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- Mar 16, 2015
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As posted in a recent thread in the traditional forum, I ordered a Hess Frontier fixed blade a little while ago. Having received it and carried for about a week, here’s my following review
Fit and Finish is tremendous, especially considering the meager price these Hess knives go for. At the time of purchase, I paid less than $200, and that’s with the custom handle choices! While they used to be a little difficult to find, Hess seems to be partnered with a new website, so hopefully they can continue to put out amazing work!
The fitting of the components is well done, smooth with no major hotspots. This traditional style of stacking material at the “bolster” can sometimes cause sharp edges to poke out just a bit, but in use I haven’t experienced any of this with the Hess. The guard is well fitted, leaving the slightest gap along the ricasso.
The blade itself is pristine- I believe GEC still blanks the blade for Hess, who finishes and sharpens them. The edge was fairly even along the entirety of the blade, convexed and razor sharp on arrival. As far as the heat treat, So far the 1095 has held an acute edge through kitchen work, rope and various packages.
The swedge is proportional, and performs well for giving a more acute tip. The overall length (this is the biggest knife Hess offers), is perfect for a larger carry knife. It hangs low enough to stay out of the way, but doesn’t feel too long. The handle has obviously been thoughtfully chosen to fill the hand appropriately. Stag can be tricky, but Hess has done a wonderful job.
The sheath is as good as I’ve had- thick leather, stitched tight and designed intelligently. It allows you to carry the knife without worrying about the crown stag poking your ribs, and the extra length for the belt loop has made it easy to ride in vehicles without sitting on the blade. Overall, it stays out of the way better than most of the much smaller knives I’ve carried. The strap is well sized, holding the guard securely. Obviously it takes a bit of care not to cut it when unsheathing the knife, but it hasn’t seemed to be an issue.
Overall I’m quite happy with this Hess Frontier. It’s definitely a style that you’ll either love or hate, but it’s exactly what I had imagined upon ordering. To me it perfectly captures the old school style that Hess is famous for, built to last and character in spades.
Fit and Finish is tremendous, especially considering the meager price these Hess knives go for. At the time of purchase, I paid less than $200, and that’s with the custom handle choices! While they used to be a little difficult to find, Hess seems to be partnered with a new website, so hopefully they can continue to put out amazing work!
The fitting of the components is well done, smooth with no major hotspots. This traditional style of stacking material at the “bolster” can sometimes cause sharp edges to poke out just a bit, but in use I haven’t experienced any of this with the Hess. The guard is well fitted, leaving the slightest gap along the ricasso.
The blade itself is pristine- I believe GEC still blanks the blade for Hess, who finishes and sharpens them. The edge was fairly even along the entirety of the blade, convexed and razor sharp on arrival. As far as the heat treat, So far the 1095 has held an acute edge through kitchen work, rope and various packages.
The swedge is proportional, and performs well for giving a more acute tip. The overall length (this is the biggest knife Hess offers), is perfect for a larger carry knife. It hangs low enough to stay out of the way, but doesn’t feel too long. The handle has obviously been thoughtfully chosen to fill the hand appropriately. Stag can be tricky, but Hess has done a wonderful job.
The sheath is as good as I’ve had- thick leather, stitched tight and designed intelligently. It allows you to carry the knife without worrying about the crown stag poking your ribs, and the extra length for the belt loop has made it easy to ride in vehicles without sitting on the blade. Overall, it stays out of the way better than most of the much smaller knives I’ve carried. The strap is well sized, holding the guard securely. Obviously it takes a bit of care not to cut it when unsheathing the knife, but it hasn’t seemed to be an issue.
Overall I’m quite happy with this Hess Frontier. It’s definitely a style that you’ll either love or hate, but it’s exactly what I had imagined upon ordering. To me it perfectly captures the old school style that Hess is famous for, built to last and character in spades.
