First Look: Hogue Knives A01-MicroSwitch

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posted on December 5, 2018
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Designed by former Recon Marine Allen Elishewitz, the A01-MicroSwitch from Hogue Knives is purpose-built as a durable blade for everyday carry. The auto-open design of this carry knife provides users with rapid, single-handed opening that locks into place securely with every deployment.

“The MicroSwitch is an amazing piece of precision manufacturing” Hogue Lead Knife Engineer Scott Bruhns said. “Our customers have been demanding a streamlined sub 3.0 inch Allen Elishewitz designed automatic knife and we have seriously knocked this one out of the park. This knife is so full of features it honestly has to be held to fully appreciate the cohesive design and execution by Allen and the Hogue team.”

The Hogue A01-MicroSwitch is a first in the company's lineup, with a blade measuring under 3 inches. Two different options are available, one with a 2.75-inch blade and the other with a 1.95-inch blade. Both lengths are available in either a Drop-Point or Wharncliffe blade profile and can be had with either a stone-washed or a black Cerakote finish. The blades themselves are machined from CPM154 steel and measure 0.120-inch thick. To provide added durability and edge retention, each blade is heat-treated to a hardness of 57-59 RC and then cryogenically treated before hand-sharpening and honing.

Surrounding the blade on the MicroSwitch is a frame machined from 6061-T6 aluminum and treated with a hard-coat anodized finish available in four colors: matte black, gray, flat dark earth or aquamarine. The handles include a reversible pocket clip designed for tip-up carry, and a filler plate allows users to cover the unused mounting point for a seamless finish. Other features found in the handle include a pointed pommel for impact use, as well as an integrated bottle opener available on the 1.95-inch model.

To ensure dependable deployment, each Hogue A01-MicroSwitch is equipped with a proprietary spring design, made from music wire by Wolff Gunsprings specifically for these Hogue knives. The unique design of this spring aims to provide fast opening combined with a solid lockup. The suggested retail price on the MicroSwitch starts at $149.95.

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