Hogue Deka Magnacut - but those scales …

Danny Linguini

Danny Linguini

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I’ve spammed a few other threads with my interest in this magnacut version of the Hogue Deka, but I think this deserves its own discussion. I’ve got the plastic out and ready to rip, but I need some feedback. I’m seriously drooling over the wharncliffe magnacut blade, and almost everything else about it is appealing to me, but I’m having some serious reservations about the polymer scales. Reviews I’ve read say the polymer actually slides in and out of pockets more smoothly than the G10 variant, but they sacrifice firmness. There’s only a partial frame under them, as I understand it’s just big enough to house the ABLE lock, which has me very concerned about its stability in use, and just general feel in the hand. I’ve also seen a few owners here critical of this handle material.

I’m not a heavy user - no prying open pain cans or batoning firewood - just opening and shredding boxes, nipping the tips off caulking tubes, that kind of mostly innocuous stuff. I have a couple of other knives with G10 scales and am very happy with them, and one with FRN that looks and feels really cheap (maybe because it IS really cheap). Should I go ahead and drop the hammer now for this otherwise very affordable magnacut piece, or wait until Hogue comes around and offers this steel with decent handle material? In other words, just how good/bad are these polymer scales? Also, the model I want is now out of stock at KC - I’m wondering if that’s a sign. TIA…
 
Danny Linguini said:
I’ve spammed a few other threads with my interest in this magnacut version of the Hogue Deka, but I think this deserves its own discussion. I’ve got the plastic out and ready to rip, but I need some feedback. I’m seriously drooling over the wharncliffe magnacut blade, and almost everything else about it is appealing to me, but I’m having some serious reservations about the polymer scales. Reviews I’ve read say the polymer actually slides in and out of pockets more smoothly than the G10 variant, but they sacrifice firmness. There’s only a partial frame under them, as I understand it’s just big enough to house the ABLE lock, which has me very concerned about its stability in use, and just general feel in the hand. I’ve also seen a few owners here critical of this handle material.

I’m not a heavy user - no prying open pain cans or batoning firewood - just opening and shredding boxes, nipping the tips off caulking tubes, that kind of mostly innocuous stuff. I have a couple of other knives with G10 scales and am very happy with them, and one with FRN that looks and feels really cheap (maybe because it IS really cheap). Should I go ahead and drop the hammer now for this otherwise very affordable magnacut piece, or wait until Hogue comes around and offers this steel with decent handle material? In other words, just how good/bad are these polymer scales? Also, the model I want is now out of stock at KC - I’m wondering if that’s a sign. TIA…
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I’ve got the polymer scales and they don’t bother me. No more flex than my bugout. I’m not really sure if you’d notice flexing in real world use. They do feel kind of slick but no worse than an ultratech. A big knife store near me just had a killer sale on the polymer versions and all hogues. I was going to DM you the link but they only had the drop point blade when I saw it.
 
RC Bladeworks to the rescue!

0B628348-31CB-4F54-8AFA-921C1B51B62C.jpeg

I went with red linen micarta but they have a ton of other options. The quality is excellent. They’re just the tiniest bit heavier than the stock scales and I think they improve the balance of the knife (in addition to feeling and looking better).
 
Order placed with BHQ. A few dealers who carry them and had them a few days ago are now out of stock, so I jumped before they run out everywhere. It’s modestly priced enough, and it consistently gets good reviews from owners, it’s worth taking the shot.

First Hogue knife, first Magnacut blade. Can’t wait. Thanks all for your help!
 
The scales suck. They flex a lot and are slick. There are some nice custom scales out there, but they cost about as much as the knife. Hogue needs to make this version in g10.
 
Lawilli2 said:
Love, love this knife. It just wants to cut, seriously slices boxes like a new hobby. Scale swap with Bladescales and feels great. View attachment 1941121View attachment 1941124
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I just put those same scales on mine - they really make the knife feel more solid. I already loved it with the factory scales, now I love it more. Haven’t had a chance to really put it to work yet, but it sure makes a nice clean and easy slice through paper.

A7BEEC36-1C24-4D24-A447-F90502DF749E.jpeg
 
Im thinking of picking one of these up as well.

I'm turned away a bit by the scales, but the price is right.
Not sure what style blade I prefer either.

I think the scales will need to be replaced, so count it as a 200$ knife.
 
Skar said:
Im thinking of picking one of these up as well.

I'm turned away a bit by the scales, but the price is right.
Not sure what style blade I prefer either.

I think the scales will need to be replaced, so count it as a 200$ knife.
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Still worth it, even if you do replace the scales, I think. I’m not in the habit of modifying knives, and the polymer scales are ok if just a little light feeling, I just felt the knife deserves something better. I really wish Hogue’s own blue lave G-mascus scales were an option - that would have been my first choice. But ... another selling point for me for these scales was no clip holes on the opposite side - they’re right-handers only, and I think they look much more finished.

As for the blade, I’ve found for most of my uses, a modified wharnie seems to fit the bill the best, if given a choice. The compound grind just made it a bit sweeter for me.
 
Danny Linguini said:
I’ve spammed a few other threads with my interest in this magnacut version of the Hogue Deka, but I think this deserves its own discussion. I’ve got the plastic out and ready to rip, but I need some feedback. I’m seriously drooling over the wharncliffe magnacut blade, and almost everything else about it is appealing to me, but I’m having some serious reservations about the polymer scales. Reviews I’ve read say the polymer actually slides in and out of pockets more smoothly than the G10 variant, but they sacrifice firmness. There’s only a partial frame under them, as I understand it’s just big enough to house the ABLE lock, which has me very concerned about its stability in use, and just general feel in the hand. I’ve also seen a few owners here critical of this handle material.

I’m not a heavy user - no prying open pain cans or batoning firewood - just opening and shredding boxes, nipping the tips off caulking tubes, that kind of mostly innocuous stuff. I have a couple of other knives with G10 scales and am very happy with them, and one with FRN that looks and feels really cheap (maybe because it IS really cheap). Should I go ahead and drop the hammer now for this otherwise very affordable magnacut piece, or wait until Hogue comes around and offers this steel with decent handle material? In other words, just how good/bad are these polymer scales? Also, the model I want is now out of stock at KC - I’m wondering if that’s a sign. TIA…
Click to expand...
I hate how they feel but I felt the same about the Bugout and those have been almost unbreakable. I like the knife, in general.
 
I have a Hogue Deka Gen 2 in MagnaCut. Love the razor sharp and slicey blade, but hated the cheap, flexy, slippery, sharp edged scales. Replaced them with RC Bladeworks scales in micarta. A huge improvement in comfort, grip, appearance, and stiffness with hardly any increase in weight. The micarta scales do not flex whether installed or prior to installation. In comparison, the polymer scales flex easily when holding the knife firmly and once removed flex very easily. Thumbs up on the RC Bladeworks replacement micarta scales, although they are certainly not cheap. But a nice blade like on the Deka Gen 2 MagnaCut deserves at least decent scales, not the trash polymer scales it comes with.
 
Danny Linguini said:
Still worth it, even if you do replace the scales, I think. I’m not in the habit of modifying knives, and the polymer scales are ok if just a little light feeling, I just felt the knife deserves something better. I really wish Hogue’s own blue lave G-mascus scales were an option - that would have been my first choice. But ... another selling point for me for these scales was no clip holes on the opposite side - they’re right-handers only, and I think they look much more finished.

As for the blade, I’ve found for most of my uses, a modified wharnie seems to fit the bill the best, if given a choice. The compound grind just made it a bit sweeter for me.
Click to expand...
We are different in liking the right hand only clip position.
I often carry left hand clip position as my right hand carry.

I am with you in the hopes of gmascus as a option for the scales.
Not sure, maybe I will have to hold on this one. Perhaps settle for the cv20, yet I really don't like that steel very much.
 
I've had G-mascus Deka G2 for a few months. It's usually my EDC. But because of you all talking about Magnacut and aftermarket scales (it's all your fault!), I picked up a Magnacut polymer version a couple weekends ago when it was on sale. I have asked Bladescales to hold for me a G10 set next time they run them.

In the meantime, my Magnacut Deka doesn't flick open easily like my G-mascus one. The detent seems harder to overcome and there is a distinctly louder "click" when it pops past the detent. (No problem with the drop shutty closing, though.)

If any of you experienced this with your Deka, is there a tweak to remedy this?
 
As the bar of the ABLE lock serves the function of “detent” as it rises over the center of the tang, and must slide back as the blade is flipped out, i would start with a drop of nano-10 just behind the lock bar on each side, and slide it back and forth a few times. If it continues, i would do a disassembly and see if the retention wires are catching on the inner side of the scales. Of course, if you have scales on order, you will be doing that eventually anyway.
 
_cl said:
I've had G-mascus Deka G2 for a few months. It's usually my EDC. But because of you all talking about Magnacut and aftermarket scales (it's all your fault!), I picked up a Magnacut polymer version a couple weekends ago when it was on sale. I have asked Bladescales to hold for me a G10 set next time they run them.

In the meantime, my Magnacut Deka doesn't flick open easily like my G-mascus one. The detent seems harder to overcome and there is a distinctly louder "click" when it pops past the detent. (No problem with the drop shutty closing, though.)

If any of you experienced this with your Deka, is there a tweak to remedy this?
Click to expand...
No... my example has been smooth.
The click on mine is the lock engaging that's it.
I dressed some micarta from rc bladeworks. Made the knife completely better.
ZSe9jRV.jpg
 
I returned mine only a few hours after delivery : very cheap feeling from the scales, one side was even warped...

it's hard to believe this is coming from a renowned handles/grips manufacturer...
 
I have the CPM-20CV version with sturdy G-Mascus scales and really like it a lot. I have avoided the Magnacut version with cheap flexible scales just as I have avoided the Bugout models all these years.

I had considered buying a Magnacut version and swapping the scales, and then selling the 20CV with the polymer scales, for a cheaper route than aftermarket scales, but decided to just wait for a Magnacut version with better scales from the factory (or like the SMKW Scorpion etc).
 
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