Alternatives for the ESEE-5

You can pick up a Buck Nighthawk for cheap. It's 1/4" thick and has a good blade shape at around 6.5" long. I've been beating and abusing one for about 10 years and feel I got my $40 worth.

draft_lens11198061module102641421photo_1274807683Buck-Nighthawk-Tactical-K
 
The 5+ inch Bark River Bravo 1.5 will be released in a month or two I believe. CPM 3V steel and convex grind. It will be a tank!
 
ESEE is still running at a 2-3 week turn around to ship to distributors. So many peeps are buying up the knives dealers/distributors don't have enough stock to cover till the next shipment... still waiting on a Junglas myself =)

an alternative to the ESEE5 is the BK2
 
concerning buying an ESEE - well i guess i'm just too late for the game and should have taken more like two months in advance to get one.
it's just that i never thought about buying a knife i need to wait for before - maybe i'm just the impatient type... :rolleyes:
i'm sure they will come out with more nice knifes i have use for in the future - i will have an eye out for that & then i may have time to wait.

the bark river bravo 1.5 also looks highly interesting - thanks for bringing that to my attention! same problem here though... i don't think
they will send me a pre-production model so i have my stout knife for vacation in 3 weeks ;)

buck nighthawk: i'm not really trying to be as cheap as possible - this would be a great knife for a boy scout though - i'm sure i could have used it then!

and the moras - really? well i like them in the kitchen but... though i've got to say: a .25 inch variant with a bit more width and better handle/ sheath would be an instant bestseller! :D

and yeah knifeworks - still waiting for a reply to my email (i never order without live confirmation of stock...)

thanks guys!
 
Überich;9375888 said:
buck nighthawk: i'm not really trying to be as cheap as possible - this would be a great knife for a boy scout though - i'm sure i could have used it then!
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your end result should be function, not price. a becker BK2 is 1/2 the price of an ESEE 5 but you own one and you know it's a good knife. an item like the condor rodan is a heavy duty knife that is way under your budget, but other reputable members here can vouch for the knife (and other forums). i bought a machete from them (to give to a friend) and it impressed me to the point that i will definitely own a few of their products. the main goal of that was to say "don't just use price as a guide".
 
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yeah you're right - my limit is 200$ and if i end up way below that... great!
but: i think you won't get around paying premium if you want premium (though i also think you will not always get material that justifies the premium price. cough stri.. cough ...der)
since you mention the BK2 -> that is indeed a good knife especially at the price - it's not a great knife though
and it's solely the low price that keeps it from beeing great:
cheap plastic-sheath -> kydex would be the way to go but will cost you 50$ aftermarket
cheap plastic handle scales -> not very comfortable for me but what's really bad is that the scales don't seem to absorb shock well from very strong hits. again something you can fix but thats another 40$
so do you put money into a good inexpensive knife to make it great or do you get a great knife to begin with? (or maybe you don't need a great knife after all? since i only bring two knifes it has to do everything reliably - i won't bring a hatchet or saw...)
since there's also something in the blade-geometry of the BK2 that i don't totally like i decided for a new knife. now i hope i get the 5 but want to look out for an alternative if i don't.
the other cheaper knifes that were mentioned are one-upped by the BK2 in my opinion...
 
No one has suggested Scrapyard or SwampRat (or even Busse, though that's pricier) ?
I own the HRLM and RatManDu - both amazing knives, the RMD in particular, tougher and more versatile than most anything I've come across, and no waiting! (RMD's stil in stock, others can be found on the exchange or auction-sites). But they ARE pricier than ESEE & Becker... I know Fallkniven was already mentioned, can't go wrong there...

Also, >0.20" is an odd requirement as a superior blade is one that offers the same (or better) durability and versatility in a thinner profile / lighter weight. Why restrict yourself to an inferior tool?
 
Überich;9371869 said:
hi folks,

i was shopping for the ESEE-5PB but didn't find any dealer with stock and international shipping option. (ebay was not an option)

i don't have the time to wait as of now, so here's my question:

anyone out there (who maybe also owns an ESEE-5) who thinks they know an alternative quality- and design-wise (most important features: tank-like build and versatile blade-shape)?

any suggestion is welcome (except the BK2 - i own that one...) - thanks!

EDIT: i'm looking for a blade thickness of min .25 inch (combined with less blade-width than the BK2)
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Just phoned www.bladematrix.tv , they have a serrated blade Esee-5 in stock .
Good Luck ,
Lionknife
 
Überich;9374367 said:
thanks for the comparison shot!
concerning the grind: yeah i think the blade geometry on the ESEE-5 is nearly unbeatable in strength considering the versatility it still allows.
where did you get the scales on the BK2? they look much better than the stock parts. did you keep the sheath? if so: how much better does the kydex-sheath of the ESEE-5 handle (i hope a lot!...)?
the TOPS mountain lion is a very nice knife - the choil doesn't take away much from the edge at all. the recurve might be tough to sharpen (for me!) but what really kills this knife for me is that i fear it is illegal (or classified as weapon) in a lot of countries because of the double-edge.

which one of those knifes do you like/ carry/ use the most?
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The TOPS ML has a false edge on top, the black coating actually continues down the spine to the tip.

The BK2 has the thinnest edge of the three. As far as normal cutting tasks, the other two are almost too thick. A tough knife is great for chopping, beating, prying, but most of the time knives are for cutting. The BK2 is a more practical knife, I paid $130 shipped for mine. Upgraded (flat) micarta scales, nice kydex sheath, and the BK2, it's now a great knife. The TOPS will cost you $114 at least, and the ESEE, is even more than those.

The BK2 is from Chestnut Ridge Knife Shop, they have a website, and do the micarta handles themselves. Yes, they sent me the original BK2 sheath, but the micarta slabs are flat, as seen in that pic. So, my BK2 rattles around in the original sheath, but the package came with a custom kydex sheath.
The slabs are more like the ESEE5, in thickness.
I like the BK2 the most, for camping. ESEE 5 is of great quality, but really more for cutting out of an aircraft. It's almost too thick to do small tasks.
The TOPS is also made very well, I have not really used it. It's a stout knife, but better for stabbing.
 
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I have had/have RC5, BK2, and an S1. I didnt like the RC5 at all...too heavy to wide and the handle does not hold the butt of your hand well during light chopping. It is a tank and a prybar but I would never use it like this nor do I think anyone else does. The BK2 is very comparable but I like it far better. With Micarta scales it is stellar!! The handle fits far better and is less boxy. But honestly I use my Fallkniven more then both. It is lighter, easier to carry the shealth although some view it as crap I absolutely love it. The grind is substantially more capable. I have done side by side and the S1 is not clumsy like the RC5 or BK2. I thought the RC5 would chop great...no! The grip as I have said does not hold the butt of your hand well. The BK2 does and chops better. The S1 held its own...neck and neck. I couldnt believe it. But honestly chopping at this length is not that great. The S1 feels better in the hand and easier to work with. I do however prefer my A1 to both my old (now traded) rc5 or Bk2 or S1. It is longer but it out chops them all yet is still lighter, more compact and easier to pack! Not to mention the blade on both the S1 and A1 are easier to sharpen in the field. Yes the warranty is awesome on the RC5 which will probably never break with a blade thickness of .25" but remember the S1 is .20" thick. It is no whimp! I would take my Fallkniven over my ESEE any day of the week. I have put a lot of time on both and find the Fallknivens to substantially out-perform the ESEE. Just wish the Fallknivens had the same warranty....my only hang up!
 
Entreks are American and their 440C is great. I've beat the hell out of my javalina. Wouldn't think twice about this recommendation.
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But if the Esee is what you like, I would keep searching for one. Nothing else will compare as well. Also TOPS has a vast amount of blades within this range.
 
hey, I left you a visitor message. Not sure if you are still wanting the 5 or not but I have a brand new one that I am willing to ship international. It has never been used but I sharpened it to a mirror edge and it is scary sharp. USPS express international is usually very fast. Let me know if you are interested.

But for other options, Scrap yard Regulator and Fallkniven A1 are both absolute tanks and are around the same price.
 
thanks for all the useful feedback guys!:thumbup: i'm glad i joined this forum!
some of that really makes sense. maybe i cling to this izula/ ZT0302 (fine) + ESEE-5 (raw) combo just because i set my mind to it...
i'll try to think outside of the box and take a look at those options

thanks foxx and soapboxpreacher for insight on your hands-on experience with those knifes. gives a different angle on the ESEE-5 vs BK-2 and i will definitely reconsider a fallkniven (glad a local dealer has them)

also that post questioning the thickness of the blade made me scratch my head - i guess it comes down to the feel i have with a thick blade.
i destroyed quite a lot of blades in my boy scout times - but i guess a lot of that was due to inexperience and really bad knifes...
actually that didn't happen in a long time - but i also didn't use a knife as prybar in a long time...
all i know is that i never thought "careful now - don't damage it!" while using my ZeroTolerance 0302 and that's why i got the BK-2 when i saw it on a friend...
so maybe tank-like became a quality i'm looking for in a knife without the need for that... on the other hand i like the idea of having a knife with me that really can do all that a knife theoretically could (including: digging, penetration, chopping, batoning, prying, and yes cutting out of that blackhawk i'll never sit in ;)) - and the ESEE-5 seems to incorporate all that - of course without doing everything exceptionally well!
 
thanks for pointing me at dealers with stock lionknife and BenchmadeBoy!
one problem though: imho serrations are intentional damage to the blade ;), so that's not an option for me...
 
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