Here is a wide shot with both knives and their respective sheaths.
Here is a picture with the handles lined up:
Here is something I found interesting after handling them. Although they are about the same size (3 seems 1/4" longer), the HEST has a longer grip and the prybar end helps keep it in your hand. I can kind of bring my pinky back and brace it against the prybar end. Your thumb is all choked up along the top and the tip of your thumb is over cutting surface.....this could matter to someone who wanted to do some fine knife-work.
The 3 fits in your hand a bit differently. Instead of feeling like you are all choked up on the knife, my hand fits the handle great with my pinky on the micarta....it definitely isn't too short. The knife feels more like a good-sized knife extending out of your hand opposed to a smaller bit of knife extending out.
My hands are biggish, not too huge or large, but I can choke up on the hest with my thumb covering all but 2/3" of the blade....only 1/2" or so extending from my thumb. With the 3 choked up, I have a good 2.5" or so when I choke up on it. I can take pictures if you don't understand, but I'll need to get new batteries for my camera.
Here are two pictures where I align them according to where your index finger rests. You can see the longer handle of the HEST and how the blade extends from where you'd handle/have control over it.
I think this could really sway someone's purchase. If you want a knife you can choke up really high on, get a HEST or an IZULA-II (haven't reviewed/compared yet, just handled). If you want a knife that when you choke up on you still have a lot of knife protruding, get the 3.
Let me know if you have any questions. I can take my Izula I and II and take comparison pics for anyone if they want them, but I am sure somebody has beat me to it.....this forum is full of like-minded people.
