Dang! I keep going back and forth!!! BK2 Vs Esee 5!

T

Tripletap1

Joined
Jul 13, 2014
Messages
133
So, I want a good "Bush Knife" type of blade, I have been looking at the BK2, Esee 5, and the Rat "Afgan".
I think I threw the Afgan out with the bath water, tis a shame, I like the thickness of the blade, and the look, but no Lanyard hole or glass breaker, not that I really need the glass breaker, but if I could get one, why not?
So, the BK2, has about everything I need (Jimping, Finger Choil, etc..) and the price is much better, but the sheath and actual cutting surface not as good as the Esee, and the blade is thinner,better for stabbing I guess but weaker.
I really like the thickness of the Esee, like the sheath, (Even though I will eventually upgrade to a Skystorm sheath for either one) no choil on the Esee, (even though I always keep a pocket knife on me that I guess I could use for things like feathering and or game processing, and all that close up work) and from what I have heard the pommel does not stick out enough for really good chopping, I guess a lanyard could help, hopefully I will have a machete or axe with me, I keep a machete, a hatchet, and an e-tool in my truck.
So, in closing, if I could have all the things I want on one knife, the world would be right, but this will never happen, so herein lies my delay in ordering any of them, I am sure I would be happy with either, I just cannot make up my mind!! :(
Also, is it true that a "Fire Steel" will not work with either unless I remove some of the finish?
Thanks for listening, and any advice is welcome, this was my 100th post, so I will be doing a GAW soon, just gotta decide what I want to put in it. :)
 
Hey, glad you're coming up on 100 posts! Congrats! I hope you stick around!

The Afghan is a good knife. Especially the Bush series. The blade stock is thinner... And if you don't need a glass breaker or hammer pommel, why worry about it? No lanyard hole though. But, it is full flat ground. When you're dealing with a knife with such thick blade stock I think FFG is the way to go. Cuts almost everything better, and it's plenty strong enough.

So, the BK2 has no jimping, or finger choil. I suppose you could add your own, but they don't come like that from the factory:



Also, both the BK2 and the Esee 5 are the same thickness. There is no difference at all. I would also have a hard time believing one of them is hands down tougher than the other one.

Yes a firesteel will work with either if you sand the spine down to bare metal, or just use the edge. I personally prefer to just light the fire with my Zippo, but I can see the value in knowing how to start a fire with that method. I've done it before. It was cool! Don't need to do it again unless my lighter runs outta fluid, which is unlikely, but a remote possibility.... I may need to practice my firebow technique next time! (Just in case)

Good luck with whatever you choose. And post pics when you get it!
 
Get one of each, figure out which one you prefer, and use the other as your GAW. Both problems solved.
 
Both the bk2 and esee 5 are pretty horrible bush knives, IMO. Unless you are a knife user who frequently can't tell the edge from the spine, those thickness will not benefit you for bush work. Unless you have a really different definition of what that means.

Both are great companies who make great knives, I'd shop for another model which had useful geometry.
 
Both the bk2 and esee 5 are pretty horrible bush knives, IMO. Unless you are a knife user who frequently can't tell the edge from the spine, those thickness will not benefit you for bush work. Unless you have a really different definition of what that means.

Both are great companies who make great knives, I'd shop for another model which had useful geometry.
 
If you mean bushcraft, making gizmos out of wood, the answer is mora. If you mean bush work, machete. You may also spend much $$$$ on production or custom variations of either.

I can tell you are torn by the anxiety. Sometimes it's just time to do it.
 
Thank you all, good advice, honestly I want all 3 but I really want an Auto after I decide on which one of these "Big Boys" to get, and unfortunately I am not independently wealthy. (Until I figure out how to get paid for drinking beer and watching TV). Lol.
 
Bk 2 is awesome, here's a picture of a couple I have.
Barkriver knives aurora 3v steel convex edge
Busse boss street terror monkey infi steel convex edge
Lt wright genesis scandi grind zero I believe it's A2 steel

All of them are great but different also from thickness of the blade edges, steel, weight, feel in the hand.

You have some fun decisions to make, enjoy the process.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    94.9 KB · Views: 11
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    99.9 KB · Views: 10
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    58.4 KB · Views: 15
Tripletap1 said:
So, I want a good "Bush Knife" type of blade, I have been looking at the BK2, Esee 5, and the Rat "Afgan".
I think I threw the Afgan out with the bath water, tis a shame, I like the thickness of the blade, and the look, but no Lanyard hole or glass breaker, not that I really need the glass breaker, but if I could get one, why not?
So, the BK2, has about everything I need (Jimping, Finger Choil, etc..) and the price is much better, but the sheath and actual cutting surface not as good as the Esee, and the blade is thinner,better for stabbing I guess but weaker.
I really like the thickness of the Esee, like the sheath, (Even though I will eventually upgrade to a Skystorm sheath for either one) no choil on the Esee, (even though I always keep a pocket knife on me that I guess I could use for things like feathering and or game processing, and all that close up work) and from what I have heard the pommel does not stick out enough for really good chopping, I guess a lanyard could help, hopefully I will have a machete or axe with me, I keep a machete, a hatchet, and an e-tool in my truck.
So, in closing, if I could have all the things I want on one knife, the world would be right, but this will never happen, so herein lies my delay in ordering any of them, I am sure I would be happy with either, I just cannot make up my mind!! :(
Also, is it true that a "Fire Steel" will not work with either unless I remove some of the finish?
Thanks for listening, and any advice is welcome, this was my 100th post, so I will be doing a GAW soon, just gotta decide what I want to put in it. :)
Click to expand...

If you already have a machete and hatchet, then all you need is a decent slicer, like a Mora. After using the 2 or 5 you'll likely opt for a few Mora's somewhere down the road anyway. They slice like crazy, weigh nothing and are next to free compared to some of the other options you are discussing. I have 4 ESEE's and tend to carry the Izula 2. You will end up loving or hating the Becker. I enjoy mine, but these knives are basically wood splitter\pry bar oriented. Then there is the weight issue, which may or may not be a factor. Whatever you decide on, remember that you can always toss in a Mora as a slicer. Neck hang the Mora under your jacket and forget about it until needed. If you have budgetary constraints, then just grab a couple of Mora Companions. They may not be as sexy, but they are likely more practical considering that you already have larger wood processing options.
 
Tripletap1 said:
So, I want a good "Bush Knife" type of blade...I like the thickness of the blade, and the look, but no Lanyard hole or glass breaker, not that I really need the glass breaker, but if I could get one, why not?...So, the BK2, has about everything I need (Jimping, Finger Choil, etc..) and the price is much better, but the sheath and actual cutting surface not as good as the Esee, and the blade is thinner,better for stabbing I guess but weaker...Also, is it true that a "Fire Steel" will not work with either unless I remove some of the finish?
Click to expand...

I used to like the idea of my ESEE-5, but disliked that it was terrible as a knife, for cutting things.

Take a look at the Bark River STS-5. It's more expensive, but it does everything an ESEE-5 can do, but with better balance, stainless steel, and a convex grind that is both tough and cuts impossibly well for such a thick knife.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top