Hogue Deka

One of my favorite folders!

Awesome steel, awesome build, rock solid, silky smooth action. ABLE lock is a thing of beauty. Excellent Excellent knife! I'll be buying several more. Don't even think about it just buy it! I'm looking forward to the new MAGNACUT variation!

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Very Surprised, Thanks BladeHQ

My first axis lock. I was torn between this and the bugout but chose, I believe, wisely.

Action is amazing, fit and finish are top-notch, and the knife was everything I'd expected...

Except... when I unboxed it and was looking at it, the small clip standoffs were missing from the display side. It's cool, I'd probably take that off anyways, but when I turned it over… read more I saw a DEEP POCKET CLIP!! Then I looked a little closer and there weren't any mid-skin screws!! This is a GEN 2!!

I can't wait to give this knife some trials. Thank you so very much for the excellent surprise BladeHQ. Always the best and always my go-to for knives.

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Fun knife to modify

I swapped the handles with another Deka and the red g-mascus really looks great with the black Wharncliff blade. Also sanded away the finger groove per Outpost 76 to improve the ergos. Neat trick: Knife can open as you take it out of your pocket if you try. Be careful.

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Bugout's Evil Twin

Considering it's about the same price as the Benchmade Bugout, but the blade is made of CPM-20CV, I'd say you'd be getting more for your money if you choose this knife. The action and construction feel more solid than the Bugout, but it still has that fun, flippy locking mechanism. I chose the black with compound wharncliffe because, well, it looks absolutely sinister!

Overall,… read more it's a nifty, simple, durable knife with a lot of personality. With just a few minutes on the Sharpmaker, I can get the blade to be hair-splitting sharp! Excellent product!

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Awesome knife.

Blade is sharp out of the box. Lockup is great. Action is buttery smooth. While a bit on the small side, this is a phenomenal knife that I heartily recommend.

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Wow!

My bugout is nice but the Deka blows it away. So much more substantial ... better grip, better steel, better action .... just better. Love this knife in every way. Selling my bugout - the Hogue Deka is my new EDC!

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Best in class

Lightweight, outstanding materials, quality feeling all at a lower price vs its competitor. What I really enjoy about this knife: the smooth surface texture of the G10 which then bites at specific points feels great. The super thin blade is impressive and a very good slicer. The spring has a very nice tension which feels a little like the smoothness between two magnets repelling… read more each other. Really strange that Benchmade is doing so well when this product is a league higher at a lower price. Hogue Deka is to the Bugout what the Doug Ritter Mini-RSK is to the Mini Griptilian. Keep up the amazing work Hogue!!!

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Benchmade go eat your heart out

Bought this knife to replace my worn and battered Kershaw Leek CF. Liked the design and the materials so thought it was worth a shot. When I say this thing blew my mind I wouldnt be doing the knife justice. The little guy is a tank! Not only is it slim, it uses better materials all around than the Bugout, its tougher by a long shot, it is nearly as light and somehow Houge masterminded… read more the ergos to work flawlessly with or without gloves. My only gripe is that it needs a deep carry clip. MGX Gear makes a clip for the ZT0450CF that works well. Aside from that, this knife finds its way into my pocket nearly every day and I cannot recommend it enough.

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Sweet!

Bugout is not a good comparison to this knife. Bugout is a slightly lesser edc imo. Griptilllian cpm-20cv is more accurate comparison. Very similar quality and design to Griptillian cpm-20cv, but $30-$40 cheaper. Action is slightly different and I do prefer Benchmade's action tho. You won't be disappointed for quality.

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My new edc knife

got this knife from knifecenter when it was on sale (sorry bladehq). I think that this gives knives like the benchmade bugout a real run for their money. The crossbar lock is excellent and definitely addicting to fiddle with. the blade has excellent geometry for slicing and piercing. It is not a thick blade for prying like some of the cold steel folders, but it only weighs a few… read more ounces so i think it is a fair trade off.

my only complaint is that the pocket clip seems a bit thin for my preference

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Hogue Deka

This edges out the Benchmade Bugout in my opinion. For $13 more, the steel is slightly better, the handle has better contouring and offers more protection from sliding forward on to the blade's edge, and the handle colors are more interesting. On top of that, Hogue's Able lock is a slight improvement on Benchmade's Axis lock. The Axis lock on my Benchmade took a little while to… read more break in, or loosen up, when it came to flicking in closed by pulling down on the lock bar. My Hogue was able to do that without problem right out of the box. Also, the Hogue's handle is sturdier than the Benchmade's standard grivory handle and doesn't show nearly the same amount of flex when applying focused pressure. Is the Bugout better in any way? Sure, if you want a cleaner, simpler, less cluttered handle with less hardware in it, and if you want to save a tiny bit of weight, then the Bugout might be the better choice for you. And the Bugout is now being offered in many more options when it comes to handle, blade, customization on Benchmade's site, after-market scales, etc. Nonetheless, I'd rate the standard Bugout four stars, and the standard Hogue (to this point anyway) 4.5 stars. I think it edges out the Bugout is almost every single way.

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A better bugout

Man, this knife put my bugout to shame. The bugout is great, but this is levels better. The action on this is just straight up buttery smooth, the ABLE Lock is so smooth and easy to manipulate, where my axis locks have known to get crunchier over time, even with oil.

CPM-20CV is the American M390, essentially, and this came razer sharp, with a great coating. The pocket clip… read more isn't deep carry but it's close enough for my liking, you have about a half inch showing, at most.

My one gripe is the G10 is a little smooth for my liking but I often carry Spydercos so that's probably an unfair parallel.

All in all, I love this knife and it is my new EDC, along with my Benchmade Nakamura.

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A better quality Bugout

The Bugout comparisons are pretty much unavoidable as they fill a similar market. If you have a Bugout, you know what you're getting into. The Deka is very similar in terms of size, form, and method of operation, but in a package that feels like better quality.

Mine came out of the box with very little break-in required. I was flicking it in and out and ready to cut in no… read more time at all. The G-10 scales fill the hand nicely with none of the flex that some don't like about the Bugout. The omega springs feel a bit stiffer so hopefully they last a bit longer than standard omega springs.
The compound Wharncliffe will be interesting to sharpen but it's been a fantastic cutter. Blade was centered from the factory with a great looking finish on the bevel.
Only real negatives I can say about the Deka are that it does place your hand farther down the handle so people with larger hands may have trouble getting a full grip on the Deka and, as mentioned before, the thumb studs and the Able lock bar have a design on them that is cut rather sharp.

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Well made.

Well made with smooth action. Scales are great and provide good grip. Love the blade style. Wish it was a little bigger but the quality is there.

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The best knife i have ever owned!!

omg this knife is fantastic very sharp outta the box love the handles very fidget friendly. the construction is great and the 20cv steel i mean whats not to like !! ty hogue and bladehq!!!

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Deka

I love Wharncliffe looks, but hate sharpening these, but wanted something different and it was at a good price. I have Hogue knives great quality, usually not my style but this is a great lightweight EDC. Came razor sharp, love the looks, and the clip works although I can see why some hate it defiantly not my favorite, but it works and I am not replacing it like others. Happy with… read more my purchase and for a lightweight EDC this is a great knife.

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Buy a Deka!

Wow, first Hogue knife and absolutely love it. It rocks! Smoothest action of any knife I own including Benchmade, Syderco, Buck and Kizer. Super sharp and the fit and feel are great for my hand which is like a medium/large for gloves. The pocket clip is built the easily insert and remove but keeps it in the pocket firmly. I use it on a daily basis at work and it works like a champ.… read more It is very durable and works great with sweaty or wet hands too.
I like definitely buy another one to alternate use! It is lighter and smaller than the EX03 but it also serves a more everyday carry purpose. You do not even know you have it in your pocket. Highly recommended! Great job Hogue and Allen for the design.

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Very Impressed

I'm very pleased with this knife. It has broken very quickly - much faster than any of my Benchmades. The action is so nice and I love the look of the compound grind. This is my first Hogue knife and i gotta say I'm very impressed with the quality.

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Nailed it....for the most part.

Great knife and as usual from Hogue, great craftsmanship. The action on the able-lock is outstanding and the quality control is excellent. They weren’t the first to create this lock but they are the best at it. Coupled with the CPM-20CV blade, my favorite steel, you just can’t go wrong. Buy it!

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Incredible!

Ive had and been carrying this knife for a few weeks now and I absolutely love it. The action is, without question, the best out of every knife in my collection. It opens smooth as butter, and the ABLE lock has no stick whatsoever.

I love the modified wharncliff blade. I know some people aren't big fans of it, but aesthetically, and functionally it works great for me. The… read more ergonomics on this knife are remarkable as well. It fits very comfortably in my medium-sized hands, and the pocket clip does not create even the slightest hotspot.

I've seen a complaint or two about the structural integrity of the pocket clip, but as I always loose carry my knives, I cant really comment on that aspect. Overall, this knife is remarkable. The bugout has been my favorite for a while, and the Hogue Deka is seriously giving it a run for its money!

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Perfect!

I have my first Hogue knife, the Deka in Blue Lava. It's amazing. It's adjustment, sharpness, fit and finish and action are spot on. I could open and close it with a flick of the wrist when just holding the Able lock open. Certainly at least on par with BM's Axis locks which I have several, some going back 20+ years.It's dimensions are almost identical to the Bugout, a great and… read more popular knife in it's own right. I have 2 of those. Throw in G-10 and 20SV blade steel and it's a home run. As for other reviews, BladeHQ and Hogue have very good warranty departments to make your purchase right.

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Pocket clip screws easily stripped

This knife could have been soooo much better...

THE BAD:
- The pocket clip is VERY stiff and within minutes of receiving it I put the knife in my pocket for the first time and the pocket clip snapped off. It turns out they are using metal inserts in the scales to screw the clip in to. Well the inserts are only about half as long as the scale is thick, so only 2 or 3 threads… read more are actually securing it in the scale. No wonder it stripped out!
- The thumb studs on the blade and the ABLE lock are very sharp and aggressive.
- The screws are large and have large heads and can easily be felt in the handle. This knife tries to compete with the Benchmade 940 but just fails in multiple ways.
- The barrel spacers everywhere I see are silver and metal but the one I received are black and look like plastic. I did not take it apart to find out for sure, but why the heck are they black?
- The scales feel cheap compared to Benchmade's G10. It sounds hollow and feels like plastic. I'm a 940 guy and this is a similar type knife. That's why I'm comparing it to Benchmade's 940.

THE GOOD:
- The knife came very sharp with perfect blade centering.
- The blade action was good, not great but good. With a little break in and Blue Lube I'm sure the action will be great.
- CPM-20CV Steel is awesome.

That's my review. Some small adjustments could be made by Hogue to make this an amazing EDC knife, but they seem to be lacking attention to detail.

I have asked Blade HQ for a refund...

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4.5 stars

Both here and on the Web, many people are comparing this to the Benchmade Bugout.

I usually think that any product needs to stand on it own, but in this case, it's a fair comparison.

The Deka has G-10 scales, while the Bugout uses a lighter weight material. Mine is the CF-Elite. The G-10 is stiffer and adds weight. The Bugout definitely feels lighter in the hand, but… read more the scales have some flex.

The Deka has a CPM-20CV blade. The Bugout is CPM-S30V, which should be better steel. Both black blades have a nice flat finish. Both seem to be very sharp. I accidentally nicked myself with both knives.

Both knives are nearly equivalent in total length, blade length and handle length. The difference in cost was less than $5 (in 2020).

The Bugout uses the AXIS lock, while the Deka uses the ABLE-Lock. They are pretty much the same thing. The AXIS locks moves laterally, while the ABLE-Lock moves in a small arc. Both require breaking in, although the Bugout needed significantly more work to allow for smooth opening and closing. I'm beginning to dislike the AXIS lock even if it's called the ABLE-Lock.

Blade deployment is much smoother and easier on the Deka. The Deka's greater weight and slightly fatter scales makes it easier to open the knife.

Until I broke in the Bugout, closing the knife was accompanied by this ugly gritty "crunch." Not so with the Deka.

I think the Deka's pocket clip is far superior to the Bugout's short clip.

The Bugout is a good knife but needed a lot of "breaking in" - far too much - to get to that point. The Deka is better out of the box, except for that ABLE-Lock.

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So Nice (typical Hogue)

This knife is so nice! Action like butter! The knife is also really light, has no blade play and feels really nice in my hand. I'm not sure what the other reviews are about maybe his pivot is too tight? I actually own 2 Deka knives.

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Lightweight, Tough, Snags on pockets

The good... Solid lightweight knife with tough blade steel. Flips great, easy one hand operation. Comes super sharp. USA made.
The not as good... Thumb studs and ABLE-Lock studs are machined with really sharp edges. This causes snagging on pockets (going in and coming out) I may have to find a way of chamfering down. Would also like Hogue to come out with a deep carry clip for… read more the Deka.
Overall, great knife!

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Not So Good

My wife bought me this knife. The action on it was not up to what Hogue did with the Doug Ritter. The thumb stud is way to aggressive for me. Since it was rough on the action I started working it. It tore the skin up on my thumb, the cuts on the thumb stud are WAY to aggressive for me. The action is still not the best. Contacted Hogue about purchasing a different thumb stud and… read more get them to install it. All they could offer to do was put another one like it on it. No help there at all. This will become a drawer knife, sold or traded as will the Doug Ritter.
Update: Blade HQ work with me and I was able to return the knife. I will spend the money with them again! Blade HQ has been great to work with. They are highly recommended as a company!

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Amazing

Benchmade but better, the able-lock feels so much better than the axis-lock. The blade shape is just so amazing and slicey, opens boxes like no one's business. My only real complaint about the entire knife is the pocket clip, I would really love a deep-carry pocket clip for it.

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Are you kidding me?

The Deka is a knfe you don't need to make excuses for. You don't need to convince yourself cheap plastic feels nice, that lock stick and off centered blade and a stiff action are okay. You don't need to justify buying after market scales that cost %75 of the knives price.
This against the bugout? You're joking right? There's no competition, the Deka is better in every way that… read more actually matters, despite excuses on youtube running thick, "it's got a lot of screws..." or "Um just buy both". C'mon now, what nonsense. I own both and this blows it's competitor outta the water, the deka is what the bugout should've been and people spend twice the price trying to make.

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Great knife

So far, I'm really enjoying this knife. The blade shape is a little different than what I'm used to. However, it's working well for my tasks. Fit and finish is about perfect. What you hear about Hogue's factory edge is true; this is on a surgical-level sharpness! Very impressed! Does it have a lot of screws? Absolutely. However, that one flaw disappears when handling this knife.

***Update***

The… read more more I carry it, the more I love it. This thing cut like a dream.

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Finally!! We need more wharny's like this!

I've been waiting for this model for a long time, and then when I found out they were making a modified wharncliffe version, every other potential knife purchase became secondary. It fits so well in your hand; the grooves in the handle are subtle but effective. The lock up inspires confidence - no blade play in any direction. The edge bevel has a mirror polish: kudos to that. All… read more opening methods are very smooth as well.

The only two nitpicks (not worth rating it 4 stars though) is that when disengaging the ABLE lock, it is a bit sticky. I've used different lubricating oils to no avail. The other is there is no deep carry pocket clip. However, MXG gear has a custom deep carry clip for the ZT 0450 that fits this perfectly from what I've seen online.

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Excellent Light EDC

This is an excellent light EDC with better materials than the Benchmade Bugout for around the same price as the GRY version. There are some areas in which the Bugout is better, but this is one of those knives that just wants to be in your pocket whether in jeans, slacks, or basketball shorts. The fit and finish were very good with a few small issues, and I am very impressed in general… read more with recent offerings from Hogue Knives.

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Big Stick, Lightweight

Teddy would love this knife: It speaks softly, as the G-10 handle keeps the weight low. You'll barely know it's in your pocket. But it's definitely a big stick! The blade slices through everything with ease, and came right out of the box ready to go. Feels great in the hand, and I love the new pocket clip design. This knife is destined to become a legend.

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Bugout for real men.

This is an initial impressions review, I may update later after prolonged usage.

Build quality is typical Hogue, which is to say top notch. Weight is slightly more than a Bugout and blade thickness is slightly (0.01) greater.

The handle is inflexible, unlike Benchmade's pretty little moneymaker.

I am very well satisfied.

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