RC-3 or H.E.S.T. for EDC?

jocawalk

jocawalk

Joined
Feb 24, 2009
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Hi everyone, I do not own an ESEE blade as of yet but I am ordering an Izula and I was wanting to hear opinions regarding the RC-3 or the H.E.S.T. Both of these knives look great to me and I am just wanting to hear everyone's thoughts as to which might possibly be a better EDC knife. I'm sure that both would be great but just having trouble deciding which one (funding will not allow me to get both at the moment, lol). Thanks in advance :)
 
My vote is for RC3mil!

Its thinner than the HEST, has a usable choil, more comfy grip, and I personally found the pry bar to be annoying - I carry in my front or back pocket and it used to get caught on things. I also think the RC3 looks less tacticool and threatening to others than the HEST.

The HEST is designed, and excels at, being an urban survival knife - IMHO, this is not what I want in an EDC blade. It would be great for a BOB, not edc, especially when compared to the RC3.

As for MY edc, I carry the Izula and it does the trick marvelously!

With that said, if you already have an Izula, there may be a bit of overlap with the RC3 or HEST - they really arent THAT much more blade... just to throw it out there you might want to get an RC4 to compliment your Izula... less overlap and you get a VERY capable blade combo.

.
 
Thank you for the response! Some very good points that you have brought up. Decisions, decisions, decisions.... :D
 
the izula is a great size for dropping in a front pocket and forgetting it's there until you need it. (or reach for change)
The ESEE3 and HEST have the same length cutting edge, the hest has a slightly longer handle, which may give you better leverage.
the ESEE3 and 4 have the same handle.
ESEE3 is 1/8" steel, which is thinner than the Izula at 4mm.
ESEE4 & HEST have 3/16" thick blades.
If I hadn't started with an ESEE3, I suspect I would fine the 4 a perfect companion to my Izula.
Can't tell you much about the HEST, as I haven't had a chance to see or handle one in person.
 
I'm liking the 3 lately.
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jocawalk said:
Hi everyone, I do not own an ESEE blade as of yet but I am ordering an Izula and I was wanting to hear opinions regarding the RC-3 or the H.E.S.T. Both of these knives look great to me and I am just wanting to hear everyone's thoughts as to which might possibly be a better EDC knife. I'm sure that both would be great but just having trouble deciding which one (funding will not allow me to get both at the moment, lol). Thanks in advance :)
Click to expand...

I got the HEST instead of the RC3 because of the blade thickness and have been happy with my choice. I've since bought an RC4 but just skipped the RC3...though I may get one later on, after the RC5.
 
Thanks for all the responses! I have just placed an order for the Izula and RC-4. Ordered them from New Graham Knives, never ordered from them before, I hope the knives get here in a timely manner :)
 
jocawalk said:
Thanks for all the responses! I have just placed an order for the Izula and RC-4. Ordered them from New Graham Knives, never ordered from them before, I hope the knives get here in a timely manner :)
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good combination. Never ordered from NGK so no input there.
 
jocawalk said:
Thanks for all the responses! I have just placed an order for the Izula and RC-4. Ordered them from New Graham Knives, never ordered from them before, I hope the knives get here in a timely manner :)
Click to expand...

PERFECT choice - use them is good health!

Add a folding saw/hatchet and you are set for ANYTHING :thumbup:

New Graham is excellent and I use them 90% of the time - shipping usually takes 2 days to me (VA to NY) - they offer USPS Priority which I 100% prefer over UPS ground.
 
I was wondering the same thing a while back and I settled on the RC3. I love the knife but I don't daily carry it. I just ordered a HEST so in a week or too I'll be able to tell you if I made the right decision the first time around. I think the HEST will fit my needs a little better although the 3 is a great knife. I decided a while back not to get hung up on which one is best as I will end up owning most of the line anyway. Next will be a RC6 or an Izula but I can't really say what I would use either for. Enjoy the start of a wonderful addiction.
 
The '3 has worked well for me. I have an Izula, but it feels too small for my liking. The RC-3 isn't too big or too small, it's just right.
 
The only real reason I got the Izula is due to this forum and how a lot of people have praised this knife. I have a Becker Necker, which I really like, but most say that the Izula is a better knife (although it does have a smaller blade than the necker). Not that I usually follow the crowd but, hey why not! Can never have too many knives, right :D
 
Also, looking though the multiple pages of photos, I do believe that I made the right choice with the Izula and the RC-4. In the pics that I saw they look great together!!
 
Good combo choice! I've used my Izula for all sorts of stuff, including some light prying.

New Graham is 100% good to go. If they have what I want in stock I buy it from them, no doubt, no shopping around. They're a great company to do business with.
 
New Graham is one of the best dealers you could have picked.

You got a good combination in the Izula and ESEE-4. The Izula for convenient daily carry almost anywhere, and the ESEE-4 for (believe it or not!) a decent survival blade, and everything up to that point. I found the handle on the -4 worked better for me than the -3.

I got the Izula and H.E.S.T. because the H.E.S.T. was a bit different, and I wanted to play with the additional features. I have not been disappointed. The Izula has such great ergonomics that it works harder than its size indicates, the grip is so comfortable and secure.

IF I were restricted to only one knife, I might have considered the ESEE-3 more seriously. Compact but widely capable, thinness not a real drawback to strength in ordinary EDC situations, excellent cutting machine.

So many knives, so little money / time / space to store them all! :D
 
One more comment on the H.E.S.T. being on urban survival knife. I don't know who started this, but I wish it would stop. The H.E.S.T. is the Hostile Environment Survival Tool, a multipurpose backup in any survival situation. That few other similar knives get seen as urban essentials might leave the field to the H.E.S.T. but it would make a useful tactical tool in a combat environment also. Makes a reliable woods knife. Play with it enough and you'll think it was designed for you.
 
Like you said, so many knives, so little money :)
The H.E.S.T. might be my next purchase though, really digging how it looks and the additional features that it offers. We shall see :D Thanks for the input
 
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