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monolithic

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.

DPx Aculus Review

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.

DPx Aculus Blade

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.

DPx Aculus Handle

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.

DPx Aculus Pocket Clip

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.

DPx Aculus in Hand

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 Backspacer

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 at dpxgear.com
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.

Filed Under: Collectable Knives, DPx Gear, EDC Knives, Folding Knives, Gentleman's Folder, High End Pocket Knives, LionSteel Tagged With: Made in Italy, monolithic, niolox, Robert Young Pelton, titanium

LionSteel TiSpine Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Last Updated: July 27, 2019
Especially astute readers may note that I debuted a review of the LionSteel SR-1 a while back, and then published the world’s first review of the TM-1 not so long ago, but I conveniently skipped over the other folder in their SOLID lineup – the Ti-Spine. Rest assured it wasn’t because I wasn’t interested in the TiSpine. It was one of those instances of too many knives, too little time (or money… or both time and money). I am pleased to report that I have finally scrounged up both the time and the money to pen a review of this blade, and I am very excited to be able to do it.

LionSteel TiSpine Review
Buy the LionSteel TiSpine at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

Oddly enough this almost delicate looking knife was designed by globe trotting gonzo reporter Robert Young Pelton, who is perhaps best known in the cutlery world for designing the hard wearing DPx HEST. Thankfully the bottle opener and wire strippers were left out of this model, allowing us to revel in the 4-axis machined goodness of this titanium beauty.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ti-Spine has an overall length of 7.68″, a 3.35″ blade, and weighs 3.5 ounces. Out of the SR-1, TM-1, and TiSpine, the TiSpine is the most EDC friendly of the group. Although the blade is well shy of 3.5″, this knife still feels full sized, and I like how it doesn’t feel overweight. By way of comparison, I found the SR-1 a little ponderous in hand and pocket. The TiSpine is much more of a true EDC option for me. It would also make for a great special occasion / gent’s folder.

The drop point blade on the TiSpine is long and pointy, with a curving belly and potent tip. This classic blade shape has been treated to a high flat grind and swedge. The high flat grind will certainly cut stuff, although I have seen thinner grinds on other folders. My blade has been given a satin finish. It looks nice, although I do wish the transitions between the grinds were a little crisper.

LionSteel TiSpine Blade

LionSteel went with Elmax stainless steel for their blade material, and it’s a choice that I have seen pop up a few times on their blades. I have found Elmax to be a reliable choice for knife steel. It isn’t too difficult to sharpen, but it still has high hardness (here 59-60HRc) and holds an edge well. No problems with rust or corrosion either. A knife this pretty won’t get a lot of use in my collection, but it’s nice to know that they went with a quality steel.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

Lets be real: most people will buy this knife for the handle. And what a handle it is. The 4-axis machined handle is so slick that it looks like it was cast from molten titanium. The way the handle catches the light and shimmers along its hundreds of grooves is tough for me to describe. It’s a gem of a handle. In this case, it has been further accentuated by a high polish and brilliant violet anodization.

Compared with the SR-1 it looks like LionSteel has further refined their manufacturing process. Being a monolithic handle, there isn’t much else in the way of hardware, but the pivot and stop pin are custom made and beautifully polished. The only downside to this pretty handle is that it picks up finger prints and scratches very easily. If you are looking for a “user” variant, I might suggest going with one of their less flashy matte finished options.

LionSteel TiSpine Handle

The handle of the TiSpine doesn’t just look good. This is also a comfortable knife. I doubt many will select the TiSpine for a month long trip to the amazon, or use it on a construction site, but this little knife feels good in hand and is capable of getting work done. I broke down boxes and opened mail without any issues. There is a short run of jimping which my thumb tended to pass over, and I found that I put most of my pressure directly on the rounded spine of the blade. Still, I was able to get a comfortable and secure grip on this knife.

LionSteel TiSpine in Hand

The TiSpine features a long curving deep carry pocket clip. Mine has been given a bright polished finish to match the hardware and accentuate the almost jewelry like quality of the knife. This clip, while large, carries the knife discretely and I am not sure if many people would think you are carrying a pocket knife by looking at the clip alone. It is right side tip up only, but is completely removable if you want to and even more discrete option for carry. In pocket the TiSpine feels nice. It’s slim, flat, and relatively light weight. I had no problem carrying it.

LionSteel TiSpine Pocket Clip

Deployment and Lockup

The TiSpine makes use of an angular thumb hole for deployment. This low profile thumb hole looks great, and matches the sleek styling of the knife, but it is not particularly friendly for lefties. I had some trouble easily opening the blade with one hand, but I know that most people won’t have an issue. Inside there are teflon washers. The action is smooth and the tolerances are tight.

LionSteel TiSpine Spine Detail

For lock up we have a sturdy titanium framelock. This is a nice titanium frame lock. My knife locks up early, and there is no blade play in any direction or lock stick. The monolithic construction makes for a super solid knife. Blade centering is a little off, but is no where near rubbing. I understand that is a common issue on both the TiSpine and the SR-1.

LionSteel TiSpine Review – Final Thoughts

I am sure many have fallen in love with the TiSpine at first sight. I know I did. I am pleased to report that the knife is even more impressive in person. This is a knife you need to handle to truly appreciate. The design is seductive and the craftsmanship is exceptional. I can find few faults with the TiSpine. I will say it’s not the most lefty-friendly knife. I’d prefer phosphor bronze washers and slightly crisper grinds. Beyond that it’s a beautiful knife and I wouldn’t change a thing. LionSteel has once again shown us that they are a company to be respected, and the sleek look of the TiSpine adds character and depth to their lineup of monolithic knives.

When contemplating the purchase of a TiSpine the real question is whether you are in the market for a high end collectible like this. It wont be to everyone’s taste, but if the TiSpine does appeal to you I definitely recommend it.

LionSteel TiSpine on BHQ
LionSteel TiSpine – From $385.00
From: BladeHQ

Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Violet Handles
Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Violet Handles
  • Violet color Titanium Integral handles
  • Elmax Steel with Satin Finish
  • Made in Italy
Buy on Amazon

Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Bronze Handles
Lion Steel TiSpine Folder with Bronze Handles
  • Bronze color Titanium Integral handles
  • Elmax Steel with Satin Finish
  • Made in Italy
Buy on Amazon

I recommend purchasing the TiSpine at BladeHQ or Amazon. 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.

Filed Under: Collectable Knives, EDC Knives, Folding Knives, Gentleman's Folder, High End Pocket Knives, LionSteel Tagged With: elmax, monolithic, Robert Young Pelton, titanium

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