Hogue knives?

L

lonestar1979

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Mar 2, 2014
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How is the quality of these knives?Has anyone actually tested them besides cutting paper?How is the cutting performance?Any info is welcome.
ps.I like their design, and will definitely check them out.
 
I have a EX-01 Wilson Combat version, 3.5" blade in 154 CM. Love the knife. There have been complaints about the sliding safety but I don't find it to be an issue.
The button lock functions flawlessly and the f&f are all you could ask for at this price point. I guess the steel isn't quite the top of the line but it's fine for me; easy to
sharpen and holds a decent edge for quite a while. The Wilson association adds a nice touch and I would recommend this knife.
 
I like Benchmades 154cm, will wait for some more replies, and have to see how the knife looks in person and feels in hand.Sometimes some knives just do not look and feel the same when you actually put it in your hand.
 
I have a stock EX01 4" drop point. I also love the knife. I did a couple small things to mine- I did not like the stock clip so I have a STR lowrider on it now, and I tightened the safety switch screw and used a touch of locktite on it to hold the safety open. Really like the look of the 4 with that wharncliffe blade.
 
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lonestar1979 said:
How is the quality of these knives?Has anyone actually tested them besides cutting paper?How is the cutting performance?Any info is welcome.
ps.I like their design, and will definitely check them out.
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The quality is absolutely fantastic. I'm not sure I've seen a single negative thing about them yet, and my experience with the EX01 was extremely positive. They are ground to an average edge thickness, but the polished, acute secondary bevel they put on them really helps. If you need proof of the lock strength, Allen Elishewitz put up some youtube videos where he tested the lock strength. Way more robust than any framelock.
 
I had an EX-01 4" tanto. I really liked the button lock. It's fun to play with and had zero blade play. The handle was about average, it'll work. I edced it for a few weeks. Mainly cut cardboard and opened boxes.It did fine, wasn't really that great of a slicer. I'm not fond of tantos, so I got rid of it. I really want to try a drop point version one day.
 
Prepare yourself for the negative, I have an ex01 and it had some blade play and lock rock. I sent it in, and they said they could not remove all the play and that it was up to their tolerances. Its a bummer really, because its a seriously smooth knife. I just cant get past the play. Also when I tried to disassemble the knife one of the scale screws stripped under barely any pressure and the other one literaly snapped in half from all the loctite. Maybe I just got a dud, but I doubt I'll ever buy from them again.
 
I love my ex01 3.5 in green with the drop point. The button lock is nice and fun. The stonewash on the blade is awesome.
 
I have the EX-03 and its one of my favorite knives. Very nice fit and finish, and that is the cheaper model. I haven't had any problems with mine, but I do not hard use pocket knives. It is a very smooth operator. If you like flipping knives open and closed the Hogue will please you (just about as fun as an Axis-lock, if not funner). As far as hard use, there is a Russian guy on You Tube that beats the hell out of knives and he puts one of the Hogue models through it's paces. It didn't far as well as some though, so if you take much stock in abuse videos, you may want to check it out.
 
I have seen the video this morning and was surprised the lock failed right away.Pretty knife , but for hard use Id take cold steel any time.
 
I had an ex03 really liked it except for the balance of the blade. It was very blade heavy. But a great sturdy lightweight knife.
 
Guy Hogue was with L.A.P.D when I knew him in the 70's, he and another officer made wood hand gun grips. Guy Hogue & Earl "FUZZY" Ferrant where both I believe on the L.A.P.D. pistol team, and both were shooting instructors at the acadamy.

Hogue turned a hobby, or extra money business into a Big Business, but Guy was not a knife maker. Hogue Knive are just something made by someone to enhance the Hogue line of goodies
 
Akapennypincher said:
Guy Hogue was with L.A.P.D when I knew him in the 70's, he and another officer made wood hand gun grips. Guy Hogue & Earl "FUZZY" Ferrant where both I believe on the L.A.P.D. pistol team, and both were shooting instructors at the acadamy.

Hogue turned a hobby, or extra money business into a Big Business, but Guy was not a knife maker. Hogue Knive are just something made by someone to enhance the Hogue line of goodies
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No that's not quite right, Hogue actually makes them in house. They're not outsourced to any production companies, they purchased all of the tooling and equipment to make them themselves. It's been mentioned before by the company and on the Hogue forum on the USN.

I'm a big advocate for Hogue because they are putting out an extremely high quality and consistent product for very reasonable prices. Every company has a few slip ups naturally, but the quality is there.
 
I was talking via email to a Houge CSR recently and I asked where the knives were made and this was his reply:

"Thank you for taking the time to contact Hogue and providing us with positive feedback we greatly appreciate it sir. All of our knives are USA made and assembled here in our Paso Robles, California facility."
 
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They are. That is where I sent mine in for warranty work. I forgot to mention that their warranty department was lacking. I came to find out that after about a week emailing back and forth with their rep that he wasnt even in the same warehouse as my knife. I would have to go fishing for replys. With all that said they did do me right by waving the cost of a replacement scale. So they could produce some very good knives, but there is alot of room for improvement. This is by no means me bashing the company, because like I said, the experience was not all bad.
 
Phair12 said:
I had an ex03 really liked it except for the balance of the blade. It was very blade heavy. But a great sturdy lightweight knife.
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That is why I didn't keep the one I had. Not that I did not like it, but it really needs to have more balance and some milled out liners would have done the trick nicely. The Aluminum handled version don't appeal to much much as they are scratch magnets.
 
I have four of the Hogue folders and they all have great quality, secondary lock and built in the U.S. with 154CM stainless steel (57-59 HRC).

My three Hogue EX-04 folders have beautiful G-Mascus G-10 handles and you have a choice of 3.5" or 4" Wharncliffe or Upswept blades. The other one I have is the EX-02 3.4" Spear Point blade flipper with G-10. Their G-10 has just the right texture.
 
I have the EX 02 flipper. It's a fine knife. I find it a little too heavy/chunky for regular carry, but I like it. It's very well made.
 
cf1969 said:
I was talking via email to a Houge CSR recently and I asked where the knives were made and this was his reply:

"Thank you for taking the time to contact Hogue and providing us with positive feedback we greatly appreciate it sir. All of our knives are USA made and assembled here in our Paso Robles, California facility."
Click to expand...


Oh really? Then why are they branded (hTm) ?

Hand tech made knives are in Texas according to their website

Explain to me why my knives say they are made by Hand Tech Made and Hogue
 
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