My HEST has been great. I just pulled it out to look at DL's comments and mine doesn't have the close to the finger feel. I can't tell the tang issue. I will say this, the blade has rode in my pocket since getting it, opened bottles, cut a variety of materials, accompanied me on a few day hikes, and I grab it first thing every morning. I may have got lucky, but I love the knife.

Men you can't trust, women you can't trust, beasts you can't trust, but Bussekin steel you can trust