More fixed blade questions

Aias

Aias

Joined
Aug 1, 2012
Messages
5,188
Hello all,

OK, so I've narrowed down the field regarding my next fixed blade: it will either be the CRK Nyala, the Swamp Rat rodent 4, or the ESEE 4. It's probably pretty clear that I am going to a camp-type knife that is strong yet thin enough for slicing food (I was first debating the ESSE 5 and rodent 6, but decided otherwise). Based on previous posts and the great advice I received, the CRK has the better steel; the rodent has the larger (though not too large) blade, and the ESEE is fairly comparable with the slightly softer steel. I am guessing any one of these knives are winners--I am just curious about how you would rank them. I know that the Nyala is, in some ways, in a class of its own due simply to its producer/ production... however, in terms of practicality, which knife do you favor? If the three were sitting on your table and you had to run out the door and into a camping/ hunting/ fishing situation (not out and out survivalist) which would you reach for if you could only take one.

Thanks in advance.
 
Strong enough to do what? I have an ESEE-4 and it's a nice all around camp knife. The ESEE knives have steel that takes a good edge and holds it fairly well for moderate use. It's easy to sharpen the knife in the field with a small stone or you can use any number of things to strop/hone/realign the edge to keep it sharp. Ease of sharpening in the field is one of the advantages of not using a high alloy stainless steel.

For fishing I would stick with a dedicated fillet knife. For general use the ESEE-4 should be more than sufficient. You might also look into the Becker "tweener" line: BK15, 16 and 17 for another option. Also check out the Scrapyard 511. It's different than the rodent 4 but a bit cheaper.

Between the 3 you listed the ESEE is going to be the cheapest as it comes with a sheath for around the price of the rodent 4. Adding a sheath to the rodent 4 will make it significantly more expensive than the ESEE. Here are some pictures of the Nyala next to an ESEE-4: http://jungletraining.com/forums/showthread.php?5750-Chris-Reeve-Nyala. The Nyala costs well over twice what the ESEE-4 costs, so they aren't really in the same ballpark. There are tons of options out there for good fixed blades. Check the exchange here too if you think you might want a custom. You can get some very nice knives for under $200.

Figure out what's the most you're willing to pay and what you want the knife to do. That'll help narrow it down.
 
I carry the Esee 4 daily.

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There isn't a thing she doesn't do.
 
If you want a thinner blade the ESEE 3 might fit the bill. As per the ESEE website, the 3 is 1/8" thick, while the 4 is 3/16" thick.
 
There are plenty of options that you didn't mention; others have suggested a few. But out of the three you listed, I would probably go with the Rodent 4.
 
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I really really really like the looks of the CRK nyala, but I've never handled one. But I really like it, I think :)

The esee 4 is not a thin knife. I'd go for an esee 3 but the handle was not very comfortable for me. Otherwise it's a great knife.

I can't say a thing about the rodent knives. I've never owned one and am not familiar with them.


Customs are always a good option too. Look around and see if you don't find something you like.
 
Thanks guys... lots to think about. Part of the problem is that I like the esee 5 a lot--I'll likely end up getting both the 4 and the 5... so it goes
 
Those Esees are just sexy IMO. Very happy with my Swamprat knives however, tough as nails
 
The ESSE-4 and similar knives are more than strong enough for any reasonable task. The ESEE-5 and BK2 are thick and heavy. I don't use my BK2 very often because I have thinner, lighter knives that slice better. Try something like an ESEE-3 or 4 or a BK15/16/17 before going for a .25" thick saber ground heavy knife.
 
Yep... the esee 4 is looking like the one--but the rodent 4's harder steel is still keeping me from pulling the trigger. If the latter came with a sheath, I probably would have bought it already. The money is not the issue altogether--it is the principle of the damn thing that bugs me a little. Anyway, thanks again for the added comments. As for the Nyala, still very interested, but in terms of practicality my zt 0561's blade is similar enough... for now. I have a BM rift and bone collector (15020, walnut handle) as well, which could handle finer tasks... either those or my para 2 or military suffice as 'smaller' blades.

Again, thanks.
 
If you want something a bit cheaper look at the Scrapyard 511. The handle might be small if you have large hands, but it's a 5'' blade with similar or the same SR-101. I don't know how the Scrapyard and Swamp Rat SR-101 differs if it all. The handles are different, though. The 511 is about $90 plus shipping for around $108 or so shipped. You might find one on the exchange here for $100 or less shipped. I got a kydex sheath from AZwelke one the forum here. It set me back about $40 including paypal fees and shipping. So, yeah, if you want to go for a SR r4 or SY511 you're probably going to be paying at least $40 more than you would for the ESEE-4.
 
Fanglekai, thanks--my hands are on the larger side and I like the bigger handle of the rodent 4; I may have come across that sheath option while searching through the forum. Are the sheaths fitted enough that you can carry the knife tip up on a backpack shoulder strap?
 
Aias said:
...Are the sheaths fitted enough that you can carry the knife tip up on a backpack shoulder strap?
Click to expand...

Yes, but that is a very foolish method & place to carry a knife, esp. a knife so large. :thumbdn:
 
Aias said:
Fanglekai, thanks--my hands are on the larger side and I like the bigger handle of the rodent 4; I may have come across that sheath option while searching through the forum. Are the sheaths fitted enough that you can carry the knife tip up on a backpack shoulder strap?
Click to expand...

azwelke makes great sheaths but I wouldn't ever recommend carrying a knife upside down on a pack. I imagine the knife would stay in the sheath because it's very well fitted but honestly it's not a good practice to carry a knife in such a way that you might lose it or it might somehow injure yourself or others. The best thing to do would be to carry it on your hip, in your pack, or on the outside of the pack but with the handle facing upward so the knife cannot fall out. I would recommend a small fixed blade like an ESEE izula, scrapyard scrapivore, buck mini alpha hunter, or some other relatively small fixed blade on your hip if the larger knife is uncomfortable.
 
Fanglekai, thanks for the advice--I typically do not carry a knife that way but have seen it done and was thinking about trying it out... Now maybe not. To you, and to others that may be reading, with all the advice to check out custom knives, I was looking into a Dozier... Any thoughts?
 
Mind you, I am looking for something like the other knives mentioned... Just to narrow things down.
 
Dozier has a bunch of standard patterns that fall into this catagory. His sheath will fit, cross-draw, on the hip belt of of a typical pack ( at least it does on my Badlands 2200) so the knife is handy when wearing the pack instead of buried in it, or trapped under it on my regular belt.

All of these have ~3.5" blades:

K-17 Yukon Pro Skinner, K-19 Pro Skinner, K-38 Improved Pro Skinner, another Yukon, K-5 King's River Skinner
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Z
 
I carry my ESEE 3 upside down on my right shoulder strap with no problems what so ever. It has never once fallen out or even acted like it wanted to, this is also in the sheath that came with the knife I might add.

As far as knife choice goes you really cant go wrong with either Swamp Rat or ESEE. I own a RMD and an ESEE 3 and love them both dearly. There are things I like about each knife. The Swamp Rat will hold an edge longer once sharp but is harder to sharpen in the field than the ESEE is. For the money there is literally nothing that comes close to what you get from ESEE. I do love my RMD but if ESEE made a knife in the 5 inch range that didnt weigh a pound I would most likely not own the RMD.
 
MisterZ, beautiful, thanks. PatrickKnight, I was thinking of trying such a carry method and heard more or less the same. I guess my question to both of you, and all else, is: is the esee 5 just that impractical? The larger Dozier wilderness knife was another one I was thinking about--thick spine like the esee 5 but it may have a thinner grind/ angle to the edge. Based on the good advice here, it looks like the esee 4 can get most jobs done but the handle seems a bit small to me; the 5's grooves and contours will most likely fit my hands better.
 
Out of the ones you mentioned,

Swam Rat 4. 52100 steel done right. The HT on these is excellent. It will be better in edge retention, and resistance to "abuse". There is a reason a lot of custom makers choose that steel. Swamp Rat has a very involved heat treat process to get the most out of their steels. Their handle treatments tend to be ergonomic. Palm swells, and contouring are done well. Excellent warranty too. The warrant follows the knife, and covers everything short of intentional destruction.

Then the ESSE (can't go wrong with them. 1095 steel, and well done heat treat. Fantastic warranty). 1095 is a basic carbon steel, and with ESSE's heat treat I have heard no complaints. My issues with ESSE's is that the handles feel a bit blocky in my hands. This is something you can fix if desired. Many love the handles, and have no issues. Good value for the price.

The CRK Nyala is a good looking design. I have not used that steel, but I would think that CRK has given it a good Heat Treat.
 
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