Many years ago, in my late 20s, I briefly had the habit of carrying a pocket knife. It wasn’t a very good knife to be honest: I’m not sure where I got it from. But I liked having it- it was handy, particularly given the fact that I was living a somewhat ‘rural’ life at the time. But I got out of the habit, and misplaced the knife.
Several instances recently convinced me that it would be good to start carrying a pocket knife again. This time, though, I did some research. I probably bought more knife than I really need: say hello to the DPx HEAT/F Titanium.
About the DPx HEAT/F Ti
I’m a knife neophyte, so I’ll refer you elsewhere if you want a more ‘serious’ review.
At a high level: I wanted a very durable folding knife with a compact blade, a robust locking mechanism, and a bottle opener. The DPx HEAT/F fits the bill, but with extra style points for the 3D machined titanium handle. The 2.375” blade is made in Italy out of Niolox steel, which I understand to be a very good blade steel that sharpens ‘easily’. If you want to learn more about steel, I suggest this article which at least seems reasonably complete and understandable. The blade itself is particularly thick: basically, as thick as blades twice its length, which gives it some heft and solidity. The knife uses a frame lock machined within the titanium itself, which is simple, strong, and durable. The clip is both secure and flexible enough to make putting the knife in and out of a pocket easy. The final feature of note is a carbide glass breaker “tip” on the tail end of the handle.
Why carry a knife?
First and foremost: I do not carry a knife for my high risk adventure lifestyle 😉 I’m infinitely more likely to be opening a letter/parcel, cutting some twine, or trimming a stick to roast a marshmallow than I am to be fighting ninja assassins, tigers, or tigers that are ninja assassins. But I also ride a motorcycle, and although I carry a good collection of tools on my bike, I have encountered situations where having an immediately at-hand knife would have been nice. Basically, a good pocket knife is a handy tool that can be used for a lot of different things.
So a pocket knife is a convenience rather than a necessity for me. That raises the question: why did I buy a ‘good’ knife? I could have easily found a knife that was more than adequate for my limited needs at a much reduced price. Here I have to claim a bit of a craftsmanship ‘fetish’. I like well made machines with a clear mechanical purpose, as much for the precision and detail in their making as for their practical function. This is why I have in the past spent far too much time watching videos of Purdey shotguns being hand-crafted and polished despite having no need for a shotgun. This interest in mechanical craftsmanship carried over when I started looking for a pocket knife.
Yes, it is an extravagance but, unlike quarter-million-dollar shotguns, I can almost afford a well made knife 😉