ESEE 5 vs ZT 0100

H

HayabusaP226

Joined
Jun 22, 2011
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45
Hi

Looking for a very strong , hard use fixed blade at the 5-6" range , and I'm considering those two models and looking for some advice and opinions from people here who own AND used those blades

I like the 3V a lot as it is phenomenal steel , but it is pretty thin at 0.19" comparing the 0.25" of the ESEE , so I'm not sure which blade is stronger after

Thanks
 
Are you really going to be doing that with your knives?

Anyway, get the ESEE, great warranty on an almost unbreakable knife, and its less expensive.
 
I am going to use (but not abuse) the knife extremely hard , which is the reason I'm willing to spend 200$
Unless the knife in the video is a lemon with poor heat treating , there is no reason in the world that a .19" thick 3V steel would break THAT easily

How good is the edge retention on the ESEE ?
 
HayabusaP226 said:
I am going to use (but not abuse) the knife extremely hard , which is the reason I'm willing to spend 200$
Unless the knife in the video is a lemon with poor heat treating , there is no reason in the world that a .19" thick 3V steel would break THAT easily

How good is the edge retention on the ESEE ?
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What would you expect it to do instead? Break after 3 more hits? Did you even see the earlier videos with how he tested the knife? It's pretty cool to see how he cuts through a car hood and bolts; go check it out. Maybe that will be relevant to the hard use you intend on putting it through.
 
knivesandguns said:
What would you expect it to do instead? Break after 3 more hits? Did you even see the earlier videos with how he tested the knife? It's pretty cool to see how he cuts through a car hood and bolts; go check it out. Maybe that will be relevant to the hard use you intend on putting it through.
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I would never expect it to break from a couple of weak ass swings with piece of wood , it just shouldn't
I will not expect the ZT or the ESEE to be 'Busse Battle Mistress' strong , because they are obviously aren't , but I expect a very strong blade nonetheless
 
HayabusaP226 said:
I would never expect it to break from a couple of weak ass swings with piece of wood , it just shouldn't
I will not expect the ZT or the ESEE to be 'Busse Battle Mistress' strong , because they are obviously aren't , but I expect a very strong blade nonetheless
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Why don't you give the ESEE the same test if you get it. ;) I'm guessing you still didn't watch the earlier videos. CPM-3V is a powder steel.
 
the esee5 holds a good edge, especially if you knock the shoulders on the grind back a bit. its not a great slicer but it is extremely tough. I don't have the zt100 but i do have a chris reeve green beret in s30v and it holds a great edge and has been tough for normal camping. Battoning and chopping with both the green beret does a better job with the extra length. We chopped through a steel drum with the esee5 to make a hobo stove with no damage. I'm not chopping bricks or trying to break either of my knives with a hammer though.

take it easy
cricket
 
A thinner blade cuts better. The best way to look at steel choice is to understand that a tougher steel will allow you to have a thinner knife but maintain similar toughness compared to a thicker knife with a steel that isn't known to be as tough. Any steel can be made to take the blows that guy dealt out, but not at the hardness that the knives were tested.
 
If you're looking for a knife to be used for cutting, chopping and to baton wood that's stout and will last a very long time or I'm sure both will work just fine for you. I'd probably pick the ESEE ONLY because I've seen it in person and held it but I'm pretty sure both would serve you well if used for its intended purpose. I'm positive that BOTH could be broken if your intent was to beat on them just to see how much abuse they could handle.
Best of luck!
 
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The 0100 from ZT is 3/16th's of an inch thick. That is really about the optimal thickness for a blade that size in order to maximize performance, especialy with a tough steel such as 3V. Edge retention will be FAR better with the 3V than the 1095.

With the 0100 you would have longer edge retention in the field, and improved cutting performance over the 1095 RC5.

I seriously doubt you would use a knife any harder than I do in the field (I've built a couple log trappers cabins and myriads of other shelters etc, etc. with knives). And I still have not ever broken one. Except a cheap assed forlder that I KNEW the task I was using it for would destroy it (that is why it got used instead of a knife I cared about).

I don't know how you sit on the weight issue, but the 0100 is a good bit lighter as well.

PLEASE take ALL video destruction tests with an extremely LARGE grain of salt! That knife had already been put through 5 kinds of hell before it ever got whaked and broke.
 
I've owned the ZT 0100 and it's a stout knife. The recurve is very pronounced which may make a difference, especially if you plan to baton with it. But it's one heck of a knife and I am sure that with normal "hard use" (is that a misnomer? hmmmm...), it will work just fine.

I think it was designed more for duty use by military types, but whatever.

Personally, I'd rather have the ESEE-5. I have an ESEE-3, Junglas and Izula and I am really sold out on ESEE.
 
HayabusaP226 said:
Well I just found a video on Youtube didn't inspired too much confidence about the 0100

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTwK4els09g&feature=related

This is not very impressive at all for 3V steel , even if it is a relatively thin one
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The ZT0100 isn't really a camping knife. It's a fixed blade (combat) utility knife. However, 3V steel is nothing to sneeze at. Bottom line is that anything can be broken given enough time and determination. The ESEE knives are better suited for abuse, you might also want to look into Becker knives too.

yerscattergun said:
Don't get a Chris Reeve...

http://knifetests.com/ChrisReeveGreenBeretDTest.html
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That is ridiculous and has no basis in real life use.
 
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Im a huge fan boy of both companies and ive seen both brands used over seas under horrendous abuse. I have never held a zt fixed blade but if its anywhere near as good as a one of their folders than i wouldn't hesitate to recommend it.

That video is absolutley no basis to dislike the knife, it is put through horrendous abuse long before it is broken. Destruction tests are named as such because they mess with the knife until it breaks.
If either of the designs appeal to you then go with them, if not then becker makes the bk2 which is utterly bombproof and cheap while not as nice as either of the other two knives (and a bit thick for my taste) whatever broke it probably killed you in the process. If its still to wimpy TOPS makes some knives that might intrest you and thats about as tough as i think you can go without paying for a busse or custom.

This might suprise you but toughness is not the be all end all of knife use even for "hard use knives" the knife ive most abused and used is an old ontario rat3 and its lasted me through years of use including time in afghanistan. Things like ease of resharpening ergonomics slicing ability and blade profile should all go into your choice not what will take the most lateral stress before its inevitable break, otherwise you just end up with a crowbar.
 
Pretty sure yerscattergun was only kidding around, in reference to the silly video that the op posted of the ZT.
And I'm not sure if anyone in their right mind would call .19" thin lol. I don't have any personal experience with either, but based on specs alone(and looks) I would go with the ZT.
 
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