We covered the Astral, we covered the Texo, but Ostap Hel has yet another new fixed blade design on the way, once again courtesy of Real Steel. The Dex, as this one’s called, differs from its two siblings both in design and intended use.
The Astral was a full-on tactical knife, and the Texo landed at the other end of the spectrum as a fun size neck knife. The Dex, meanwhile, with its 3.15-inch drop point blade, seems designed as an all-purpose companion knife, something that’s big enough to be useful in just about any indoor or outdoor situation, but small enough to be carried easily in either scenario as well.
The K110 steel used on the Dex is a D2 equivalent from Bohler-Uddeholm, so edge retention and toughness to be on point for a sub-$100 user fixed blade. This is the same steel that RSK implemented on the Astral, and one that has become a staple in the company’s lineup. In terms of detailing, the flat ground Dex, in either of the two available configurations, has been given a satin blade finish. The only thing that differs between them is the handle material.
Ostap is everywhere. I wonder who puts out more designs in a given year, him or Voxnaes. It has to be close.
I am not super enamored with imported fixed blades, other than the occasional neck knife (CRKT Minimalist for example). I don’t see them as offering the same value proposition over USA made the way premium Chinese folders do.
Read the whole thing at KnifeNews.com
Ostap Hel Does Fixed Blade Hat Trick with the Real Steel Dex
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