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- Apr 12, 2025
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I don’t see many posts about the Hogue Deka on here. Does anybody carry one? Made in USA. Magnacut steel. This one has the Ultem Scales. I’m contemplating my next purchase. What do you think?
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Hogue Deka
- Thread starter garnet spurs
- Start date
Railsplitter
Gold Member
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- Oct 31, 2010
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- 7,821
I like the looks of the Deka but I don’t own one yet. The only thing holding me back is that I don’t think I would like it as much as my Mini RSK.
Hogue makes great knives and I’m sure the Deka is no exception. Go for it!
Hogue makes great knives and I’m sure the Deka is no exception. Go for it!
- Joined
- May 11, 2002
- Messages
- 884
Don't know much about ultem, but I really like the DEKA IF the scales are upgraded from the regular plastic ones to g10. It rides in the pocket without hogging up space, solid little knife. now.
I also have a set of skinny XL titanium scales from original goat that i haven't even tried yet, but the extra 3/16" or so of length on those looks like it be a real plus. As far as value goes, i can't say this knife was a great value and is the only knife I have ever had where i felt the need to spend $ on scale upgrades. I have $200 worth of extra scales on a $135 knife. lol
As is, with just the G10 scale upgrade (which IMO is mandatory if it has the regular plastic ones) i have $195 in this set up. hmmmmmm. There's better knives out there for $195 or less, the Bel Air carbon Fiber MC being one of them. There's nothing to upgrade on that knife but maybe the screws. It feels like a Ferrari or something the way it operates though. Holy cow is it slick.
I only gave $175 for that little jewel which seems like a bargain now, although I could reason that it fills a slightly different role than the DEKA. Out of the 2, I'd pick the DEKA for a more robust working knife.
One thing I like on the DEKA over the Bel Air, well maybe three things...is the fact that i can figure out the thread pitch on all the hardware. It also uses T8 throughout, that's cool. Also the washers could be an advantage in very dirty chores where you'd want something easier to clean up.
The DEKA has a huge pivot screw thread with T8 torx head, and a honkin' 8-32 x .25" long thread. Body screws are also T8 and 2-56 x 1/8" long threads. I like this.
The Bel air uses some strange screw threads. The pivot screw is T8 but the thread pitch is something alien to me...they aren't 6-32 they aren't M3.5x.35. They literally fit NOTHING in my thread gauge sets, metric nor standard. No idea. Maybe 6-40. Little T6 Body screws *kinda" thread into 2-56 but seem loosey-goosey, won't fit any of the tiny metric gauges or standard i have. If Kershaw ever stopped making these special screws I guess you'd be foxxed. I Don't like this.
I'm glad I own both actually. The Deka seems like a bit heavier duty overall, perhaps it would be less persnickety in extremely dirty, muddy, bloody tasks.
Looking back, i would have/should have grabbed the 20cv/g10 one on a sale and been done with it. IMO, the 20cv with G10 > MC with flimsy plastic.
I also have a set of skinny XL titanium scales from original goat that i haven't even tried yet, but the extra 3/16" or so of length on those looks like it be a real plus. As far as value goes, i can't say this knife was a great value and is the only knife I have ever had where i felt the need to spend $ on scale upgrades. I have $200 worth of extra scales on a $135 knife. lol
As is, with just the G10 scale upgrade (which IMO is mandatory if it has the regular plastic ones) i have $195 in this set up. hmmmmmm. There's better knives out there for $195 or less, the Bel Air carbon Fiber MC being one of them. There's nothing to upgrade on that knife but maybe the screws. It feels like a Ferrari or something the way it operates though. Holy cow is it slick.
I only gave $175 for that little jewel which seems like a bargain now, although I could reason that it fills a slightly different role than the DEKA. Out of the 2, I'd pick the DEKA for a more robust working knife.
One thing I like on the DEKA over the Bel Air, well maybe three things...is the fact that i can figure out the thread pitch on all the hardware. It also uses T8 throughout, that's cool. Also the washers could be an advantage in very dirty chores where you'd want something easier to clean up.
The DEKA has a huge pivot screw thread with T8 torx head, and a honkin' 8-32 x .25" long thread. Body screws are also T8 and 2-56 x 1/8" long threads. I like this.
The Bel air uses some strange screw threads. The pivot screw is T8 but the thread pitch is something alien to me...they aren't 6-32 they aren't M3.5x.35. They literally fit NOTHING in my thread gauge sets, metric nor standard. No idea. Maybe 6-40. Little T6 Body screws *kinda" thread into 2-56 but seem loosey-goosey, won't fit any of the tiny metric gauges or standard i have. If Kershaw ever stopped making these special screws I guess you'd be foxxed. I Don't like this.
I'm glad I own both actually. The Deka seems like a bit heavier duty overall, perhaps it would be less persnickety in extremely dirty, muddy, bloody tasks.
Looking back, i would have/should have grabbed the 20cv/g10 one on a sale and been done with it. IMO, the 20cv with G10 > MC with flimsy plastic.
Last edited:
4:20ChopChop
Basic Member
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- Feb 16, 2025
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- 58
oldmanwilly
Gold Member
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2014
- Messages
- 3,111
I sure do like mine. I started out with a Wharncliffe model but had to swap it out with a drop point to fit my needs. It's an excellent slicer, but I'll admit I probably wouldn't carry it much at all if I hadn't gotten some OG scales for it. Well worth it, in my mind.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
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I have a drop point Deka in 20CV. It has G10 for a handle.
I also have a "wharncliffe" Deka in Magnacut. It has the standard "polymer" handle
The 20CV Deka with G10 is nice, though I don't carry it much. The ergonomics of that particular drop point and the thumb stud placement don't work for my hands. I've almost sliced my thumb a couple of times when opening it. Nothing wrong with the knife or the design. It just does not work for me.
The "wharncliffe" Deka never gets carried. The handle flexes because the hollowed it out. It's just a shell. It sounds cheap and feels cheap. And the surface of the polymer is slippery, even though I've sanded it with coarse sandpaper to roughen it. But above all, when they hollowed out the handle, they changed the balance point of the knife. The G10 version balances exactly under my front finger, just as it should. The polymer version is blade heavy. For a small knife like the Deka, blade heavy sucks. Too bad, because I do like the blade, itself.
So, my advice would be that if you like the Deka, get one of the SFO Magnacut versions that a couple of the large sellers have offered or buy some third party handles. But either of those options will increase the price of the knife significantly.
I also have a "wharncliffe" Deka in Magnacut. It has the standard "polymer" handle
The 20CV Deka with G10 is nice, though I don't carry it much. The ergonomics of that particular drop point and the thumb stud placement don't work for my hands. I've almost sliced my thumb a couple of times when opening it. Nothing wrong with the knife or the design. It just does not work for me.
The "wharncliffe" Deka never gets carried. The handle flexes because the hollowed it out. It's just a shell. It sounds cheap and feels cheap. And the surface of the polymer is slippery, even though I've sanded it with coarse sandpaper to roughen it. But above all, when they hollowed out the handle, they changed the balance point of the knife. The G10 version balances exactly under my front finger, just as it should. The polymer version is blade heavy. For a small knife like the Deka, blade heavy sucks. Too bad, because I do like the blade, itself.
So, my advice would be that if you like the Deka, get one of the SFO Magnacut versions that a couple of the large sellers have offered or buy some third party handles. But either of those options will increase the price of the knife significantly.
Chris*33
Gold Member
- Joined
- Jan 16, 2017
- Messages
- 341
This is a picture of my Deka that i have also posted in a different thread: the bump had been ground out and i have replaced the scales obviously. Even with the aftermarket scales, this is a great value for money folder, in today's market, i believe.
That being said, i will be selling mine, the main reason being that's it's too light for me. For others this is a great plus on knives such as the Deka or the Bugout, etc, but i do like a degree of heftiness on my EDCs. My favorite and most carried folder in quite a few years now, has been the 0450, not heavy but i notice it. At this point after all these years, i just spray some WD40 from the outside to get into the bearings and it runs smoothly for months!
That being said, i will be selling mine, the main reason being that's it's too light for me. For others this is a great plus on knives such as the Deka or the Bugout, etc, but i do like a degree of heftiness on my EDCs. My favorite and most carried folder in quite a few years now, has been the 0450, not heavy but i notice it. At this point after all these years, i just spray some WD40 from the outside to get into the bearings and it runs smoothly for months!
I put a few miles under the wheels of this one. I bought it mostly because it was among the cheaper Magnacut knives at the time. She took a minute to break in, but she runs real smooth now. I haven't put the edge through any heavy use yet. I haven't had to touch a stone, either. Light and slim in the pocket, quick and solid deployment, fits my hand, feels fine for everything I've done so far. I guess I should have opted for a non-coated blade, and the blade shape is great at the edge and tip but still looks goofy over the spine. I have zero complaints about the grips. I definitely wouldn't pay more than I did.
scalpel_ninja
Gold Member
- Joined
- Feb 17, 2020
- Messages
- 77
I carry the wharncliffe Magnacut Deka and agree with the polymer scales being… dare I say… an insult to the knife itself. I’ve swapped it out to CF scales. I’m neither a fan of micarta nor aluminum scales.
A few fun facts I gathered along the way of owning a few Dekas:
Votix (as shown in the above photo) appears to be the only supplier of aftermarket CF scales.
Collectors’ Edition Deka blades, locks, and liners are not interchangeable with the common Dekas due to the thicker lock to accommodate the tritium.
Magnacut wharncliffe blades might have a manufacturing defect as I’ve had two (including the one in the photo) that have a misshapen tip. That slight reflection at the tip is not a smudge or bend. The clip side of the blade is completely flat. Seems the MC blades have this “bulge” on the show side.
A few fun facts I gathered along the way of owning a few Dekas:
Votix (as shown in the above photo) appears to be the only supplier of aftermarket CF scales.
Collectors’ Edition Deka blades, locks, and liners are not interchangeable with the common Dekas due to the thicker lock to accommodate the tritium.
Magnacut wharncliffe blades might have a manufacturing defect as I’ve had two (including the one in the photo) that have a misshapen tip. That slight reflection at the tip is not a smudge or bend. The clip side of the blade is completely flat. Seems the MC blades have this “bulge” on the show side.
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Messages
- 42,215
You have one of the SFO (Special Factory Order) dealer specials with G10 grips.