Is the ESEE-3 too thin for a survival knife?

FYI, the 4 isn't too thick to comfortably carry all day, every day. When I first bought mine I had assumed it would be my camping/hiking knife, but it hasn't left my side since it arrived. It's perfect.
 
The 4 is my main bush knife , but I always bring my 3 along so it doesn't get lonely:rolleyes:

Any Esee knife can fill a survival role. Try and handle one before you buy to see which one you like best. I happen to prefer the 4 , as it performs well for the bush duties I put it through. I like the extra thickness, weight and length. I wouldn't be worried stuck out there with just a 3 though ,if that was the only knife I had on me. It's also easier to EDC ,which means you will probably have it on you. Mines with me every day.
 
I have both the 3 and the 4. I am a hard user and push my knives through bushcraft tasks every week. First things first, ESEE is the way to go for hard use knives with an amazing warranty you'll never have to use.

The 3 is capable of most bushcraft tasks however if you're looking for a survival knife than the 4 is more durable with the extra length and blade thickness for batoning wood and chopping type tasks.

Either way you'll buy more than one. Once you sip the ESEE koolaid you'll dream of them..
 
Esav Benyamin said:
From my point of view, it's a matter of hand size. I could like everything else about the 3 but it's just too short for my hand. The 4 is perfect. The 4 will also slice well.

What I actually bought was the HEST and Izula. :)
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That's strange, the handles on the ESEE-3 and ESEE-4 are exactly the same length. For me though, the handle on the 4 seems too short for the blade length and heft of the knife whereas the handle on the 3 feels perfect. As far as toughness goes, you shouldn't have any problems with the 3. I have beaten on mine plenty hard and I have complete confidence that it will hold up to anything I throw at it.
 
the 3 is a good slicer, the 4 is a good slicer.
either works excellent for most woods/survival tasks.
I have large hands and the 4 feels better in hand because of the extra thickness.
 
Like the guys who like the 4 and have big hands, I have little hands and prefer the 3. I would not hesitate to carry my 3 as my only knife, but that is my preference, you may be more used to larger knives, and feel like you do not have enough to work with. As others have said, the 3 is not a prybar, and there have been some pics of 3s with broken tips, but the guys that broke them really worked hard at it, and all were much bigger than I am, so I'm not worried about breaking mine.
 
The BEST survival knife is the one you have with you. I'm pretty sure I heard this said about guns too, somewhere along the line.

If you had an ESEE 5 or 6, would you (or could you) walk around with it all day, every day? I can't. I'm out in public a lot, and around people who who've never seen a campfire, let alone made one. Besides, a lot of people get scared around steel (watched too many Friday the 13th movies or something). I can put my 3-MIL or Izula in my daypack or messenger bag and no one sees it. And if they do, the smaller blade is less likely to alarm.

I think you could do almost anything you should do with a knife, with an ESEE 3. I have a 3-MIL and it's my new all-around fixed-blade. If I end up in a bad spot, it will have to answer.

SP
 
I own the 3 & the 4 ,the 3 has become my go to knife it is very tough. I don't think that ESEE make a knife that you could not rely on in a tight situation.I've just picked up a 6 so I'll probably combine it and the 3 and have every situation covered. That said the 4 was my first ESEE and I still love it and think it is a great allround knife.
Any way you decide you will be getting a great knife that will serve you well so just buy one and enjoy:D:thumbup::thumbup:

Cheers ,
Richard
 
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