3 or 4?

condahaw said:
I don't baton wood w/ a blade to split it. I let my fire do the work for me. I really don't need a long blade. I understand that conditions are different elsewhere in the world though. Good luck in your choice!
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For what it's worth, I live in a temperate rain forest where it tends to be really wet a lot of the time. I do often baton wood to get to the dryer insides for kindling or even for wood that will catch or burn quicker, and to get to the rich part of fatwood for fire starting. But as Jeff pointed out so well batoning large wood is seldom necessary in the woods. I seldom baton limbs more than two inches in diameter in the woods...only when initially testing larger knives do I do larger pieces. My personal "needs" in batoning are not a task where I find the 3 lacking. It is only in the realm of lateral strength where I find the 3 a little lacking compared to the 4 and that is why I prefer the 4 when carrying only one fixed-blade knife on a planned trip the woods. That said I can't say how many times I have found myself on longer than expected hikes carrying only the 3MIL I keep handy because it's compact, has the ability to be relocated it quickly, and is tougher than it looks. If I had a 5/32" thick 3MIL I wouldn't even need the 4. As it is I impatiently await the arrival of my new ESEE-4S DT that should be here tomorrow or the next day :)
 
Personally I had hands on both of them... The 3 is an awesome knife and should be fine for most of the "normal" tasks out there like the others said. I prefered the orange G10 and the different blade on the 4 over the 3 because I needed a slightly bigger "1 for all tasks" knife for my trip to Norway :p

Due to this madhouse here I might end up pretty soon in ordering a 6 when I find a decent offer and for sure the RatPack knife when its available :p Despite that the pink Izzy convinced my GF that she has a need for a knife on her backpack as well :D

In the end its totally up to you because.both knifes have their (dis)advantage in each of their users view... For daily or concealed carry it would be the 3 for me, as workhorse a 4 ;)
 
For an everyday walk in the woods, the ESEE-3 is excellent. I have the 3 and the 4 (and the 5 and 6), and given your criteria, I think the 3 fits best. Big enough to do everything mentioned (and then some), and small enough to be unobtrusive around the bunny-huggers. The Izula would do the work you mentioned handily enough, as would a folder, but the handles will be smaller.

BTW, I have a similar dilemma. In the warm weather months, my favorite trails are over-run with city-folk who think all knives are evil. I usually carry a folder in my pocket, and the ESEE-3 in my bag or pack.

SP
 
I also started with a 6 and had the same question. I was unable to decide however so ended up with both.:) Now I would probably lean slightly to the 4 but as has been stated you will not go wrong with either.
 
stick with the 6 and if someone gives you a stinkeye then say, " you think that is dangerous, then check out my Glock 20 right here......":grumpy:
 
I have the 4 but def have 3 envy. I carried/used the hell out of my old D2 Rat3 and sold it to get the esee 4 and wish I would have bought the 3. The only thing that keeps me on track is that I can carry my 4 and izula together for the perfect combo.
 
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