I'm headed out the door, but I bought a new knife.

Until the forum provides a way to print bigger pictures, it's hard to show the bevels and the polished repairs. I will write a longer review tonight.

For the meantime, and if you care, go google na ESEE Pelton H.E.S.T. right handed folder.

That "folder" addition is critical. They make a H.E.S.T. fixed blade model. I have one of those, too, but I wanted a knife for an EDC.

This folder is a D2 blade with a titanium frame, perfect for our uses as bikers. In fact, if you're a blade-head and you're headed out to do errands--or going to Sturgis--this is your knife. Do some research, I'll be back in +8 hours with details.

Just got back from the gym and lunch. I don't usually eat out on a week-day, however this was a weak-day. I lost far too much weight this week.

Usually this is a set-back. However, I had a new knife, and I do not consider a knife "mine" unless I eat with it first. It was a short ride over to Oysy, and their tremendous buffet.

All in all, the knife works fine as an EDC. I found a slight gremlin near the tip on the right hand side, easily buffed out on the next full sharpening. I stropped it, and while I can see the grinding error under a lighted loupe' knowing where to look, it's too minor to waste good steel for vanity. The edge is still sharp enough to easily slice newsprint cleanly.

The black protective finish on this folder is not as forgiving as the same knife in their fixed blade design. While under the loupe' I noticed a few whisker scratches where the fixed blade's black wrinkle coating would have stood the test. To be fair, this is a knife a biker would treasure, and scant marks under high magnification are nothing.

For example, the blade has a bottle-cap opener in the spine. While useful, I can guaranty that the same finish will chip off on the first Budweiser. This is a superior cutting tool designed for some extreme tasks. There is so much titanium on this folder that a SEAL could dive with it.

Go buy one.

Oh, and I failed report that there is also a rotating lock that turns this folder into a virtual "fixed" blade, the clip is attached by a screw that also is pointed to be a glass breaker, and there is a hex-agonal lanyard hole in the butt end designed for bits to make the knife a wrench.

There is also a multi-function fob that comes with the knife to tighten and change out most of the fasteners on the knife. This fob could easily fit into the watch pocket on your jeans or on your key chain.

The pocket clip is designed to let the entire knife "disappear" all of the way into your pocket.

And yes, BI63, inside the the grip there is a stamp marked "Made in Italy."

Better then made in japan/china?

In fact, yes. Italy is now making the some of the world's finest hard-use knives currently for sale. A company called Extrema Ratio uses cobalt steel, and this H.E.S.T folder is made by an Italian manufacturing company called "Lionsteel," known for their precision.

Right now Zero Tolerance uses a newer alloy called Elmax, a product produced by Bohler-Uddeholm. Up until now most of the higher end alloys were produced by Hitachi or Crucible.

The times they are a-changin' my friend.