DPx Gear HEST/F 4.0 Knife Assessment

Did you ever learn the outdated Select Your Personal Journey books that permit the reader select the end result of the story? Readers would face selections at varied factors within the textual content, after which flip to the web page that corresponded with their selection. When you had been fortunate, you reached a happily-ever-after ending. Different instances you’d be eaten by a monster — I used to be as soon as become an ape!

The purpose is, the journey was was solely as much as you. In that very same vein, DPx Gear makes knives for individuals who purposely take the worst path attainable. In 2008, the model launched its Hostile Surroundings Survival Software (HEST). It was a sturdy fixed-blade knife that had extra options like a pry bar and wire cutter constructed into it. In 2010, DPx launched the HEST/F 1.0, a folding model of the unique, with some modifications.

The HEST/F shortly proved to be the sort of knife that made an ideal EDC blade, but additionally had the chops to get you out of a wide range of unhealthy conditions. Right here we’re, 14 years later, and DPx simply launched the HEST/F 4.0, the fourth evolution of this iconic knife. MagnaCut metal, Micarta deal with scale, and a flipper-style motion present DPx is listening to the wants and tendencies proper now.

Briefly: The DPx HEST/F 4.0 is designed to adapt to the world you reside, work, play, and survive in. This makes it the perfect EDC folding knife, however don’t attempt to categorize it in any other case.

DPx Gear HEST/F 4.0 Knife Assessment

Design & Options

Not like the three variations that preceded it, the HEST/F 4.0 is a flipper-style folding knife. Beforehand, the HEST relied on a thumb-stud opening. This adjustments the general perform of the knife, permitting it to deploy quicker than its predecessors.

Moreover, DPx added bearings to the pivot to make the opening motion clear and easy. The model additionally up to date the HEST/F 4.0 drop-point blade to MagnaCut, reflecting present calls for in knife metal. However the knife nonetheless has a cap lifter/pot holder and purposeful jimping within the backbone.

Iconic to the HEST line, the 4.0 is constructed off of a 6AI4V Grade 5 titanium alloy body and carries a body lock. The opposing aspect is OD inexperienced canvas Micarta. And the deep-carry pocket clip sits alongside a low-profile tungsten carbide glass breaker.

The glass breaker may be changed with a normal flat screw if you happen to’re trying to tone down the general aggressiveness of the knife. There’s additionally a ¼-inch bit driver that doubles as a lanyard gap.

Previously, DPx supplied left- and right-hand variations of the HEST/F. Although the 4.0 remains to be arrange for right-hand opening, the knife performs simply as nicely for lefties. Nevertheless, if you happen to flip the pocket clip to hold in your left-rear pocket, the Micarta will cling to the material of your pants or shorts greater than the titanium would.

As a lefty, I at all times carry my knives in my rear-right pocket. I might suggest to my fellow southpaws to do the identical for probably the most optimized unfurling expertise. 

lionSTEEL

The knives are designed in San Diego, the place DPx Gear is predicated, however they’re really produced by lionSTEEL in Maniago, Italy. Although lionSTEEL has an unbelievable lineup of its personal model of knives, different manufacturers work with the Italian model as a result of it has the equipment and capability to take action. 

Talking from expertise, lionSTEEL’s consideration to element in its end work and total manufacturing high quality is incredible. Other than DPx Gear, manufacturers like CRKT, Spyderco, and others use lionSTEEL to make sure fashions of their lineups. 

First Impressions

The HEST/F knives include an entire vibe. They’re constructed sturdy and thick, and have options like wire strippers and a bit driver constructed into their basis.

The HEST/F 1.0 and a pair of.0 sported a dial on the lock aspect referred to as the “RotoBlock.” This primarily turned the knife into a hard and fast blade. DPx has since eliminated that characteristic, however the 4.0 doesn’t appear any much less succesful. Actually, including in ball bearings and a flipper opening made the efficacy of this knife much more potent.

The person behind DPx, Robert Younger Pelton, is a journalist and documentary filmmaker who’s been current for greater than 40 navy conflicts, everywhere in the world. He designed the HEST knives out of necessity to get via some sketchy conditions.

So, in approaching the HEST/F, there’s just a little little bit of consciousness behind it. You perceive that this knife might be something from an EDC to the one instrument that retains you alive. It’s a workhorse that, being constructed from titanium, MagnaCut metal, and Micarta, can be utilized and abused in any setting.

Multitool by Design

Primarily based on its expanded characteristic set, the HEST/F 4.0 is technically a multitool. Contemplating what’s included, the 4.0 might be your 9-to-5 utility instrument, in addition to your late-night and weekend survival instrument. 

1. Tungsten Carbide Glass Breaker

Glorious in a jam, a instrument like this will turn out to be useful anyplace an unsuspecting piece of glass must be damaged. Nevertheless, it’s additionally nice for marking some extent once you’re measuring or drilling. Take into consideration all these random instances when you could dangle an image and also you need it to be nearly good.

2. Bottle Opener/Pot Holder/Open Help

Everybody wants a bottle opener, whether or not they understand it or not, as they can be utilized for a wide range of issues. It’s nice for lifting a pot off of a camp range, which I’ve loved. It additionally acts as an open help, permitting you to attract your knife out of your pocket and open it on the identical time.

3. Wirestripper Jimping

Jimping is usually added to knives to extend your grip and provide you with extra management. Nevertheless, the jimping on the 4.0 can also be for stripping three different-size gauges of “frequent” wire: 14, 16, and 18 AWG.

When you’ve ever seen MacGyver, you’d know what number of episodes would have gone lots smoother with one thing like this. Notice: On some wire, chances are you’ll rating the protecting coating with the blade earlier than stripping it.

4. ¼-Bit Driver Lanyard Gap

I like a very good lanyard, and I like the chance to make use of a bit driver. Actually, there are extra cases the place I want a second driver to tighten one thing down than you would possibly suppose. A majority of bigger knives, and virtually each Kydex knife sheath, makes use of intercourse bolts that require rigidity on either side to be loosened or tightened.

Within the Subject

I actually hit the bottom working as soon as the 4.0 landed. It was the start of August, and the house stretch of summer time earlier than my ladies went again to highschool. We had been packing our days, nights, and weekends with all kinds of issues to do. All of the whereas, I had this unbelievable knife in my again pocket.

In a really quick period of time, the 4.0 was out tenting, spent a day digging up sea glass within the sand, joined quite a few hikes, freed numerous tomatoes from their vines, and was simply typically there after I wanted it.

I additionally encountered one particular incident that exposed an entire new perform for the multipurpose HEST/F 4.0. Whereas driving dwelling with a contemporary pizza for the children and me with the home windows down, the frenzy of wind lifted the pizza field open and started lifting up the ‘za. I needed to suppose quick. So I pulled out the 4.0 and stabbed it into the field lid and one of many sides, primarily creating the first-ever pizza field lid lock.

What the HEST/F 4.0 didn’t should do in my testing was save my life or get me via fight conditions. Nevertheless it had me pondering. I’m no Doomsday Prepper, however I maintain my head on a swivel. If issues went sideways, this knife is nicely tailored for holding you alive in a nasty scenario; or for some, a war-torn one. That actuality could seem far off for almost all of us, however it’s simply outdoors the door for lots of our family and friends.

Conclusion: Ought to You Purchase?

Beginning in August 2014, I carried and examined the HEST/F 2.0. It was my EDC nicely into 2015. By means of the course of this August, I did the identical with the 4.0 and had the chance to match each fashions. This was unplanned, however fairly cool.

Each variations of the knife look the identical, and each have that nice hand really feel that provides you an uncanny quantity of management over the three/16-inch-thick blade. However, the improve from D2 to MagnaCut metal permits the 4.0 for use in additional moist and wild environments. Moreover, the change from G10 to Micarta offers you a greater grip in these locations.

And one of many actual shining stars with the 4.0 was the flipper-style opening mechanism (and the addition of ball bearings within the pivot). Not solely does this velocity up the deployment of the blade, however it additionally makes it smoother as nicely — to not point out satisfying to listen to and really feel when the blade snaps into place.

The place these adjustments could have triggered another model to launch a totally new knife mannequin, I’m comfortable DPx determined to proceed its personal journey with the HEST/F.