I am looking for an Esse fixed blade approx 10-11 inches overall. Blade thickness is important to me as well as steel. I'm thinking of the esse 5. I was wondering about the D2 Steel, not sure if there are better options in the Esse Family.What is the best, most durable blade they make that keeps an Edge. I'll be using it for Batoning and general wood, and camp situations for a extended length of time. Thanks
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ESSE Question?? D2 Steel or better options
- Thread starter PeteG1027
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Quality control, fit and finish are far better with ESEE. Many Ontario Rat knives are still around, and good knives. Like any other Ontario knife, at least mine, you might find the handles aren't perfect, might be boxy, or uncomfortable during hard use. You may get uneven edge grinds, and a so-so sharp knife.
With Ontario you will save money, they keep their prices low. The sheaths are another reason they are less expensive.
ESEE knives are sharp, strong, the handles are fitted to each knife, very good sheaths, many options for colors, sheaths, serrations, and the grinds are perfect. Don't forget about the awesome warranty.
The ESEE5 is very thick, you won't break it. I don't feel that it's the best for bushcraft. The 3/16" thick knives are fine for the uses you describe. Don't abuse the knife, and it won't break. All knives get dull with hard use, depending on the heat treat of the steel.
If you want a 1/4" thick camp knife, look at the BK2 from Becker. It's grind starts much higher, so the edge is thinner, and will cut wood, and food better. Notice the difference in the pic...
With Ontario you will save money, they keep their prices low. The sheaths are another reason they are less expensive.
ESEE knives are sharp, strong, the handles are fitted to each knife, very good sheaths, many options for colors, sheaths, serrations, and the grinds are perfect. Don't forget about the awesome warranty.
The ESEE5 is very thick, you won't break it. I don't feel that it's the best for bushcraft. The 3/16" thick knives are fine for the uses you describe. Don't abuse the knife, and it won't break. All knives get dull with hard use, depending on the heat treat of the steel.
If you want a 1/4" thick camp knife, look at the BK2 from Becker. It's grind starts much higher, so the edge is thinner, and will cut wood, and food better. Notice the difference in the pic...
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You could always give the Becker Knife and Tool forum a glance. Lots of good stuff going on down there. I love Beckers. I would recommend a BK-9
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I have knives of different thicknesses, I have never broke, well not on purpose.
1/8" knives are great cutters, and all the Ontario Machete's of that thickness are that thick throughout their height, till the edge. If you managed to break one, you're just doing something wrong.
3/16" thick blades, depending on the grind, are quite strong as well. Again if you break one, you're doing something wrong.
Too many destruction test videos are out there, and spread fear about knife failure.
You might chip, roll, break the tip, or dull any knife under normal use, but here's the fact.. ESEE only has one 1/4" thick knife, the 5. It is for cutting out of downed aircraft.
The other knives are all for every other normal use.
I own the BK2 and the ESEE5. I'd take the BK2 into the outdoors everytime over the ESEE5. More than likely, I'd also take an even smaller, thinner knife for small tasks and kitchen duties.
There is a balance point between thickness and the ability to cut. At some point the knife starts to become a wedge, batons well at 1/4" thick cause it splits the wood. Many thinner knives can, and do, baton the same piece of wood.
1/8" knives are great cutters, and all the Ontario Machete's of that thickness are that thick throughout their height, till the edge. If you managed to break one, you're just doing something wrong.
3/16" thick blades, depending on the grind, are quite strong as well. Again if you break one, you're doing something wrong.
Too many destruction test videos are out there, and spread fear about knife failure.
You might chip, roll, break the tip, or dull any knife under normal use, but here's the fact.. ESEE only has one 1/4" thick knife, the 5. It is for cutting out of downed aircraft.
The other knives are all for every other normal use.
I own the BK2 and the ESEE5. I'd take the BK2 into the outdoors everytime over the ESEE5. More than likely, I'd also take an even smaller, thinner knife for small tasks and kitchen duties.
There is a balance point between thickness and the ability to cut. At some point the knife starts to become a wedge, batons well at 1/4" thick cause it splits the wood. Many thinner knives can, and do, baton the same piece of wood.
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I have most of the Esee line and have used them all including the 5.
The 6 is a more versatile bush knife all-around , IMO. You can baton the heck out of it with no worries. It's my main bush knife as well as the 4. I never go into the woods without those 2 , but If carrying only one , it would be the 6.
The plastic sheath it comes with is very tough even though it's not kydex and supposidly is better in extreme temps. I've had no issues with it.
( Just gotta add for the hell of it..in reality , my name is PeteG also,lol)
The 6 is a more versatile bush knife all-around , IMO. You can baton the heck out of it with no worries. It's my main bush knife as well as the 4. I never go into the woods without those 2 , but If carrying only one , it would be the 6.
The plastic sheath it comes with is very tough even though it's not kydex and supposidly is better in extreme temps. I've had no issues with it.
( Just gotta add for the hell of it..in reality , my name is PeteG also,lol)
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Ontario vs. ESEE really comes down to which company you want to deal with. Both make good knives. I'm not sure of Ontario's warranty, but ESEE will replace your knife if it fails for any reason.
As for the Ontario RAT-5 vs ESEE RC-5/ESEE-5, the ESEE is thicker (.25 vs. .187), and has a saber grind vs. flat grind.
In the general realm of what you're describing, there are a lot of good knives on the market... Ontario's RAT & Ranger series, Kabar's Becker series, Falkniven, Bark River, Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard are some that come to mind.
For the usage you describe, a knife I'll recommend is the Swamp Rat RatManDu. It's a tough, durable, no nonsense design, made with a very good steel (52100), and backed with a great warranty. However, if you look at the companies I mention above (and there are certainly others), you'll have no problems finding a good knife that will meet your sense of style and budget.
As for the Ontario RAT-5 vs ESEE RC-5/ESEE-5, the ESEE is thicker (.25 vs. .187), and has a saber grind vs. flat grind.
In the general realm of what you're describing, there are a lot of good knives on the market... Ontario's RAT & Ranger series, Kabar's Becker series, Falkniven, Bark River, Swamp Rat, Scrap Yard are some that come to mind.
For the usage you describe, a knife I'll recommend is the Swamp Rat RatManDu. It's a tough, durable, no nonsense design, made with a very good steel (52100), and backed with a great warranty. However, if you look at the companies I mention above (and there are certainly others), you'll have no problems finding a good knife that will meet your sense of style and budget.
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I think the ontario rat 5 is going to be a great choice. the price is great and you can still find the knife in d2 if that matters to you. Also, the handle design is the same design as the esee knives-same designers: jeff and mike. As others mentioned, the knife is full flat grind, and i think that the 3/16 inch width is an advantage- its not too thick or thin for a wilderness blade. The reason that I bring up the handle design is that I think it is one of the best out there. I love the ontario rd line, but the handle design is boxy and with judicious sanding, i got mine the way i want it. the ontario rat series comes with the rat-designed handle, which is better considerably than the rd series.
I personally would rather have the ESEE-5 over the Ontario Rat-5 in D2 steel; reasons being the heat treat on the ESEE-5's 1095 is top notch. ESEE also offers a No questions asked warranty which is transferable. You might also want to look at the Swamp Rat Ratmandu,as someone above mentioned, as SR-101 is one tough steel, and it is in the ESEE-5 price range.
It seems that I can't go wrong with either one. Thanks All for posting.. I would never purposley abuse a knife, I was basically saying that I want something that will stand up to hard use. As much as I want the esse, with 3 kids the money I save could be used elsewhere. I'll get an Esse eventually, but am going with the rat in D2 for now. Thanks Again all for posting..
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- Oct 10, 2010
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Quality control, fit and finish are far better with ESEE. Many Ontario Rat knives are still around, and good knives. Like any other Ontario knife, at least mine, you might find the handles aren't perfect, might be boxy, or uncomfortable during hard use. You may get uneven edge grinds, and a so-so sharp knife.
With Ontario you will save money, they keep their prices low. The sheaths are another reason they are less expensive.
ESEE knives are sharp, strong, the handles are fitted to each knife, very good sheaths, many options for colors, sheaths, serrations, and the grinds are perfect. Don't forget about the awesome warranty.
The ESEE5 is very thick, you won't break it. I don't feel that it's the best for bushcraft. The 3/16" thick knives are fine for the uses you describe. Don't abuse the knife, and it won't break. All knives get dull with hard use, depending on the heat treat of the steel.
If you want a 1/4" thick camp knife, look at the BK2 from Becker. It's grind starts much higher, so the edge is thinner, and will cut wood, and food better. Notice the difference in the pic...
Is that a Ranger knife at the top there? Which model is it?