Hogue Inc., founded in 1968, is a company best known for quality firearms-related accessories. Aaron and Patrick Hogue now run the family business. In 2009, Hogue expanded their product line to include Hogue Knives. They immediately sought out and brought aboard a legendary knifemaker in Allen Elishewitz.
The collaboration of the Hogues and Elishewitz resulted in the EX Series of Extreme Folders in 2010. Upon seeing the finished knives, I bought an EX-01 late last year and have been infected with the pride of ownership ever since.
Texan Allen Elishewitz began making knives in 1988. He has been a Recon Marine, is a martial artist, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. His knife designs are functional, tactical, and artistic. A tough trio to reconcile.
What immediately struck me about the EX series were the ruggedness and beauty. The Extreme Folders are “overbuilt,” as Hogue says, incorporating oversized pivot points, stop pins, and button locks. The 3.5″ blade stock for the EX-01 is .150″. Thick indeed. Blades on most 3-4″ folding knives are usually .125″.
The 154CM steel is cryogenically treated and runs in the 57-59 Rockwell hardness range. To subdue the surface, yet give it an attractive finish, the blades are stone tumbled. An EX-01 can be selected in either a tanto point or drop point profile. Either have a false edge up top.
The edge geometry of the EX-01’s flat ground blade is efficient. I won’t bore you with a list of things I cut or hacked. Suffice it to say that the knife delivers on its main function as a means to part objects into smaller objects. Sharpening was easily accomplished on my Spyderco tri-angle sharpener.
The beefy push button lock is backed up by a manual sliding safety that secures the blade in the open position. The button lock also engages as a detent, holding the blade closed with the proper amount of force to allow a firm push on the ambidextrous thumb studs to open the knife, but give enough mechanical resistance to keep the blade in check when folded.
The handle I chose is Hogue’s green G-Mascus G-10 material. G-Mascus is Hogue’s in-house patent pending Fiberglas/epoxy laminate that imitates Damascus steel in its visual depth and bullet pattern. On a personal gun, I have a set of Hogue’s P226 grips in green G-Mascus. They match my knife very well.
The knife’s G-Mascus is machined to provide structure without the use of a separate backspacer. Because of the G-Mascus’s feather weight, the EX-01 has a blade heavy balance that makes the knife feel like both a solid tool and a formidable weapon.
In my hand, the forward relief cut of the lower handle acts as a finger guard in the saber grip. My pinkie finger falls into this same groove in a reverse grip (edge out), while the handle shape supports my thumb. The ergonomics are just right.
The G-Mascus is aggressively textured and gives a good hold wet or dry. There is monstrous jimping at the upper base of the blade and G-10 to apply added cutting pressure or for a Filipino thumb forward fighting grip. At the tail end of the handle is a slot and pin that can act as a lanyard mount for those with retention issues.
Elishewitz’s signature spoon-shaped pocket clip is tumble finished and reversible on the right side for tip up or tip down carry. Sorry Lefties, no such provision on the opposite flat. The Hogue and Elishewitz logos are nicely laser engraved on the blade and spoon.
The 3.5″ EX-01 is available in the G-Mascus or in black or green type III hard coated T-6 aluminum. They run 4.3 ozs and 4.6 ozs in the G-Mascus and aluminum handles, respectively.
My bottom line: I can buy into the “overbuilt” hype. I do not own a folding knife that is this solid. (I have a truckload of folding knives.) I do have issue with Hogue’s shill catcall that, “The EX-01 is an over-engineered tool whose sole purpose is performance.” Bull. Elishewitz designed a very pretty, over-engineered tool. That is dual purpose, I reckon.
With an MSRP of $199.00, I found my EX-01 for $156.00. I find that a great price for a Made in the USA knife that is constructed like a Peterbilt dressed in an AC Cobra’s wardrobe.
Randall
I Brought a Hogue EX01 in Green G-Mascus 4inch blade. I managed to pick it up from Urban Buncker.com. Ron is the man there (a true gentleman). The price there was $265 and i managed to get it with a 5% Buncker Dude discount so i’ll let you do the sums. A bloody great price for us here in Australia as our prices are nothing of that of the USA’s prices unfortunately. I have quite a few custom & production folders and this Hogue EX01 4 inch i find truely an amazing folder all are hand sharpened i believe and these are as someone else said like a piece of jewellery but made very strong with one thing in mind Tactical.
Strong but yet again so simple in design and the inside makings of this folder are so well thought of with the build in side the folder. I am very happy with this folder as it it light in weight at only 5.2 ounces. And 143.2 grams with-out the pocket clip. It makes for me a fantastic EDCE. Everday carry knife. Allen & Hogue hit a home run with this one.
This is for the above comment from me (Mark) $251.75 i paid for the Hogue EX01 after the discount…Love the knife its a great EDC knife for me. Very well built and weight is great also.. Hat of to the makers…Allen & Hogue.
I Have just purchased the Hogue EX02 now i have spoken to Allen and he says that a Satin or Stone wash blade in these EX02’s would be a no brainer but they didn’t turn out all that good so they are not doing the EX02 in the stone wash seems a but of a strange one to me. I think there’s another underlining reason as to why they aren’t making the EX02 in a stone wash. And what that is i don’t know.
But anyhow when it arrived the EX02 i will do a short review on it.. I have brought the 3.3 INCH BLADE as the bigger 3.7 inch blade Allen says himself for EDC he prefers the smaller one… The one i have brought is the flipper one also. In the drop point blade no Tanto’s for me there not pratical for me in the way of cutting & EDC’ing i loose about 1/2 inch also on an attack defence mode with that Tanto. Tanto BLADES AREN’T FOR ME I LOVE THE LOOK OF THEM BUT THAT’S ABOUT IT…