Is there a "stainless" equivalent to an ESEE 3???

mattz357

mattz357

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Jun 20, 2002
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I have struggled for a while to find a fixed blade that I really like. I recently discovered the Hinderer FXM, which is awesome... and then I found out how much they cost and how hard they are to find. Is there any other "stainless steel" equivalent to an ESEE 3, which seems to be the most popular/similar knife I can find other the FXM. I don't use my knives hard, but I swear I can make anything rust. I found a Benchmade 220 that looked pretty good, but of course it's discontinued. I strongly prefer something that will accept a teklok (a small teklok is even better) and uses a kydex only sheath. Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks very much!!!
 
The Ritter Rsk Mk3 is s30v. Might be tough to find one though. I'm not sure how available they are.

Queen cutlery makes some nice fixed blade knives in D2 which is semi stainless. You would have to get a kydex sheath made because they come with a leather one. I have the hunter skinner. It came butter knife dull and D2 is a pain to sharpen, but the price is right and it's high quality steel made in the USA. Since you don't use your knives hard you might look into the various models. Otherwise just get the ESEE 3. Honestly my knives in 1095 don't rust much at all even if I don't oil them. You might give it a shot.
 
I was actually looking for something similar earlier today. Boker makes a knife that looks similar to the ESEE3 but with a rubber handle. I don't know the name of it though.
 
how about the boker PSK

3" blade
full tang design
4.7mm thick sandvik 12C27 steel
G10 handle
kydex sheath
and cost around $60.

02BO267[large].jpg
 
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I've done a lot of searching today, and I'm still stuck. I am interested in the Moran drop point but the handle looks really fat and I can't find any good pics of the sheath. The rat 3 that I found were still listed as 1095, have they changed recently? I've read some negative reviews of this compared to the esee 3 but the price is a lot better. I Like the Benchmade nim cub II but don't like the sheath at all. Also kinda liked the fixed griptilian but hate the sheath and it's discontinued. Also looked at the strider mfs and wp. Not a tiger stripe fan but that is really the minimalist and concealable style that I'm looking for. If it helps at all, I had a HEST that I really liked, but the prybar and the steel bothered me and I really don't care for RYP. My head is spinning and swimming with knife choices.
 
ESEE is coming out with a stainless 4 and Izula this year (supposedly) might be worth waiting for. Of course they have been coming out with an Izula folder for years now. so might not want to wait.
 
As much as I like the Izula it is a little on the small side. If there was a stainless 3 coming out that would be awesome.
 
What about the fixed blade Les George VECP? It's not stainless, but 3v isn't that bad and they're available DLC or Hard Chromed.
 
If the ESEE 3 is what you want, get it. I own(and carry daily) both stainless and carbon steel blades, and prefer carbon steel for its superior edge taking and holding. As for caring for carbon steel blades, it is really easy. A thin coat of oil before putting it away (which takes about 10 seconds) and you are good to go. If you want to get high tech, there are effective polishes that work well and keep your steel clean during long periods of sheath carry. (Of course, no steel tool should ever be stored in any type of sheath or holster, regardless of what it is made of; but you already know that.) Good tools deserve care, and frankly, I cannot understand why some of my fellow knife knuts think nothing of touching up their blades to maintain the edge, but balk at spending ten seconds to keep the rest of the blade in good shape.
 
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I like the nyala but I want a kydex sheath and it isn't very tacticool. The esee 3 is a little thick with handle scales, I was really hoping to find a skeletonized handle/knife that I could just cord wrap or leave alone so it would stay really slim.
 
You may want to checkout the blackjack model 155. Tons of colors, it's compared to an Izula in size but you have a 3" s30v blade for 50 bucks with a nice belly.
 
The blackjack is a little smaller than I'm looking for. Does anyone have a crk pro soldier and an izula that could post a side by side pic? The data shows the crk is an inch longer. I've had both, but not at the same time, and remember the izula being more comfortable. I'm trying to use those as benchmark for what I'm looking for. I know those are too small, and the HEST was just about right. Maybe I should have titled this thread "stainless" alternative to HEST.
 
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