On the subject of pocket knives, I’ve seen all of it. I spent years in a profession the place having the most important, baddest tactical knife was a ceremony of passage. Greater than as soon as, there’s been quite a bit on the road the place a terrific pocket knife bailed me out.
Once I left that profession, I began transitioning my model and EDC gear to a extra sensible informal, mature aesthetic. Huge burly knives, carbon fiber equipment, and matte black finishes stopped interesting to me.
Within the course of, I grew an affinity for French-made folders. To be fairly sincere (and admittedly unfair), I had no concept that so many nice knives got here from France. Once I obtained the possibility to take the French-made Deejo pocket knife for a check drive, I jumped on the probability.
Whereas I obtained a free product, you’ll get an sincere evaluation of a luxe, highly-customizable pocket knife. Hold studying to learn how this knife fared.
Ordering My Deejo
Most corporations that ship me merchandise to evaluate appear to seize one thing off the shelf, test it over rapidly, and ship it out. Not Deejo.
One of many issues I immediately preferred about Deejo as an organization is that they let me store for my knife the precise manner anybody else would. Making a knife with Deejo is an expertise, not the kind of soulless “add to cart” and “checkout” on-line procuring that I’m accustomed to.
Whenever you land on Deejo’s homepage, the drop-down menu holds a whole lot of decisions. Basically, nearly all of these decisions result in the identical fundamental knife, however in a number of variations. Attempt customizing your individual knife right here.
You’ll have decisions between metallic finishes, wooden species, and three sizes. You’ll additionally get to decide on between blade designs, which Deejo refers to as “tattoos.”
Tattoo is a good description. Most of those designs would look simply as at dwelling in a sleeve as they do on a blade.
They’ve nautical themes, animals, bikes, guitars, sports activities, and a myriad of different decisions. Whereas a few of them are busy, none of them seem hokey or tacky. Even the man downhill snowboarding someway appears to be like cool on the aspect of a knife blade.
A number of of those tattoos resonated with me. I went forwards and backwards between a couple of designs, and finally, I selected one which was essentially the most sentimental to me (I’ll clarify later) within the 37g measurement. I went with a mirror polish as properly, as I felt the distinction between the shiny blade and the matte engraving would tattle on Deejo if the manufacturing wasn’t spot-on.
As soon as I selected the design, I used to be in a position to choose the wooden accent for the deal with. I didn’t need some bizarre, inventory knife, so I went with an olive wooden deal with to match a few of my different items.
You possibly can see how your design is creating within the 3D design instrument, and I used to be changing into very impressed with what I noticed.
Deejo additionally gives engraving. After all, I needed to go for it. I wasn’t going to low-cost out now. I felt that I wanted to place Deejo’s choices to the check to see what they may create. So, I customized my knife with a saying which means quite a bit to me and wrapped up my buy.
Transport
If you happen to can’t already inform, this evaluate received’t simply cowl the knife, but in addition what it’s prefer to work with Deejo as an organization.
I customized ordered a knife that I knew was coming from France, so I didn’t count on to see it anytime quickly. The web site states that knives ship inside 48 hours, however I believed there may be some gray space for customized orders.
I don’t know if Deejo gave me particular consideration, however this knife was on my doorstep manner earlier than I anticipated it.
From the time I finalized my order to the time I had it in hand was a matter of days. Having stated that, be sure you order as early as attainable if you’d like it to reach in time for Christmas.
It got here well-protected in a really glossy black reward field. It was so safe, actually, that it was initially difficult to take away the knife to test it out. A number of seconds of wrestle and it was free, mine for the reviewing.
First Impressions
When this knife arrived so rapidly, I used to be skeptical in regards to the degree of end. In spite of everything, I went with an in depth design, engraving, and a customized wooden deal with. How may an organization throw all of that collectively and have it on my doorstep inside a couple of days? High quality can be missing, I used to be certain.
That merely wasn’t the case. The craftsmanship was excellent.
Weight vs. Size
The very first thing I observed was that it was gentle. Oh, so gentle. It weighs simply 37 grams, making it lighter than any of my different knives. It was even lighter than my Opinel No. 6, which I began carrying to save lots of weight.
It might be straightforward for a knifemaker to create a tiny knife and name it light-weight, however that’s not what Deejo does. The 37g is the most important pocket knife that Deejo gives, and it’s not small by any stretch. The closed size is round 4.25 inches, whereas the general opened size is simply over 8 inches.
That impressed me. I knew the size after I ordered the knife, however evaluating its heft to its measurement in particular person allowed me to understand the design that rather more.
The Laser Etching
The laser etching was clear, crisp, and clean. I do know, that appears like a beer industrial, however there’s no higher method to describe this work. The design I lastly selected was a bar of music notes, with a big treble clef within the center.
My grandfather was a unbelievable clarinet participant, and he stored a plastic treble clef hanging from a suction cup on his sliding patio door. This design was good for sentimental causes, but it surely additionally options tons of curves and twists, so I knew it might put the engraver to the check. It handed with flying colours.
The Engraving
I don’t know what goes into engraving this explicit grade of chrome steel, however I think about it’s straightforward to botch. I had my grandfather’s favourite phrase, “You Win Some, You Lose Some,” engraved on the liner lock, and it got here out completely good. Clear, properly proportioned, and it appears deeper than the laser etching, although I can’t say that for certain.
The Deal with
The olive wooden deal with appeared nice. If you happen to don’t have an olive wooden dealt with knife in your assortment, do your self a favor and begin purchasing for one. I completely love this wooden, and Deejo’s tackle it did it justice. For such a small sliver of wooden, it feels pure and rugged whereas additionally being refined.
For Transparency’s Sake
I wish to be very clear. There was one facet of my preliminary impression that I didn’t fully love, however I’ll wait to elucidate that. Given my penchant for being arduous to please, the Deejo was already off to a wonderful begin.
Residing with the Deejo Knife
I’ll be frank with you, proper off the bat. I don’t carry the Deejo usually. It’s not as a result of it’s a awful knife to hold. There’s no design flaw that retains it from clipping to my left entrance pocket. It’s truly fairly the other.
This knife is gorgeous. It’s too rattling good to tuck within the pocket of my ragged outdated Levi’s. Bear in mind, it wasn’t that way back that I used to be clipping tactical, automated knives to my pants pocket. To me, this knife belongs in plain sight. It must be the place I can see it and respect it. It sits on my desk the place I can take pleasure in it and use it a number of instances a day.
Once I do carry it, it’s as a result of it matches the event. Whether or not it’s a date night time with my spouse, or I’m carrying a pleasant jacket, I carry it when it may well actually high off my model.
That is no bizarre knife; its gorgeous appears to be like make it the proper Christmas current. It’s not too costly both – see costs right here.
The Metal
The Deejo makes use of Z40C13 chrome steel for his or her blades. A little analysis reveals that this explicit grade of chrome steel is a little bit of a French factor. Different very properly regarded French knife makers use Z40C13. All I can say for it’s that it got here sharp proper out of the field, although I did hone it rapidly. It’s been two months of every day use, and it maintains a really sharp edge.
The Pocket Clip
The pocket clip could be very sturdy. In actual fact, it may be difficult to slip it over the pocket stitching of a pair of denims. However that’s with good cause. Deejo states that a lot of the knife’s structural integrity comes from the pocket clip. I consider it; it’s burly.
With that stated, the general thickness continues to be noticeably lower than my subsequent thinnest knife — and that one doesn’t have a pocket clip.
The Blade Lock
It does function a liner lock, and fairly a great one at that. With the blade open, the thick stainless bar snaps proper into place, chocking the blade open with nearly zero play. In actual fact, the one play you actually expertise seems to be extra a results of the Deejo’s general thickness (or lack thereof), although it’s hardly noticeable in any respect.
Opening the Deejo
There isn’t a thumb stud or flipper lever on the Deejo. Whereas which may seem to be a downside, opening this knife like a troublesome man would simply detract from its model and refinement. When you can open it with a flat thumb on the aspect of the knife, it opens fairly properly with two arms, like a gentleman would open a knife.
A Gentleman’s Knife
That’s who this knife is for, in spite of everything: a gentleman. Whereas all of us love our manly pursuits, this knife doesn’t belong subject dressing recreation or reducing lashing for a makeshift camp.
For my part, it belongs within the interior pocket of a blazer or sport coat. It belongs in a briefcase pocket. In my case, it belongs on the desk of a author and editor.
That’s to not say this isn’t a succesful pocket knife. It’s simply not the one to achieve for when prying open a paint can. If you happen to’re involved about self-defense, so long as you will have the capability to open it with two arms, it may purchase you a while to get away.
Deejo is aware of this isn’t the everyday EDC-style knife. Based on their very own FAQs, it’s not a heavy-duty design. It’s meant for reducing meat, peeling and slicing fruit, and opening letters and packages.
Actually, with the quantity of Amazon packages I’m getting currently, it buys me at the very least a couple of seconds of feeling like a refined gentleman each time I take advantage of it to chop one open.
The Complaints
I’ve carried out a good bit of gushing over this knife, so it’s essential to me that you simply perceive the place the Deejo and I didn’t see eye-to-eye.
Keep in mind that one moan I discussed throughout my first impression? Right here it’s: the Deejo takes some getting used to in-hand. The minimalist design makes it very skinny, and also you’re not going to get a pure grip on it straight away. I’m higher acquainted with this knife now, so I’m over the awkward section, but it surely does take a little bit of getting used to.
My greatest criticism rears its head when the knife is within the closed place. The deal with groove that the blade shops in is flat, and it’s nearly 2mm extensive. With the knife closed, the tip of the blade rests on the wooden deal with, and it has sufficient room to wiggle and rub the blade edge towards the wooden.
My concern is it will boring the blade. A small v-groove as a substitute of the flat backside would remedy this fully. With that stated, the Deejo nonetheless maintains a wonderful edge.
General Impression
Initially, I had some concern that selecting such a sentimental design and engraving would someway distort my view of this knife. I believed possibly I ought to’ve gone with one thing extra fundamental to permit myself to present a superbly unbiased evaluate. However then I spotted, that’s what makes these knives so particular.
Deejo does an unimaginable job of personalizing a knife. Even should you select a fundamental mannequin from their assortment, the designs are so ample you could actually discover one to signify your self. However it’s in constructing customized knives that Deejo actually shines.
The Deejo knife makes among the best, most considerate presents that I can consider. The quantity of thought and consideration that goes into creating the proper knife for somebody says all of it. However, couple it with an revolutionary design and high quality development, and you’ve got the best current.
It’ll be a chilly day in hell earlier than I surrender my Deejo. I would definitely advocate it to anybody on the lookout for a minimalist-design pocket knife with a little bit of aptitude.
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