The following is a press release from Hogue Inc.
Hogue Inc. is proud to announce the tumbled finish version of the renowned EX-F02. When the EX-F02 was first released in early 2015, it was offered in a black finish and the blade was made of A2 tool steel. Hogue Inc. now offers the same rugged knife with a tumble finished blade, adding to the overall utility of the knife and offering a cosmetic alternative. “One of the great things about the tumbled finish is that it conceals blemishes or scratches on the blade after use as well as being easier to clean,” said co-owner Neil Hogue. “Also, the black Cerakote® look isn’t for everyone, so now there’s another option depending on personal preference.
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But they didn’t stop there. Formerly, EX-F02 blades were made from A2 tool steel, but as of this year, all EX-F02 knives have been upgraded to 154 CM stainless steel. Another added benefit of the new tumbled version is that it allows for a more economical price, coming in at $129.99 MSRP. While equal in strength and brawn to its black Cerakoted brother, the tumbled finish version offers novelty and diversity to Hogue’s line of fixed blades.
The EX-F02 tumbled knife goes through a methodical production process that uses all USA made materials and ensures that every customer gets the highest quality knife available when bearing the Hogue name. The process starts with the full tang blade’s outline being cut from the raw material on Hogue’s CNC abrasive water jet cutter. The cutout is then further CNC machined to exact sizes and specifications. Next, Hogue’s tightly controlled heat treating includes cryogenic processing for improved hardness to an HRC 57-59. The knife is then sent through a double disk grinder before being put in the tumbler. The tumbling effect seals the steel’s surface and assists in rust prevention and the smoothing of production blemishes.
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EX-F02 handles are made of durable GRP (glass reinforced polymer) and bear a swatch of the celebrated Hogue OverMolded® rubber that is available in four colors: black, OD green, flat dark Earth, and hunter orange. The accompanying ambidextrous automatic retention sheath is a heavy-duty Hogue design of super-tough nylon, Pull-the-Dot® fasteners, and MOLLE compatible belt loops.
Hogue Knives are designed by Allen Elishewitz and made in America by Hogue Incorporated. All Hogue products are manufactured in family-owned and operated facilities under the direct supervision of the Hogue family. Hogue Incorporated supports local dealers and encourages customers to purchase Hogue products locally. For more information please call Hogue directly at 1-800-438-4747 or visit www.hogueknives.com to find a Hogue dealer near you.
