DEK1

donscpoo said:
Unless you wanna go diving with your DEK1, I don’t think you need the Magnacut steel. If this is your first CPK, I will suggest you go with D3V.

I stay in the tropics and had hiked in the rain and creeks with D3V. It never once rust on me. I just wipe it dry after each trip before I store it away. My personal experience is D3V is more corrosion resistance than INFI.

It was raining and wet when I took this shot. No rust after the hike.

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Beautiful knife, exactly the one I'll most likely be ordering this round. Are those ECAM scales buffed or unbuffed?
 
ferider said:
Nobody really knows yet. Magnacut will be a little harder and more corrosion resistant, D3V is "tougher" (more edge stability), that's all we know for now.

That being said, I love D3V. Unless you want a special feature (swedge, acid wash, or similar), IMHO, just buy a D3V DEK1 on the used market or when the next batch becomes available in a few months, makes not much sense to wait for the pre-order. "Spatz in der Hand vs. Taube auf dem Dach", etc.

Roland.
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Well . . . sat on the fence too long/spent too much time reading this whole thread. Hopefully DEK1 is part of a regular Friday sale.
 
Got my first CPK today, a used DEK1 in D3V (almost as new condition). I am impressed :cool: Form & feel are outstanding. Cannot say much about function, yet, but I guess it should do fine for anything up to wrecking the house ;)

What I'm just wondering: this is what you classify as a small knife, rather on the slicey side?? Yes, I know, the specs are available, and even a moron should understand 9.125" and 6.2oz... But it feels way more massive. In my book that's a full-grown knife, and I cannot think of anything I could do to break it. Even breaking it on purpose should require heavier tools than what I have in my workshop, unless probably a vise and a hammer.

As I already said, impressed. But now I have to get a DEC3, asap... probably in MagnaCut? Guess Nathan just increased his client base - smart move ;)
 
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Beeblebrox said:
Got my first CPK today, a used DEK1 in D3V (almost as new condition). I am impressed :cool: Form & feel are outstanding. Cannot say much about function, yet, but I guess it should do fine for anything up to wrecking the house ;)

What I'm just wondering: this is what you classify as a small knife, rather on the slicey side?? Yes, I know, the specs are available, and even a moron should understand 9.125" and 6.2oz... But it feels way more massive. In my book that's a full-grown knife, and I cannot think of anything I could to to break it. Even breaking it on purpose should require heavier tools than what I have in my workshop, unless probably a vise and a hammer.

As I already said, impressed. But now I have to get a DEC3, asap... probably in MagnaCut? Guess Nathan just increased his client base - smart move ;)
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At 4", I consider it fairly average - not too big, not too small. EDC knives are typically 3-4" and it sits right there. It definitely punches above its weight and is very capable when you need it to be. The handle is amazing on it and is probably why it feels bigger than it actually is.

I was gonna add that the DEK3 is a great option if you want something slicier at the expense of absolute strength.
 
fatfrog said:
At 4", I consider it fairly average - not too big, not too small. EDC knives are typically 3-4" and it sits right there. It definitely punches above its weight and is very capable when you need it to be. The handle is amazing on it and is probably why it feels bigger than it actually is.

I was gonna add that the DEK3 is a great option if you want something slicier at the expense of absolute strength.
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Thx for the feedback.

Just to give a little more depth to my post: I'm living in Germany, where we assume that we're fairly civilzed (usually), so there is not much need for a knife outside the kitchen (usually). Actually, people tend to look slightly annoyed when you're carrying a knife outside what is regarded as "the big outdoors" over here (not much left of the big, unfortunately). Nevertheless, I have been carrying a knife since I was old enough to get one (about 50 years ago, I guess), typically a folder. Started with a SAK (who didn't?), upgraded frequently until I ended up with a SOG Tomcat (which is actually about 1oz heavier than the DEK1) and downgraded again (by weight) once Spyderco came up with the clip. In the last years I have edcing a ZT450CFZDP.

Still have a feeble for fixed blade knives. Started out with a KaBar in the Boy Scouts (everybody in my peer group did ;) ) and got more refined since.

My "real" application for a knife is when I'm hiking, and seriously, I'm an ounce counter there... Still like fixed blades, so I got Hiko Ito to make me a 4.5" fixed slightly under 3oz about 2 years ago. Great slicer, but I guess I could break that one without any more tools than a crevice. Thus was looking for something a litlle sturdier... which I still probably would't haul around, once I got my pack weighed (I already mentioned the ounce counter?), but who knows? Guess I went a little over the (my) edge in the sturdy department, but I really like the design. So I'm hooked :cool:
 
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The DEK1 (and the FKs) are funny that way. I have multiple knives with 3.7- 4" blades, but they always feel a touch too small. the 4.5" blade length of the DEK1 feels just right. And the relatively small handle make it very portable.

B Beeblebrox - maybe you can shave an ounce or two with Ti hardware and no or different scales ? (e.g., custom made CF ?). Just wondering.

Bergheil,

Roland.
 
ferider said:
The DEK1 (and the FKs) are funny that way. I have multiple knives with 3.7- 4" blades, but they always feel a touch too small. the 4.5" blade length of the DEK1 feels just right. And the relatively small handle make it very portable.

B Beeblebrox - maybe you can shave an ounce or two with Ti hardware and no or different scales ? (e.g., custom made CF ?). Just wondering.

Bergheil,

Roland.
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Already Ti-Hardware installed - at least the screws are. But I think I can easily save an ounce on the sheath - Nestor from the messerforum has shaved down his kydex taco design for me: no excess material, thinner kydex, but still sturdy enough for my applications. Wouldn't do a parachute drop with these, though. But since I don't do parachuting, this should help.

As to CF, my experience is that in scales, there is no (significant) weight benefit. At least for my Bradford Guardians, the carbon 3D scales are even heavier than the micarta 3D scales. Probably could go with a hollowed-out design if I could find somebody to make these... Later, I could install similar scales on the DEC3, thus saving even more ;) Where on this forum could I place a request like that?

So at least for the near future, I guess I will just (have to) get used to the weight - and be even happier when I finally get my hands on a DEC3.
 
Beeblebrox said:
Got my first CPK today, a used DEK1 in D3V (almost as new condition). I am impressed :cool: Form & feel are outstanding. Cannot say much about function, yet, but I guess it should do fine for anything up to wrecking the house ;)

What I'm just wondering: this is what you classify as a small knife, rather on the slicey side?? Yes, I know, the specs are available, and even a moron should understand 9.125" and 6.2oz... But it feels way more massive. In my book that's a full-grown knife, and I cannot think of anything I could to to break it. Even breaking it on purpose should require heavier tools than what I have in my workshop, unless probably a vise and a hammer.

As I already said, impressed. But now I have to get a DEC3, asap... probably in MagnaCut? Guess Nathan just increased his client base - smart move ;)
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Congrats, I love my DEK1. I want to get a DEK3 also. I pre-ordered a DEK2 with the swedge and penetrator tip.
 
Received my new Kydex today - saves 1.2oz (34g for those of you who'd rather think in universal systems ;)). I hope the links at the end of this post work… and please excuse that my photography skills, equipment & setup are below par for this forum :(

Then I reground the edge to 15DPS. I was first a little concerned because of all the stories about how hard it is to grind 3V. Used the diamond rods of my Sharpmaker to get the angle set, then did a fine grind with an Austrian waterstone (FEPA F 400 & 800) then stropped it on that Bark River Travel Compund leather thingy. Took less than half an hour and is shaving sharp now :cool:

The regrind didn't save any more weight, unfortunately ;) so I found another solution: if I carry the knife in my pocket, it will not go on the scales with the backpack :p

DEK on Nestor Kydex
DEK in Nestor Kydex
 
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Lorien, kuddos to you, the DEK1 is as close to perfect as a all purpose knife can be. I carry mine daily and often substitute my FK2 with it when camping. Sentimental value aside, it would be my one knife. I know it was a collaboration but maybe, just maybe there are two evil geniuses.

Well done sir!
 
gunslinger387 said:
Lorien, kuddos to you, the DEK1 is as close to perfect as a all purpose knife can be. I carry mine daily and often substitute my FK2 with it when camping. Sentimental value aside, it would be my one knife. I know it was a collaboration but maybe, just maybe there are two evil geniuses.

Well done sir!
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I agree - my DEK1 is the finest EDC knife I have ever seen. Maybe the DEK2 will become my favorite - we will see.
 
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