Hogue.is known for its outstanding firearms accessories. Hogue Knives® continues that legacy. All Hogue knives are designed by custom knifemaker and former Recon Marine Allen Elishewitz and made in the USA. Each knife is made using only the best materials and employing state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques.
The Hogue EX-F01 was designed as a combat and survival knife. It’s built for demanding tasks. The EX-F01 comes in two blade sizes — 5.5 or 7 inches (13.97 or 17.78 cm). It’s available with different materials and finishes for a low-key visual footprint. Its available with either a drop-point or tanto blade profile. The tanto blade models feature a saw back.
I went with the EX-F01 with 5.5-inch drop-point blade with black finish and G10 G-Mascus® black scales. It’s the perfect size and blade profile for a survival knife or for use by a SWAT operator.
I was immediately impressed with the EX-F01. Considerable thought obviously went in to its design. The fit and finish on the knife provided to me were second to none. The knife came razor sharp. .
The EX-F01 features a full-tang blade made of cryogenically-treated 0.25-inch (6.35 mm) thick A2 tool steel. A2 is a high-carbon air-hardened tool steel that responds well to cryogenic treatment. It’s an excellent choice for a combat or survival knife.
A2 is known for its toughness and edge-holding ability. It will hold an edge better than 01 tool steel and 1095 and is more corrosion resistant. It takes a very sharp edge and is fairly easy to resharpen. The EX-F01 blade features a durable, non-reflective black, green or tan Cerakote® coating that provides additional corrosion resistance, improved hardness, abrasion resistance and lubricity. Cerakote is a high-performance thin-film polymer-ceramic composite coating.It’s tough and durable.
The blade features a unique swedge (false edge) grind that’s derived from the armor-piercing tip of ancient Persian daggers. It creates a diamond pattern that reinforces the tip and a large land for batoning.
The drop-point blade profile was my choice due to its all-around utility. The spine of the blade continues forward to the tip and allows the user to reference the tip towards the center of the blade for better control and eliminating any pitch momentum when stabbing. It also has a large belly for slicing tasks.
The weight of the EX-F01 provides ease of chopping and improved penetration. The butt of the tang was designed with a tapered “skull crusher” profile, which Elishewitz states was incorporated into the design to enhance the close quarters capabilities of the knife as well as provide a a glass breaker for rescue.
The EX-F01 is available with handle scale options The drop-point models are available with Hogue’s proprietary G10 G-Mascus with its multi-colored grain structure in your choice of tan, black, Dark Earth and green. For the more traditionally minded, the drop-point blade is additionally available with a cocobolo hardwood handle. The tanto models feature checkered G10.
The scales are 3D machine sculpted and feature a palm swell with a valley to conform to the user’s hand and to provide a secure, comfortable grip. To compliment the grip, the blade features a serrated thumb-ramp for control and a large radiused finger groove in the handle. The knife is exceptionally comfortable in the hand and well-balanced.
A really cool feature of the EX-F01 is the hidden storage spaces in the handle that can be used to store small survival items. A Torx wrench nested in the in the handle allows easy removal of the scales to access the compartments. Milled recesses in the scales match up with the skeletonized compartments in the tang.
The EX-F01 has four holes – two in front of the handle and two in the rear of the handle. You can can remove the scales and use the four holes to tie the knife to a piece of wood to make a spear. The four holes can also be used with cord to create an improvised D-guard knife to retain the knife in the user’s hand. They may also be used to attach a wrist lanyard.
With most knives, the sheath seems to be an afterthought. Not so with Hogue knives. The sheath that comes with the EX-F01 is absolutely top notch. The design, materials and workmanship are first rate.
The sheath is ruggedly constructed of heavy Mil-Spec CORDURA® Ballistic Nylon with bar-tack stitching. It has a hard plastic liner that retains the knife blade. Additional retention is provided by reversible dual Mil-Spec straps with snap closures. The sheath is fully ambidextrous and jumpable.
The sheath is true MOLLE compatible with Mil-Spec MOLLE spacing. The MOLLE mount is plastic reinforced. The sheath has a firm belt mount using additional PALS webbing and Mil-Spec snap for standard belts up to 1.75 inches (4.45 cm) wide. The belt mount may be configured for raised and drop split belt loop carry.
PALS webbing on the front of the sheath allow for the attachment of an optional Hogue Modular MOLLE Pouch. The sheath comes equipped with a length of 1/8-inch (3 mm) diameter paracord with retainer. The sheath and pouch are available in black, green and tan. They’re Berry compliant.
The optional Modular MOLLE pouch is also constructed of heavy Mil-Spec CORDURA Ballistic Nylon with bar-tack stitching. It fits items up to 1.75-inch (4.45 cm) wide x 1.25-inch (3.18 cm) deep x 5.5 inches (13.97 cm) high. It has a flashlight/drain hole with grommet in the bottom.
Hogue Knives has also partnered together with SIG SAUER® to deliver a full line of quality SIG® branded knives. Each model matches the finish of SIG SAUER firearms and bears the SIG or SIG LEGION shield. The SIG EX-F01 models don’t have the Torx wrench in the handle and come with textured G10 scales or textured reinforce rosewood (SIG EX-F01 Stainless Elite model).
The Hogue EX-F01 is an outstanding fixed blade knife that’s ideal for combat and survival applications. MSRP for the 5.5-inch blade models is $239.95. MSRP for the 7-inch blade models is $249.95. All Hogue knives come with a Limited Lifetime Warranty. The Modular MOLLE Pouch has a MSRP of $18.95.
Specifications
EX-F01 Fixed Blade Knife
Manufacturer: Hogue, Inc.
SKU 35179
Type: Fixed Blade
Blade Length: 5.5 inches (13.97 cm)
Overall Length: 10.5 inches (26.67 cm)
Weight: 10.4 ounces (294.8 g)
Handle Material (Scales): G10 G-Mascus Black
Blade Style: Drop Point
Blade Material: A2 Tool Steel
Blade Thickness: 0.25-inch (6.35 mm)
Blade Hardness: 57-59 RC
Blade Treatment: Cryogenically Treated
Blade Coating: Black Cerakote
Sheath: Black Cordura Nylon
MOLLE Compatible: Yes
Berry Compliant: Yes
Origin: USA
Warranty: Limited Lifetime
MSRP: $239.95
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.