esee 4 vs fallkniven f1

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spydercomil

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Jul 9, 2010
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hey, what do you guys think is a better knife for camping and edc with weight not being an issue, the esee 4 or the fallkniven f1. i have a a1 and i love it but i have heard great things about the esee also.
 
Both are great knives. Do a search, you can find many comparisons and reviews on both.

I myself prefer the fallkniven's handle, and convex grind.


-Freq
 
freq18hz said:
Both are great knives. Do a search, you can find many comparisons and reviews on both.

I myself prefer the fallkniven's handle, and convex grind.


-Freq
Click to expand...

This. I myself prefer sabre/V-grinds so I would go ESEE. I have been wanting a Fallkniven or Bark River but they're all convex. Decide what you like and, if you find you like it all get both:D
 
Hard to be the warranty, customer service and "made in the USA" of the ESEE4 :)

Oh, and the knife ain't to bad either.
 
Jerry Springer is also made in the usa...

I prefer the f1 in the way it cuts wood, it's cutting characteristics are great imo, a great convexed knife. I like the handle, though it's softer than the micarta or g-10 of the rc-4.
Rc-4 is easy to sharpen in the field, can rust easily and feels a littlebit more raw.
The rc-4 is a good blade too but it's just not a knife I grab more than the f1.

I have a video up on youtube both on the f1 and on the rc-4, see my signature.
 
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zyhano said:
Jerry Springer is also made in the usa...

I prefer the f1 in the way it cuts wood, it's cutting characteristics are great imo, a great convexed knife. I like the handle, though it's softer than the micarta or g-10 of the rc-4.
Rc-4 is easy to sharpen in the field, can rust easily and feels a littlebit more raw.
The rc-4 is a good blade too but it's just not a knife I grab more than the f1.

I have a video up on youtube both on the f1 and on the rc-4, see my signature.
Click to expand...

Agreed. The F1 pushes through wood like magic, much better IMO than an RC4. The handle is also more blister resistant than the RC4. Overall I think the F1 is just a nicer knife.

-Freq
 
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I have both the F1 and an RC-4, and they are both excellent quality knives.

I prefer the F1 over the RC-4 because a) I don't like coated blades, and b) I find the handle on the RC-4 uncomfortable in my hand. I find them square and block like.

These are personal preferences only, and my comments are not meant to dismiss the overall quality and functionality of the RC-4.

If possible try to get a hands on with both knives, although I know it is becoming more and more difficult to find B&M stocking dealers.

I also have a slight preference for stainless, but I have had no issues with rust or corrosion on the RC-4 what so ever.

My vote goes for the F1, but you really can't go wrong with either one.

Kevin
 
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Im gonna throw my vote in for The ESEE 4. Its one of ther knives i took with me afghanistan that should be praise enough.

I dont see why everyone here is so bent up about stainless steel. The blade is coated and after it wears off then it will start to patina. I have used ESEE knives for ocean fishing and never had a problem, ive left them out wet for days and only had some light rust that i could wipe off. ESEE has great HT on 1095 and i much prefer micarta to plastic grip.

Throw in the warranty and its really i htink about the best deal on the knife market today.
 
Fallkniven is a good product, but I'd say ESEE, hands down. Subjective of course, but that's my 49.872 cents.
 
I bought an ESEE 4 to see if it could replace the F1 that I've been using for the last 9 yrs. It didn't. Don't get me wrong, EXCELLENT knife but the handle just didn't work for me. The F1 handle is a little longer and has a bump at the back that I like if I have to do light chopping with it. I just traded the ESEE 4 off and both have been beaten out by my new Ratmandu.

Both are great knives but the F1 worked better for me. YMMV
 
The F1 works better for me, for all the reasons already posted above. But it is significantly more expensive (mine has a micarta handle). FYI, recently, my BRKT Canadian Special has replaced both knives for camping in places that do not involve water (i.e., when there is no river rafting to be had).
 
I was trying to decide between these two and the BRKT Bravo-1 a couple months ago, I ended up going with the BRKT, Super comfortable handle, convex grind, carbon steel, I didn't like the ESEE-4 as much, because of the small handle size, and the Fallkniven because the other two have lifetime warranties, compared to the 2 year warranty, I know fallkniven makes great knives, but I just feel more secure with a knife from a company that is that confident in their own product. You might also look at the gunny, if you don't like the thickness of the Bravo-1 and also while their still available the Swamp Rat Knifeworks HRLM, or RMD, also got the RMD, awesome knife too, though I prefer uncoated blade.
 
I'd say, between these two, the F1 IS the wilderness knife. That means hunting comes first, camp chores/sheltering follows.

The ESEE4, OTOH, is more military/tactical. Very tough blade. The flat sides of the micarta handle can drive nails.

Very different knives.

You really need to know specifically what exactly you'll do with the knife to know what to look for.

Hunting? Go with F1
Packing ammo crates? ESEE-4
 
I have a F1 3G and could not ask for more. it cut through everything you need to cut without any problems.
but I think that even the standard VG-10 F1 would still be better than the ESEE-4.

The ESEE-4 on the other hand has got the advantage of having the serrations, if you like them ;)
 
Buy both, try them out, and then send the one you dont like back for a refund.

Personally i prefer the F1 because of the stainless, but the ESSE4 is pretty damn nice too.
 
Which dealers will take back a used knife???

kmm said:
Buy both, try them out, and then send the one you dont like back for a refund.

Personally i prefer the F1 because of the stainless, but the ESSE4 is pretty damn nice too.
Click to expand...
 
Nice review(s), thanks. :thumbup: BTW, your English is really outstanding.

zyhano said:
Jerry Springer is also made in the usa...

I prefer the f1 in the way it cuts wood, it's cutting characteristics are great imo, a great convexed knife. I like the handle, though it's softer than the micarta or g-10 of the rc-4.
Rc-4 is easy to sharpen in the field, can rust easily and feels a littlebit more raw.
The rc-4 is a good blade too but it's just not a knife I grab more than the f1.

I have a video up on youtube both on the f1 and on the rc-4, see my signature.
Click to expand...
 
Haven't used the ESEE 4 but I've loved the F1 for years. It's an outstandng knife and I can assure you that you will not be disappointed xD
 
I've just had to make this decision myself, although I was choosing between the Fallkniven S1 and the ESEE 4.

After a few weeks of research, I went with the ESEE 4. I prefer the micarta handles, I prefer US manufacture rather than Japanese, I trust Rowen's 1095 more than I trust VG-10, and the sheath is undeniably better on the ESEE. The guarantee on the ESEE 4 also can't be beaten, and the ESEE community is great. The grind didn't figure too much in the decision because the ESEE is easy to convex.

I've got nothing against Fallkniven at all, and I would have bought the S1 if the ESEEs didn't exist.
 
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