DPx Gear is a company founded by Robert Young Pelton a journalist who has covered some incredibly dangerous conflicts. Pelton realized from his 30 years in conflict that tactical gear could be made better and more applicable in the field, so he made his own company. DPx Gear is designed for brutal use, in situations where there is no room for incompetency’s or failures. In each product, they have taken Pelton’s 30 years of experience in places like Afghanistan, Somalia, Iraq, and Burma to ensure their gear is good to go.
Today we are looking at the DPx Gear H.E.S.T./F 3.0 folding knife finished with a plain edge although there is an option to get a serrated one as well. This one is finished in triple black although there are a couple different color options available as well. Here are some the key features:
- 440 stainless steel lock bar insert
- Reversable clip
- Matte black PVD coated Niolox steel blade
- Sandblasted, gunmetal black TiCN PVD coated 6Al4V Grade 5 titanium alloy frame lock
- 7/64″ sockets in RotoBlock and pivot screw
- Tungsten carbide glass breaker with hex base and flat replacement screw
- Patented LionSTEEL RotoBlock system with new single spoke design and 7/64″ hex socket
- Teflon washers
- American heavy grip G10 scale
- 1/4″ hex socket driver/ lanyard hole
- Wire strippers jimping
- Thumb grip/bottle opener on blade
This is a knife that sits at a higher price point, usually over $125 and you do get quality for the price. The DPx HEST/F 3.0 Triple Black folding knife weighs at 4.9 ounces and has a length of 7.63” in the open position. If you fold it up, it’s just 3.48”. The blade is made from Niolox and has a length of 3.10”. The handle is made from Black G10 material and has a 6AI4v Titanium frame lock.
Personally, I love the overall design of the knife. It looks good, and durable with its aggressive stance. Some might find the knife to be on the heavier side but I like how the HEST/F 3.0 sits in my hand. The knife feels rock solid in your hand. Which leads me to the overall fit and finish of the knife, which is excellent. I feel like everything on the knife was thoroughly thought through and well implemented. The quality is there and you can literally feel it in your hands.
So how well does it cut? Well the HEST/F 3.0 blade is made from Niolox which is a great steel that does not wear easily. The hardness on Niolox is much harder and as such edge-retention is going to be great. You will have no problem handling any everyday carry tasks with ease. But of course, at this price point you will want more and the HEST/F 3.0 will deliver more. I would have no hesitation taking this out into the bush with me and using it to prep shaving wood for fire starting, prepping a fish, or any other camping related activity.
In conclusion, I think the HEST/F 3.0 folding knife is a great rugged knife. At this price point there are other competitors that could offer you more but if you want something with a more unique design then I would not hesitate to grab one of these. 8/10.
Ben