Hogue Deka Review: The G10 and 20CV Revision

Hogue took a Deka I already liked and made several meaningful changes. This review covers the re-engineered G10 and CPM 20CV version, with the earlier Deka beside it for comparison. It is not the polymer-handled MagnaCut version.

Getting Hogue knives in my hand helped me understand what makes them so good, and this Deka is a prime example. The revised model keeps essentially the same size and proportions as the earlier one. The changes are in the details, and those details make a difference.

The SOG Terminus XR LTE and Benchmade Bugout are useful size references. I also included the Civivi Elementum because it costs considerably less and is familiar to so many people. The Deka sits in that very useful everyday-carry size range.

Hogue’s crossbar mechanism is the ABLE Lock, compared with Benchmade’s AXIS Lock. My Bugout has aftermarket scales, so its handle is not a stock comparison.

I really dislike the Bugout’s Grivory scales. For me, replacing them is part of making that knife what I want it to be. Between that Bugout and this G10 Deka, I would choose the Deka. I would have chosen the earlier Deka, too, but I like this revision even more.

The deep-carry clip is the most obvious improvement. The old clip worked reasonably well and did not carry too high for me. What I disliked was its straight shape, prominent branding and bright satin finish. It drew more attention than I wanted.

The new clip is simple, looks much better against the handle and gives the knife deep carry. Its screws are not recessed, but they have not caused a problem for me. I tried it across about six different pairs of pockets with different hem thicknesses, and it slid over them without catching.

The clip’s high point also sits toward the back of the handle, where it nestles into a comfortable part of my hand. It looks good, feels good and carries well.

The old clip was not a hot spot either, but I could feel more of its surface in my hand. The revised shape feels better to me without making this an enormous ergonomic transformation.

Another welcome change is the hardware count. Counting the screws on the handles as I compared them, I went from fourteen on the older Deka to eight on the revised one. More screws do not necessarily make disassembly difficult, but they are more little parts to keep track of. I much prefer the cleaner look here.

Hogue removed the satin filler plate from the unused clip position. There is a small notch and inset mounting threads instead, so more of the G10 remains visible. I would take that over the old shiny filler plate every time.

The screws in the middle of the handle are gone, too. Looking inside the older Deka, its internal frame runs roughly two-thirds of the way down the handle and needs those additional attachment points.

The revised internal frame stops around the first backspacer. That shorter arrangement eliminates the extra middle screws and gives the handle a much cleaner appearance.

Does the change make the ABLE Lock feel better or worse? Not to me. It is still buttery smooth, with the thumb-stud and middle-finger deployment I enjoyed on the earlier Deka.

The older Deka I bought myself feels just as smooth as this newer sample. That consistency is a large part of what I like about Hogue.

I have bought several Hogue knives myself, including K320 Nitron versions, and the smooth ABLE Lock action has been consistent across those examples. The revised frame keeps that feel while improving the hardware layout.

Between the deep-carry clip, fewer screws and removal of the filler plate, this is a very complete package. If I could keep only ten knives for the rest of my life, this Deka would absolutely be one of them. It would take the Bugout’s place on my list.

At roughly $140–$150 when I reviewed it, I thought the combination was excellent: CPM 20CV, Allen Elishewitz’s design and solid G10 construction in a light knife. Fewer screws have not made it feel flimsy to me. That is a handling impression, rather than a claim from a strength test.

For a medium-size American-made folder with premium materials, this is a home run for me. The thin blade, smooth action and useful deep-carry clip make it a knife I would happily choose to carry.