In relation to pocket knives, I’ve seen all of it. I spent years in a profession the place having the largest, baddest tactical knife was a ceremony of passage. Greater than as soon as, there’s been quite a bit on the road the place an excellent pocket knife bailed me out.
After I left that profession, I began transitioning my type and EDC gear to a extra sensible informal, mature aesthetic. Massive 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 trustworthy (and admittedly unfair), I had no concept that so many nice knives got here from France. After I acquired the prospect to take the French-made Deejo pocket knife for a check drive, I jumped on the probability.
Whereas I acquired a free product, you’ll get an trustworthy evaluation of a luxe, highly-customizable pocket knife. Preserve 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, examine it over rapidly, and ship it out. Not Deejo.
One of many issues I immediately appreciated about Deejo as an organization is that they let me store for my knife the precise approach 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.
If you land on Deejo’s homepage, the drop-down menu holds plenty of selections. Primarily, nearly all of these selections result in the identical primary knife, however in a number of variations. Strive customizing your personal knife right here.
You’ll have selections 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 house in a sleeve as they do on a blade.
They’ve nautical themes, animals, bikes, guitars, sports activities, and a myriad of different selections. Whereas a few of them are busy, none of them seem hokey or tacky. Even the man downhill snowboarding by some means seems 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 in the end, I selected one which was probably the most sentimental to me (I’ll clarify later) within the 37g measurement. I went with a mirror polish as effectively, 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 capable of 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 may 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.
Delivery
In the event you can’t already inform, this evaluate received’t simply cowl the knife, but in addition what it’s wish 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 assumed there is perhaps some gray space for customized orders.
I don’t know if Deejo gave me particular consideration, however this knife was on my doorstep approach 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 to order as early as doable if you need it to reach in time for Christmas.
It got here well-protected in a really glossy black present field. It was so safe, the truth is, that it was initially difficult to take away the knife to test it out. A couple 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 stage of end. In any case, I went with an in depth design, engraving, and a customized wooden deal with. How might an organization throw all of that collectively and have it on my doorstep inside a couple of days? High quality could 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 seen 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 biggest 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 scale 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 easy. I do know, that feels like a beer industrial, however there’s no higher approach 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 incredible clarinet participant, and he saved a plastic treble clef hanging from a suction cup on his sliding patio door. This design was excellent for sentimental causes, nevertheless it 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 specific grade of stainless-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 excellent. Clear, effectively 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 regarded nice. In the event you don’t have an olive wooden dealt with knife in your assortment, do your self a favor and begin searching 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 need to be very clear. There was one side of my preliminary impression that I didn’t completely love, however I’ll wait to clarify that. Given my penchant for being exhausting to please, the Deejo was already off to a superb begin.
Dwelling with the Deejo Knife
I’ll be frank with you, proper off the bat. I don’t carry the Deejo typically. 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 alternative.
This knife is gorgeous. It’s too rattling good to tuck within the pocket of my ragged outdated Levi’s. Keep in mind, it wasn’t that way back that I used to be clipping tactical, computerized knives to my pants pocket. To me, this knife belongs in plain sight. It must be the place I can see it and recognize it. It sits on my desk the place I can get pleasure from it and use it a number of occasions a day.
After I do carry it, it’s as a result of it suits the event. Whether or not it’s a date evening with my spouse, or I’m sporting a pleasant jacket, I carry it when it could actually actually prime off my type.
That is no bizarre knife; its gorgeous seems make it the proper Christmas current. It’s not too costly both – see costs right here.
The Metal
The Deejo makes use of Z40C13 stainless-steel for his or her blades. A little analysis exhibits that this specific grade of stainless-steel is a little bit of a French factor. Different very effectively 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 may 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 characteristic a liner lock, and fairly a very good 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 total 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 that may seem to be a disadvantage, opening this knife like a troublesome man would simply detract from its type and refinement. Whilst you can open it with a flat thumb on the aspect of the knife, it opens fairly properly with two palms, 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 discipline dressing recreation or chopping 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. In the event you’re involved about self-defense, so long as you could have the capability to open it with two palms, it might purchase you a while to get away.
Deejo is aware of this isn’t the standard EDC-style knife. In keeping with their very own FAQs, it’s not a heavy-duty design. It’s meant for chopping meat, peeling and slicing fruit, and opening letters and packages.
Truthfully, 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 necessary 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 immediately. I’m higher acquainted with this knife now, so I’m over the awkward section, nevertheless it 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 vast. 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 in opposition to the wooden.
My concern is it will uninteresting the blade. A small v-groove as an alternative of the flat backside would resolve this completely. With that stated, the Deejo nonetheless maintains a superb edge.
General Impression
Initially, I had some concern that selecting such a sentimental design and engraving would by some means distort my view of this knife. I assumed perhaps I ought to’ve gone with one thing extra primary to permit myself to offer a wonderfully unbiased evaluate. However then I spotted, that’s what makes these knives so particular.
Deejo does an unimaginable job of personalizing a knife. Even in the event you select a primary mannequin from their assortment, the designs are so plentiful that you would be able to definitely discover one to symbolize your self. Nevertheless it’s in constructing customized knives that Deejo actually shines.
The Deejo knife makes probably the greatest, 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 building, and you’ve got the perfect current.
It’ll be a chilly day in hell earlier than I quit my Deejo. I would definitely advocate it to anybody on the lookout for a minimalist-design pocket knife with a little bit of aptitude.
Store Right here
