Knife Recommendation Fallkniven A1 or ESSE 6?

I can back up Mat890's comments - VG10 is slightly more brittle than 1095 so if it comes in contact with rocks you'll get microchipping. VG10 is possibly the easiest steel I own to maintain. My F1 was a spoon after some really hard work and abuse. I got it back to razor sharp without even using sandpaper. Just stropping on leather with black and green compound and hey presto! scary sharp again.

The only reason I could achieve this is because it was a convex edge (YMMV). If ESEE did factory productions with convexed edges I'd definitely check them out.
 
I have both knives and have a lot of field time with each of them. Both are really nice and will get it done. I personally prefer the ESEE 6. There are 3 things I didnt care for on the A1.

1. The A1 has a smallish handle. I have what I would consider to be medium sized hands for a guy and I find the handle to be a bit small.
2. The A1 is very blade heavy and balanced strange with the small handle. The ESEE has a nice balance to it and seems more nimble in my hand.
3. This is the killer ( for me) the A1 comes with this really crappy zytel sheath that the blade rattles around in. Very, very annoying and makes it a no-no for any sort of hunting. The ESEE comes with a nice quiet kydex sheath and it has numerous carry options.

I also believe that you can get the ESEE a lot cheaper, I am not a 100% about that as many of my knives are given to me. I think the ESEE knifes are pretty accessible in price.

Hope this helps. Both are very solid reliable knifes and either will last you a long time.
 
wintersix said:
I have both knives and have a lot of field time with each of them. Both are really nice and will get it done. I personally prefer the ESEE 6. There are 3 things I didnt care for on the A1.

1. The A1 has a smallish handle. I have what I would consider to be medium sized hands for a guy and I find the handle to be a bit small.
2. The A1 is very blade heavy and balanced strange with the small handle. The ESEE has a nice balance to it and seems more nimble in my hand.
3. This is the killer ( for me) the A1 comes with this really crappy zytel sheath that the blade rattles around in. Very, very annoying and makes it a no-no for any sort of hunting. The ESEE comes with a nice quiet kydex sheath and it has numerous carry options.

I also believe that you can get the ESEE a lot cheaper, I am not a 100% about that as many of my knives are given to me. I think the ESEE knifes are pretty accessible in price.

Hope this helps. Both are very solid reliable knifes and either will last you a long time.
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The first two points you find out with the knife in your hands. Knives vary widely in handle shape, size, and texture. They also vary widely in balance. What one poster here may love, you may hate. Hand tool. Your hand. Not anyone else's.
 
First let me say, I'm a big fan of Fallkniven. I've owned the standard production F1 for 2 years now, and it remains my outdoor knife of choice. I recently acquired an ESEE 6 for Christmas. I originally wanted the A1, but wanted to give the ESEE a shot after hearing all the hype about them on this forum. For me it turned out to be just that, a lot of hype. While the ESEE 6 is a decent, durable knife, I wish I had just went with the A1 personally. IN MY OPINION, there is nothing special about ESEE knives. The 1095 steel used is average, at best, in performance. The blade coating, while preventing rust, also prevents use of a firesteel. The handles have poor ergonomics. And the design has made me realize how much I hate choils. If I had it to do over again, I'd spend the extra coin and get the A1. No doubt about it.
 
Thomas Linton said:
The first two points you find out with the knife in your hands. Knives vary widely in handle shape, size, and texture. They also vary widely in balance. What one poster here may love, you may hate. Hand tool. Your hand. Not anyone else's.
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I agree. Get your hands on both of them if you can, it will make your decision a lot easier.
 
For your intended use I'd go with a Fallkniven S1 or ESEE-4, instead of the bigger blades. I'd lean towards the S1, or even go F1.
 
Pilot1 said:
For your intended use I'd go with a Fallkniven S1 or ESEE-4, instead of the bigger blades. I'd lean towards the S1, or even go F1.
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Most people prefer 3-4" for "general bushcraft," but you will find contrasting opinions.

I further commend to your consideration the words of knife sage Ken Warner:
There is no best design. There are only best designs for: for certain people, for certain jobs, for certain demands.
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wintersix said:
3. This is the killer ( for me) the A1 comes with this really crappy zytel sheath that the blade rattles around in. Very, very annoying and makes it a no-no for any sort of hunting. The ESEE comes with a nice quiet kydex sheath and it has numerous carry options.
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The fallkniven actually comes with a choice in sheaths, the zytel or a leather one. When you purchase the knife you should have a choice.

The zytel is not for everyone but its ultra compact and should not loosen over the years as kydex sometimes does.
 
I saw you referenced two very nice knives, but I recomend that you get a "Gerber Big Rock Camp Knife 4.5" Plain Edge Blade", it comes with a sheath and is around $30.00 bucks, it will serve you well for basic camp work.

Later you can upgrade to something better.

But what ever you decide, always use your new knife with the proper care.
 
THEMAKKER13 said:
Would I be correct in saying that the laminated vg10 holds a better edge and is less rust prone but the 1095 is easier to sharpen, tougher, but rusts more?
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the Lam VG-10 is less rust prone than 1095.

edge holding? probably in favour of the VG-10. but properly heat treated 1095 is staggeringly awesome stuff and by all reports the Rowan heat treat used by ESEE is as good as 1095 gets.

toughness between the two is almost a moot point. snap either an ESEE6 or an A1 and you are firmly in the realms of deliberate knife abuse that Noss and the KnifeTests.com nutjobs inhabit.

easier to sharpen? i don't know. but VG-10 is renowned for being easy to sharpen. i can get my S1 shaving sharp again with a minutes work with a diamond/ceramic stone.

when i was choosing my go-to outdoor blade, it came down to a choice between a Fallkniven S1/WM1 combo or an ESEE5/Izula combo.

i chose the Fallknivens and i have no regrets about that decision.

but i rekon the ESEEs would have been a fine choice. i'm definatly getting an Izzy and possibly a Junglas from ESEE in the future.
 
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KFGK14,why would the clip point design impede me? The way I look at it, the clip point just offers another blade in case the primary edge goes dull.
 
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