Cheap Esee 5 Alternative

F

Fijarian

Joined
Mar 31, 2021
Messages
2
Hello,
I really like the esee 5 but am unable to shell out that much money for it currently. Does anyone have any cheaper suggestions? I want a knife that could handle Bushcraft and survival jobs.
 
Take a look at some offerings from Cold Steel, Ontario, Brisa, Mora and Hultafors. Real Steel also make some cheap but good quality bushcraft type knives. There's a lot to choose from, you won't get the same level of warranty as ESEE but you will still get a decent knife from those companies.
 
+2 On the Kabar BK2. I have both the Esee 5 and the BK2. And I would say the Kabar will serve you well.
 
Esee 5 is was designed as a Downed Pilot knife. It's thick and heavy. Not good for bush craft. I wanted that same knife. Any way you are most likely better of with some thing like a Esee 4 or 3. Here is an Esse 4 (good general knife) and a Helle Eagan (good bush craft and camp knife). My First good knife I bought for out in the woods.
49913527413_34d57c0f8a_b.jpg

Rich K.
 
The BK 2 looks like it would be great but it is still out of my price range. Has anyone purchased the gerber strongarm or Surviv-all survival knife by statgear? I would love to hear reaviews on them. Are there any suggestions for around $50?
 
For low cost, check out Old Hickory Butcher knives.....

you can sand, and finish them as to how you want. When the handle scales work loose, just epoxy them back on.

I have the largest bladed one, and have chopped and batoned it like crazy! I believe it was less than $20?
 
I would recommend the following for a budget around 50usd and the purpose of 'bushcrafting':
1) Mora Bushcraft black with carbon steel
2) Condor Terrasaur
3) Condor Bushlore
4) Old Hickory 5.5" with sheath
 
Surprised that no one has brought up the Rat 5 from Ontario. You are getting a knife that is virtually a design clone due to their common lineage (Randal knives used to produce blades for Ontario is my understanding) and you get it at about half or 60% of the price of an ESSE. Of course one of the great things about ESSE is the warranty but Ontarios warranty is nothing to sneeze at and given how robust my Rat 5 is I doubt I will ever need to take them up on that warranty service.
 
I’d look at...

Mora
Ontario
KaBar
Buck
Condor
Gerber isn’t my brand but some of their fixed blades get pretty decent reviews
 
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Condor Rodan. Damn nice for what they are. Don’t know what the price is now but mine was $25 when I bought it.
 
Looks like the Rodan (and the longer versions I also should have tried out but didn't) are all discontinued... the Mini Hudson looks like a decent value these days.

ETA you can still find the Rodan online, but it costs nearly what the Mini Hudson does...
 
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