ESEE5 vs ESEE6?

I don't own either, but I have read some opinions here that the Esee 6 is just too big for a lot of applications. The big questions is, what will you be using it for? And second, how will you be carrying it? If you give some details on those, then the folks with real knowledge can help a bit more.
 
I was actually going to post the exact same thing! I was wondering which would be best as a general use camp knife. I already have an izula and was looking for something that could handle bigger chores...
 
what are you doing with it?

5 is essentially a prybar with an edge that'll be great at batoning.

6 is more of a knife that's roughly USMC Kabar sized and it'll do everything the kabar can.
 
Interesting so you both say the 6? Any accessories I should get with it? I was wondering if I could mount the Izula on there somehow... I was also looking at the knife connection to make my purchase are they the best place to buy from?
 
I say this as someone who does not have the "knives have to be skinny to be good" prejudice running through my veins, but in this case I'd have to say that the 6 is the more useful of the two; full height flat grind on 3/16" stock (ESEE 6) will just cut circles around the half-height saber flat grind on 1/4" stock (ESEE 5). The 5 is stronger, no doubt, but the 6 is already stupidly strong as it is, and neither of these two is really exceptionally useful as a chopping tool--their blades are too short and too much of the weight is balanced towards the rear. As such, what good does the extra strength do for you? Knives are poor pry bars, I've never encountered the need to pry ANYTHING in the field, and if such an occasion arose, you could have a small titanium pry bar (yep, they make 'em) in your pack and it'll spank even ESEE 5 in prying tasks.

The ESEE 5 (and hey, I have one and haven't ever sold it) is one of those knives that I like because it's tough, and yet almost never find a use for. It's geometry makes a Becker Campanion look svelte. Basically, a splitting wedge. Yes, yes, I know...shortly we'll be regaled by stories of folks who've used their ESEE 5 to skin seventy deer, perform field surgery on a damaged retina, fillet 1,000 fish and all sorts of other extraordinary tasks, declaring with what I'm sure they'll think is just the perfect balance of haughtiness that we who doubt the 5 just don't know what we're talking about. I say to them that large, dangerous animals were once hunted with stone-tipped spears; the fact that it's been done doesn't mean there aren't vastly superior tools available. ;)
 
Im pretty sold on the 6 right now is there anything else I should be considering for a general camp knife? Oh and is the esee a lefty friendly knife?
 
You'll keep wondering about the 5 until you own one. The solid 1/4" thickness is just amazing.
This knife puts a big grin on my face every time I hold it in my hands.

Esee5_TKC_01.jpg


But there's no wrong choice here.
 
I have the Becker BK-2, which is basically the same as an Esse 5. The BK-2 and the Esse 5 are super tough due to their thickness and length. Detractors call them sharpened pry bars, which is just what some people want and need. However, I find that my Esse 6 is more versatile because of its slightly thinner and longer blade. If a 6 inch blade is too long for you then look at the Esse 4, the Esse Laserstrike and the BK-16.
 
I had, and actually used, both.

The '5 is really thick, with a bad grind for a thick knife. It's so thick that it gets hung up when batoning anything but the driest wood. It sucks at cutting because there's so much steel at the edge. It does come with a great kydex sheath.

The '6 is long, but perfectly balanced so that it feels lighter than it is. It comes with an injection molded plastic sheath that is useable, but kind of crappy.

I would highly recommend the Laserstrike, it's inbetween the '5 and '6 for blade length, is lighter than either, and comes with the best sheath I've ever seen on a production knife. It also has the most useful blade and handle shape of any ESEE knife. For a "general use" fixed blade, the LS is by far the best.

knoefz said:
You'll keep wondering about the 5 until you own one. The solid 1/4" thickness is just amazing.
This knife puts a big grin on my face every time I hold it in my hands.

Esee5_TKC_01.jpg


But there's no wrong choice here.
Click to expand...

That '5 looks awesome with the aftermarket handle.

The obvious solution is to get both, but get the LS first. It never hurts to have a spare ESEE.
 
8yqyveva.jpg


I love the 5. No hangups and it batoned countless logs.

I personally like the thickness. It's was drew me to it over the 6.

utyguvy5.jpg


yvevu6uz.jpg


syne7amy.jpg


In a survival, camping situation, the 5 is a great knife. Super strong. Mine was shaving sharp after batoning piles of wood.
The junglas is also a great blade, and my izula 2 lives on my neck.

Love the quality, warranty. After using these, and really putting them through some abuse, I would highly recommend the esee 5.
 
Last edited:
I have had the 5 and still have the 6. Both are very high quality and the ESEE warranty is the best in the business. I found the 5 too thick for general cutting tasks, especially food prep. I used the 5 in the kitchen one day and it was very difficult to simply chop up an onion. The 6 is long enough to handle medium wood processing yet thin enough to cut well. The 5 has the better sheath but once I got the 6 I never used the 5 again so it was sold. The 6 went on every camping trip last year and will go on many more!
 
The biggest difference for me was the choil of the 6. It allowed for some choking up on the blade to do finer work, and having a blade thickness a little under 3/16, made it very easy to control as opposed to the thicker 5 with no choil. On the other hand, the extra thickness of the 5 with custom scales from TKC, made for a quite comfortable fit in my hand. I ended up making some liners from vulcanized fiber sheets for the 6, and with the custom TKC scales, the feel is much improved. I would recommend the 6, based soley on personal preference.
 
I own an ESEE 6 and a bk2. The 6 is lighter and is a lot better at carving than my bk2 (I have heard that the bk2 is simmular to the esee5). As a survival knife the 6 is still better. I dont think that the thickness of the esee5 is nessisary unless you are prying doors open or busting through a brick wall. The 6 is does not feel as big as it looks and it is surprisingly nimble. However, it is not as good at smaller tasks as a smaller knife. Im glad that you said that you have an izula because it would be a great companion for the 6. I don't own an Izula, but I tested my friend's and it is an awesome little blade! If you would rather have a bit more blade but the same weight then go with a mora.
 
I own an ESEE 6 and a bk2. The 6 is lighter and is a lot better at carving than my bk2 (I have heard that the bk2 is simmular to the esee5). As a survival knife the 6 is still better. I dont think that the thickness of the esee5 is nessisary unless you are prying doors open or busting through a brick wall. The 6 is does not feel as big as it looks and it is surprisingly nimble. However, it is not as good at smaller tasks as a smaller knife. Im glad that you said that you have an izula because it would be a great companion for the 6. I don't own an Izula, but I tested my friend's and it is an awesome little blade! If you would rather have a bit more blade but the same weight then go with a mora.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top