How good is the quality of DPX folding knives?

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TheEdge01

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I bought a new DPX HEFT fixed blade recently and really like it. Now I'm considering one of their folders, preferably in Sleipner since I have never owned a knife in that steel, I have read good things though.
Anyway, the folders look cool, but the titanium lock seems to be a weak point. I have read compaints about lock stick, and it being prone to damage if put under too much pressure. Also, on the D2 models, I read that the lock can wear down faster than normal. Keep in mind that I have only held one DPX folder but have no experience using them. For those of you that know about them, please share your experience. Would you recommend them?
 
I really like my HEST 2. The more I've used it the more I appreciate the design features and the tough build.

The frame lock stick is real. I've worked it a lot and applied anti oxidant. It's definitely improved but it's far from effortless. The blade is also hard to "flick" open.

i love using my folding knives as substitute "fidget devices" so ease of opening and closing is important. Love button and AXIS locks for this reason.

That said, the HEST is truly a tool for me and it gets used when I'm doing serious outdoor activities. Days when I also have a hardcore fixed blade strapped to my side.

I'd take its outright toughness and usability over ease of opening and closing any day. It's really that good. The "multi-tool" design features are a huge bonus once I got in the habit of using them.

As much as I love smooth opening action and effortless lock systems they don't realistically make a difference to me if I'm in knife "tool" mode. Occasionally using two hands for a second or two just isn't a hindrance. Also - the HEST can be used one handed. It's just not nearly as refined as most other good folders.

I would also recommend the larger blade sized "2.0" over the earlier model HESTs with smaller blades.
 
I had the milspect and it was a great knife . The one knife I compared it to was the ZT 0550 and I liked the HEST over the ZT . I had no issues with lock sticking and no lock rock the knife very well built . I miss it and will be looking for one soon .
 
I don't have any direct DPX experience, but I am continually impressed by the Lionsteel offerings. I am looking forward to picking up the full ti Urban from DPX soon.

Although I don't have any real DPX experience, I suspect they will be a safe gamble.

Also, framelocks are sturdy folders; just don't baton with it, and it will hold strong for many years of hard use.

And locks with steel inserts should wear nigh on imperceptibly slowly. You will be bored of the knife long before you wear it out. I have cycled my 0606cf thousands of times, and whatever wear has occurred is utterly indetectable.
 
The lone DPX HEST/F I've handled, a Milspec, had excellent fit and finish. There was zero lock stick and lockup was rock solid with no play in any direction.

What killed it for me was the clip, placed in such a way as to be uncomfortable no matter how I held the knife, and the near-zero detent. I could shake the blade out with hardly any effort at all.
 
I own a Milspec HEAT and I love it. That said, it has some things folks may not love so much. The lock was, indeed, very sticky at first. That smoothed out, but even smooth it requires more effort to unlock than the majority of framelocks I've owned. The detent is also very stiff for a nonflipper knife and the action isn't gritty, but it's very tight. Requires quite a bit of thumb to flick it open.

The ergos on it are very good. They're honestly a bit amazing for such a small knife, but they even compare pretty well to many larger blades and, silly though it may sound, the whole package, stiff lock, strong detent, thick blade stock and all, give it an overall impression of toughness that I really kind of love finding in such a small blade.

It's honestly not the most practical little big knife I own, but it is one of the most satisfying.
 
I have two HEST/F , one serrated and one plain. Im very impressed with them and carry/use them offen. I have big hands and this is why the HEST was never on my radar, until one day i held it and it fit perfectly.

Mine both flick open like autos. Just adjust pivot tension accordingly. I have no lock stick in either of mine, and one is the early model with skull tool pivot.

What are you planning on using it for that you are applying so much pressure to damage the lockbar or wearing it down? Nothing, thats what. Those are 'keyboard warriors concerns' , they are not to be taken seriously by anyone with a foot firmly planted in reality.

Edit to add, i dont think the frame lock-lock is needed. Ive somehow accidently turned it a couple times with blade out and figured it out when trying to close the blade. Not a big deal, but overkill in my opinion.
 
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The Lionsteel Made DPX are/were top notch. Fit and finish were great and problems were very rare. The G10 Hest Urbans were made by Florian and were decent but being honest I think the quality coming from Lionsteel was a little better. The newest Full Ti DPX Hest Urban is made by Southern Grind out of Atlanta and they are top notch. I think it is the best fit/finish overall quality DPX folder made to date.

https://flic.kr/p/XLzUYQ https://www.flickr.com/photos/57703464@N02/
 
I own a DPX HEAT Ti and I love it. Very good quality and fit and finish from Loinsteel Italy. Mine has no lock stick and the action is very smooth. The blade is perfectly centered and has never needed to be adjusted. I can not flip it out with the thumbstud and it does not drop shut but the blade is glassy smooth wth a strong "Clack" of the lock bar on the open. I hate their skate rat skull logo as well but it is small on the clip and I barely notice it. I am thinking on gettling an Urban someday. I love the bottle opener, wire stripper and Bit holder hole on the Urban to make it more of a multitool.

IMG_1462.jpg
 
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Rat Finkenstein said:
I wouldn't own one because RYP is a tool and there are few stupider looking company logos on earth. Why not get a lionsteel folder branded as such?
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I'm not a big fan of their logo myself. I guess mr Pelton thought gave his knives an even tougher look,
 
I have the HEST 2.0 made by Lionsteel and it is a great knife. The fit and finish are awesome. It is hard to flick open, but the lock up is very solid. I would like to get the full Di DPX Urban. I'm sure its just as solid as the HEST 2.0 version.
 
I handled a Hest Urban Kickstarter exclusive very recently and the quality was exceptionally okay. It's such an okay knife, maybe the okay-est I've handled in some time.

Nothing really stood out to me in any way, honestly. It was so unremarkable that I questioned why the product and brand continue to exist, especially with such a lame logo that seems frozen in time around 2012's regrettable wayfarer + flat-bill hat fashion trends. The logo gives one the impression that these knives would have gauged ears and ride longboards to their jobs at a local head shop if they could. Just a really strange marketing decision given the general market for $150-200 folders.

I could find dozens of knives that are comparable at worst and superior on average at a lower price point. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the knife overall, despite there being nothing wrong with it whatsoever. It's the kind of craftsmanship and materials that would have been somewhat notable 5-10 years ago, but is currently just okay.
 
Insipid Moniker said:
I own a Milspec HEAT and I love it. That said, it has some things folks may not love so much. The lock was, indeed, very sticky at first. That smoothed out, but even smooth it requires more effort to unlock than the majority of framelocks I've owned. The detent is also very stiff for a nonflipper knife and the action isn't gritty, but it's very tight. Requires quite a bit of thumb to flick it open.

The ergos on it are very good. They're honestly a bit amazing for such a small knife, but they even compare pretty well to many larger blades and, silly though it may sound, the whole package, stiff lock, strong detent, thick blade stock and all, give it an overall impression of toughness that I really kind of love finding in such a small blade.

It's honestly not the most practical little big knife I own, but it is one of the most satisfying.
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Right here with you. But I traded mine out and I have been contemplating grabbing another.

I had a first run in Sleipnir and I loved the alloy. It felt like a fine grained D2 or probably closer to a m390/20cv/204p variant that loved a toothy edge and had some toughness added in. I would love to get my hands on another knife in that alloy.

That being said, I loved my HEAT, it was small bladed, but filled my hand and allowed for a 4 finger grip in a hand that wear CL width gloves. Mine was broken in nicely and had Zero lock stick, could be flicked open, and had a hair whittling sharp convexed edge that ate cardboard.
Just a fantastic little big knife.
 
matt009au said:
They lionsteel aint they? So they will have amazing fit and finish.
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While most DPX knives are made by LionShpiel the original version of the HEST Fixed blade was made by Rowen.

What I have seen is they are good knives. The original run of HEST folders had all kinds of problems with lockslip and rock. They seem to have corrected any issues though. I have a LionSpy which is a knife built by Lionsteel that is very similar to the HEST and they did an amazing job. The LionSpy or HEST are easily competitors for any other overbuilt Ti lockside+ G10 slab scale framelocks such as Strider or Hinderer.
 
Have the HEST Milspec, well made and tight just like my SR1A. I like the Sleipner steel better than the D2. Mine had no lock stick but I was not the first owner. Very thick blade stock doesn't make an apple sliced but it will cut pretty well since I reprofiled the edge. Oh mine will flick open with little effort, great detent on mine.
 
Comeuppance said:
I handled a Hest Urban Kickstarter exclusive very recently and the quality was exceptionally okay. It's such an okay knife, maybe the okay-est I've handled in some time.

Nothing really stood out to me in any way, honestly. It was so unremarkable that I questioned why the product and brand continue to exist, especially with such a lame logo that seems frozen in time around 2012's regrettable wayfarer + flat-bill hat fashion trends. The logo gives one the impression that these knives would have gauged ears and ride longboards to their jobs at a local head shop if they could. Just a really strange marketing decision given the general market for $150-200 folders.

I could find dozens of knives that are comparable at worst and superior on average at a lower price point. I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the knife overall, despite there being nothing wrong with it whatsoever. It's the kind of craftsmanship and materials that would have been somewhat notable 5-10 years ago, but is currently just okay.
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I actually no which knife you are talking about. I hope you will take the time to handle one of the new ones made by Southern Grind. You will notice a lot of differences, quality at another level, and the logo is no where to be found. You can see that in the pics I put in the post above!
 
whitty said:
The Lionsteel Made DPX are/were top notch. Fit and finish were great and problems were very rare. The G10 Hest Urbans were made by Florian and were decent but being honest I think the quality coming from Lionsteel was a little better. The newest Full Ti DPX Hest Urban is made by Southern Grind out of Atlanta and they are top notch. I think it is the best fit/finish overall quality DPX folder made to date.

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jeez those SG made DPXs actually look really awesome.
 
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