niolox

DPx Gear HEFT 4 Assault Review

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.

Pohl Force Mike One Review

by Dan Jackson 4 Comments

Last Updated: July 31, 2019
I have lusted after the Pohl Force Mike One for years. I wanted one for years. For the uninitiated, Pohl Force is a tactical knife company owned by Dietmar Pohl, a long time knife collector, knife designer, knife enthusiast, and author of books on knives. I have met with Dietmar, and the USA distributors for Pohl Force a couple times at Blade Show.

Buy Pohl Force Knives at BladeHQ

It was hard to walk away from the Pohl Force booth without a Mike One in hand, and I eventually broke down and bought one. I’m glad I did. Even 3 years later this knife is still awesome and unique. It’s like a European Strider with its integrated G10 handle scale/backspacer, not to mention the unique profile and finish work. But I’m getting ahead of myself. There is a lot to consider with the Mike One and I’m glad to present this review, even if I’m a little late to the Pohl Force party.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Mike One has an overall length of 8.66″, a 3.74″ blade, weighs 5.64 ounces. The Mike One is made by Lionsteel Knives in Maniago, Italy. This is advertised as the “EDC size” Pohl Force folder, and it certainly seems to be EDC (Every Day Carry) sized next to the Foxtrot One, which is a massive knife featuring a 4.5″ blade and overall length of 10.25″.

This Mike One is still a formidable knife, but could be a good size for EDC if you are a police officer, military member, or anyone else who can get away with a larger daily carry blade. Personally, this is not a daily carry as I tend to favor knives in the 3-3.5″ blade range for EDC.

The Mike One sports a slender drop point blade with a high flat grind and swedge. This is a 5mm thick blade, which is quite beefy for a folding knife. While Lionsteel has done a nice job grinding the blade to a thin edge, this is still a stout blade with hard use in mind. The tip is formidable and there is plenty of cutting edge. It strikes me as a great well-rounded blade shape that could be pressed into a wide range of tasks.

My particular version of the Mike One is the “Outdoor” version with the stonewashed finish. There is also a black PVD coated “Survival” version. I favor this stonewashed version. The blade is still quite reflective despite the tumbled finish, and you can almost use it like a mirror.

Niolox is the de facto steel for Lionsteel’s outdoor focused blades, and it’s a nice choice on this Mike One. I have some experience with Niolox after extensively testing the Blackwater Grizzly 6 and Ursa 6. Niolox has proven itself to be tough, yet reasonable to sharpen and resistant to corrosion. I think it’s a great choice and I’m excited to have the steel in a folder. I consider it to be a good upgrade over something like D2, with improved stain resistance.

Handle Design, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

As I alluded to earlier on, this knife comes with a beautifully sculpted black G10 handle slab and backspacer. Just like on the Strider SnG, this is a single piece of G10 that forms both the backspacer and non-locking side of the handle. Lionsteel kicked the production values up a notch by putting finishing the handle with a grooved pattern and also machining a geared backspacer. An equally impressive titanium framelock and black chain ring bolt hardware add further detail and visual interest to the handle. They did an awesome job and in my opinion, the build quality and finish work is higher than on that of the Strider.

The 50/50 forward finger choil and dual thumb ramps offer the end user a ton of grip options. You can choke up on the blade for detail work, or choke back for leverage per the below picture. Regardless of how you hold the knife it always feels comfortable and natural. The milled handle and backspacer compliment the handle design nicely by providing good traction without being irritating. There is little jimping, and the knife is comfortable to use, even after extended heavy cutting tasks like carving and push cutting rope.

The Mike One features an oversize wire clip. Frankly I wasn’t aware of how much some people loathe the Spyderco wire clip. One commenter said that the Spyderco wire clip was “feeble” and that I was “feeble” for liking it. You gotta love the internet – that’s a strong opinion on a pocket clip!

At any rate, the Mike One’s wire clip is nothing like the Spyderco version, so if you don’t like the Spyderco clip you may like the clip on this Mike One. For starters, it’s a much stronger clip. The knife has great retention in the pocket between the tough clip and corrugated handle. This clip has some pant shredding potential, but it will never fall out of your pocket. While not a true deep carry clip, the Mike One still buries deeply and carries discretely thanks to the matte finish and stealthy nature of wire clips in general.

Despite this being a near 6 ounce knife the Mike One carries well thanks in large part to the sturdy clip. I occasionally forget I am carrying this one. I wouldn’t carry this in slacks, but for shorts, jeans, or work pants you will find that the Mike One behaves well in the pocket.

Deployment and Lockup

The Mike One makes use of a serrated thumb disk. Thumb disks are not my favorite method of deployment, but it works here. The thumb disk is removable, which makes the knife a 2-hand opener, and more appropriate in some of European countries. The action is slow and purposeful thanks to teflon washers. Again, teflon washers are not my favorite choice. I really would like to see phosphor bronze washers here, as I think the knife would open a little easier with them. The end result is that you have a knife that takes a fair amount of effort to open – especially when compared with the flippers of today. This is probably my biggest gripe with the Mike One.

This is a titanium framelock, and here we have no steel insert. Lockup is extremely secure, opening with a heavy “click”. There is no blade play in any direction. Nor is there any blade stick. As far as titanium frame locks go, I think this one has been well executed. The end result is impressive and tank like. The Mike One is all business, and that shows in the deployment and lockup.

Here is a shot of it next to my LionSteel TM1:

LionSteel did include their RotoBlock mechanism on the Mike One. The RotoBlock is an over travel stop that prevents the user from hyper-extending the lock bar, and it can also be twisted to lock the knife open. It’s an interesting feature, but not one I ever find myself using. It’s probably handy if you ever decide to test the limits of the Mike One. For regular guys like myself it will probably get in the way more than it will help. Blade centering is good on my knife. Not perfect, but pretty close.

Pohl Force Mike One Review – Final Thoughts

This review has been several years in the making, and I am glad to finally have one in the collection next to my Fantoni CUT Flipper and LionSteel TM1. This is another a unique and practical design that has been executed beautifully.

I prefer this smaller format to the larger FoxTrot One. I handled the FoxTrot One, and it’s almost comically large. While the Mike One is a more practical EDC than the FoxTrot One, I wouldn’t mind seeing something even smaller. 3.5″ blade is about as big as I will go for EDC, but I realize that Pohl Force is catering to more of a military and LEO crowd. So while this is more of a collectible for me than a daily carry, it is a fully functional knife and designed for use.

I also like how Pohl Force goes so far as to include an oversized zippered pouch, a “Zertifikat” of authenticity, and even a Tuff Cloth and a kydex sheath. Everything about the Mike One is top shelf, and clearly a lot of thought and care went into all aspects of this knife.

Although Pohl Force has ceased working with dealers effective June 2016, you can still find Pohl Force Knives at BladeHQ or possibly 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.

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.

Buy the DPx Gear HEAT/F at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

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.

Blackwater Grizzly 6 Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

The Blackwater Grizzly 6 is another knife in a new line up by California-based cutlery company Blackwater Knives. The Grizzly 6 is designed by Robert Young Pelton and Tom Novak, and is manufactured for Blackwater by LionSteel in Maniago, Italy. The end result is a sleek Italian fighter packed with rugged features.

Buy the Blackwater Grizzly 6 at BladeHQ

The Grizzly 6 shares many similarities to the previously reviewed Blackwater Ursa 6. Both knives are approximately the same size, and share similarities in both their aesthetic and practical considerations. That said, the Grizzly 6 is very much it’s own knife, and deserves it’s own equally thorough examination.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Grizzly 6 has an overall length of 11.18″, features a 6″ blade, and weighs 10.23 ounces. The knife was designed specifically for SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape) training. SERE certification involves survival training for the U.S. military, and involves the intersection of a number of different disciplines important in overcoming both the physical and mental challenges of a survival situation.

Ultimately, for a knife to perform well in this kind of situation it needs to be versatile, and I see the Grizzly 6 as something that would work well as a combat knife, a camp knife, and a survival knife all rolled into one. The knife is strong without being overweight, has enough size to be used in both a defensive and offensive role, and can be easily thrust into a utility role as well.

The blade on the Grizzly is a robust modified drop point design. I really like the bold lines and aggressive belly, it makes for a very striking profile as well as a useful tool. The blade has been given a high flat grind that is reinforced through the tip, and bolstered with a swedge. The 5mm thick piece of steel is ground thin enough to get work done, but also holds up nicely to light chopping, prying, digging, and general use and abuse. Blackwater included serrations on this model, not my first choice personally, but apparently serrations are very important / desirable to the military personnel ultimately using this knife. Consider the DPx HEFT 6 if you like this size and style of knife, but prefer a completely plain edge.

Blackwater went with Niolox steel for the Grizzly 6. This is a stainless German tool steel that I am slowly gaining more experience with. It’s manufactured by Bohler Uddeholm, and I generally characterize it as a tough steel that takes a nice edge and holds onto it over a good amount of use. I cut leather, rope, cardboard, and wood with this knife and the edge held up well. I experienced no issues with chipping, bending, or rolling – even after prying the knife through a 2×4.

I sharpened the Grizzly on some ceramic stones from my Spyderco Sharpmaker and found that the Niolox quickly came back to life – a must if you happen to be in the field potentially miles away from the creature comforts of modern sharpening equipment. I had no issues with staining, and noticed that the black PVD coating Blackwater used held up well. All in all I think Niolox was a nice choice for this knife, and I am starting to develop a healthy amount of respect for this steel.

Handle and Ergonomics

The Grizzly features a 5mm thick full-tang handle sandwiched between two generous slabs of black peel-ply G10. This is an impressively rugged handle that also has a good deal of refinement. For example, the spine of the handle has been capped (rounded) for comfort. Capped spines are a feature typically reserved for high end knives like the Chris Reeve Sebenza, so it is awesome to see it here. The handle scales are fully removable with a flat head driver, and reveal a hollow handle perfect for the storage of small survival items. The pommel features an extended striking portion that can be used as a “non-lethal” defensive option as well as a pry bar, bottle opener, and lanyard hole.

In hand the Grizzly feels fast and comfortable. The balance point is right where the handle meets the blade giving the knife easy control with the turn of a wrist. The peel-ply (roughly textured) G10 provides good traction while aggressive finger grooves lock your hand in place. I was concerned that these grooves would be too aggressive to accommodate all hand sizes, but in practice I found the Grizzly quite comfortable in a variety of tasks.

There is a short run of jimping on the thumb ramp. In reviewing the Ursa 6 I found this style of jimping (that doubles as wire stripper) to be uncomfortable under harder use. Here, I don’t have the same issue because I can always put my thumb on the spine of the blade itself. The Grizzly 6 also feels very comfortable in reverse grip. All in all, the ergonomics on this knife are quite nice.

Sheath

The Grizzly 6 arrives with a heavy duty cordura sheath. It’s a lightweight sheath, ideal for weight conscious SERE Specialists, yet fully functional and very versatile. There is a fully reversible plastic liner allowing for left or ride side carry. There are multiple mounting points on the top and bottom of the sheath and the fully MOLLE compatible backing integrates with both MOLLE gear or a regular belt. There is an external pouch for extra storage, and a secondary retention strap to insure your blade stays where you want it. In practice I found this to be a well thought out sheath and was nicely executed by the folks at LionSteel.

I carried the Grizzly on my belt and had no issues with with the sheath. Blade retention is good, and I like how the secondary retention strap is mostly made of plastic – that makes the strap ultra durable and unlikely to get badly cut under use (especially when quickly drawing the knife from the sheath). Sure, a heavier kydex sheath is always an option, but I think this sheath gets the job done without a lot of excess weight or baggage.

Blackwater Grizzly 6 Review – Final Thoughts

The Grizzly 6 is an attractively made tool, and I don’t doubt that many will initially be drawn its bold lines and thick proportions. I’m happy to report that the knife performs just as good as it looks. The materials here are of exceptional quality. I am starting to really appreciate Niolox tool steel, while both G10 and Cordura have become industry standards. The fit and finish is outstanding. LionSteel is capable of making some amazing stuff, and this is a beautifully made knife that could work well in a collection, but is ultimately designed for real world use.

In practice I found that the knife cut well and felt comfortable. The balance lends itself to self defense and utility more than heavy chopping, and I found the Grizzly to be capable in many different tasks. The sheath is lightweight and durable – it should fit the needs of most people without issue.

I don’t have any military or SERE experience, so it’s very difficult for me to recommend a knife specifically for that role, but if you are in need of a capable fixed blade knife, a knife that is of high quality and is well rounded, then I can safely say that the Grizzly 6 is an awesome tool that should hold up really well in a wide variety of roles. When you toss in Blackwater’s 2 year insurance policy for active duty U.S. military, the value becomes even more apparent. This is another winner from Blackwater in my book with their bold take on the classic combat knife.

Blackwater Grizzly 6 – $250
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Ursa 6 at Amazon, or BladeHQ. As always, thanks for reading. Please let me know if you have any comments or questions in the comments section below.

Blackwater Ursa 6 Review

by Dan Jackson 6 Comments

Blackwater Knives has recently released a cadre of new tools that caught my eye – both visually, and from a specification standpoint. The Ursa 6 is one of those tools, with an uncompromising design geared towards high speed professionals.

Buy the Blackwater Ursa 6 at BladeHQ

The Ursa 6 was designed by Robert Young Pelton, the same man behind the designs for DPx Gear. The knife is manufactured by Lionsteel in Maniago, Italy – a company known for high end offerings like the SR1. Upon arrival everything about the Ursa just reeked of quality. Even the box was cool, complete with iridescent embossed sleeve and black tissue paper lining. Inside was a something long and lean, yet full figured and deadly. My heart was already racing, and the blade wasn’t even out of the box – it was like a cross between a high school fantasy and comic book noir. Needless to say, if looks could kill I’d already be in the ground. But can she cut? Lets find out…

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ursa 6 has an overall length of 11.1″, has a 5.95″ blade, and it weighs 11.10 ounces. The spine is an extremely thick 6mm. I spent a good amount of time going over the intended use of this knife in the video, and I think it’s worth mentioning again here. This is a dedicated combat knife, designed for soldiers. It’s not a camp knife, bushcraft knife, or even your typical survival knife. It’s a purpose built tool for self defense (and in many cases, offense) as well as hard use utility work. The 6mm thick blade doesn’t make for the best slicer or the lightest backpacking knife, but it ensures that it will hold up against the demanding situations often thrust upon soldiers.

The blade itself is a modified drop point design. It sort of resembles a spear point or dagger blade shape, but it’s definitely a drop point of some sort (not that the semantics particularly matter here). One of the first features people will notice is the run of serrations along the spine of the knife. I like this feature because it keeps the main edge plain – leaving plenty of room for fine cutting. The primary edge is partially flat ground and the 6mm thick blade carries a good deal of steel all the way out to the tip. This is definitely a knife that can get some stabbing / thrust cuts in without a problem. The thick grind means it is not the best slicer, but I had no issues cutting through rope, cardboard, and wood. The entire knife has been given a PVD coating, which generally held up great, only scratching a little when I used the Ursa 6 to open up a can of potatoes.

Blackwater selected Niolox steel for this knife – a steel that I have previously had zero experience with it. Apparently it’s made in Germany by Bohler Uddeholm, and it has been well received. This particular piece of Niolox has been heat treated to 59 HRC, which is supposedly on the low end of what it can take.

In my cutting tests I found that Niolox was extremely tough, held a nice working edge, and sharpened easily on basic stones. The edge it took was extremely keen. I liken it to a high carbon steel such as 1095, but it’s stainless steel and seems to have better edge retention. It may not be quite as tough as 1095, but then again I didn’t have any issues at all with chipping or rolling. I also drove the blade through a 2×4 in a fairly extensive tip test without any issues. Based on that experience I think the Ursa 6 has the potential to be a good breaching tool.

I’m still relatively inexperienced with the steel, but so far I like it a lot. I think it’s a good choice for a combat knife because I found it very tough and extremely easy to sharpen – a must when you are out in the field, miles away from your regular sharpening equipment.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle of this knife is extremely impressive. The ultra wide piece of steel is flanked by 2 thick pieces of black peel ply G10. It really beefs up the handle and provides this rugged overbuilt feel that can’t help but inspire confidence. The spine of the handle is gently rounded and flows perfectly into the G10 scales. The scales themselves have been wonderfully finished with a series of finger grooves milled into the handle. All the corners have been meticulously rounded and everything is held together with 2 sets of flat head bolts. The bolts are easy to take down with a multi-tool or coin, and you can lash the knife to a piece of wood for a spear, or store small pieces of survival equipment in the hollow handle. Rounding things out are a generous lanyard hole, and an exposed striking pommel for hammering, prying, or using as a “non-lethal” defensive option.

Ergonomically speaking the Ursa 6 is well thought out and executed. The knife is well balanced, and the fat handle is extremely nice; providing excellent grip and a comfortable purchase. The knife feels solid in both forward and reverse grips.

My only gripe has to do with the jimping. Blackwater installed this interesting wirestripping jimping – it works as jimping but also can strip wire. It’s a cool idea, but I found the jimping irritated my thumb under hard use. If you are wearing leather gloves I doubt you would feel it, but it could tear up fabric gloves and can certainly eat into bare flesh. My advice would be to tweak the jimping so it isn’t quite as abrasive. Then again, perhaps I was using the knife differently from how a real professional would. All things considered I like how the Ursa 6 feels in hand.

Sheath

The Ursa 6 comes equipped with a full featured cordura sheath. There are multiple attachment points at the top and bottom for paracord and webbing. The back of the sheath is fully MOLLE compatible and can also accept a belt. There is a good sized pocket on the front of the sheath for a sharpening stone or whatever else you want to cram into it.

Inside the sheath is a molded plastic insert. It provides good retention for the blade, and is fully reversible for left or right side carry. There is a strong secondary retention strap with a metal snap. I like this style of retention strap because it is made of thick plastic that can be bent out of the way, and also will resist abrasion if you do happen to nick it when you withdraw the knife from the sheath. The metal snap is strong and does a great job further securing the knife.

All in all this is a well thought out sheath. It’s lightweight, secure, and you have multiple mounting options. I think for most people this will work very well.

Blackwater Ursa 6 Review – Final Thoughts

The Ursa 6 is a tank of a knife. Everything about it is overbuilt with durability and utility in mind. The 6mm thick backbone and tough tool steel make this knife practically indestructible. I beat the Ursa 6 though a 2×4 and it didn’t even blink. While I have zero military experience I think this is a robust design that will hold up well to the rigors of aggressive daily use.

Also, the folks at Lionsteel did an exceptional job realizing Blackwater’s design. The construction as well as fit and finish is outstanding. Everything from the cardboard box to the rounded spine oozes quality and attention to detail. The knife is so pretty I initially cringed at the thought of plunging it into a tin can – but I know this is a tool that was meant to be used, and I thought the very least I could do was give it a thorough test drive.

It’s also worth mentioning Blackwater offers an extended warranty for military personnel who register their knife. Under this policy the knife is protected against loss, breakage, defects, theft or any other issues for 2 years (and additional coverage can be purchased). This is another awesome detail that has me walking away from the Ursa 6 extremely impressed.

In closing, I definitely recommend the Ursa 6 if you need a high quality tool that will hold up well under hard use.

Blackwater Ursa 6 – $260
From: BladeHQ

I recommend purchasing the Ursa 6 at BladeHQ. Buying the knife though the links on this site earns me a small commission and helps support the website. As always, thanks for reading – please let me know if you have any comments or questions in the comments section below.