question about the ESEE 6 handle

S

Stoneflie

Joined
Jul 21, 2007
Messages
42
I already have the Izula, Izula2, and the 3. I think I have decided that my next ESEE will be the 6 but I have one question before I make my final decision.

The question is for those of you that have the 6 and use or have used it a lot.
Do any of you get hot spots/sore areas on your hand after an extended period of heavy use?

Thanks in advance, Mike
 
Use anything enough and it's going to make your hand sore/ hot spot.

That said, I use a 6 in the woods often, and hard. It's a comfortable knife to use. a good pair of soft leather work gloves don't hurt.
 
I do not have a 6 (but I have the 5)...I post only to share that I have made my own handles (for other knives) and even with something tailored exactly to me (by me) based on hot spots and soreness...I still get hot spots if I do enough work. I use the knife and make adjustments to the handle, then repeat...and I never fully eliminate the fatigue/hotspots/sore spots.

With that said, if your basis for comparison is a small knife and you go to a big knife like a 5 or 6, I will suggest that you will get A LOT more work done as a result of the bigger knife, and will do so in so much less time, that the issue with hot spots will be much less.

Hope that helps. The only way to really answer the question is for the asker to actually use the knife and determine if the fit is good to his/her own unique needs. It is a luxury few have though
 
I keep a pair of gloves in my bag...no matter the brand or handle material sooner or later you'll get a hot spot & blister if you use it long enough
 
I'm probably in the minority, but I thought the ESEE-6 handles were absolutely horrible. Probably the least comfortable knife I've ever held. Very blocky feeling, sharp corners (despite being rounded, it didn't seem to help), not comfortable at all. I couldn't even bring myself to use the knife because it bothered me so much. I eventually traded it out. I have a 4 now and it's much better, although still somewhat blocky. Nowhere near as bad as my 6 was, though.

Don't rip me apart, ESEE forum! Everyone has a different experience with their knives :o
 
The blocky shape results in a particular hot-spot right in the middle of my palm between my thumb and my first two fingers (the index and middle). Its one of the most likely places to have a hot spot with any knife, so it is not a huge deal, but there are more comfortable knives out there...

That said, I still love the 6. If you convex the edge it takes a lot of the cutting resistance away. Gloves also help a great deal, as others have mentioned.
 
WOW! A lot of great honest information. I would be willing to share a camp fire with any of you. Thanks so much.

I have an Ontario RAT 7, 5 and TAK (from back when Mike and Jeff were using Ontario) which I feel have boxy handles. I also carry leather gloves in all my bags which help when using them.

I was hoping to read that the ESEE 6 handle isn’t so boxy. I think my RC 3 is one heck of a nice knife (as well as both my Izula’s) so much so that I will get another 3 in time. I’m hoping that the 6 will prove to be the same.

Thanks again, Mike
 
hi, if you have the rat 7 the handle shape is similar to the esee6, the 6 is just more refined and fit and finish is better. really the 2 knives are very close with the esee having better fit finish and a much better sheath system. unless you just want one you might look at a different model like the esee5 which has the same grip shape with a more different blade.

you could always round the grip on your rat7 with a file a bit.

all that said the esee6 is my favorite in the line and the one i use the most.

take it easy
cricket
 
Yes, like Cricket has pointed out, you can file some of that micarta away. If it's something you might sell, maybe you shouldn't. But, if you are going to keep it, then a file and or some 80 grit sandpaper can round off those corners.
I've done this to several Ontario products, they are very uncomfortable handles.
 
I used my 6 as long as I could. To pay off some med bills I did put it up 4 sale, but I'm going to buy another one as soon as I get a very bad problem with my shoulder joint fixed (I can't lift it past my shirt pocket at the moment, my arm that is.) But I think it was one of the best camp blades & grip I've ever used.! And I have arthritis... So that says something for how it holds in your hand, I would think. enjoy edgy :thumbup:
 
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Another good way of knocking the corners off the handle if they bother you (they don't for me) is to take the blade and lock it gently in a vice, then use a length of sandpaper as if you were buffing someone's shoe (holding it on each end of the strip and sliding it rapidly back and forth) while pulling gently down and with your hands close (horizontally, not vertically) to the handle. This will sand some nice round corners onto it.
 
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