Which ESEE blade for combat?

I would recommend the ESEE 3 or 5, depending on if he'll be using it as his primary or a backup. The 5 is thick and heavy, it's very similar to what a lot of Marines carry, 1/4" thick and between 5-7 inches. In combat you want about everything as overbuilt as you can bacause you might just need it to save your knife. The weight is not at all to much when you concider all the other crap you carry. The 3 would make a great backup or even a primary depending on what your friend does. Plus the 3 and 5 both have a glass breaking tip which can really help when you need it.
 
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pitbull592 said:
Def not. I need to learn my blade models better. It will be the RC4 with the micantra handles. Don't need any taliban spotting a neon orange handle across the desert.

Hell, if this economy doesn't improve I may get some tats lasered off & re-up myself.
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I would suggest the desert tan blade with green micarta handles for that area. But, with it being for a deploying soldier you could ask them if they would do green on green...I don't know if it's doable or not but it's worth a try if a green blade is really what you want.
 
"Don't need any taliban spotting a neon orange handle across the desert."

haha, I hear that!
 
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fallen1 said:
The economy does suck. Ive thought about joining myself.
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Well I was active from 93-98 in the navy. Closest I got to combat was VBSS duty. After 911 I tried to re-enlist & change my mos from gunners mate to a seabee. I ran into one snag. I got pretty heavily tattooed since I left the service & was told I wouldn't make it through meps without some laser work. The navy is getting tough about ink.

My brother & friend in question are both in the army & want me to try to join a guard unit. The army is a bit more lax with the ink. If this economy doesn't get better I may travel down that road. I would rather go navy because I'd keep my rank (E-4) & wouldn't have to go back to boot camp, but we'll see what happens. At 34 I wouldn't want to go through basic again, but I'm in great shape so it wouldn't be an issue, and I have a good skill as a jiu-jitsu instructor that could lead me into maybe teaching combatives?
 
First of all, thank you for your service. Ive done a lot of research, but im not sure as to which branch would offer more opportunities. Sounds like the Navy is a better option than starting from scratch.

I dont want to sound like I would join the service just for a job(though there are some great opportunities there)...just wanna clear that up. Ive always had a desire to serve my country, but many commitments have prevented me from doing so. With the economy the way it is, at least where im at, if all else fails it would be the "final push" that I need I guess.
 
have you considered the navy reserves?
they may be a bit calmer about the ink - then you could volunteer for activation.
since you've been out 12 years, they might send you back through boot -- but again, other than the hassle, you shouldn't have any problems.
I was a GMG3 85-88, tried to enlist in the NG in August of 90 for sandbox 1 -- but Navy had me on their inactive list and refused to let me transfer branches. Local guard unit REALLY wanted someone with training as an armorer. I was bummed.
 
fallen1 said:
First of all, thank you for your service. Ive done a lot of research, but im not sure as to which branch would offer more opportunities. Sounds like the Navy is a better option than starting from scratch.

I dont want to sound like I would join the service just for a job(though there are some great opportunities there)...just wanna clear that up. Ive always had a desire to serve my country, but many commitments have prevented me from doing so. With the economy the way it is, at least where im at, if all else fails it would be the "final push" that I need I guess.
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nothing wrong with enlisting "just to have a job" - beats unemployment and/or vagrancy hands down. Also nothing wrong with exploring all your options before going.
I enlisted as much for the GI bill as anything else, the training was just gravy.
Navy has some excellent schools, both trade and technical, and if you're willing to put in the effort, you can advance pretty quick, depending on your job.
 
1066vik said:
have you considered the navy reserves?
they may be a bit calmer about the ink - then you could volunteer for activation.
since you've been out 12 years, they might send you back through boot -- but again, other than the hassle, you shouldn't have any problems.
I was a GMG3 85-88, tried to enlist in the NG in August of 90 for sandbox 1 -- but Navy had me on their inactive list and refused to let me transfer branches. Local guard unit REALLY wanted someone with training as an armorer. I was bummed.
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The unit I was trying to join was a seabee reserve unit near my town. My neck is almost covered & the recruiter sent some pics to a meps officer for a waiver inquiry & said no way. My dd-214 was good too. I was looking at E-5 and a decent re-enlistment bonus too.

Good to see another GMG3 on here:thumbup:
 
1066vik said:
nothing wrong with enlisting "just to have a job" - beats unemployment and/or vagrancy hands down. Also nothing wrong with exploring all your options before going.
I enlisted as much for the GI bill as anything else, the training was just gravy.
Navy has some excellent schools, both trade and technical, and if you're willing to put in the effort, you can advance pretty quick, depending on your job.
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This is true. I guess by saying all that, I just mean I dont take it lightly. I know people who have joined for the wrong reasons. I agree with you though.
 
the RC4 would be great, I think... I'm not so sure on the sharpened clip point just yet, I think I'd go with the plain spline.
 
I grad next year then i'm going into the marines. I actually forgot bow nice the glass
breaker would be for that I would say esee 5
 
I am in law enforcement and the reserves, I received the RC-4 this morning. I carried it on duty for the rest of the day and it is my opinion that a knife that size is just about perfect for a law enforcement/combat knife. Not so big it is cumbersome but just enough size and heft to handle just about any task. Just my humble opinion.
 
pitbull592 said:
I have a close friend who is a f/t cop & p/t reservist getting ready to deploy again & I have him sold on a ESEE blade. Which is the most preferred ESEE blade in a combat enviroment using the molle lock system on a fully loaded rig. I was thinking RC4S? also, does anyone know the discount being offered to the men in uniform?

Thoughts on the blade from some vets would be great, on his previous tours he caried a puma bowie & was pleased, but now wants to step it up, being that the puma was a larger blade maybe even a rc5/6 is in order? Thoughts:thumbup:
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During my last deployment I was the cook at small patrol base that was home to our battalion's MiTT team as well as an ODA team. These guys, if anybody, would fit the bill as to the kind of people who one might think of as having a legitimate need/use for a large combat fixed blade. The reality was, suprisingly, at least to me, that I never saw anybody carrying anything that large. There were a few that carried fixed blades on their IBA but I never saw anything larger than ESEE-3 size equivalent. The majority seemed to stick to folders of various makes and models (mostly dependant on whatever the supply sergeant could get in). The reasons for this varried from simple lack of need of anything bigger to (in the cases of those who had to work closely with local nationals) not wanting the "intimidation factor" of a huge knife strapped to their chest.

The reason I say all this is to say that depending on what your friend's MOS is, he may have better use for a more utilitarian knife than a purely combat oriented one. My personal recommendation would be for an ESEE-3, HEST, or even an Izula.

Of course now that I look back over the thread, I see I missed the part where you already picked the ESEE-4. So..nevermind and congrats on an awesome knife! :foot:
 
If he has room on his belt, an RC-6 with the MOLLE sheath and the survival pouch would be friggin sweet. Backed up with an Izula he'd have his bases covered.

If space is a concern, like he will be hanging the knife off of his chest rig, I would go with an RC-3, something that I could draw and use quickly if needed but that doesn't fill the whole rig.

The RC-3 and RC-6 have great balance, the RC-4 and RC-5 are terrible blancewise in my opinion. Back up either with an Izula.
 
Jeff should make an RC-5 Lite, in the same thickness as all the other blades-keep the design the same, just thinner. That would be sick.
 
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