Spyderco Forester or Esee Junglas?

If it were a beauty contest, ESEE for sure. It's also hard to argue with their warranty. I've never used a Spyderco fixed blade(plenty of folders though, which I'd recommend), but they don't generate the same hype as the ESEE fixed blades.
 
Spyderco is my favorite knife company but there is no question in my mind. Get the Junglas and never look back.
 
I should probably mention that the prices I quoted for the two knives are Canadian prices and I think they're the best in Canada.
I realize they're cheaper in the states and that the exchange rate is pretty good right now but I'd have to pay for shipping and possibly duty as well.
The other positive factor about paying the prices I mentioned, is that the knife store is only a 30 minute drive from my house so there's no waiting for the knife to arrive.
Thanks very much though, for all the info and advice.
 
$210 dollars does seem a little steep, especially since the canadian and american dollar rates are practically identical right now. I have seen it for way less than that. Then again, if you would order it from the US, the shipping cost might be somewhat higher, because of the weight of the knife, so it might even out. I still think you should find out exactly which option will cost you the least, in order to get the best possible deal, if you do choose the Junglas. The Forrester is also a slight recurve, which should also be considered.
 
I would go with the Junglas but as others have stated, but it online and save yourself a lump of cash. $210 is WAY high for that blade.
 
Forester would be my choice by far. I'll take N690CO over 1095 any day and blade coatings really suck. They destroy cutting performance also and look like crap scratched up. The Forester feels very good in the hand and has a nice thumb ramp with jimping. The ESEE has NO JIMPING at all. I didn't know they still made knives without it.
 
Junglas all the way :thumbup: I paid $152 + $7.95 shipping serial #22 :D

I've chopped down a whole lot of brush, a small tree which took about 15 minutes. I got some sweat & oil on the blade - lightly washed the blade & Micarta scales with Comet and a soft brush. It looks like the day it arrived and has only needed stropping. No sharpening to date and is still razor sharp.

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I own the RTAK II and Love it. Let me say that again, LOVE IT. The Junglas is basically an improvement of that knife. That being said I have never handled the Forester, but I don't even like the look of it. Another vote for the ESEE
 
Socom Elite said:
Forester would be my choice by far. I'll take N690CO over 1095 any day and blade coatings really suck. They destroy cutting performance also and look like crap scratched up. The Forester feels very good in the hand and has a nice thumb ramp with jimping. The ESEE has NO JIMPING at all. I didn't know they still made knives without it.
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Personally, I like the looks of knives that have scratched up coatings. Also, I don't really care for Jimping either. It isn't necessary on a knife this size, and even on EDC knives I really couldn't care less about it.

The Junglas is a great overall package. The Sheath is one of the best I have got on a production knife, too.

Though I have never used the Forrester.
 
I love 1095 so it's a no brainer for me. Junglas would be my choice of the two for a big chopper for hard use. I have to admit that I totally love the looks of the Spyderco and it's similar kin, they have a GREAT steel, but I know that I wouldn't take them out and beat on stuff with them.
 
Hey, you may not even read this, but you can buy the Junglas online for $105. You can then buy a Junglas sheath (ESEE sells them separately, too) for around $45 (if you shop around) and you'll have the same amount of money, ten thousand times more bomb-proof-y-ness, and that incredible ESEE warranty. Just go onto Google Shopper and type in ESEE Junglas, and there's a site that starts with a "K". I can't remember what it is, but they're selling them for $105. They're also selling them for $150 with the sheath. Here's the link.

http://www.katerno.com/detail.php?s=175710
 
I don't own any of them (really want to get an ESEE but... carbon steel is not for me) and I didn't even know that Spyderco... but after seeing it I wouldn't buy it for just one reason: the handle. I have a knife with that kind of handle, and it is really uncomfortable. It bruises my hand when chopping :S The blade looks nice, but it deserved a more ergonomic handle, specially for chopping.
 
Larry Turko said:
Thanks very much to everyone who took the time to respond to my question. The pictures from yablanowitz are an excellent comparison, although ,from an aesthetic point of view, I'm still not sure which one I like better. However the consensus seems to be that the Junglas is the more hard use knife.
Someone asked what I'm going to use the knife for. The honest answer is that I don't 'need' either knife, as I'm a day hiker at best and never go camping. However I suppose I could justify the purchase of one knife or the other, on the basis that a day hike could inadvertantly turn into a night in the woods and a hard use knife could very likely turn out to be very handy.[ of course since when has anyone on this forum really needed a logical reason to buy a knife]
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Based on what you say, and assuming you don't have them yet, I would rather take something like a Fallkniven F1 or ESEE 3 for these day hikes: much lighter and less cumbersome, yet both can be used plenty hard enough when required...
 
Dagon said:
Based on what you say, and assuming you don't have them yet, I would rather take something like a Fallkniven F1 or ESEE 3 for these day hikes: much lighter and less cumbersome, yet both can be used plenty hard enough when required...
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An RC-3 offers a lot of options is very light and it's handle is as long as an RC-4. Heck for a day hike an Izula will get you by to make an emergency lean-to and a fire if needed. Izulas cut like banshees! :)

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Forum member BLUNTRUTH working out with his Izula

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I own a Forester and it is my bedside Zombie Killer/Burglar Terrifier. Fit and finish are excellent. I've seen them online in Canada as recently as a week ago for $120 + shipping but the price is back up now. I don't really have much use for such a knife other than for what I am using it for now.

If you TRULY need such a big knife I would look for a used Busse on the forums.
 
Larry Turko said:
I'm torn between buying the Forester [$150.00] or the Junglas [$210.00] ,both available at my local knife store. Both knives seem to be almost the same size and both have kydex sheaths which I really like. I'm not adverse to saving $60.00 by opting for the Forester, but I'm willing to pay the difference for the Junglas, if that knife is better and appeals to me more, visually.
I wonder if anyone has both knives and could post a comparison photo which would probably help me make up my mind.
I could also go to the knife store and place both knives side by side in the flesh, so to speak, but they're busy this time of year and get a bit impatient with something heming and hawing for half an hour before deciding.
Thank-you.
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Never tried an ESEE, I'd love to.
If I'm on a long pack trip, I'd take my Forester over my Busse's any day of the week (not looking for a dispute here on BF - the Forester has simply given ME better results, though I haven't driven a tank over it).

The Forester is an excellent, well balanced tool.
Don't think you could go wrong either way.
 
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