Advice on first ESEE Purchase

This thread really helped convince me that the 4 is the way to go for me. I recently traded away my Becker BK9 and BK7. My USMC KA-BAR seems big enough for me right now. The BK2 is just too heavy and KA-BAR seems to be having a hard time making a sheath that I am happy with.

The ESEE-4 really seems like it will be just right for my go-to knife. I have a BK11 with Micarta scales that I love, and that combined with an ESEE-4, perhaps even a saw and a small axe or tomahawk seems like the way to go.

A few more sales on eBay and I should have enough to join the pack.
 
You're right .. It won't be my last. Blades in the bush, whether for survival or adventure are priceless. It had been awhile since I had to replace a knife and the market is flooded with manufacturers.

Again thanks to everyone who took a minute to help out this Canadian !! The knife will get much use while conducting searches and instructing wilderness and winter survival.
 
Sqoon,

I also had a Ka-Bar in the past as well as several Kershaw blades. They all worked well in my SAR/survival world but I came to this forum in search of real user advice for the ESEE/RAT brand after I came across the website.

I could not believe the feedback for the ESEE brand regardless of the knife choice. Since receiving my ESEE RC 4 I have put it through the paces and honestly say that is the best knife I have ever used.

The ESEE 6 was tempting, and will be my next purchase, but in the SAR world the amount of gear you hawl into the bush has great impacts on you and the lost person. Everything has to have two functions to be included.

The RC 4 gave me a great balance of size/weight as well as overall capability.

You can't go wrong with the ESEE RC 4.
 
Wriggs - glad the advice worked. Get the 6 next, you may be surprised at how versatile it is.

Sqoon - welcome to the ESEE forum. Don't worry, you don't have to own one of the knives to be part of the crew, just post useful stuff -- like stories or pictures of you and/or your kit doing things in the woods. :D
 
My only concern in the end with the ESEE 6 was the size might be cumbersome on the belt while getting in and out of helicopters, boats, or vehicles. Where the RC 4 seems perfect even in tight spots if belt mounted or molle'd to the front of my SAR vest.

I felt the length of the 6 would force me to put it in my pack and therefor only be a tool for shelter building and not an all purpose.

Don't get me wrong, the 6 is still calling my name but for me the 4 was the best choice for an all purpose quick access blade.

Anyone feel the 6 is or is not a quick access comfortable belt or vest blade? Opinions welcome for future purchase..
 
you could always get a MOLLE back for it and hang it upside down from your vest.
there's a "jump proof" hood that folds over the end of the handle so it can't fall out. (on the off chance the molded sheath were to let go)
 
Do you find that you can perform smaller/finer tasks with that blade, ie. fire bow and hand drill preperation. I heard previous that it's great for chopping and medium size wood work as well as food preperation.

The 6 seems too big for fine detail work and maybe too small for large work. I only ask because I am detail oriented with the gear I bring on Searches and I currently have a cheap machete that i use exclusively for shelter building and limbing.

So I want the 6 to replace that as a larger multi purpose blade. Is it big enough or should I go with the Jungla?
 
I have not actually made a fire bow or hand drill with my 6 -- but that's a good idea, I should.
since you already carry a cheap machete for limbing and shelter building, that base sounds covered. If you're looking for something smaller to replace it, I'd go with the Junglas - it's much better at limbing than the 6 and theoretically would be easier to strap to a pack than a full sized machete
the 6 will make fuzz sticks, has the same point at the 4 for drilling, etc... you just need to choke up on the blade for really fine work.
If you lived closer, I'd suggest you come out for a weekend some time and I'd let you use mine (6 & Junglas) so you could teach me some SAR tricks of the trade and get a feel for the knifes before shelling out the $$ for one or both. :)

As a lower cost "off brand heresy", you might also look at the Condor Golok - great lower end hacker/slasher - I used one a month or so back to clear a section of dogwood saplings and it went through thumb thick stuff like butter and up to 2" honey locust pretty easy. (so did the Junglas)
 
SAR is a great excuse to practise bushcraft and survival skills/mindset. That's why my knives get so much work but I never really gave them the respect they deserved until I started learning finer bushcraft skills that required a great blade.

I like the Junglas dimensions. I started another thread for advice on the Junglas and 6 looking for positives and negatives as well as photos of the junglas in use.

I can always teach SAR tricks from here ! lol
 
100_0468.jpg


100_5045.jpg


100_5021.jpg


All pics of my RC-6, I really like the weight and feel of this blade. I cant compare it constructively against the RC-4 becuase Ive never owned one, but I cant say enough good things about the 6.
 
If your going to clean game...buy the 4. I have a 5 and a IZULA. I use the Izula for fish and game and the 5 for hard chores.
 
Crowdog, excellent display of the 6 at work. The 6 is a survival knife that can do any survival essential. Small and light enough to carry all the time and big enough to give you a handful of capable steel.
 
I'm getting my 6 soon. (should get here in about 4-5 more days) I allways test knives I intend to keep. So I will send a report and some pics, as to how well my new 6 works out with many different things. (jezz I do not like the waiting, but its kinda like christmas comming) And as well as my Junglas worked out *jezz what a blade, its Still shaving after a pounding* I am drooling about my 6 arriving. Oh and props to your job.!!! and my family came to the states from Canada. I go back often. Lake of the Woods most of the time. Great people, Great Country, and I gotta say Great beer.! Enjoy. edgy:thumbup:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top