DPx H.E.S.T.-II Assault

[mistwalker]

One of the knives I picked up at Blade was a DPx H.E.S.T.- II. I had been waiting for months to get this one. I'm really liking the new additions and design changes. This one is number 69 of the first production run.












This time the kydex sheath is inside a molle compatible nylon sheath with fold-over flap closure. The hand of the sheath can be changed pretty easily by removing a screw and reversing the kydex insert, and the kydex has good retention.
















These are made in Italy by Lionsteel.




It still has the same blade and edge geometry, but some things have been changed and some things have been added. The HEST-II has the same wire stripping notches in the thumb ramp as the HEST-F, it has an octagonal hole that works with driver bits, it has G-10 handle scales rather than micarta but they are still removable using a small coin or washer, the tang is barely shadow-boxed this time, and the pry bar has been shifted to be angled away from the handle further, better for prying applications and better in an underhand grip.

The specs from Dpx:

Blade length: 3.15” / 80.01 mm
Blade thickness: 0.19” / 4.70 mm
Overall length: 7.63” / 193.80 mm
Weight: 4.80 oz / 136.08 g
Black satin TiCN PVD-coated Sleipner tool steel blade with 60 Rockwell hardness
Hollow handle
Unique wire stripper jimping and hard lashing points
Thumb grip/bottle opener
American black G10 scales
Black CORDURA® sheath
Lifetime no-questions-asked warranty
304 stainless steel hybrid slotted/Allen screws
1/4” hex driver
Designed by Robert Young Pelton
Handmade by LionSTEEL®in Maniago, Northern Italy



















The limited edition knife also came with a limited edition number 69 of 200 H.E.S.T.-II Zippo lighter










I'm liking it a lot I'll work on a review of the new features when I have more time.




.

[bernard_s3]

Sexy knife, sexy zippo! Great pics!

[namida]

wow, that knife looks wicked! would really fit really well in an urbat kit!

[Dao.Hung_105]

NICE!!! I love it over the 1095 one
but, is it me or one side of the handle is thicker than the other? Are there any function of this feature?

[scruffuk]

They've made some good tweaks I see.

Nice snaps and a fine review as always.

Looking forward to see you break it in.

[tknife]

Is it wrong that I focused on the delicious looking beer? I have to say I never warmed up to the HEST design, although that's just going on looks as I've never used one. I really like that sheath, I think more "bushcraft and survival" knives would benefit with the extra loss prevention of the fold over flap.

[jeepin]

What is the steel on that one?, and how much was it?.

Thanks..

[TheGame]

#69, huh? Got lucky with that one.

Is it bad that I like the zippo on this more than the knife? Nothing wrong with the knives, but I rather have that type of logo on a Zippo, not a knife.

[mistwalker]

Sexy knife, sexy zippo! Great pics!

Thanks man, glad you liked the pics! I have an original RAT-made numbered limited edition H.E.S.T. fixed blade from the very first run, and a numbered limited edition sterile folder from the first run of folders. I love the H.E.S.T. profile.

wow, that knife looks wicked! would really fit really well in an urbat kit!

My thoughts exactly when I bought the first one. Among many other things it has been used to pry my frozen-shut truck doors many times while out on photo shoots, and opened several good ice cold beers at the end of the day, as well as done the cutting on several field meals. I'm really digging the fuller G10 handle on this one.

NICE!!! I love it over the 1095 one
but, is it me or one side of the handle is thicker than the other? Are there any function of this feature?

Me too. No, that's just an optical illusion caused by the shadow, the handle scales are the same thickness on both sides.

They've made some good tweaks I see.

Nice snaps and a fine review as always.

Looking forward to see you break it in.

Thanks Scruff, that was the same thing I said when I saw the HEST-II on the DPx site, I love the tweeks. Thanks man, glad you liked the shots, I'm looking forward to breaking this one in as well

Is it wrong that I focused on the delicious looking beer? I have to say I never warmed up to the HEST design, although that's just going on looks as I've never used one. I really like that sheath, I think more "bushcraft and survival" knives would benefit with the extra loss prevention of the fold over flap.

Nah, to each his own man and I try to add something to the pics for everyone. I love the NB 1554, it's one of my favorites straight up and I use it to substitute for Guinness in my Irish car bombs Reactions seem to the HEST seem to be for the most part polar in that people either like them or dislike them. I warmed up to it early on and love the idea of a stainless one with the new tweeks. I agree, I happen to like the flap sheaths for my activities in my woods.

What is the steel on that one?, and how much was it?.

Thanks..

It's: Black satin TiCN PVD-coated Sleipner tool steel blade with 60 Rockwell hardness, as stated in the specs above. DPx Gear lists the limited is costing 225.00 and then 200.00 for the production but one of the cool things about going to the Blade show is the better pricing that can usually be found.

#69, huh? Got lucky with that one.

Is it bad that I like the zippo on this more than the knife? Nothing wrong with the knives, but I rather have that type of logo on a Zippo, not a knife.

Lol, among other personal connections it's my astrological glyph When I saw it was available I had to have it

Bro, it's a free internet, you are completely free to like or dislike anything and feel good about it no matter what anyone else says. I like the zippo too, but I have loved the HEST since the beginning and felt like showing off the new one

[mistwalker]

Well...most of the knives I brought back from Blade were sharp, but just going by the cleanly-shaving-hair-from-my-arm test this one is definitely the sharpest. It got some oohs and aahs after hours at the bar at Marco's the other night when I was showing my friends the difference between a knife that comes from the factory with a good edge and one that doesn't. It cleanly shaved a wide path down the length of my forearm

[coaldigger]

Thats a very good looking "Little Knife" !

[mistwalker]

Thats a very good looking "Little Knife" !

I think so too. I like the original, but I'm really liking the tweeks and additions!

[pstetson]

I know this is an old post, but what is the purpose of the elastic band thingy in the fold of the sheath used for??

[Liam Ryan]

Weird, I always thought the HEST was an ESEE knife, why would I think that?
Maybe ESEE was one manufacturer of the design?
I always liked them though, maybe someday...

[mistwalker]

I know this is an old post, but what is the purpose of the elastic band thingy in the fold of the sheath used for??

Nothing on mine anymore I'm sure it served some purpose, but I had no need for it.

Weird, I always thought the HEST was an ESEE knife, why would I think that?
Maybe ESEE was one manufacturer of the design?
I always liked them though, maybe someday...

Well...RAT made the first ones, then ESEE Then the folder and the HEST-II were made by Lionsteel

[Liam Ryan]

I see, but isn't ESEE getting their knives made by Rowen? Was ESSE just doing their marketing? Still a bit confused.

[mistwalker]

I see, but isn't ESEE getting their knives made by Rowen? Was ESSE just doing their marketing? Still a bit confused.

RAT helped Pelton launch the DPX line initially.

[pstetson]

I currently have the RAT HEST, ESEE HEST, OKC HEST, HEST/F 2.0, HEST II Assault and Heft 4 Woodsman in the DPx collection. The RAT and ESEE deffinatly fit my hand better than the OKC and I carry the 2.0 as my EDC. Heft worked really well in gutting my elk this past year and havnt done much with the II quite yet. I also own some 16 different ESEE knives (at minimum 1 of each style). I think i hAVE AN ADDICTION!!

[mistwalker]

I currently have the RAT HEST, ESEE HEST, OKC HEST, HEST/F 2.0, HEST II Assault and Heft 4 Woodsman in the DPx collection. The RAT and ESEE deffinatly fit my hand better than the OKC and I carry the 2.0 as my EDC. Heft worked really well in gutting my elk this past year and havnt done much with the II quite yet. I also own some 16 different ESEE knives (at minimum 1 of each style). I think i hAVE AN ADDICTION!!

It's ok, a lot of us here have a similar addiction

[jdk1]

Mist, your reviews are always detailed, educational, and loaded with great photography! I thought I'd dredge this one up to see if you have any further opinion on the knife. I picked one up and haven't used it yet. I'm not a steel junkie, so wonder about the Sleipner under field use. I understand it's like D2, but a little tougher. I love my ESEE HEST and hope this one will not disappoint and will take the beating the 1095 version will (though I'm unlikely to beat it much). Thanks for your outstanding reviews. Take care.