We love seeing gear manufacturers go against the grain, by rejecting the way things are traditionally supposed to be done, and forging their own path to success. It's a common trend these days to see knife and tool manufacturing being outsourced and moved overseas in the name of saving money, and that's why it's refreshing to see DPx Gear working to bring their manufacturing and operations home to the USA.

DPx Gear currently produces all their folding knives in Italy—a country that's certainly experienced in high-quality manufacturing—but DPx decided to make a push to bring those jobs to the United States. With this goal in mind, they developed their first 100% American-made blade design known as the DPx HEST/F Urban, and launched a 30-day Kickstarter campaign along with it. Amazingly, in less than 24 hours, the Kickstarter raised over double the original 30-day funding goal! It just goes to show how many people are looking to support quality gear that's designed, sourced, and built right here in the United States.

So, what's the knife itself like? The HEST/F Urban is constructed of lightweight 6A14v Titanium alloy, with a durable S30v stainless steel blade. The blade is hollow ground with a stonewashed finish, and hinged on a stainless steel caged pivot bearing for perfectly smooth, reliable operation. It also includes some useful extra features, like a 1/4-inch hex drive, glass breaker, wire stripper, and DPX Gear's patented blade notch that functions as both a bottle opener and a quick-draw assist.

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The DPx Gear HEST/F Urban will be produced in 3 editions, each being limited to only 100 numbered units. The editions are as follows:

• The Sterile Edition: battleship grey heavy bead blasted Titanium frame, available to those who pledge $275 or more on Kickstarter.
• The Bronze Edition: bronze anodized heavy bead blasted Titanium frame, available to those who pledge $300 or more on Kickstarter.
• The Mr. DP Edition: heavy bead blasted Titanium frame with machined Mr. DP logo, available to those who pledge $375 or more on Kickstarter.

According to veteran designer Robert Young Pelton, the HEST/F Urban is a “heirloom quality piece” that's intended to last not only for your lifetime, but for generations to come. DPx backs up this bold claim with a no-questions-asked lifetime warranty—if this knife malfunctions, they'll repair or replace it, period.

If you'd like to learn more about this new American-made blade from DPx Gear, click here to check out their Kickstarter page. And, if you want to buy one, act fast—the limited run of 300 is selling out fast!

Written by Patrick McCarthy