My ESEE H.E.S.T. Passaround Review from BF

[Billy]

I was lucky enough to be able to participate in this passaround and found this knife to be a really, really cool little fixed blade. For those not familiar, H.E.S.T. stand for Hostile Environment Survival Tool and this thing definitely fits the bill and I highly recommend it for a smallish FB for concealed carry. Very handy and comforting knife to have on you for any number of tasks.

Here's my review (in two posts) from the ESEE forum on BF with some Spydie content as well. :) Enjoy!

Ok, so after having this knife for a few weeks and carrying it around for about two, I have come to the conclusion that it's a great knife for it's intended purpose. As a last ditch, easily concealable survival tool/weapon it is really awesome. It also makes a decent and very capable FB EDC. :cool: It came to me fairly sharp, but with just a little time on the Sharpmaker, it whittles hair and cuts nice curls in paper.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2725.jpg

I used the HEST mostly for mundane, EDC tasks around the office, home and yard. For most of that stuff, it worked just fine. I really like the way it rides in my pocket which is better than my Izula (rides too deep) and my RC-3 (too high).
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2724.jpg

I also really, really like the way this knife feels in the hand. The handle length and width feel "just right", again making comparisons to my Izula and RC-3.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2898.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2900.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2899.jpg

The blade is thick at the spine and obviously very tough and able to withstand alot of abuse. But as already mentioned, like all ESEE's, the fantastic grind and killer 1095 steel allows this bad boy to get laser sharp with little effort. This thing really fits the bill for "sharpened prybar" in the very best sense of the phrase. :thumbup: Here's some shots comparing the width to my Izula and RC-3.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2890.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2892.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2893.jpg

[Billy]

And some general comparison pics with my well-loved and often abused Spyderco Rock Salt as well as some other popular Spydies (Millie and Manix 2)
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2897.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2896.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2894.jpg
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2895.jpg
And finally, one last picture of the HEST with my RC-3 and Izula.
http://i564.photobucket.com/albums/ss86/Billy516/Sharp%20Stuff/IMG_2889.jpg

So, in summary, I feel the HEST is a great knife with some bells and whistles that actually work (bottle opener, storage between scales), as well as one that didn't work all that well (pry bar pommel). But with that stout blade, I would have no problems prying with it, within limits of course. In a survival situation, urban or wilderness, it would be a very welcome, useful and comforting addition that is easily carried and concealed if need be. As a general EDC, I also feel it is a handy and very useful tool, but the thick blade takes just a bit away from it's slicing ability.

As I said in an earlier post, this is one badazz knife and whomever wins it, is one lucky S.O.B.!

[SUDS]

That is a really sweet looking knife! nice review

[Donut]

Nice review. I have had my eye on a HEST but have passed on it once or twice.

It looks like a really great sized fixed blade.

[Aimless]

I've looked at those but don't like what's his name's symbol on the scales. Not a hot idea to have a grinning skull on a carry knife.

Nice review

[dirtpig67]

I really need to get those scales for my Izula.