just shy of 4.6mm – very thick, especially for a sub 2.5″ blade. While the HEAT does not slice like an Alox Cadet, I found it plenty adequate to cut up apples, break down boxes, and even open the odd letter or two. Still, those expecting their pocket knife to produce translucent slices of tomato will have to look elsewhere – the HEAT is simply not that kind of knife. I’d say it slices better than a Strider SnG, but still remains below average in slicing ability. That said, the blade is above average in toughness and the integrated cap lifter / wave feature is a testament to that.

DPx went with Niolox steel, a steel I checked out in reviewing the Blackwater knives a few years ago (since discontinued under the Blackwater brand, but apparently rolled into DPx Gear’s regular lineup). When I tested those knives I found that Niolox held a good edge that was tough yet easy to maintain – an ideal balance for a largish fixed blade.

This is my first experience using Niolox on a folder. This is a servicable steel. It takes a very fine edge, holds it respectably, and is not difficult to sharpen. I might describe it as a tougher 154CM or CTS-XHP, which puts the steel in excellent company. A good choice for a tough little knife that doubles as a bottle opener. I had no issues with corrosion. Like all of my EDC knives, I find it is best to maintain the edge regularly rather than wait for the knife to dull completely. Between my strops and fine Sharpmaker stones, I have had no trouble maintaining a hair shaving edge on my HEAT/F.

I know the knife is also offered in Sleipner steel and D2. I have heard good things about Sleipner but confess that I do not have much hands on experience with it. D2 is perhaps a more well known US tool steel. It’s a hearty “semi stainless” steel that has high toughness but can be difficult to sharpen. I’d go for Niolox or Sliepner if I had the option.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The standard HEAT arrives with G10 and titanium handles. The lock side is full titanium, while the show side is your choice of green or black G10. My version features full 3-D machined titanium handles, featuring a beautiful diamond pattern. LionSteel is known for their ridiculous machining capabilities, and this all Ti version of the HEAT/F takes full advantage of that. The handles are curved, contoured, and wonderfully finished. Rounding things off are 3 standoffs (one for the pocket clip), an oversized pivot, and a removable carbide glassbreaker.

The HEAT is a comfortable knife. The handle is a good deal larger than the blade, which is a very practical way to design a smaller knife. I’d rather there be plenty of handle and a smaller blade than vice versa. The blade features an extended ricasso that helps form an integral guard, and the fingers rest naturally in the deep swooping finger choil. There is jimping on both the spine of the blade (very mild) and back of the handle (more aggressive, but still comfortable), and there is additional jimping towards the pommel for your ring and pinky finger. I used my HEAT for some fire prep. Now that things are starting to cool off a little in Florida, I tend to gravitate towards the back yard for fires and cigars. This knife is comfortable and you can get real work done with it.

DPx went with a deep carry pocket clip. Like the original HEST and many LionSteel folders, the clip is mounted on the absolute butt of the handle, and is configured for right side tip up carry only. I wish they would have allowed for ambidextrous carry. Being a lefty I always like to see ambidextrous clips, and think it could have been done without too much trouble with this style of clip. That said, the clip is precision machined into the handle, and the end result is seamless.

The clip has good retention and the knife buries deeply in the pocket. The HEAT carries well for a smaller, heavish knife. I quickly forget it is in my pocket until the time comes to use it. There is a small DPx skull logo on the clip, which won’t be to everyone’s taste, but is no different from virtually every other clip in my collection (they almost all have logos). I don’t mind it. All things considered the clip and knife is discrete; just the way I like things.

Deployment and Lockup

The HEAT gives you the option of ambidextrous thumb studs or bottle opener / wave feature to get the blade open. The thumb studs are simple and situated so that it is easy to get the blade open, and the blade rides on teflon washers. The action is smooth and the blade snaps open with a crisp and satisfying feeling. The wave works well if you want it to and carry the knife in your right pocket. I carry the knife in my left pocket, so I generally do not make use of the wave. That said, as part of the review process I waved the knife open dozens of times. It works as you would expect it to, with no ill effects on the lock (more below).

The blade of the HEAT is secured by a titanium frame lock. My lock engages early (around 40%). There is a slight amount of stick – not enough to make disengaging the lock obnoxious, but enough to make for a snug and secure lockup. I detected zero blade play in any direction after weeks of carry and use. Although I am generally not a big fan of wave openers, I made a point to wave this knife open regularly and the lock shows no ill effects. Blade centering on my knife is close to perfect.

DPx HEAT Review – Final Thoughts

The HEAT is probably my favorite knife in DPx’s catalog. I am a sucker for small high quality knives. The HEAT strikes a good balance between being a carryable cutting tool, and being overbuilt and aggressively styled. Although Robert Young Pelton and DPx Gear are a relative newcomers to the cutlery industry, his eye for design is undeniable, and the lines of the HEAT flow pleasantly whether the blade is open or closed. This is an interesting riff on the original HEST/F design, and is a step forward if you ask me. The bells and whistles of the original HEST/F have been stripped away to showcase a well designed knife that retains both personality and performance.

That said, the HEAT will not appeal to everyone. The overbuilt blade and full titanium handles come at a cost – the knife has some heft to it, and it will not slice like a slip joint. This is for someone that enjoys overbuilt folders, but doesn’t want to be bogged down with a 3″+ blade and 5 ounce+ footprint. I enjoy the HEAT/F for what it is. It has been well considered, and beautifully executed. The fit and finish is excellent and the materials are top notch.

If you like small overbuilt knives, the HEAT is well worth considering. I am curious to see how DPx Gear will continue to evolve their line of folding knives.

DPx Gear DPx HEAT/F,2.26 Folding Knife,Olive Drab,Left-hand DPHTF003

Folding Knives, Knives & Tools

If you want to buy a DPx Gear HEAT, I recommend purchasing it at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for checking out the review.

DPx Aculus Review

by Grayson Parker 12 Comments

The first time I noticed a gear company use the words “executive protection,” I was browsing the Goruck website. I was in the market for a backpack (my Jansport had succumbed to a combination of heat, dirt, and heavy loads) and saw that Goruck had recently released a sleeker bag that was stripped of the exterior MOLLE webbing. Their product literature claimed that these design changes were meant to appeal to individuals working in high-end private security. While I thought the justification was a little silly, the design was still attractive to me – all the moreso because I am (contrary to what you may have heard) not working in executive protection.

Some time passed, and I had entirely forgotten about it. Then it cropped up again: Triple Aught Design had finally gotten around to releasing a pair of jeans, but marketed them to the corporate security crowd. I can tell you from personal experience that the jeans are awesome, but again the marketing was confusing.

Enter the DPx Gear Aculus: another lust worthy piece of gear that was apparently designed with undercover operations in mind. While I can’t speak for its effectiveness in that regard, I can tell you that it’s what I would expect Robert Young Pelton’s version of a “gentleman’s knife” to look like. If you believe the rumors, the Aculus was first designed on a napkin – though with R.Y.P.’s reputation, that doesn’t sound like a tall tale. The design was then licensed to LionSteel, who produced it as the TiSpine. Under the terms of the agreement, DPx would sell the Aculus in limited quantities and only sell it directly from their website.

DPx sells the Aculus as their “gentleman’s knife”; and, compared to the rest of their product line, that makes sense. However, when you are not comparing it to blades that are ¼” slabs of tool steel, that claim falls apart. I can’t presume to be a gentleman, but I’ve found myself in a suit on a few occasions, and none of them were situations where a knife like the Aculus would be appropriate. Does that mean that the Aculus is a bad knife? Far from it, but there are some caveats you need to be aware of.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Aculus has a blade length of 3.35”, a closed length of 4.33”, and weighs 3.53 oz. Overall, it’s a bit smaller than a Spyderco Paramilitary 2, but has a cutting edge about as long. Although I can’t quite see the resemblance to a scorpion tail (the namesake of the knife), I have to admit the blade shape is very attractive. There is plenty of belly, but not so much that the blade slips during fine cutting tasks. The swedge takes away a moderate amount of steel—not enough to compromise the tip geometry, but certainly enough to help with piercing tasks. It adds a nice aesthetic touch to boot.

Sadly, that durability makes the Aculus a poor slicer. It handled cardboard just fine, but food prep was challenging. This was disappointing, as picnic lunches seem to be one of the few true occasions where a “gentleman’s knife” is warranted. For some reason I had always assumed the Aculus featured a hollow grind. While that wouldn’t make it an insane cutter, it would be a big help. If you have an Aculus and feel that the blade is too thick behind the edge, I’d look into having it reground. However, that’s assuming that you do a lot of slicing. Many of today’s cutting tasks are just that: cutting. Breaking down boxes, opening packages, and other utility jobs don’t often require a thin blade, and in some cases it can even be a liability. As for me, I use my knives at lunch frequently and would prefer a hollow grind.

This was my first experience with Niolox steel, and online research provided confusing and often contradictory information. In this iteration, the steel was very impressive. I used the Aculus to prepare food, break down cardboard boxes, and even shave some drywall. It handled everything I threw at it, kept a working edge for a long time, and stropped easily. From what I saw online I expected corrosion to be an issue, but that hasn’t come up. DPx loves their tool steels, and I can’t see any reason why they shouldn’t.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Carry

Of course, the handle is the draw of the Aculus. Integral frame locks (especially at the production level) are technical marvels and a sign of how far the cutlery industry has advanced in recent years. DPx and LionSteel knocked it out of the park. The diamond pattern is striking – almost like corrugated steel brought to a high polish. Between the attractive curves, slight contouring, and aforementioned machining, the Aculus is quite pleasant in the hand. The handle is a bit slim, but the traction from the 3-D machining makes up for that. It’s comfortable in just about any grip, including when the knife is closed.

The Aculus is slim, contoured, and features an over-the-top pocket clip. Said pocket clip meets the butt of the handle at an angle, and while it does increase the rate of pocket wear in jeans, it nestles pleasantly in slacks and suit pants. Honestly, the only complaint I can make about the clip is that DPx etched their skull logo on the clip. I’m not one for logos, especially on a knife that’s supposed to be unobtrusive. It’s not that the logo is garish or without charm; it just feels out of place. I’d like to see the same approach they take with the ‘Triple Black’ series applied here, where most of the branding is hidden or left off. Robert Young Pelton’s design motif speaks for itself – you won’t mistake his style for someone else’s.

Deployment and Lockup

After doing some research on the internet, I was under the impression that the Aculus was – despite the cut out for the thumb – a two-handed opening knife. For the first three weeks that I had the Aculus, it was tricky to open it with one hand. It wasn’t until I saw a video on DPx Sean’s Instagram page that I realized the Aculus could actually be ‘coin-flipped’ open. Opening it that way is a little unintuitive, but once you get the hang of it it’s pretty easy, even addictive. I don’t know if that’s something I would recommend on a knife this nice, but if the folks at DPx can get away with it, I think the end user can too.

Throughout the testing period, the lock-up was fine. I didn’t have a problem with a sticky lock (which has plagued other DPx models) and the lock-up is stable at 70%. There is no blade play in any direction, and I never thought it would give. Still, integrals make me nervous. I can’t help but feel that if something goes wrong, you are up a certain creek without a paddle. A lock-bar insert (as featured on the LionSteel SR-1) would do a lot to put my mind at ease, but for whatever reason one wasn’t included here. Because of this, I have trouble with the “hard use” moniker. Bear in mind DPx has a stellar warranty service, so my fears are likely unwarranted.

DPx Aculus – Final Thoughts

I can’t refer to this as a “gentleman’s knife” or a “hard use” knife, much less both. The former because there is really no use for such a tool at an academic conference, at a cocktail party, a political function, or a courtroom. In some of those cases the Aculus would even be confiscated on the way in. If you’re the one doing the confiscating (for instance, working private security), then you probably need this knife for reasons that a twenty-something graduate student can’t relate to. As for the “hard use” claim, I’m skeptical enough of normal frame-locks in that role. Besides, the Aculus is really too pretty to shunt into rough tasks.

For modern knife enthusiasts, the Aculus pushes a lot of buttons. It is fun to fidget with, easy to carry, and drop-dead gorgeous. It doesn’t slice very well, but for most people that won’t be a big deal. Ultimately, even though the Aculus isn’t a “gentleman’s knife,” or a “hard use” knife, it’s quite impressive and undeniably attractive. For collectors and folks that don’t mind thicker blade grinds, I’d recommend this knife. However, if you regularly use your knives for food prep, this is one you might want to pass on. In either case, I’m excited to see what DPx will do in the future, even if I have to endure a bit of unnecessary marketing.

DPx Aculus – From $350.00
From: dpxgear.com

Note: The Aculus has been discontinued, so if you are looking to buy one at retail I think you will have a hard time. You may be able to snag a used one off the forums. I recommend buying other DPx knives at Amazon and BladeHQ. Please keep in mind that purchasing anything through the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com. Thank you very much!

Editor’s note – having reviewed the TiSpine myself, I thought it would be fun to get Grayson’s take on the Aculus. I think he makes some valid points. Not my first choice for a gent’s folder, or a hard use tool, but it’s undeniably a beautiful knife and a marvel of engineering and craftsmanship. Well worth considering if you are at all intrigued by the design.

DPx HEST/F 2.0 Review

by Dan Jackson 22 Comments

Last Updated: March 3, 2018
A hard use frame lock with multi-tool capabilities, the [easyazon_link asin=”B006QFBOG2″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]DPx HEST[/easyazon_link] is a unique offering from a small company with an interesting pedigree. The HEST is designed by journalist Robert Young Pelton, who is known for traveling to dangerous places and going after the stories few journalists dare to pursue. RYP is the founder of knife company DPx Gear, and designed the HEST for those kinds of dangerous excursions and his adventurous spirit is reflected in nearly every aspect of the knife. In fact, DPx stands for “Dangerous Places Extreme” and HEST stands for “Hostile Environment Survival Tool.”

Buy the DPx HEST at BladeHQ

[easyazon_cta add_to_cart=”default” align=”center” asin=”B00CHK40VQ” cloaking=”default” height=”42″ key=”tall-orange” localization=”default” locale=”US” nofollow=”default” new_window=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ width=”120″]

While I can’t say that I took my HEST 2.0 to any dangerous places or particularly hostile environments, but I did EDC the knife for a while. So with that in mind I’ll attempt to uncover some of the nuances of this unique offering from DPx.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The HEST has an overall length of 7.63″, has a 3.1″ blade, and it weighs 5.1 ounces. 5.1 ounces may seem kind of chunky on paper, but honestly the HEST feels fairly light for it’s size. Or maybe I’ve just been spending too much time playing around with incredibly beefy Zero Tolerance folders… either way I think the HEST is not too big for EDC although it’s definitely billed as a hard use tool and will be overkill for most typical urban and suburban EDC tasks. I also want to mention that the HEST has been manufactured by LionSteel, an Italian knife manufacturer known for their innovative designs and high quality cutlery.

The blade is a modified drop point defined by a massive belly forming a needle sharp tip. I like the bold and aggressive lines – it’s a unique shape for sure. Adding further interest to the knife is the 5mm thick blade stock. This is quite impressive for a medium sized folding knife, and reinforces the hard use mantra RYP ascribes to. The knife has been given a high flat grind, so it’s still a decent slicer. Rounding things off is a bottle opener. I typically carry a small bottle opener on my keys, but you can never have too many cap lifters and it’s inclusion makes for a memorable blade shape.

DPx selected D2 tool steel for the HEST, and I like their choice. D2 is often referred to as a “semi-stainless” steel. It’s actually a high carbon tool steel, but it will not rust as easily as say, 1095. What I like about D2 is the great combination of edge retention and toughness it offers. It will still rust however, so I’m glad DPx went with a high quality Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) blade coating – it both looks good and will make maintenance a little easier.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The HEST features a thick olive drab G10 scale on one side of the handle. On the other side, the HEST has a full titanium slab which doubles as the frame lock. I really like the way the handle has been finished. The G10 has been crisply contoured and the titanium slab has been given a beautiful stonewash. Everything bolts together with a partial backspacer. The handle slabs are nice and thick, and there is a real feeling of quality with the way this handle has been put together.

The DPx HEST benefits from a solid ergonomic plan. First of all, the handle is a good size and it’s shaped in a way to capture your fingers. There is also a nice thumb ramp with excellent jimping that doubles as a set of wire strippers. I’m not sure how well it actually strips wire, but it does a great job of holding your thumb in place. The G10 is roughly textured but the knife feels very comfortable thanks to the well contoured edges.

The knife feels good in reverse grip too, provided you do not have the optional glass breaker in place. The glass breaker actually holds the pocket clip in place, so DPx also includes a flat replacement screw and a little one piece multi-tool that works to replace the glass breaker, remove the pocket clip and adjust the pivot screw. I’d recommend swapping out the glass breaker if you plan on using this knife in reverse grip a lot.

Speaking of pocket clips, the HEST has a nice deep carry clip. I’m not a huge fan of how the “H.E.S.T.” insignia is emblazoned on the clip, but the hardened stainless steel clip is nicely stonewashed to match the handle slab and does offer great retention in the pocket. As for mounting options, it’s right side tip up carry only. DPx also offers a left-handed version for southpaws like myself.

Deployment and Lockup

The HEST makes use of ambidextrous thumb studs for deployment, which are large and easy to get at. DPx also selected teflon washers for the knife, which personally I’m not a huge fan of. Now, I’ve received some interesting feedback from readers in defense of the teflon washers, and I agree that they do make for a smooth deployment. I prefer phosphor bronze washers because they are more durable, only get smoother with time, and generally like to flick open faster. But I also acknowledge that some people prefer teflon, and they are found in a good number of high end knives (especially Japanese and European folders). So teflon washers must be good for something, right? So I will leave this as an “it is what it is” situation. If you like teflon washers then you will love the HEST 2.0.

Unfortunately, lockup also raises a couple issues with the HEST. One thing I noticed about my particular knife is that the lock sticks a little. It’s mildly annoying, but in my opinion it’s better than blade play (or even worse, total failure of the lock). After posting my video review of the knife I received a couple suggestions to apply graphite to the lock face. This actually eliminated my sticky lock issue, which is great, but I wonder how long this fix will last. So far so good, but I can’t say the initial lockup inspired a ton of confidence. For this reason, I avoid using the bottle opener feature as a wave to rapidly deploy the knife. Given my already shaky experience with the lock I didn’t feel like the knife was really designed for the stress of being repeatedly waved open. I know some (many?) will disagree, and that is fine.

I also noticed that several people have mentioned that their HEST 2.0’s exhibit some blade play. I didn’t experience that with my knife, but having noticed that my lock sticks a little I could see how play might develop. I know some people like to use the bottle opener as a wave feature – guys, I do not recommend waving this knife or being overly rough with deployment. Most framelocks can’t take being flicked open repeatedly and I don’t think repeatedly subjecting your HEST to the force of waving the knife open is a good idea if you want your frame lock to go the distance.

Finally, I wanted to mention the RotoBlock, which is a cool innovation from LionSteel. Basically it acts as a lockbar stabilizer (which prevents over-extension of the lock upon disengagement), but it can also be cinched down to keep the lock from accidentally disengaging. This is a neat little invention and I’m happy to see it on the knife.

DPx HEST 2.0 Review – Final Thoughts

All in all I like the HEST 2.0. When you consider the high quality materials, interesting design and beautiful finishes it’s almost hard to believe the knife can be had for $175 brand new. There are a lot of little things that set the HEST apart from the pack, and I like the bold lines and aggressive look of this knife. One thing I don’t normally talk about is the packaging. The HEST comes in a beautiful box with a nice manual. The inclusion of the little skull multi-tool is another nice touch. It’s obvious a lot of pride went into the design and implementation of this knife.

However, I have to admit I’m somewhat concerned about my lock. A sticky lock isn’t dangerous, but it is annoying. I was able to stop the lock from sticking by adding some graphite to the lock face, but am not sure how great of a fix this is. I’m also suspicious of blade play developing, as I’ve heard that is possible from a couple reputable sources.

So the HEST is a cool knife, but it’s not perfect. If an extremely consistent frame lock is important to you, I might recommend something like the rock-solid Zero Tolerance 0550 or the wonderfully done Spyderco Sage 2 instead. Or if you are in love with the design, perhaps consider one of the many cool [easyazon_link asin=”B00DSVU9RM” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]fixed blade versions[/easyazon_link] of the knife. That said, I still think that the HEST has its merits. If you like the design it’s a cool knife and that is worth considering.

DPx Gear HEST 2.0 – $175.00
Retail Price: $218.75
You Save: $43.75
from: BladeHQ

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I recommend purchasing the HEST at BladeHQ or [easyazon_link asin=”B00DSVU9RM” locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”brdfkdfk-20″ add_to_cart=”default” cloaking=”default” localization=”default” popups=”default”]Amazon[/easyazon_link]. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.