New guy, need your help

[alsj727]

All the ESEE's have their limitations due to their different sizes. So pick the one that fits your needs. Best warranty in the industry, built like tanks.:thumbup:

 

[styx]

The RC5. If you're the kind of guy that will carry a Kabar for 15 years, and you're looking for another "one knife'' to be 100% reliant, than the RC5 is a superb candidate. Many people here will claim they don't like the RC5's performance due to its thickness, but if you maintain a good edge, the RC5 will perform just as well as the rest of them. What it supposedly lacks in performance it definately makes up for in reliability, useable size, etc. I really can't explain what this knife has over the RC4 or RC6 (I've used both) but this knife and I definately clicked. It's short enough that it still retains superb point control and the balance and fit are just great. I don't care what anyone else says, the RC5 is THE knife (especially if you will be carrying a smaller slicer for finer tasks). Other knives you should consider are Condors, the Rodan, Kumunga, Hudson Bay, Inca knife etc. They're very inexpensive and although their fit and finish isn't as ideal as the RATs they are still just as capable. I got a bolo machete from them the other day and it came with a hairsplitting polished edge. Beckers are also great, the BK2 and BK7/9. I'd also suggest a frontier style tomahawk from HB Forge or Cold Steel (made by American Tomahawk Company) They are lightweight and offer superb control, durability and very easy maintenance. There are so many applications for them, as they are an axe with a knife edge. They're great for anything from slicing and dicing up to felling trees and self defense.

Ok this is probably a mess up done by yours rotten, me! The Ka-Bar that I held was someone's, can't remember exactly who it was. But it was given from a marine wanted to help out somehow, but the US got involved in the conflict way later. This is a bit on logic and a lot of how and why should be made, so I'll just say that I'm from Croatia. If you need a bit more in depth explanation you can ask, or you can google. Works the same. So the point is that I don't own that Ka-Bar. It was just the only bigger I've had ever handled.

After reading what you guys have said and explained I came to the conclusion that this is gonna be a very expensive sport. And here's why:
-my fiance is crazy about some things, and for her a knife that's used on wood shouldn't be used on food, so an ESEE-3 just for her to keep her off my back
-since I'll carry a saw there won't be too much chopping, so ESEE-6 seems to be the problem solver
-the Izula folder is gonna become a part of my EDC because it already looks like sth that will be able to outperform most other folders, and I'll put my money where my mouth is now
-a small backup that will go with ESEE-6 will be either an Izula, or the new BK&T and ESEE collaboration knife when it comes out
-ESEE-4 is a good all around knife and do I really need a reason to get it? no? Thoughts so. From what I've seen around people would rather give their kidneys and kids than their ESEE-4

All of this seems fair, and over time it's not a problem. Never been afraid of a shovel and hard work. Now the mentioned BK2 is something that I'll probably get before the majority of this list since before anything happens the friend that is already there and I will go hunting. Actually he'll be hunting and I'll be enjoying the great outdoors. And that needs to be a light pack, so before I get the ESEE-4 or ESEE-6, I'll get that as a good cheaper alternative. And if it goes to bust, I'll probably upgrade to ESEE-5.
Who ever warned me that these knives create an addiction was right.

 

[1066vik]

the BK2 is a great knife for hard use tasks - if you get one of those, you may not need the ESEE6 for quite some time, and they show up used on the forum exchange periodically. Personally, I prefer the handles on the ESEE over the Becker, but the Becker is a good knife.
For dedicated food prep it's hard to beat a Victorinox or Opinel paring knife. (and they're cheap!) Izula is good for that as well. Just a thought for the fiance, since either of those will cost a lot less than an ESEE3.
Becker/ESEE collaboration knife looks like it will be a winner, too.
for saws, the Fiskars/Gerber folding and collapsing saws are excellent and can be found in the $10-15 range at just about any hardware or home improvement store. Corona is also a decent brand for folding saws if you want something with a slightly longer blade.

Where in N Am. will you be settling/hunting/camping? This information will help with some of the advice for gear you may want/need. (don't need specifics, just an idea - Alberta, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Florida, Oregon - as the climate and terrain changes radically with region)

 

[texastonydobbs]

The BK2 is a Short & Stout blade read the specs and deceide if it still fits your needs,Great knives but for me the BK2 did not fit the Bill, reason I traded mine off last week. Splitting precut firewood the blade was still a tad short to baton properly.
I'd go for a BK7 ,swedge tip but still enough blade to baton thru wood.I would also opt for the micarta scales too .

 

[styx]

I'm gonna be straight forward, risk a warning or sth like that and say it - my fiance is anal when it comes to equipment. So while I'm settling she'll survive even with an 8$ Mora knife. Later on I know that she'll get on my case. You should have seen the discussion we had about multitools. She doesn't know anything about them but I do since I used to work as a roadie and used them in different conditions. First one I ever got was around 3$ and it snapped while i was using it. The one that's looking for retirement now was around 13$ and for lighter use it's will go for a few more years, with my usage it would last maybe another 2 months. Now this all sounds cheap from me, but I'm really not a fan of working like a mule and then leaving half of my paycheck on something like that when there are bills to pay and collage keeps on knocking cash out of my pocket (great idea with free education that isn't free). So it took her a good while to explain that once I move, 200$ won't be the whole paycheck if you're lucky.

This info about the saws will really help me out, haven't had much time to look at those.

And actually BK2 is on top of the list together with ESEE-4. They can really be there in less than 3 months, when thinking money wise and they will give me a decent time frame to get all the other equipment without the need to sell a kidney. The smaller knives, that friend has way to many cheapo folding knives that will work out.

And the region really is a problem that's why the BK2. I'm moving to south Florida and that's a whole new climate for me. On the other hand that friend and his family are in West Virginia. I'm used to the climate, but camping with him is lightweight. Actually it's not even camping, it's him looking trough the woods before hunting season getting to know the terrain again and stuff like that, and me cracking jokes. Between the 2 of us there's maybe 15 to 20 lbs of gear, and i think I really pushed that number. And we're both impulsive so things get forgotten at home. That why I'd rather have a pry bar that can chop than a light chopper but an excellent splitter.

Oh yea does anyone have any experience with pocket chainsaws? Those seems to be quite compact and a lifesaver when it comes to 2 nut cases like us.

EDIT: While I like the BK7, I'd rather go straight to ESEE-6. You guys really got me with that one. But as said for me BK2 seems more like a chopper, while ESEE-6 like you said for batoning . Really depends on if those 20$ for a pocket chainsaw are worth it.

 

[1066vik]

absolutely nothing wrong with Mora knives - unless you want to baton or pry.
we all understand budget, too.
There have been a couple of favorable posts about the pocket chainsaws, you might check out the woodsmonkey website and see what their reviews were like. As I recall, one or 2 were good, and a third not so good.
another thought for chopping that you might consider is a $20 hatchet instead of the BK2, if you only want it until you can afford the ESEE6. Save some $$ without adding a lot of weight to your pack.

 

[LittleSpartan]

Hey people. I'm new here, and i'm new to fixed blade knives, especially for survival or camping usage.
This is due to facts being that up to recently when my friends and I went camping, we had a big ax and a bunch of small knives (one per person), so the only big fix blade that i had in my hands was a USMC ka-bar and that has over 15 years to it.
The reasons for this change is the following - I'm moving to a whole new area (another continent) and less than a month ago I had a hernia surgery probably because of my former job (can't do it any more because of it, plus the moving). So I'm looking to cut down in weight of what I carry because a 5 or 6 lbs ax isn't desirable.
Basically the knives I was shown were good, but not exactly what I was looking for. For the first few months I'll need a good all around knife, and later I do intend to expand my collection.



See this is puzzling a bit. what to get? It should be a "jack of all trades". Well I'll take one smaller blade, probably an Izula with me so maybe that helps you guys out.
One more question that i have is about the handles. I've hear/read that they take blood in fairly well, so any special ways to clean them?

Thanks in advance. Styx

Welcomeeee!
Aren't I friendly even though I just had to have my side sutured up. :foot:
Anyways. My wife and I sat down cause I was pain stakingly planning out my purchase plan, most would say to hell with that and just pick a Esee at random and get it! I agree with Gundude, the 6 is PERFECTLY paired with the Izzie, simply cause for lighter more delicate or precise work. I would use the Izzie, easy to control. For big brawny task? The 6 is what comes to mind, until the Junglas comes along...than that big boy will ruin the 6 for me...All in all I say look at the knives, take into account there measurements, and scale to your hand and see if what you are planning on buying fits your needs and your hands.

I myself plan to buy ALL of them eventually, just to see which I truly like best, and have a knife everywhere. In my daily errand bag, in the car, in the truck, on my bag that I wear when riding. BOB bag, everyone of these knives are great so you really cant go wrong. A friend who had these knives combined with his knowledge is probably what kept us alive while my stupidity and such did nothing lol. He has all the knives atm, excluding the Jungie. And trust me, he wants BADLY.

My Perfect trio would probably be Izzie, 5, and Jungee Bear. And that'd probably be about it. Some jack ass last night tried car jacking me at 7-11, I hate all the tuner kids, because 98% of those fanboys are thieves. Anyways, he tried slicing me, but gave me a very sloppy injury, my Noveske hoody took brunt of it. His little folder was some cheap cutlery sale show knife....Obviously longer and bigger than my izzie. I yanked my Izzie, firm comfy perfect grip, and moved forward, and in a split second of my reaction, from his right to left, there was a HUGE opening in his heavy jacket....and shirt underneath, and all I started seeing was a POOL dripping down, he ran, but with that kind of self defense inflicted wound from me? He HAS to have gone to the hospital. HAS HAD TOO. The izzie is damn sharp, even after I baton pieces of wood with it, pried my silverados stuck door, damn moisture and cold nights...cuts fruits, veggies, rope....rofl. I still havent had to sharpen the little sh*t, and he just keeps cutting away. Talk about over achiever.

I've dropped my izzie a few times too, and the tip hasn't blunted or the blade from dropping it outside on hard concrete. Oddly putting paracord took a small small nic of the coating off at the O loop, but dropping it doesn't affect the damn coating, wth? lol.

Where you moving too? Make sure you're legal to carry or possess the knife too where ever you may be going!

Oh and I have just recently bought a handful of Izzies because I will be taking a trip soon over seas, I will be giving the knives as gifts to Local People like the police chief over where I will be going, the local TOUGH guy who was friends with my uncle growing up, as well a few other people. I am just shy of placing a larger order for Hesters too. I will give both as offerings and gifts of well wishing. Hopefully they are well received. A security guy for my dads company, said giving such items especially knives or american surplus like water canteens, aviator glasses, boots, etc? In rural areas like Vietnam, the Philippines, and a few other places? Sets you in good with local people who are seated in places of influence and such. Respect.

Just a thought!

 

[styx]

Yep, that about giving things like that works. And one more thing works - dollars.

Well this really shows that it's a tough little knife. What put it up in my eyes was seeing a dude go trough a 2x4 in less than 6 mins and still shaving his arm with that little Izzie.

And I checked out the laws. I can have a pocket knife on me, and any size of a fixed blade in the trunk.
Oh and it looks like the 6 will be coming straight off the bad. Just had a chat and after seeing that it was used to chop a gator's head off (or what was that thing), she's bought.

 

[imaginefj]

well to add to my previous post i personally would get the ESEE6 and the izula, with that pair you would be hard pressed to find a job your couldn't do. but that is just me, i say you get what you want and would be happy with.

+1

If you really have to chop alot of wood you'll still need an axe though. Lol, or a Stihl/Husq. Anyone who disagrees with me on that is welcome to help me clear some fence line .