ESEE 5 vs ZT 0100

The ZT 0100 handled that pretty well, I wouldnt call those "weak" swings, wish they zoomed out a bit so we could see the whole swing. That knife got beat beyond any normal or hard use and for smashing it side ways with a 2x4 it took it well.
 
After owning an Izula I can think of no fixed blade knife I want more than the ESEE 5 at the moment. ZT makes quality hardware judging from their folders I can't see their fixed blades being poorly made.
 
Can't say a word about the ZT. I don't have one. I do have an ESEE5, though, that I carry on a regular basis. Its one helluva knife. I have no doubt that if I could get atleast 3/4" (maybe even less) of the tip burried into something, that I could pry it in any direction without the knife really even noticing it was being used. All that 'it wont break' peace of mind comes at a price though. Its kind of a brick of a knife. Less efficient at slicing than a thinner knife, less efficient at piercing than a knife with a more needlish fragile tip, lacks that well balanced slightly tip heavy feel of something like the Cold Steel Military Classic. Its kind of "clunkity" if that makes any sense. I trust mine more than I've ever trusted any knife, BUT sometimes I think about switching to the 6 because I just might have given up too much for extra durability that ill never need YMMV
 
esee its a tank!! i have put the esee 6 through some pretty rough stuff and that hasn't broken on me ( and with the lifetime warranty i would worry about they will just replace it ) and if the esee 6 has lasted through all the stuff i put it through. then the esee 5 will... its built to be a sharpened pry bar... i would go with the esee 5 and its a lot cheaper
 
I am not a fixed blade person but here is what I would choose. I think that they are 2 completley different animals. the ESEE seems like the more down to earth knife to me. the steel will be easier to sharpen, and it is cheaper. however, the ZT looks really nice, has amazing steel, has that wonderful recurve, and would be great for general use. besides, it is in the price range.

as far as warrantys go, I think that kershaw will replace pretty much anything, no questions asked, but they don't spell it out. ESEE spells it out with no reservations.

I think I would go with the ESEE. I have always been a huge fan of kershaw and ZT, and they make up my entire collection, but i really never have understood the 0100 as anything but eye candy. the esee has taken a lot of hits and has survived, will be easier to resharpen, and is o so moddable.
 
I'm not sure if you have already considered it, but the Becker BK2 fits your needs well. Same thickness as the ESEE 5 (.25), but with a slightly higher grind for better slicing. I love mine.

Some photos of one being used harder than you would likely ever had need.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ting-the-BK2-to-the-test-so-you-don-t-have-to...

Just thought I would throw another option out there for you.

Good luck with whatever you do.
 
I watched that video a few months ago and thought the ZT0100 to be a bit fragile. However, when I watched the other video(s) I changed my mind.

Hitting knives with hammers will cause microfractures, and that knife was repeatedly hit with a hammer. Watching only the video that was posted does not portray the amount of abuse the knife actually received. That video must be watched in context with the previous video(s).
 
Not to mention that destruction tests pretty much only prove that you can destroy something.

cricket
 
OMG!!! y'all got me curious enough that i looked up this ZT 0100. thanks a lot, D-hedz, now i gotta come up with a couple extra bilz. uh... trying to decide between these two knives doesn't make a lot of sense TO ME. they are apples and hand grenades. seriously, the ESEE 5 is pitched as a survival knife for downed pilots. that means hard work and tasks that make you wish you had something other than this damn knife, but it works and can take it. the ZT, on the other hand, was DESIGNED FOR ME :D really, it's more of a people poker on roidz. notice the centered tip? it's a fighting knife that can handle harder utility tasks than you'd typically expect from a fighting knife. it's like my Nimravus, but bigger and stronger :)
 
Buy them both I diid. The Esee 5 I got a couple of weeks ago. It all comes done too what you want the knife too do.
 
Actually there is everything wrong with chris reeve. Piece of shit knives, overpriced, and horrible warranty. Same as cold steel and emerson, treeman, and strider. All piece of shit.
 
Keero said:
Actually there is everything wrong with chris reeve. Piece of ___ knives, overpriced, and horrible warranty. Same as cold steel and emerson, treeman, and strider. All piece of ___.
Click to expand...

Care to elaborate?
 
I like them both but would have to lean towards the ESEE when it comes to fixed blades. If you want a little thinner maybe consider the ESEE 6. The 5 is a beast of a knife!
 
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