DpX HEST/F Urban - Screw Head Question

D

DC Kestrel

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Jun 3, 2017
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I'm a sucker for US made small framelocks, so I ordered one of these from DpX, which came yesterday. Very nice knife (flips open extremely smoothly, even with the thumb studs), but the T6 heads on the body screws are less than ideal. (Pivot screw is fine.) I can't even get a Wiha T6 bit into the left screw. I've e-mailed the company to see if they will do an exchange, or at least send me some new screws. Anyone else have similar experiences? Somewhat surprised given that the knife is made by Southern Grind, but my general sense is that small custom screws are not easy for these small manufacturers (even CRK).
HEST-F.jpg
 
Chances are the screws are made by an outside company. I can see why you are not happy. That's just sloppy quality control from the screw manufacturer.

I know you've sent an email but, call them. I have found that sometimes a phone call is more productive than an email.
 
sabre cat said:
Chances are the screws are made by an outside company. I can see why you are not happy. That's just sloppy quality control from the screw manufacturer.

I know you've sent an email but, call them. I have found that sometimes a phone call is more productive than an email.
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I emailed them with the same picture, so they can see what the problem is. I'll call if I don't hear back soon. I own a HEAT/F (LionSteel) and a Spider Monkey (Southern Grind), both of which are really nice. So I was expecting something of equal quality to both; more, actually, as this a $375 MSRP knife. This knife overall is great (but in a short-thick EDC way), but the screw-heads sort of kill it for me. You'd never be able to maintain the knife, and a $90 WE Knife has much crisper screws. If DpX won't address the issue, I'll probably try to return it, or try dealing directly with Southern Grind if I can't return it (as there's no info on returns on the DpX website).
 
I'm certain it's a regular Torx screw, and the pivot screw is really crisp and clearly a T8 (Wiha bit fits like a glove). Whoever stamped the Torx slot just did a lousy job, and hit almost all the body/clip/lockbar insert screws off-center, but the one on the left is the worst. I just don't know how they managed to use it to put the knife together. If I can get a bunch of decent screws, I probably can use a flat-head screwdriver to take out that one screw, or drill it out. Frankly, I'd rather exchange the knife for another without these issues.

This experience (and others previously) have gotten me more inclined to stick with brands that support their customers with available small parts. I have a couple of "mid-tech" level knives with non-standard fasteners that I'm willing to live with because I was able to source replacement screws (and, if necessary, the right tools). Otherwise, i just don't want to deal with maintaining a knife that has non-standard fasteners. DpX told me that they don't sell body screws for this knife, but I went ahead anyway. Now I'm not so sure that was the right decision.
 
OP here. So I sent the knife back, and although DpX would replace they knife, they made pretty clear that I shouldn't expect to have easy access to additional body screws in the future. To their credit, they fully refunded the purchase price, including shipping. Although DpX's marketing angle is a bit over the top, I liked their knives, but my Elmax HEAT/F is going to be it from them. The what they are asking, I'd just get another new or lightly used Sebenza, for which I can get a full set of body screws and pins for $12.
 
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