Looking for the perfect bush/survival knife for me. Going with ESEE most likely.

S

subver

Joined
Oct 1, 2014
Messages
15
Hey guys,
New member here.. have always loved knives but never really got into quality ones. I love camping and hiking, and I live in a mostly wooded area (in the chance I need to survive, it will most likely be in the woods.. upstate NY)

I've been putting more thought into survival lately and decided to start a little survival pack because, well, ya never know!

Anyway, I've pretty much had my heart set on the ESEE 5.. seems like it will hold up forever and can do most survival tasks. Is it too thick for dressing small game?

I would prefer something that is good at chopping down limbs to use for shelter, dressing small game and fish, have the ability to do smaller tasks like whittling, making precise traps, etc.

I know the ESEE 5 doesn't have a finger choil, and I've read various opinions on that.. some don't like the choils anyway and still use it as such, some prefer it. Not really sure what I prefer.

Anyway.. Now I'm kind of leaning toward the 4 or 6, or the Laser Strike. Or another option I thought of was to get the ESEE 5 first, then sometime down the road get the ESEE 3 for smaller tasks as well as EDC.

So, what do you guys think? I am pretty set on sticking with ESEE, I just love everything I read about them, hear the quality is great, etc etc. Just kind of in a limbo here.
I know as soon as I get one of their knives I will probably get another, and it will turn into an addiction, so this may be irrelevant anyway, but I would love some suggestions.

The 4 and 6 aren't 1/4" thick like the 5 is, correct?
I like them all, and I do really like the idea of the 1/4" thick blade on the 5, especially if I will be surviving for an extended period of time (Could be silly, but better safe than sorry, right?).

Gah, I just don't know! If it came down to one single knife for an extended survival situation, which ESEE knife would you bring along? And same question but for two blades?

I think most likely I will be choosing a heavy duty survival knife and an EDC knife for smaller tasks as well. 5 and 3, or 6 and 3? Any suggestions? Any better ESEE EDC option than the 3?

(still leaning toward the ESEE 5.. I don't know why, it's just calling my name!)

Sorry for the ranting! I'm very indecisive but am trying to research the best I can!
Thanks guys. This forum rocks!

Also, I'm really sorry if this is a typical newbie post, but I appreciate any replies I can get.
 
Welcome!

subver said:
Gah, I just don't know! If it came down to one single knife for an extended survival situation, which ESEE knife would you bring along? And same question but for two blades?!
Click to expand...

Why would it come down to one single knife? You said you "decided to start a little survival pack" You can put more than one knife in there. Not against the Survival Rules.
 
No you're right, and I do plan on getting more knives, I guess it's more of a which one to get first sort of thing, I won't be able to buy these knives all the time as they are a bit pricey for me, so I'd like to start out with one good all around survival knife if possible.
This is also why I'm so indecisive! Because I could get something like the 6, then down the road get a 3 and those two would probably be all I'd need for the most part... but if I can get by with just the 5 to do all those tasks I wouldn't be opposed (despite STILL probably getting another one down the road)

Decisions.. decisions..!

EDIT: Also, I do really really want the 5.. if I got the 5, and then down the road got a larger knife (maybe bigger than the 6) and a smaller knife like the 3, would that make the 5 obsolete or would it still have it's place? I know this is all personal preference as well... kind of tough!
 
Last edited:
subver said:
No you're right, and I do plan on getting more knives, I guess it's more of a which one to get first sort of thing, I won't be able to buy these knives all the time as they are a bit pricey for me, so I'd like to start out with one good all around survival knife if possible.
This is also why I'm so indecisive! Because I could get something like the 6, then down the road get a 3 and those two would probably be all I'd need for the most part... but if I can get by with just the 5 to do all those tasks I wouldn't be opposed (despite STILL probably getting another one down the road)

Decisions.. decisions..!

EDIT: Also, I do really really want the 5.. if I got the 5, and then down the road got a larger knife (maybe bigger than the 6) and a smaller knife like the 3, would that make the 5 obsolete or would it still have it's place? I know this is all personal preference as well... kind of tough!
Click to expand...

Never get the "do it all" compromise knife that does everything sorta OK, in my opinion.

Get a great slicer, and, if you insist, later, a great chopper/basher/smasher. (or just get a folding saw)
 
So, not sure if this will help you or not, but I'll mention it either way.

I started in a similar place. I decided after a lot of research that I wanted to buy a Becker BK2 (very similar to the ESEE 5, which I'm sure you know).

I've used the BK2 a lot, and for what it is, its a great blade (it does feel extremely indestructible). And in the same purchase, I got a Mora Companion just because I'd heard so many good things about them (and it was $8). Then about... 9 months after I got my BK2, I won a BK9 (9in blade, 3/16in thick).

And you know what... I haven't used my BK2 in quite some time. The BK9 is my most used woods knife right now (mostly car/jeep camping). It breaks down the firewood, and feels MORE than robust enough even with its 3/16in thickness (instead of 1/4in like the BK2 and ESEE 5). The Mora comes along and gets lots of use as well, and finally I have a SAK farmer in the pouch on the sheath that is nice to have around, but isn't used very much. And because this is car camping, I also take a Corona folding saw. So the saw cuts, the BK9 splits, and the BK9 and Mora split the rest of the tasks depending on whats handy (tent stakes, feathersticks, roasting sticks :)).

So, in my opinion, after a few years of use, is that while the BK2 and ESEE 5 size blades are great for "one knife" situations, as they really can do many things fairly well, that I prefer to use a larger blade, and a smaller one. You might be different though, but those are my thoughts.

And yes, the ESEE 4 and 6 are 3/16in thick instead of 1/4in like the 5.

And for what its worth, if you're considering going with ESEE knives, you might want to check out the Becker line from Kabar, as they're very similar in design and the types of use they're designed for.
 
Last edited:
Thanks guys! Yeah I was definitely flopping between ESEE and the Kabar line, definitely leaning toward the ESEE brand, though.
But yeah, I think I may actually go with the ESEE Laser Strike or ESEE 6 for now then - seems probably more useful in the field than the 5.

I gotta find somewhere locally that may carry these blades, I would really prefer to actually hold them before buying. Gotta look around for that.
 
Tops BOB. My favorite all around fixed blade. I prefer it to the ESEE's I've owned.
 
No one knife will do it all. Some are capable of doing most things, but they are just that. Only merely capable. Knives like that tend to suck at everything equally instead of excelling at any single given task. No sir, I don't like it.....

You can do everything you need done with 2 knives. Just get a medium to large fixed blade, and something smaller that's a great slicer. All set.

Check out my "woods combo" thread for some big knife/little knife ideas.... And a few extemporaneous, rhetorical, academic arguments of course.

My personal combo is a Busse Basic 9 and an Allen Blade/Ed Caffrey MEUK. I highly recommend both of them, but good luck finding either one.

If you want to start off with what I consider the BEST all-rounder, and don't mind spending a bit of scratch, check out the Swamp Rat Ratmandu. They are fantastic, and worth every penny:



If you have your mind set on an ESEE, I'd go with the 4 or the 6. The 5 is too thick for it's own good. I don't mind quarter inch steel on a HUGE knife, but on a 5 1/2" blade it's just too flabby to be effective. Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
Last edited:
If your mind is made up, that's fine. I had an ESEE 3LE which was a great knife.
I've also had two SurviveKnives...the GSO 4.1 and the GSO 3.5.
I'm really convinced that the Survive Knives are good stuff. I suggest you take a look. Lots of YT videos to see also.
The company has a complete GSO series of models in various lengths, and excellent blade-steels to pick from.
http://surviveknives.com/knives/gso-series.html
 
I suggest getting a mora for your fine/delicate tasks like whittling and making stakes for tarps etc. then either get a hatchet for chopping wood and a fixed blade like the ontario rat 3 for skinning games, maybe breaking down kindling.

Because I've noticed that knives kind of suck for batoning and chopping limbs. A nice hatchet would make easy work of those tasks. And having a knife that's thick and long enough for batoning will not be delicate enough for skinning game. I mean you can get one knife that you can use for everything, but it's like a jack of all trades but a king of none.

It's much more practice to carry at least 3 tools. Mine being:
Mora Bushcraft Black for fine work, making traps, whittling, making marshmallow sticks for s'mores, an the occasional tent stake when one goes missing.

Then I have an ontario rat 3 for cleaning game, cutting through materials, basically anything besides fine work and batoning. Then, I carry either an estwing Sportsman's hatchet or a kabar bk 7 for batoning and splitting wood. Depends on what I feel like doing. And I always have A few folders on me. Ontario rat 1, spyderco resilience for food prep, and a sak Fieldmaster II
 
I suggest getting a mora for your fine/delicate tasks like whittling and making stakes for tarps etc. then either get a hatchet for chopping wood and a fixed blade like the ontario rat 3 for skinning games, maybe breaking down kindling.

Because I've noticed that knives kind of suck for batoning and chopping limbs. A nice hatchet would make easy work of those tasks. And having a knife that's thick and long enough for batoning will not be delicate enough for skinning game. I mean you can get one knife that you can use for everything, but it's like a jack of all trades but a king of none.

It's much more practice to carry at least 3 tools. Mine being:
Mora Bushcraft Black for fine work, making traps, whittling, making marshmallow sticks for s'mores, an the occasional tent stake when one goes missing.

Then I have an ontario rat 3 for cleaning game, cutting through materials, basically anything besides fine work and batoning. Then, I carry either an estwing Sportsman's hatchet or a kabar bk 7 for batoning and splitting wood. Depends on what I feel like doing. And I always have A few folders on me. Ontario rat 1, spyderco resilience for food prep, and a sak Fieldmaster II
 
Having owned all of the ESEE knives- If I would do it all again, I would start with the Laser Strike or ESEE 6.

But having owned many many more knives since- If I would do it all again, I would start with a Survive knife GSO 5.1. I would not mind having that as my only knife.

One thing I would recommend to research is how you will carry the knife. I assume in a survive in the woods setting thinking of how to always have access to the knife and being able to return the knife quickly to its holder (i.e., free your hands) is just as important as which knife you choose.

Good luck!


fleegs
 
You're going to eventually find your requirements are best met with a 2-knife setup.
 
Wow thanks for all the suggestions, guys! I'm gonna take a look at all those knives you guys suggested. Definitely like that Survive knife GSO 5.1 and Ratmandu blade! Looks like I have more research to do! Not sure I have the scratch for the GSO, though.. but damn is that a nice looking blade.
And yeah definitely looking to get a two knife setup now instead of one all-arounder.. that doesn't seem to be what I want. Still have that Laser Strike in the back of my head but I will check out all the others and maybe watch some comparison videos if there are any.

Thanks guys, you are very helpful!
 
And also, I don't think I am dead set on Esse anymore, but I do still really like that Laser Strike! Y'all definitely made this harder for me, haha.
That TOPS B.O.B. blade looks slick as hell, too! And that Mora Bushknife Black.. I think I may have caught the blade bug... I'm so sorry wallet.

I'm gonna call around to some more places and see what knives they carry. My local Army Navy store carries Ka-Bar blades, so I could probably check some of those out to get an idea of what I like and don't, then maybe go from there. I would love to find a place that carries these top of the line knives!
 
subver said:
No you're right, and I do plan on getting more knives, I guess it's more of a which one to get first sort of thing, I won't be able to buy these knives all the time as they are a bit pricey for me, so I'd like to start out with one good all around survival knife if possible.
This is also why I'm so indecisive! Because I could get something like the 6, then down the road get a 3 and those two would probably be all I'd need for the most part... but if I can get by with just the 5 to do all those tasks I wouldn't be opposed (despite STILL probably getting another one down the road)

Decisions.. decisions..!

EDIT: Also, I do really really want the 5.. if I got the 5, and then down the road got a larger knife (maybe bigger than the 6) and a smaller knife like the 3, would that make the 5 obsolete or would it still have it's place? I know this is all personal preference as well... kind of tough!
Click to expand...

Indecisive? Join the club. Buy one of each. :D

Get the one you really have your heart set on and go from there. Yes, they cost money and money doesn't grow on trees. Carry a smaller knife for smaller tasks. There is nothing wrong with using a folder for field dressing game should you need to. I used a folder for years for this purpose. Cleaning.... you'll live. Just rinse it off with water or use a detergent if you get blood and other stuff on it.

I have the BK-2 which is a similar kind of knife as the ESEE 5. Never/seldom use it. But you know, over the years I have purchased similar kinds of knives that use 1/4" bar stock. I was fondling a couple Randalls I have the other day and both use 1/4" bar stock. Never use them either.... don't worry about it. Get the knife you have your heart set on and go from there.

There are lots of choices. Frankly I think you're better off with a short machete as your "big knife" and then a 4" fixed blade that you like as a more general purpose knife. There are gobs of good knives in the 4-5" range. My current preference is for a Dozier Pro Skinner but I always go back to the Blackjack 125 as one I really like to use. I like lots of different knives.
 
I would stay away from the shorter thick blades (1/4"), as I find them too thick for small jobs, and too short for big jobs. I would get a small knife for the detailed work and a bigger for the chopping / batoning.
 
subver said:
EDIT: Also, I do really really want the 5...
Click to expand...

If you want it, buy it ;) Lots of people do very well in the boonies with one medium-size knife like that. If weight and/or budget are concerns, it's not a bad choice at all.

I agree with most of the other posters, though... 2 more specialized knives are better than one compromise.

If you seriously plan on moving up to a significantly larger knife in the future, I would advise getting a smaller, lighter knife now and picking up a folding saw for cutting larger pieces. Folding saws are great... inexpensive, super light, don't take up much space in a pack, and they're very efficient to use.

Skip the six. If you're gonna go big, go BIG. 6-7" blades are hugely popular but they're kind of a no-man's land in my opinion... they just aren't that much better than a 5" blade when it comes to chopping wood and slashing brush, and they're not as handy as smaller ones for more mundane tasks. Once you get into blades over 8", the extra leverage, weight and tip speed really make a big difference. Look at the ESEE Junglas or a Becker BK-9. Even a cheap machete will perform pretty darn well at that sort of thing.

Personally, I like to have a small knife (4" blade or smaller), a saw, and a big ol' chopper (9" blade or larger) when I go camping. Then you definitely have all the bases covered.
 
Last edited:
That has been my experience also after buying a number of the shorter 1/4" bar stock knives.
 
james terrio said:
If you want it, buy it ;) Lots of people do very well in the boonies with one medium-size knife like that. If weight and/or budget are concerns, it's not a bad choice at all.

I agree with most of the other posters, though... 2 more specialized knives are better than one compromise.

If you seriously plan on moving up to a significantly larger knife in the future, I would advise getting a smaller, lighter knife now and picking up a folding saw for cutting larger pieces. Folding saws are great... inexpensive, super light, don't take up much space in a pack, and they're very efficient to use.

Skip the six. If you're gonna go big, go BIG. 6-7" blades are hugely popular but they're kind of a no-man's land in my opinion... they just aren't that much better than a 5" blade when it comes to chopping wood and slashing brush, and they're not as handy as smaller ones for more mundane tasks. Once you get into blades over 8", the extra leverage, weight and tip speed really make a big difference. Look at the ESEE Junglas or a Becker BK-9. Even a cheap machete will perform pretty darn well at that sort of thing.

Personally, I like to have a small knife (4" blade or smaller), a saw, and a big ol' chopper (9" blade or larger) when I go camping. Then you definitely have all the bases covered.
Click to expand...

Excellent post, and even better advice.

Mora, bk9, and corona for me. Oh, and I also agree with the previous post about a machete taking the place of a large knife (could work great depending on your local). And I am actively scouring the exchange looking for a good deal on a BK16, which would likely replace the Mora.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top