The old original fixed blade HEST was made by Rowen Manufacturing via ESEE in some sort of collaboration. Those were great as are all things Rowen / ESEE. Rowen makes some other brands as well. They are sort of a "high speed, low drag" outfit that does an incredible job on the machining, coating, and heat treating. I may be doing them a disservice here and if so I apologize but I think they work, if not exclusively, primarily in 1095 and boy do they do 1095 right!!!