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BK16 vs. Esee Laser Strike
- Thread starter jbass
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thrillbilly
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BH #250 is in...
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The BK16 is considered the greatest knife ever designed in recent memory. It has no competitor. Especially one with a goofy name like "Laser Strike". If I DID have a Laser Strike, the first thing I'd do is punish it with a belt sander until that silly name came off. Sounds like a collaberation between ESEE and BudK. All its missing is a pop out ninja grappling hook in the handle.
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BK16
Overall Length: 9.25"
Blade Length: 4.375"
Thickness: ~0.155"
Material: 1095CV
ESEE Laser Strike
Overall Length: 10"
Blade Length: 5"
Thickness: ~0.1875"
Material: 1095
Not that dissimilar, the handles appear to be approximately the same length, with the ESEE having a slightly longer blade, although once the choil is taken into consideration, the ESEE only has about .5" more of edge length vs the BK16. Other features reflect typical Becker vs ESEE standards, i.e. the ESEE has micarta, kydex sheath, etc... by default (or at least appears to, I have never handled one so I couldn't say for certain). The ESEE appears to come with a firesteel and mag bar that fit inside the handle with two tinder tabs or something, but what I find surprising is that there is no where on the spine that isn't coated, so the only viable striking area that I can make out from the pictures is the blade, which I am definitely not a fan of. The Laser Strike has a much more pronounced drop point, which is interesting as the Izulas have a much less drastic drop on them, especially compared to a BK14. Heck, the ESEE might even be classified as a spear point, although I am not really sure cause that stuff isn't something I tend to get bogged down in. Handle ergonomics are going to be vastly different, and, like all ESEE knives, I am thinking they would appeal more to those with bigger hands than the BK16, although again, that is merely supposition. Getting back to length, the Laser Strike might be more akin to the BK2, but that would be about all it shares with it from what I am seeing.
Ultimately, like every other knife comparison, the end result is going to come down to user preference. The shape of the Laser Strike doesn't appeal to me, but that is merely personal preference. I held some of the original tweeners, and they were comfortable, and the new versions are even more comfortable, but like all ESEE knives I think the Laser Strike is going to suffer from the flat scales that ESEE puts on their knives. For some that is a plus, but for those like myself, they are some of the most uncomfortable handles ever. The grips will be vastly different on the two knives. On the ESEE the knife will be perpendicular to the arm when held with a thumb on the jimping, whereas the BK16 will have a much more pronounced angle forward due to the shape of the grip.
To add some backstory, the BK16 has been in development by Ethan for quite some time, but this is the first time it has been available. The Laser Strike on the other hand has been around for quite some time throughout the different iterations of Jeff Randall's company, for awhile being available through Tops Knives I believe, as well as under the RAT moniker when they were using Ontario. If I am not mistaken, the reason it was brought back was public demand, not any real preference on the part of Jeff, although again, I could easily be mistaken. In any event, while I am sure both are great knives, and there is no question about the quality of either, for me it comes down to comfort, and the BK16 has that in spades over almost every other single knife I have ever held. the almost $45 price difference is another consideration to be had as well, with the BK16 coming in, as usual, at a much more affordable price than the ESEE offerings. Again though, until you get your hands on both, there is no way to make a real good comparison, and even then, it will come down to the preference of the user.
Overall Length: 9.25"
Blade Length: 4.375"
Thickness: ~0.155"
Material: 1095CV
ESEE Laser Strike
Overall Length: 10"
Blade Length: 5"
Thickness: ~0.1875"
Material: 1095
Not that dissimilar, the handles appear to be approximately the same length, with the ESEE having a slightly longer blade, although once the choil is taken into consideration, the ESEE only has about .5" more of edge length vs the BK16. Other features reflect typical Becker vs ESEE standards, i.e. the ESEE has micarta, kydex sheath, etc... by default (or at least appears to, I have never handled one so I couldn't say for certain). The ESEE appears to come with a firesteel and mag bar that fit inside the handle with two tinder tabs or something, but what I find surprising is that there is no where on the spine that isn't coated, so the only viable striking area that I can make out from the pictures is the blade, which I am definitely not a fan of. The Laser Strike has a much more pronounced drop point, which is interesting as the Izulas have a much less drastic drop on them, especially compared to a BK14. Heck, the ESEE might even be classified as a spear point, although I am not really sure cause that stuff isn't something I tend to get bogged down in. Handle ergonomics are going to be vastly different, and, like all ESEE knives, I am thinking they would appeal more to those with bigger hands than the BK16, although again, that is merely supposition. Getting back to length, the Laser Strike might be more akin to the BK2, but that would be about all it shares with it from what I am seeing.
Ultimately, like every other knife comparison, the end result is going to come down to user preference. The shape of the Laser Strike doesn't appeal to me, but that is merely personal preference. I held some of the original tweeners, and they were comfortable, and the new versions are even more comfortable, but like all ESEE knives I think the Laser Strike is going to suffer from the flat scales that ESEE puts on their knives. For some that is a plus, but for those like myself, they are some of the most uncomfortable handles ever. The grips will be vastly different on the two knives. On the ESEE the knife will be perpendicular to the arm when held with a thumb on the jimping, whereas the BK16 will have a much more pronounced angle forward due to the shape of the grip.
To add some backstory, the BK16 has been in development by Ethan for quite some time, but this is the first time it has been available. The Laser Strike on the other hand has been around for quite some time throughout the different iterations of Jeff Randall's company, for awhile being available through Tops Knives I believe, as well as under the RAT moniker when they were using Ontario. If I am not mistaken, the reason it was brought back was public demand, not any real preference on the part of Jeff, although again, I could easily be mistaken. In any event, while I am sure both are great knives, and there is no question about the quality of either, for me it comes down to comfort, and the BK16 has that in spades over almost every other single knife I have ever held. the almost $45 price difference is another consideration to be had as well, with the BK16 coming in, as usual, at a much more affordable price than the ESEE offerings. Again though, until you get your hands on both, there is no way to make a real good comparison, and even then, it will come down to the preference of the user.
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^ What he said.
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What's a Juggalo? Sounds like a bison with a nice rack. I'm kind of excited here.
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I vote for the 16.
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Don't even ask. Don't get the thread started down this path. You will weep for humanity. Best to stay blissfully ignorant.
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^^^^ It does not get any truer than that statement.
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If mine ever shows up I will take some side by side photos for you. There is nothing wrong with Esee blades, They will cheerfully let you beat the hell out of them and ask for seconds, though the handle ergonomics can leave a bit to be desired for some people. Names are just marketing fluff. Camp Magnum for example.........Laser Strike is a sellable name.
Who wants to buy something called the new smallish Esse bush style kind of spear point knife?
Who wants to buy something called the new smallish Esse bush style kind of spear point knife?
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I'll take 2!
But seriously, give us a heads up if it's FFG or not. Some photos don't look like it quite makes it all the way to the top. Kind of a deal breaker for me.
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Tanner, I opted for the pop up grappling hook. I find that it, along with the emergency cord i have wrapped on my sheat enable me to do such things as climb my tree/ observation post and scale the parking garage wall at the mall.
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