Serious life (knife) decision

LeonWilderness

LeonWilderness

Joined
Jun 23, 2010
Messages
105
I am wavering between three different knives, The BRKT Fox River, The BRKT Woodland Special, and the ESEE RC-3 Mil. The main purpose for this knife will be use during extended forays into the deep woods when I cannot afford the weight of multiple blades. I would like it to be a capable hunting knife, yet tough enough to handle some serious woodwork/batoning should the situation arise. I would go with the woodland special outright, but I really like the exposed tang on the other two options. Any previous experience with these knives/other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
I have a couple Barkies. Love em. Very good knives, performance is excellent. But many people swear by ESEE, and ESEE's warranty is one of the best out there. Only things I've heard bad about ESEE is that the handles are blocky, although that's easily fixed with a bit of sanding (and a respirator). I'm not sure I'd want to baton with a BRKT blade. I think the ESEE would be a better choice if you're looking to do heavy duty work.

You might also consider Becker knives (very good value per cost, incredibly good, comfortable, and virtually indestructible blades), or a Himalayan Imports Khukuri if your tastes swing to the curved blade. Not sure how it would do as a hunting knife though, but they're very good blades.
 
For an extensive trip? probably the esee if I had to choose between those options. Although I love the barkies I've owned I would want something more foe a one knife scenario. And the 3 is a good little knife. I'd go bigger to a 5 inch blade but that's me
 
I'd definitely pick the ESEE-3MIL out of those three. If you're going to use it to baton wood, I'd almost want to suggest the ESEE-4 as it is a beefier knife that would probably be more suited for that sort of work.
 
I'd also go with the ESEE, though probably a 4. I'm comfortable with what I can do in the woods with a 4" FB. I've had both BRKTs and ESEEs and my preference for user comfort would be the grippy and blocky ESEE handles. I also really like their 1095. It's tough and easy to field sharpen. The OEM sheath with the ESEE gives you several mounting options that a leather sheath won't offer w/o some mods or additional pieces.
 
For "one knife", I might go just a little bigger. ESEE 4 maybe. Small enough not to add too much weight, but big/tough enough to handle battoning, etc.

My 4 and BHK Bushcrafter are fighting for time as we speak (LOL)

JMHO, but the small amount of weight a SAK or a Mora add, are WELL worth it. Again ... JMHO.

But, what you REALLY need is a Becker. (or two) :D

Good luck, stay safe out there.
 
If you are doing "...extended forays into the deep woods..." then you can afford the weight of a hatchet. It's important.

The Fox River is, in my opinion, Bark River's best "do a lot of stuff in the woods" knife. Very good, straightforward, design.
 
If you are going to be doing batoning to split wood, a 3" blade is too short. That eliminates 2 of your 3 choices.
 
of those choices the esee. like other's have said though, i'd also go with the esee 4. in the hand it's not much heavier or bigger than the 3.

i own a 3-mil clip point and a 4. use them both very hard in the swamp. never had an issue with either they can handle anything you throw at them.

nothing wrong with the other choices, but i'm just not a fan of bark river knives. in this case you can get an esee which will do all that you need it to, and another whole good knife for less than the bark river choices. that's me though and you are you.
 
for the perfect all around knife i would use woods/hunting/camping/fishing i find it hard to beat teh Becker BK2, you can cut small jobs and actually do chopping if needed.

Spider
 
Good choice. I had a Howling Rat from SRKW which is about the same size and never had a want for anything else. Of course being a knife knut just having one knife didn't cut it. Pun intended. :D
 
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