Esee 4 vs Buck Compadre camp knife

[lumberjack_jack]

Greetings all, I'm looking to buy a knife, around 4.5" blade, just as a good bush knife. Jack of all trades sort of. I have always loved the design of the Esee 4 and seems like they will even warranty their hc steels against abuse. Also saw this morning on Buck's website the compadre camp knife. Same idea, but like the design of the esee a little more. Buck is 5160 spring steel I believe with a wood handle (I personally like the handle) and comes in a nice leather sheath. The Esee is 1095 high carbon steel also coated, don't like the sheath really, but I'm in Canada and found on knifezone.ca the Esee for $155, knife only, no sheath. The Buck I found was cheapest at walmart.com (couldn't even find on a canadian website) and after converting USD to CAD, it's around 76. Also free shipping to the border from walmart, going to be crossing in 2 weeks anyways, and about 20 bucks to ship the esee on top of everything else. So, the esee maybe a nicer design, a lot more money, arguably not as good steel?? Buck has a decent leather sheath. Neither of them made overseas, what do you guys all think??

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Haven't handled the Compadre, but I'm deeply prejudiced against the ESEE 4. Good company, and very good blade, but for me the handle is profoundly uncomfortable.

 

[lumberjack_jack]

So not that this thread generated a lot of replies just thought I'd follow up for anyone searching in the future...I did order the buck compadre, the next day I started thinking maybe I should have gotten an esee since I've really wanted one for a while, so I ordered an esee 3, green Powdercoat blade, orange scales (since the buck measured up closely to the 4, 3 seemed like a better choice for right now) and I got the knife only and a medium sharpshooter sheath, as I figured I'd like it better than the tactical esee sheath. Initial impressions is both knives look awesome. The Buck had a couple tiny bubbles or 'bumps' in the powder coat, and I mean tiny, and the scales don't fit the tang perfectly - they are a little undersize. Nothing would affect performance at all. The Esee fit and finish was perfect. Powdercoat, lines where parts match up, everything. The Buck with the nice leather sheath was 56 dollars and the esee knife only was 86, but you can see where that extra money went. Both knives very sharp out of the box, but, the edge goes to the buck. It was sharper in my opinion doing some shave tests. I'm now missing random patches of arm and leg hair. So that's my initial thoughts, for an outdoorsman on a budget the buck compadre is great, the extra money on the esee def isn't wasted, and I'll prob buy the esee 4 as well at some point and this time try it with the esee sheath though i prefer the mountain man look.
Oh also as far as hand fitment, I have big hands and the buck feels nicer. Since the esee 3 is lighter duty than the 4 I like the handle size, but on the 4, I could see how maybe it wouldn't feel as nice the nature of the work would change (supposing you'd be doing some chopping or whatever..). Not sure I'd have a problem with it tho. I'd probably be used to it in a short time.

 

[DJC72]

LT Wright knives have amazing ergo's and are great all a round woods knives. I'd grab my Genesis in A2 over my Esee 4 any day.

 

[Tachead01]

So not that this thread generated a lot of replies just thought I'd follow up for anyone searching in the future...I did order the buck compadre, the next day I started thinking maybe I should have gotten an esee since I've really wanted one for a while, so I ordered an esee 3, green Powdercoat blade, orange scales (since the buck measured up closely to the 4, 3 seemed like a better choice for right now) and I got the knife only and a medium sharpshooter sheath, as I figured I'd like it better than the tactical esee sheath. Initial impressions is both knives look awesome. The Buck had a couple tiny bubbles or 'bumps' in the powder coat, and I mean tiny, and the scales don't fit the tang perfectly - they are a little undersize. Nothing would affect performance at all. The Esee fit and finish was perfect. Powdercoat, lines where parts match up, everything. The Buck with the nice leather sheath was 56 dollars and the esee knife only was 86, but you can see where that extra money went. Both knives very sharp out of the box, but, the edge goes to the buck. It was sharper in my opinion doing some shave tests. I'm now missing random patches of arm and leg hair. So that's my initial thoughts, for an outdoorsman on a budget the buck compadre is great, the extra money on the esee def isn't wasted, and I'll prob buy the esee 4 as well at some point and this time try it with the esee sheath though i prefer the mountain man look.
Oh also as far as hand fitment, I have big hands and the buck feels nicer. Since the esee 3 is lighter duty than the 4 I like the handle size, but on the 4, I could see how maybe it wouldn't feel as nice the nature of the work would change (supposing you'd be doing some chopping or whatever..). Not sure I'd have a problem with it tho. I'd probably be used to it in a short time.

The Esee 4 is a great knife too. It is my main bush knife. If you are worried about the scale size(remember the 4 has thicker stock so it is thicker then the 3),then have a look at the knife connection for some custom G10 scale options which make the handle larger and more ergonomic. I have them for my Izula 2 and they are very nicely made.

 

[lumberjack_jack]

LT Wright knives have amazing ergo's and are great all a round woods knives. I'd grab my Genesis in A2 over my Esee 4 any day.

Ya I've checked out LT Wright's, website always liked them. Probably the great plainsman or patriot are my faves. Also like the esee camplore JG3, nice looking smaller knives. Decided to start with the esee 3 tho and sharpshooter sheath.