Grrr... Now I'm confused (HEST question)

Z

ZombiesEatFree

Joined
Dec 7, 2009
Messages
145
I thought I was all set, I was going to get my pops a RC-3 for Christmas. Since I love the one I had. Now the more I read about the HEST I have to wonder if the HEST is a better option. He's been a cheaper knife guy for ever. I think the most expensive knife he has owned is the Kershaw I got him like 8 years ago! Anyways, how strong are the features of the HEST? Can the prying tool on it take a good amount of abuse? If one really needed to get some power on the task could they keep the sheath on the blade and get some leverage on it? How good does the wire breaker work? Would the pry spike work as well as the end of an RC-3 Mil to break a window??
 
Not sure about the window breaking part with the prybar spikes, but the HEST will stand up to most anything an RC-3 will, it IS an RC blade afterall! :) Like anything, you abuse it, your gonna break it, but ..... will not exactly sure what all your pop has been doing with his Kershaw, but if he hasn't broken it in 8 years, then he sure isn't going to break the HEST.

The features of the HEST are quite useful, if you need to be able to do that sort of thing (pry, cut wire fence, etc) on a daily basis.

Bottom line? Either will be an excellent knife he is going to get years of use out of...
 
ZombiesEatFree said:
I thought I was all set, I was going to get my pops a RC-3 for Christmas. Since I love the one I had. Now the more I read about the HEST I have to wonder if the HEST is a better option. He's been a cheaper knife guy for ever. I think the most expensive knife he has owned is the Kershaw I got him like 8 years ago! Anyways, how strong are the features of the HEST? Can the prying tool on it take a good amount of abuse? If one really needed to get some power on the task could they keep the sheath on the blade and get some leverage on it? How good does the wire breaker work? Would the pry spike work as well as the end of an RC-3 Mil to break a window??
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I would say no on the window break part for the HEST. Especially after my learning experience last week.
 
R.A.T. said:
I would say no on the window break part for the HEST. Especially after my learning experience last week.
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I was going to jump on this and say "of course it will....." then I thought about your learning experience last week too....
 
I don't have a HEST but I would not use the blade in any form with or without the sheath on it to try to pry with. I'm not sure how much the pry tip will withstand but just using the handle I don't believe you could break it.
 
Sounds like simple is the way to go. Stick with the RC-3. Get the MIL with the sharpened glass breaker if you want but maybe the less bells and whistles will appeal to him more.

I think if I got MY dad a HEST he'd think it was a gimmick. Keep it simple.
 
If your Dad is a multitool kind of guy I would say go for the HEST, IMHO the pry hook combined with a knife, wire breaker, and bottle opener put's it over the top of anybody else out there.

I'm not sure about the strength of the hook, during my review it appeared strong to me and was very very usefull in work around the farm, a real step saver. The same goes for my Gerber Sportsman multpliers, but my opinion is they are improvisional tools which can be EDC'd to save time and possibly your life if need be. If I needed a real screwdriver, or prybar etc. I would go the shop and get the proper tool if possible.
 
R.A.T. said:
I would say no on the window break part for the HEST. Especially after my learning experience last week.
Click to expand...

Hope this doesn't come out as dumb, because i'm no window breaker expert, but I thought if you hit the window with the point of the blade, especially RAT, since they can practically break concrete, it would shatter. I assume that the force and the angle aren't as good as if you hit it with the handle, but I was under impression it is the amount of surface that makes contact with the window, smaller being better, that is important when braking car window.
 
He does carry a multi-tool a lot, which is why I thought about the HEST. I know holding the knife with by the sheath isn't the best idea but if it's life or death I'd take the risk. The reason I'm looking at it is because my mother and him go on long motorcycle rides and if he were to have an accident ya never know what you might need. I'm sure he'd love either of them, I'm just trying to figure out which he'd get the most use out of.... Thanks for the input!
 
ZombiesEatFree said:
He does carry a multi-tool a lot, which is why I thought about the HEST. I know holding the knife with by the sheath isn't the best idea but if it's life or death I'd take the risk. The reason I'm looking at it is because my mother and him go on long motorcycle rides and if he were to have an accident ya never know what you might need. I'm sure he'd love either of them, I'm just trying to figure out which he'd get the most use out of.... Thanks for the input!
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Asking never hurt anyone...

You can't go wrong with either knife, but if you want to find out which he'd prefer then just ask. Honestly, he's your dad and you know him better than anyone on this forum does.
 
But both, check them and their sheaths out in person, then choose which one you think your dad would like most. The remaining knife is now yours:thumbup:

The HEST has a thicker steel than the RC3 and has all those added features that you've read about. If you'r dad is a "added features" kind of guy, then go for the HEST...is he likes standard knives, go for the RC3.
 
Tomso said:
Hope this doesn't come out as dumb, because i'm no window breaker expert, but I thought if you hit the window with the point of the blade, especially RAT, since they can practically break concrete, it would shatter. I assume that the force and the angle aren't as good as if you hit it with the handle, but I was under impression it is the amount of surface that makes contact with the window, smaller being better, that is important when braking car window.
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I was wondering the same. Has anyone tried it? Do you really need a glass breaking point if you have the tip of your knife?

The only argument against it I can see (and it is a big one) that it can be dangerous for a vehicle occupant if you swing a knife like that in his direction. Perhaps that is a reason. Does it makes sense?
 
I think the fine tip and length of a blade (even an RC3) would make the blade slide across the glass if you took a good swing at it, especially with cars today with the curved glass.

The standard RC3 can be converted to have that pyramid shape glass breaker anyways.
 
I carry a multitool and am not as interested in the "multitool" aspect of the HEST because the features are kinda redundant for me. Your dad might feel the same way, you should ask.
 
Well I'd like it to be a bit of a surprise for Christmas, so I'd rather not ask.....

I think I'll just go with the RC-3M, and buy myself the HEST when I can scrounge up the funds. Or ask the wife to buy it for me for Christmas.

My real point of the questioning was to ascertain the usefulness and strength of the added features.
 
I think there's an ongoing review thread on the H.E.S.T. that's being passed around. From what I've seen/heard it looks like it's adequate enough for tasks that the different features can be used for. The RC-3 has a thinner blade and is larger overall, but the H.E.S.T. has a bigger handle with a smaller blade.
 
Tomso said:
Hope this doesn't come out as dumb, because i'm no window breaker expert, but I thought if you hit the window with the point of the blade, especially RAT, since they can practically break concrete, it would shatter. I assume that the force and the angle aren't as good as if you hit it with the handle, but I was under impression it is the amount of surface that makes contact with the window, smaller being better, that is important when braking car window.
Click to expand...

I got to thinking about this a bit and a few things came to mind. I think the distance from impact to hand makes a difference. I would say it's like a fulcrum effect, but that might mean I knew what I was talking about.... And I don't!!!:D When you impact with the pommel you have force on your side because your hand is directly over the impacting spike. But when you impact with the blade the distance can act as a point of pivoting. Another issue I thought about is the chance you have to slice yourself. If you stab the glass and it doesn't give, you could loose your grasp and slide down the blade. Now if I were in a do or die I'd take the chance, but I'd rather have a spike. Just thinking out loud..
 
Glass breaking in an emergency is a function of TWO things. First breaking the glass and then getting the person out safely.

Yes you can use the point of the HEST (hold the tip against the window and hammer sharply, rather than swing wildly) but most cars have tire irons in the trunk or under the hood. . A baseball bat is good (where they hell do you find a baseball bat on the side of the highway??) but really any pointed object that puts as much pressure in the weakest spot of the window.

And you DID know its easier to break the glass from the inside than the outside due to the curve of the windows? Safer for the occupant and less kinetic energy involved.

Secondly there is a real danger of cuts to both rescuer and victim from broken safety glass (which will shatter but each piece remains sharp). If the idea is to get someone out you might try breaking the rear driver side window allowing the seat to be cranked back a board to be slid in. Use a jacket, floor mat or carpet to protect the occupant if you can.

Or if you are superheroes like Jeff or Mike, just lift the car up and run to the nearest hospital :))
 
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