Esee 3 or Bucklite fixed?

J

jfive

Joined
Feb 12, 2006
Messages
201
Hey folks,

I'm looking for an appropriate slicer that could team up with the Esee 6. First i thought of the Esee 3 (which goes for around 90$). But then i stumbled over the Bucklite series (18-25$).
What would you guys do? I mean the Esee 3 has micarta handles and 1095 with probably a decent heat treatment. On the other hand the buck costs almost 1/4...
Is the 1095 that much better (like more wear resistant) than the 420HC by buck? I already have the Esee 4 so I'm really not sure which blade I should go for.
Don't want to be cheap but there are other blades (Esee 6, Ratmandu,...) which are more important to me and I don't want to end bankrupt :D

Cheers!
 
have you considered a mora?

if you already own a ESEE 4 and 6, i don't see the need for getting a 3.
 
I would probably go for the esee 3. The actual knives aside, the esee 3 sheath setup is so versatile, especially if you get it with the molle back.
 
i already own 2 moras....but even though i like em....i don't really trust em.
 
jfive said:
i already own 2 moras....but even though i like em....i don't really trust em.
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why don't you trust them?

for the money the bucklite max fixed blade is very good knife, i doubt you'll be disappointed. it has a full tang and buck does the best 420HC in the business.
 
I'd spend the extra money and get the ESEE-3. Well worth the money any way you look at it.
 
you have a 4, you don't really need a 3.
bucklite or eskabar would be good low end companion blades.
 
I have the 6 the 5 the 4 and the 3 as well as the Izula and the 3 is the one that i use the most , very nice little knife, so if i were you i would get the Esee 3
 
I have an ESEE-3mil, great slicer with that thin blade and flat grind. It looks similar to the 4 but the shorter blade, thinner blade stock and better balance make more difference than you'd think in actual use. I have both and lately I prefer the 3.

I don't have that particular Buck knife but generally hollow grinds don't slice as well as flat ground blades if that's really important to you. Bucks 420HC is supposed to be the best around but then again Rowens heat treat on the ESEE's 1095 is pretty great too. The ESEE also has micarta scales and a better sheath.

If it were me I'd get the ESEE-3 but if you're short on cash Buck makes a fine knife.
To be honest a Mora would probably be the best choice, you'll have the 6 for all the hard use stuff so your companion blade could be more for detail work which Moras are great at. Unless you're wanting the second knife as more of a sturdy back up blade, in that case maybe an Izula or similar would be better.
 
Tye Possum said:
I don't have that particular Buck knife but generally hollow grinds don't slice as well as flat ground blades
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in general, find the opposite to be true, hollow grinds slice better than flat grinds. hollow grinds tend to be thinner behind the edge (bevel).
 
jfive said:
don't know...maybe because of the thin blades. i just wouldn't bet my life on a mora. the buck felt quite sturdy.
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Sounds like you have your answer. The buck is a good knife for the money, I highly doubt you'll regret the purchase.
 
jfive said:
don't know...maybe because of the thin blades. i just wouldn't bet my life on a mora. the buck felt quite sturdy.
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To be honest I'd trust the mora before a buck. I'd go with the ESEE if you need that level of comfort.
 
jimnolimit said:
in general, find the opposite to be true, hollow grinds slice better than flat grinds. hollow grinds tend to be thinner behind the edge (bevel).
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Well I guess that depends on what you're slicing.
Hollow grinds tend to be thinner behind the edge but when the whole blade has to pass through the medium the sudden increase in thickness at the top of the hollow grinding may create more resistance than the smoother transition of thickness on a flat ground blade. That's what I've found to be the case but unless these knives are going to be used as chefs knives I don't think it makes much differance anyway.
 
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