BK 16 and Esee 3 comparison

Nice comparison.
I didn't pick up the 3 because I wanted a full 4-finger grip. For my large hands, neither the 3 nor 4 would cut it.
I did note that the 3 felt perfectly natural and useable as a 3-finger blade - could make a nice EDC, if I could do such things around here; whereas the 4 felt like someone had cut off the last inch of handle. And the lack of shaping did not bother me on the 3 the way it did on the 4. To me, anyways.

I do love my saber 16!
 
It really is hard to go wrong with either esee or becker. My most used knives are bk11,14,16 and my esee candiru,izula 1. But when i need bigger blades the bk2,4,5,9 are riding along.
 
both the izula and the 3 also make for excellent boot knives
 
SideTracked said:
Nice comparison, they Esee 3 is a reliable knife but that saber 16 is amazing!
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The 3 is acutally a tougher knife than it is given credit for imo. It is my backpacking knife and cant see a different knife filling that role anytime soon. Its light and can take a serious beat down and keep on ticking, it is by far my favorite knife in the whole ESEE line up.
 
I am glad to see this comparison as I wanted to know if the 3 was small enough to get away with carrying on my person. It seems the handle is bigger than the 24/izula?
 
i want all those limes to be used for great justice
 
Great impartial opinion and comparisons of both blades. Thank you. I personally would go the 16 based on your findings.
 
The 3 killed my hands. Just to thin in the grip. The 4 is much better for me. I've only held a 17 but feels better than both of them for sure.
 
Chameleonbear said:
I'm a fan of both of those blades. I have a few different kinds of both. I'd agree the 16 is more like the 4 but it's still pretty close to both. Go with the TKC scales on the 4 and you'd have a nice knife to compare with the 16.

I prefer the clip on the 17 to the Esee clip which seems more of a sharpened swedge.
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CowboyStyle said:
Thanks guys always fun putting the steel to work. The esee 4 would have been a closer match to the 16 but I did not have one to compare. But to be honest the esee3,4or bk 15,16,17 are all pretty close in performance. I think it comes down to skill and personal preference.
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I had an ESEE4 with the aftermarket TKC scales and the BK16 was more comfortable in my hand, even before O 'faller gave me a set of Osage Orange scales for the 16. after that, it was no contest and I sold off the 4. (I sold off my ESEE3 when the Izula 2 came out - though it has a shorter OAL, the handles are nearly the same length but thicker and therefore more comfortable)
 
Very nice write-up with super photos. They are both good knives but the edge (punn) has to go to the Becker because of the reasons you so articulately cited and ... after all, it's a Becker! :thumbup:
 
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