Opinion on ESEE Knives?

I've got two Esses, and I love them both. Great heat treatment on good ol' 1095, great fit and finish on the handles (they match up perfectly with the blank), great sheaths, and of course, a great warranty. You really can't go wrong with them.

As for which one, it depends on what you're doing with it. For smaller tasks, Izulas are great. For camping chores and woodwork, the 6 is perfect. For hunting, fishing, bushcraft, stuff like that, the 3 or 4 fits the right size.

Of course, if you're looking for an all-around tank of a knife... there's the 5 :D

I personally like my 5 and Izula combo. They can tackle just about anything together.
 
Greetings:

I have an Izula, 3, and 4, and would echo everything noted above--strong, great quality, with even bevels and sharp edges. Really satisfying to behold. Except for holding them--for me. As others have noted, the handle lengths on the 3 and 4 occur to some of us as too short. There's a Googleable company that sells a variety of aftermarket G10 scales for the 3 and 4, along with separate ESEE-produced 3 and 4 blades and sheaths. So you can order your own combination. The G10 scales cover the pommel and increase the handle length significantly yet not excessively, and I find them more comfortable to use for everyday tasks. The trade-off is that the scales are not custom-fit like those on factory ESEEs, and mine have noticeable yet tolerable gaps and misalignments. I find the trade-off worth it, though.

Cheers,
Isaeus
 
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I own a 3, and yes the handle is a little small (for me) but it is my main blade when I go hiking, strong, light and sharp.
 
I own the ESSE five it's built like a tank and it is my truck knife plus they have a great warranty on all their blades
 
I have an ESEE 4 and a gray Izula that I cord wrapped with after market paracord. My only complaint is that I feel ESEE provides some pretty cheap quality paracord with their kits that just doesn't have the thick and sturdy feel that I like. That's my only complaint, though. They sharpen up easily and they perform very well. My Izula is actually one of my favorite knives of all time. It's also bitten me more than any of my other knives, so I know it loves me! :)
 
Skimo said:
I've got an ESEE in D2, it's a beast.
Click to expand...

ESEE has never used D2 ;) If it's in D2, it is an Ontario RAT, not ESEE.

ESEE makes a great product. One of, if not my favorite production company. I own several, and they all perform well, and come with great sheaths as well.
 
I have a couple of 4s and a couple 5s. - - I never use the 4s, I find that I don't like the blocky handles and the knife feels heavy in the hand to me. So, I end up usually going with other knives with that blade length. I love the 5. It is a versatile heavy knife. Good for batoning and for chopping, especially when using a lanyard so you can hold it toward the back of the handle. (My only complaint is with the placement of the bow drill divot - I wish it were on the opposite side. I wonder if the designer is left handed? It is a little irritating to the fingers now, and wouldnt be noticeable if it was in the palm of my right dominant hand instead. I usually wear leather work gloves to protect my hands outdoors, so this isn't a huge deal. Sometime I may fill the divot and drill another one on the opposite side.) If it wasn't in the winter & I wasn't carrying an axe, the 5 paired up with an ultralight good cutting/slicing knife like a Mora Clipper would make a nice woods combination in my opinion.
 
I don't have many fixed-blades and only one ESEE, but the Izula 2 is my favourite of the lot. I'd certainly buy more from ESEE...

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I have the ESEE 4 (Mines actually the RAT RC 4) but it is my favorite knife for all round outdoor use. What has impressed me most is the durability of the coating. I typically don't like coatings on knives because they look like crap once they start coming off. I have field dressed and quartered out deer, beat it, carved quite a bit. And it is still on there without fading or flaking off. It's not the prettiest knife but it's the one I would stake my life on if I ever needed to.
 
Absolutely great knives....I have an ESEE 3, and an Izula 2.....EDC them both...... Great steel.... Great folks..
 
I have two Izula's and two -3's and plan on buying more of the other models soon. Great knives!
 
I have a 5, its the only knife i would want in a shtf situation. Esee is a great company that makes great knives.
 
I have 3 Esee 4's , 4 -3's , 2 - 6's , 2 Izulas , one 5 , original Hest and one Junglas.
Most used are the 3 , 4 and 6. If I'm going to carry only one knife in the bush it would be my 6.

I like the ergos on all of them and am very happy with the whole lot. Even the ones I have with serrations ( a 3 & 6 ) perform great. I've avoided the Izula 2 as I have enough 3's for that role as a light knife .

I had a serious Esee issue at one time. This is most but not all of them. There's some fellas that have a lot more than I do.

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very good knifes, two of my favorite fixed blades are esee 5 and and junglas :thumbup:
 
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