4″ DEK1
The 4″ DEK1 was designed as a collaboration with Lorien Arnold. It is a well made, high performance, medium size EDC utility knife that is a little dressier than most of our other offerings. The steel is Crucible CPM 3V at HRC 60.5 with a fully optimized heat treat with very good edge retention and edge stability. You’ll be surprised how sharp this gets and how well it holds an edge. If you have never used highly optimized 3V this hard and thin, it will blow your mind.
A side effect of this heat treat is a higher percentage of free chromium, so although it is not stainless, it is nearly so.
This steel with this heat treat will support a fine edge, so this has narrow primary grinds and was taken under .020″ before sharpening and it was sharpened 20 degrees per side. This is a fine cutting edge, but this knife is extremely durable. They’re lightly hand ground after machining to give it a slight convex S grind. For a practically unbreakable knife it cuts like a laser. I’ll do a video when I get a chance, I promise you’ll be impressed with this knife’s cutting ability and durability.
It balances between the first two fingers and is intended to be carried as a practical EDC utility knife, but the DEK1 is also specifically designed to be used as a weapon with a hand grip shaped specifically to lock into the shape on the inside of your hand grip when held across the palm at an angle (saber grip) and 90 degrees to the arm when held point down, edge out, with the thumb over the butt (reverse grip) with swells, cutouts, ramps and moderate jimping assuring a very solid reliable grip that indexes into position without looking at it and does not shift around with vigorous “use”. Despite lacking a reinforced point or appearing menacing, this is a serious weapon.
Specs:
Delta 3V, 60-61 HRC, .160″ thick at ricasso (a little over 5/32″)*
Total length 9.125
Blade length 4.5
Weight 6.2 oz
Edge angle 20 DPS
Grippy 3D machined scales in micarta or G10
Titanium fasteners
Hidden lanyard
* Also available in AEB-L stainless steel
**Available with or without swedge
