There's one thing I really don't like about the HEST...

bottle opener = pot lifter, lashing point, uber-heavy duty jimp (would need more than 1 to count as jimping), place to wedge a stick as a depth stop, etc...
 
i used the blade a few times to baton a pallet into firewood, but i have used the bottle opener almost daily! nothing better than everyone at a party asking for a bottle opener and handing them the hest...they always seem to look confused until i take it out of the sheath and show them how to use it.
 
They give me the same strange look when they ask for a bottle opener and I reach out my hand (ring opener). It takes them a few seconds to figure out that I will open it for them. They think I am asking for their beer :D. Some people think I just used a regular ring or my fingers to open it, haha.
 
Expatriated said:
The bottle opener cut-out was also designed to help lash the knife to something. It's directly across from the wire-cutter notch for a reason. At least, that's what Robert once said.

You can even use another bottle to open a bottle, but I use the opener on my HEST. I like it.
Click to expand...

If you can't lash this knife without the bottle opener, there are other problems. However, maybe there's something I don't know. If so, how come there has never been (at least AFAIK) any pictures demonstrating how all these different things are possible with the bottle opener, that wouldn't be, without it.

The reason this bugs me so much is that the H.E.S.T. is almost the perfect little knife. Nice and stout, comfortable in the hand, I've even got to the point where the pry bar doesn't bug me too much. It even has good looks, or would, of course, if the bottle opener was removed. The blade is the right length relative to the handle length, the handle length is just right, at least for me.

I've even taken the time to strip and convex it, and it continues to grow on me. (A picture of my H.E.S.T. taken by kgd at a gathering we had:)

mystrippedHEST.jpg


Yes, without the bottle opener in the spine of this knife would make it the perfect little knife................but I guess perfection comes in a distant second in importance to gag factor. (don't we have a disgusted smilie?)

All it would take is to offer it both ways, but, of course :(.............

Doc
 
DOC-CANADA said:
Yes, without the bottle opener in the spine of this knife would make it the perfect little knife................but I guess perfection comes in a distant second in importance to gag factor. (don't we have a disgusted smilie?)

All it would take is to offer it both ways, but, of course :(.............

Doc
Click to expand...

The bottle opener was a big part of the reason why I bought a H•E•S•T after already owning an Izula (and the difference will narrow further with the Izula 2). It's just such a useful addition to me, and doesn't get in the way at all.

There's no shortage of knives without bottle openers… if the pry bar bugs you a little too, it seems like the ESEE 3 would be a great fit for you. The cutting edge is practically the same, although it has a thinner blade.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=759665
 
There's one thing I really don't like about the HEST...

is that i only get to see it in December. :)
 
holygoat said:
The bottle opener was a big part of the reason why I bought a H•E•S•T after already owning an Izula (and the difference will narrow further with the Izula 2). It's just such a useful addition to me, and doesn't get in the way at all.

There's no shortage of knives without bottle openers… if the pry bar bugs you a little too, it seems like the ESEE 3 would be a great fit for you. The cutting edge is practically the same, although it has a thinner blade.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=759665
Click to expand...

Thanks for the suggestion, holygoat, but I already have a 3 and an Izula. My RAT's, so far:

forphotobucket-2.jpg


The thicker blade is one of the things I like about the H.E.S.T., along with the shorter blade and proportion of blade length to handle. The handle fits well (handles on the 3 and Izula are too short). I also am not a big fan of choils.

It's just really irritating to me, that the perfect knife (for me) is so close, but no cigar. The prybar is not really an issue - if it bugs me too much (it doesn't), I could grind it off, but I can't fill in the bottle opener.

Doc

ETA, how it would look without the bottle opener:

whatIreallywant.jpg
 
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It's one thing to follow along in these mental discussions,
whether you agree or disagree with what's being proposed.

I take the side the bottle opener is integral, (+ desired by me)
but when you posted that pic of it without the bottle opener,
wow - it just looks wrong. (to me)

It's funny how it resembles the same knife...sorta...but it's really missing something very basic to what defines it. (again, to me)
 
The scales are different in that little mock-up of yours too.

I use the bottle opener all the time, it is to the HEST knives what the Spyderhole is to Spydies.
 
1066vik said:
bottle opener = pot lifter, lashing point, uber-heavy duty jimp (would need more than 1 to count as jimping), place to wedge a stick as a depth stop, etc...
Click to expand...
Pot lifter - Flip the knife over (pry bar facing up), hold by the sheath, and you have a much better pot lifter than the mid-placed bottle opener.
Lashing point - I'm sure you can get by with only the one lashing point. How many times have you used the bottle opener as a lashing point?
Jimping - Wouldn't real jimping be more functional and more comfortable?
Depth stick - Use the wire breaker on the edged-side.
Any other "pros" to having the bottle opener?

MarineAir said:
The scales are different in that little mock-up of yours too.

I use the bottle opener all the time, it is to the HEST knives what the Spyderhole is to Spydies.
Click to expand...
Are you really unable to open a bottle by using the pry bar?
 
As far as the strength of the blade goes, there is a lifetime warranty.

Personally I like the HEST as-is, and will be wanting one when funds become available.
 
My son and I rode dirt bikes for 91 miles of trails today on Mt Magazine in AR.
I carried the Izula as a neck knife under the chest protector,
but when we got home, unloaded, and showered...
the HEST was reached for...with a nice cold bud bottle.
(and a couple more since then...ahem...)

I know...I know...why wait to shower to grab the beer...I know! (fail! :) )
 
MarineAir said:
The scales are different in that little mock-up of yours too.

I use the bottle opener all the time, it is to the HEST knives what the Spyderhole is to Spydies.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I don't like the Spyderhole either. (Yes I have one - Sprint run Manix)

Manixandfeather.jpg


landserpunk said:
As far as the strength of the blade goes, there is a lifetime warranty.
Click to expand...

Lifetime warranty means nothing if you're out in the boonies when it breaks - not saying it will, but why deliberately weaken a knife all because of a toy, because that's what the bottle opener is?

I love the H.E.S.T. but everytime I pick it up and see the bottle opener, I think of this.

I'm now going back and hide in my hole.

Doc
 
i traded my izula because it was not as handy as the hest...plus the handle was a little small for me. the hest is about perfect. size, function and just plain handy!!!
 
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