Hogue is a company that is very well-known for their handgun and rifle grips. Starting in 1968, the company began manufacturing the products they are most famous for, but they haven’t stopped there. Since then, they have branched into creating holsters, rifle stocks, law enforcement products, tools, and knives. One such innovation is the Hogue X5 Folding Knife.
The Hogue X5 is the latest in their line of award-winning folding knives. In 2013, the EX-04 won the Blade Show’s American Made Knife of the Year award. The blades themselves are designed by the famed Allen Elishewitz and manufactured in the United States by American craftsmen.
The X5 line of knives are built using Hogue’s most innovative deployment technology to date, which allows for one of the smoothest openings of any knife in its class. The design doesn’t use springs, but the internal system is designed to deploy the knife quickly and smoothly. Compared to some of the other knives I use for EDC, the X5 is by far the best when it comes to opening.
The X5 uses a push-button locking mechanism, which includes a manual thumb safety that locks the blade in the open position. The pocket clip is a stainless steel ambidextrous design that allows for a deep carry in your pocket. As for the frame, it is made of 6061-T6 Anodized Aluminum, which gives the knife a very durable feel without the sharp edges that are common on some frames.
One of my favorite parts of this knife are the G-Mascus mini-piranha inserts in the frame. These particular inserts are the same texture and design as those that can be found on some of Hogue’s pistol grips. The texture is not overly rough, but it provides the perfect amount of grip to keep the frame in your hand during heavy use.
The Elishewitz blade is made of CPM154 stainless steel, which is one of the highest quality blade materials on the market currently. For those of you that like to delve into the details, here you go. The blade will hold its edge for a very long time due to it having a hardness rating of 57-59. The blade has been cryogenically treated and is coated with Black Cerakote.
The particular model that I have is the Spear Point with Flipper, which is a style that I generally tend to use. The feel of this knife is almost perfect and the flipper allows for a solid grip to be had when holding it. With the X5, you really feel like you could hold your own against anything that comes your way.
The X5 comes in two styles, the Wharncliffe and the Spear Point, both of which are available with a 3.5” or 4” blade. My model was the 3.5” Spear Point, which weighs 4.66 ounces. Overall length is 8.15” and closed length is 4.75”. You can buy yours from Hogue for $239.95. In my opinion, this folding knife is well worth the price, especially considering who designed the blade itself.
Author – Rodney Pointer is a former Army Infantryman. After graduating from Airborne School, he was ruthlessly assigned to Fort Polk, Louisiana to live out his days as a dirty leg. He served with the 2nd BN, 30th Infantry of the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division. Following his deployment to Afghanistan, he received a Bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Operations. He currently works as a nuclear security contractor.
