The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details:
https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
Not that it won't stop me from buying it, but is the HEST fixed blade imported? I want other countries to buy our stuff, so why not buy theirs if its good quality? Yes, there is a huge trade imbalance, but that's another topic all together, and for another forum.
The HEST is next no matter where it comes from. Yes, this is a sickness!
I don't think your arrogant.
I spent a long time thinking the same way but quickly came to the conclusion that it was pretty much impossible and honestly, a bit narrow minded.
I buy american whenever I can and when it makes sense to do so but to limit yourself to one country of origin cuts out alot of the best that the world has to offer.
Imacasa makes some of the best machetes in the world. Period. That's why ESEE went to them for the blade blanks.
The company who is doing our soft goods is the end result of a long seach for good quality and RELIABLE delivery. Went down the american made road there and it was unpaved and ripe with pot holes. Mike Perrin can tell you some great horror stories about the production delays and quality concerns. The soft goods we have now are offered because they are the best that could be found. Period.
The HEST folder is being made in Italy by the company who won best folder at this years BLADE show. Hate to say it but Lionsteel is making the best of the best right now. They were also flexable enough to work with a bunch of redneck yahoos like Jeff and Mike and a crazy assed canuck like Pelton.
There's a world of difference between cheap, imported knockoffs and a quality made product that happens to be made in a different country.
Ah the world market vs Made in USA.
As the person behind the DPx Gear brand I should make an official statement on the philosophy.
As an American if all things are equal or better we source from the U.S. If a source can offer higher quality, better price (which we pass through), unique technology, unusual process or material we will explore it. The fixed HEST is made by Shon Rowen in the U.S. and is as good as you are going to get. We could make it China and sell it to you for $30 but our customers are not buying on price, they buy because its done right/
On the folder I wanted a state of the art in ALL materials and manufacturing. That means searching the world for materials, process and builders. The DPx HEST was designed by me in the US, rendered by a friggin maestro in Slovenia, the D2 steel comes from Germany, the G10 handles come from the U.S. The titanium alloy has yet to be sourced but there is a new harder titanium made only in Japan we are looking at. We are using a Northern Italian craftsman who shown his skills in working with solid titanium folders with a patented RotoBlock. It is warranted in the US of A by folks who don't get more American. That means there is a voice at the end of the phone if you have problem.
Now we could search high and low and try to COPY the material, technology and build skills in the U.S. but not only would you pay $600 to $900 for this knife, it wouldn't be as good and you would be missing the point.
Our customers work, travel and serve around the world. We can't bullshit them into believing that you can't get something better, cheaper and faster in certain parts of the world. Look closely at everything in your house and garage. Your T-shirt, TV, car parts, flooring, nails, air conditioner etc are sourced in whole or in part from another country usually for cost savings and often because you simply can't buy certain things any more. I suppose we could have had it made in China along with many of the other folders you see in box stores but its not about making things cheaper its about making things BETTER. China, Japan and Taiwan don't have to apologize for quality anymore but we wanted a small craftsman, hand build and high tech shop.
I would put out a challenge to any knife makers to replicate this knife and bring to market at this price, with this material, with this quality and with this warranty. We would add them to our list of potential vendors on future products.
But my point again is that we don't HAVE to work our vendors because of price. We WANT to work with our partners because of their passion and quality. We WANT to work with Gianni at Lion Steel, we WANT to work with Shon at Rowen and we will seek out like minded friends around the world who have the same passion for knives and quality as Jeff, Mike and I do. None of us HAVE to makes knives for a living. We WANT to make great knives and we enjoy the fellowship of people who appreciate that passion.
Hope that helps with the PHILOSOPHY of DPx Gear and also the LOGIC
