BK2 or ESEE 5

M

mistercory

Joined
Dec 31, 2009
Messages
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I'm looking to get a SHTF, heavy duty knife to add to my small herd of cutting tools. I'm looking for some ESEE 5/BK 2 comparisons/opinions from people who have one or the other or both. Thanks.
 
Ill take some pictures for you when I get home. Both awesome knives and basically the same. Do you want micarta? What kind of sheath do you like?
 
I really like the slender ESEE handle on my smallish Rat-3, but for a bigger hard-use knife I can't imagine not having a Becker handle. sure the prices are different, as well as the ESEE micarta and sheaths are great, but to me the Becker handle on a big knife is the must-have feature.
 
your in the becker forum, so OF COURSE the bk2

But anyway, this is how it breaks down for one or the other. They have different handle shapes, so it comes to personal preferance, some like the esee handle, others think its too blocky and prefer the the becker. The blade shape is different as well and the becker is about a 3/8 shorter IIRC. I like the shape of the becker better just because i think it drills better. The esee comes with micarta handles and a kydex sheath, but both are easily found for the becker. If you dont need micarta or kydex, the becker comes in at around $60. If you need those things, and they are both great additions to the knife, then both will end up being around the same price. Now as for warranty, the esee has a no questions asked warranty, where no matter what you do they will replace it. Kabar has a similar warranty, except they just wont replace a knife that has been tortured, but other than that they will take care of you if you just so happen to break it, which is highly unlikely. Both have solid heat treats and great fit and finish.

So in the end, its about handle comfort really, or looks. And both those are solely your discretion. Not really much help was i?
 
I would pick the BK2 over the E5 any day. Not because this is a Becker forum, but because the E5 has the handle ergonomics of a brick. It is just plain unwieldy, maybe if I had larger mitts or something but that flat handles on that knife give poor control. I also do not care for the pointy end, In vertical I wind up scratching my forearm on the stupid thing half the time. Actually come to think of It I really hate that knife. Now the Esee 3 or 4 is a totally different story, those I love.
For SHTF you want your favorite knife, not the eh, this will do knife.
 
BK2 without a doubt!

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As others say, they're really similar. For me, the higher grind on the BK2 lets the blade be as slicey as possible with such a blade thickness, and it is still plenty robust.

I also think the handles look much more comfortable (haven't held an ESEE yet, but the Beckers are pretty much perfect in my opinion).

Good luck man.
 
Get both, sell the one you find yourself using the least, you'll get most of your money back.
 
BK2's stock grips are definitely more ergo.
I think the ESEE finish might be a bit more sturdy...
I do like Kabar's 1095 better. Seems to sharpen easier and stay that way longer... I don't know if it's the trace vanadium or heat treat or what.
I like the flat pommel of the Beckers for pounding much better than the ESEE glass breaker.
I do like the blade design of the ESEE 5 better-more belly, less drop.

Kind of a tossup, those are just the points I've noticed between the two.
 
Esee 5 will run you around 200 bucks.
The bk2 around 60 bucks for the same blade quality.
You can get factory bk2 micarta for 40 and custom kydex for 35-50.
So you can go in for less with the bk2 and upgrade as you go, or go all in at the front and still have 50 extra bucks in your pocket. And of course save that 50 bucks for a new tweener! :D

Either way you will get a great blade. It's all preference and how much you want to spend for a 1/4" thick 1095 saber grind drop point blade.
 
The biggest difference, to me, is the blade grind. Look at the ESEE 5, half the height of the blade is 1/4" thick. It's got a very robust edge, not very good for "normal" camp chores, IMO and others'.
Sure the handles are different, the sheaths, the black coating, slight differnce in steel, and the blade shape(profile). But in a cutting contest, the BK2 is made as a camp knife, that can chop. The ESEE 5 was designed to cut through aircrafts and then help you survive.
You have to decide what tasks you have in mind and go from there, or you can regrind the ESEE 5, it's been done before.
 
I've handled both(only own the RC5), and I have used both. (Haven't used the BK2 extensively, though) and I must say I prefer the 5 over the 2. I like the handle more, and the sheath is better, imo. You can't really go wrong with either, but there is different preferences for different people.
 
mistercory said:
Hmmmm.... So would I be able to cut thru an aircraft with a BK2 if I needed to?
Click to expand...

Yes, the edge is still very strong. There's threads where someone cut through a lawnmower with their BK2. It's just enough of a difference that when doing camp chores you will be glad to have the thinner edge.
Both are made well, it's just a matter of preference, to each his own.

I personally went with the Chestnut ridge knife shop's custom BK2. I got a kydex sheath, and black micarta handle scales. The scales are flat, unlike those from Ka-Bar. I also have a leather sheath, from my ESEE 5 that fits the BK2 very well. I traded off my ESEE 5 because I like the edge of the BK2 better, for my life. If I were in a military situation, maybe I would have kept the ESEE 5, in my aircraft.
 
I went BK2. Don't know why. Think i felt it looked prettier. Good decision I still feel. Though it seems it was neither based in fact or logic.

I didn't help. What I did here ^^ wasn't helping.:D
 
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