Esee 4 or 6!?

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Knifecollector97

Joined
Mar 23, 2014
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9
I am currently thinking of buying my first ESEE knife and i cant decide between the ESEE 4 and the ESEE 6.
What i am looking for is a FUN utility/ camping/ hiking/ bushcraft knife. And i under stand the esee 4 may be more ideal for bushcraft but i have big hands and im worried the esee 4's limited handle space may make the knife less maneuverable. Unlike the long an good looking handle on the esee 6. Another concern i have is the sheaths. I know kydex is better an has better retention. So i dont know how well the plastic esee 6 sheath will hold up. And if it didnt hold up im not sure if the esee warranty has anything to do with the sheath??? Please help.
 
The 4 is certainly a more useful and easy-to-use knife for bushcraft, imo. The 6 is just an inch or so too long...again, imo. I do agree the ESEE 4 handle is short-ish...and that is not helped by the slab sided scales. As for the sheaths, they are excellent...and under normal use, are virtually indestructible. The last thing I would worry about with ESEE is their sheaths (ditto for Cold Steel). Have you considered alternatives to the 4 such as the Becker BK-16, or the CS Master Hunter?
 
Ok first quick thought is that you phrased it correctly. Your FIRST ESEE knife!! I am a big knife guy and without a doubt the 6 is my favorite. I own the 4, 5, 6, and the Junglas. I use the 4 and 6 regularly for my knife work. Love the brutishness of the 5 but it is too much. To me the six is the perfect balance of a big blade that is thin enough to be useable in bushcraft and camp, but nearly indestructible. If I have to chop my way out of a burning tank, the five is the blade for the task. The four is eminantly useful, but I must admit I like the flare of a big blade. I am particularly smitten with the venom green ESEE six.

Just my .02..... You really can't go wrong.

Doc
 
ESEE 6 is The Knife... :D
Get yourself a 6 with clip-point blade, the blade only, with no scales.
The Knife Connection has those. They also sell separate scales for the models, you'll be able to get the one you like and put together really nice knife,
that you can use for whatever you like - bushcraft or other outdoor activities... The whole thing will cost you around $130-40, not bad at all for such knife.
 
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I've found that 6 to be a tad too long and it's not heavy enough to do any type of efficient chopping. I like 4, but I the handle is on the short side. The choil helps, but sometimes you want the whole blade. Maybe look at a Laser Strike?
 
DocGP said:
Ok first quick thought is that you phrased it correctly. Your FIRST ESEE knife!! I am a big knife guy and without a doubt the 6 is my favorite. I own the 4, 5, 6, and the Junglas. I use the 4 and 6 regularly for my knife work. Love the brutishness of the 5 but it is too much. To me the six is the perfect balance of a big blade that is thin enough to be useable in bushcraft and camp, but nearly indestructible. If I have to chop my way out of a burning tank, the five is the blade for the task. The four is eminantly useful, but I must admit I like the flare of a big blade. I am particularly smitten with the venom green ESEE six.

Just my .02..... You really can't go wrong.

Doc
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When you have the 4 and the 6 choked up with the choil, does it feel like the same blade, seeing how the length isnt that different? And thankyou
 
Quillan said:
The 4 is certainly a more useful and easy-to-use knife for bushcraft, imo. The 6 is just an inch or so too long...again, imo. I do agree the ESEE 4 handle is short-ish...and that is not helped by the slab sided scales. As for the sheaths, they are excellent...and under normal use, are virtually indestructible. The last thing I would worry about with ESEE is their sheaths (ditto for Cold Steel). Have you considered alternatives to the 4 such as the Becker BK-16, or the CS Master Hunter?
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Yeah i the short handles might away me away , and yeah ive looked at the bk 16, do you think its better then the esee 4? I didnt look it over to much?
 
POCEH KOCEB said:
ESEE 6 is The Knife... :D
Get yourself a 6 with clip-point blade, the blade only, with no scales.
The Knife Connection has those. They also sell separate scales for the models, you'll be able to get the one you like and put together really nice knife,
that you can use for whatever you like - bushcraft or other outdoor activities... The whole thing will cost you around $130-40, not bad at all for such knife.
Click to expand...

Why the clip point? Wouldnt that ruin batoning and make sharpening more difficult? And the knife connections alternate handles are all g-10, ive heard g-10 doesnt have much grip, is that true? And are those handles thinner or thicker then the regular linen micarta handles?
 
Knifecollector97 said:
Why the clip point? Wouldnt that ruin batoning and make sharpening more difficult? And the knife connections alternate handles are all g-10, ive heard g-10 doesnt have much grip, is that true? And are those handles thinner or thicker then the regular linen micarta handles?
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You either know how to sharpen your knife, or not, clip point will not change anything in regard of sharpening. It is better for stabbing or piercing. You can perfectly do batoning with clip point blade. I got no problem with the grip of G-10 scales, don't trust everything you see online... Google the site and see for yourself, they have detailed pictures of the scales. If you think that you don't like it - don't buy those, buy whatever you are already convinced that is working out in the field. After all you asked for opinions, this is mine... :D
 
Hairlesstwinkie said:
I've found that 6 to be a tad too long and it's not heavy enough to do any type of efficient chopping. I like 4, but I the handle is on the short side. The choil helps, but sometimes you want the whole blade. Maybe look at a Laser Strike?
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I usually have a good lanyard on my fixed blades, when secured to the wrist, hold the handle by the pommel and let it swing, I can chop fairly well even with 4" blade. I find ESEE 6 to be most useful but it could be me, I don't go hunting anymore, I wish those ESEEs existed when I was hiking...
 
Knifecollector97 said:
Yeah i the short handles might away me away , and yeah ive looked at the bk 16, do you think its better then the esee 4? I didnt look it over to much?
Click to expand...

The BK-16 has a longer handle. I have big hands so I find the bk-16 more comfortable than my Esee 4. If you use the choil on the 4 then it has roughly the same feel as holding the handles of the 16. I would probably go with the 6 if I had to choose just one.
 
The BK-16 is, from a blade perspective in terms of shape and steel, literally identical to the 4. It is 1/2 inch longer at 4.5 inches. So the "guts" of both knives are the same. The ESEE costs 50% more because of the linen micarta handles and the kydex sheath. Having said that, I like the grivory handes on the 16 just fine...I stippled mine with a small soldering iron and the grip is very secure now, and I much prefer the palm swell on the BK16 to the slab sides of the 4. The BK16 cordura sheath is not as "upscale", I suppose, as the kydex sheath, but I like it. It's just fine. If it's me, I save the extra $$$$ for a good firesteel and a sharpening stone, and go with the BK16. Oh yeah...and enough coin left over to send me a 6 pack of beer. :p
 
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BRKT Bravo 1.5 = problem solved (comes in many colorations, btw):



Photo courtesy of KnivesShipFree (no, I don't work for them, but I think I must pay Derrick's car payment every month - hehehe).
 
I have the 6. It is quite the blade. It definitely is not a dedicated chopper but you could get away with some delimbing. The handles are comfortable, though I have been eyeing a set of custom ones mentioned earlier. My only critique is it Is such a big blade. I generally prefer something smaller for hiking and outdoors activities. You really can't go wrong though. Also, the Candiru is a kick butt little blade. Just wanted to throw that out there. I've been using it a lot lately around town and yard.
 
Knifecollector97 said:
I am currently thinking of buying my first ESEE knife and i cant decide between the ESEE 4 and the ESEE 6.
What i am looking for is a FUN utility/ camping/ hiking/ bushcraft knife. And i under stand the esee 4 may be more ideal for bushcraft but i have big hands and im worried the esee 4's limited handle space may make the knife less maneuverable. Unlike the long an good looking handle on the esee 6. Another concern i have is the sheaths. I know kydex is better an has better retention. So i dont know how well the plastic esee 6 sheath will hold up. And if it didnt hold up im not sure if the esee warranty has anything to do with the sheath??? Please help.
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The ESEE 4 feels aweful in my large hands. The handle is the same size as the thinner '3, with a thicker longer blade that doesn't work with the handle. I sold mine promptly.

The ESEE 6 feels great but is pretty big.

If you want a perfect "do it all" ESEE knife, look at the Laserstrike.
 
I have the ESEE 4 and I would say it is in no way ideal for bushcraft but then maybe my definition of that term is different than yours. If you're just talking batoning and feathersticks than it'll do alright, though the 6 would probably do better with the longer blade. If you're planning on carving anything though than it'll be a pain, even just pointing a stick is difficult with the ESEE 4. I think with the thickness of those two knives it would probably be better to have some extra blade length along with it so you can do some light chopping at least because it sure doesn't carve well.
The handle is pretty small on the 4, and I'd agree with MatthewSB, it just doesn't seem to suit the longer blade of the 4 as that handle was originally designed for the 3. It just feels weird, kind of... off.
As for the sheaths, I don't believe they're covered under the warranty, though you can buy replacement ones for around $20. I have an ESEE 3mil with a plastic sheath and it's alright, though it's definitely loosened more than the kydex sheath of my 4. It still retains the knife but it rattles quite a bit.

In the end if this is just a "fun" knife then get whatever you like best. Personally I'd probably go with the 6 of those two, with the MOLLE back and TKC scales, and maybe throw in a Mora for the smaller stuff.
 
Tye Possum said:
I have the ESEE 4 and I would say it is in no way ideal for bushcraft but then maybe my definition of that term is different than yours. If you're just talking batoning and feathersticks than it'll do alright, though the 6 would probably do better with the longer blade. If you're planning on carving anything though than it'll be a pain, even just pointing a stick is difficult with the ESEE 4. I think with the thickness of those two knives it would probably be better to have some extra blade length along with it so you can do some light chopping at least because it sure doesn't carve well.
The handle is pretty small on the 4, and I'd agree with MatthewSB, it just doesn't seem to suit the longer blade of the 4 as that handle was originally designed for the 3. It just feels weird, kind of... off.
As for the sheaths, I don't believe they're covered under the warranty, though you can buy replacement ones for around $20. I have an ESEE 3mil with a plastic sheath and it's alright, though it's definitely loosened more than the kydex sheath of my 4. It still retains the knife but it rattles quite a bit.

In the end if this is just a "fun" knife then get whatever you like best. Personally I'd probably go with the 6 of those two, with the MOLLE back and TKC scales, and maybe throw in a Mora for the smaller stuff.
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Okay perfect, another knife i had on my list but i wasnt sure about is the tops BOB
 
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