esee 3 or esee 4?

[cards94]

which one would you go with if you wanted one fixed blade in your possession.

 

[mrynecy]

I debated this very question and ended up going with the 3. At the end of the day, it can handle 90% of my camping chores and is still small enough to edc as well.

 

[cards94]

I debated this very question and ended up going with the 3. At the end of the day, it can handle 90% of my camping chores and is still small enough to edc as well.

were you able to hold the 4 in your hand also? i just watched a review of someone who bought the 3 and 4 and ended up keeping both.

 

[retzius]

Between these two the ESEE 3 all the way. It is somewhat unique in that it has a .125 inch thick blade and it actually cuts really well.

 

[mrynecy]

duplicate post

 

[mrynecy]

were you able to hold the 4 in your hand also? i just watched a review of someone who bought the 3 and 4 and ended up keeping both.

yes I handled the 4. The older I get, the smaller my blade preference becomes. I own a BK2 and hardly ever use it even when I am primitive camping. For me the 3 is a great sized all-around knife.

 

[cards94]

thanks for the feedback. think i'll go with the esee 3.

 

[cards94]

Between these two the ESEE 3 all the way. It is somewhat unique in that it has a .125 inch thick blade and it actually cuts really well.

what other would you consider over the esee 3?

 

[J_Curd]

I have both. The 3 is great, slices like a champ but the handle is just barely enough. The 4 is much more of a tank, and not as good a slicer. I would take the 3 if I had to choose. BTW - I like the Ontario D2 RAT version the most ( don't kill me ESEE guys!).

 

[goodeyesniper]

ESEE 3 for its thinness and overall size for utility. the small added length on the 4 is wasted on me, and the added thickness is a huge downside. handle could fool my hand a bit better though.

 

[upnorth]

I have both. The 3 is great, slices like a champ but the handle is just barely enough. The 4 is much more of a tank, and not as good a slicer. I would take the 3 if I had to choose. BTW - I like the Ontario D2 RAT version the most ( don't kill me ESEE guys!).

I like my ESEE's as much as the next guy. But handle a Becker BK-16 sometime. Consider the ergonomics and light weight.

 

[knoefz]

The 4 is my fave... small and light enough to carry with ease, stout enough to take on anything. And the extra length just makes some tasks a little easier.

But you can't choose wrong imho.

 

[SoCal_kid]

Havent handled the 4 but I do enjoy my 3. It is slim and capable. Comfortable in hand as well.

 

[JSMcustoms]

Esse 4. I had a 3 and found it a bit small, so I parted with it and got the 4.

I have both. The 3 is great, slices like a champ but the handle is just barely enough. The 4 is much more of a tank, and not as good a slicer. I would take the 3 if I had to choose. BTW - I like the Ontario D2 RAT version the most ( don't kill me ESEE guys!).

I solved this in about an hour total on my waterstones (had been stripped previously). It got reprofiled to a smaller edge angle (about 25 degrees inclusive) and it slices like a champ now. Even better than my Esse 3 did.

 

[ozgooner]

The 3 is too small for my hand, but I love my 4 with TKC handles. That said, I recently acquired a Becker BK-17 with the micarta scales and that's finally come close to competing with the ESEE-4. Definitely worth a look.

 

[J_Curd]

I also removed the inner scale liners (green fiber) on my RAT-4. Fits my hand much better now. Svelte.

 

[SuzukiGS750EZ]

3 for EDC or camp tasks and 4 for an all around knife. It just footprints a little under shirts.

 

[DMD08]

I have both. Prefer the 3. What I really want is a 1/8" thick ESEE 4.

 

[J_Curd]

I have both. Prefer the 3. What I really want is a 1/8" thick ESEE 4.

I'd buy one.

 

[canyon56]

I have owned both and prefer the Esee 3. The Esee 4 handle felt small for the size of the blade.