Why an Esee-5 and not a BK-2

shaving sharp

shaving sharp

Gold Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2007
Messages
3,012
Thought I would see what reasons everyone may have why they think an Esee-5 is a better buy than a Kabar Becker BK-2 at half the price. Let me say that I own Kabar and Rat knives so this is just to get some discussion started.
My opinion is that Esee has a better sheath that can be accessorized and comes with micarta grips from the factory. If you add micarta grips to the Kabar they cost close to the same. But I do think that they both are about the same when it comes to durability and that the BK-2 is more heavy duty.
 
The Bk-2 will do EVERYTHING the ESEE-5 will do. And is just as good as the ESEE-5, IMO. It all comes down to personal preference.
 
Can you handle both and get a feel for the handles? I can only speak from looks, but the canvas micarta on the 5 is what did it for me.

After the fact, I have been told that the sheath on the 5 is well worth the difference...I can not say for sure (I can not compare the two...but I can tell you that the 5 sheath is VERY well made and VERY secure).

What makes you think the BK is more heavy duty?...perhaps it is, but it seems like both are so vastly overbuilt that I have a hard time determining a clear winner in that category.
 
Last edited:
R.A.T. said:
The Bk-2 will do EVERYTHING the ESEE-5 will do. And is just as good as the ESEE-5, IMO. It all comes down to personal preference.
Click to expand...

Excatly:thumbup:

I like the bowdrill divot on the 5, however the majority of 5 owners never use it. I greatly prefer the ergos on the 5, and the sheath.

I think the over all fit and finish on the 5 is better as well

In cold weather with gloves on, I get a better grip on the flatter micarta handles on the 5 than I did when I played with the BK-2 during a pass around.

These are all personal oppinions and will vary. I believe if you like a thick 5" bladed knife, there is none better than the BK-2 in the under $70 price range.
 
The BK-2 is a helluva bargain when it comes to heavy duty knives. Think about, a lot of knives this heavy duty cost you 3 times as much.
 
Kydex sheath, micarta handles, no questions asked warranty, slightly better workmanship.. that's why I prefer the ESEE-5 over the BK2. The BK2 is a great affordable knife but with micarta handles and kydex sheath it cost more than the ESEE5 (in europe)..
 
R.A.T. said:
The Bk-2 will do EVERYTHING the ESEE-5 will do. And is just as good as the ESEE-5, IMO. It all comes down to personal preference.
Click to expand...

After that initial banter with Becker last week, I immediately bought a BK-2. It got here Monday. Came with tan Micarta handles and the original black plastic handles for women.

The BK-2 weighs more, even with the skeletonized handle. Is harder to sharpen, has a thinner edge so you can't convex it very well. The handle is fatter and contoured. I may cut ridges in it like I did with the 5 handle. The blade coating may be tough, but feels like a coat of Krylon. Whomever is responsible for putting the final edge on the Beckers, needs a lesson from whomever is doing it at ESEE. Also, there is a small choil. I hate choils. They get caught on stuff. The 5 is sharpened edge right to the shoulders. That is the way to do it.

They are essentially the same exact size.

At this point, if I was told I could only own one, the answer would be easy, or should I say ESEE.

I'll do a side by side review in the near future. Possibly with video if time allows.
 
The ESEE 5 has a thicker edge. The grind starts about 1/2 way down on the ESEe, where the BK2 starts higher. The BK2 is therefore thinner towards the edge.
The Gen 2 BK2 also has 2 hollow spaces in the tang. Not saying that's a bad thing, just a fact.
 
I personally cannot find fault with either the ESEE-5 or the BK2. I think the biggest difference is cost. And for the record, IMO, the ESEE-5 is well worth every penny it costs, and the BK2 is one heckuva a bargain for what it costs.

You really can't go wrong with either. Actually, I think most of us would advise buying both! One can't have too many blades, now can one?
:D
 
I garee that Rowen is anal about getting as perfect of an edge as possible on our knives but the bottom line is a field edge is all that is needed on a field knife. I NEVER, EVER, try to maintain perfect edge bevels on my knives. I sharpen the dam things and they will shave hair but they may be pretty thin. My knives work and are not made to stay perfect from the factory. So, I have never let a facotry field edge worry me too much ;) With that said, if you're gonna pay twice the price then you should indeed get twice the quality, no?
 
They’re both great knives. Very similar but what you have to remember is the 5 was designed as a SERE knife, hence the glass breaker, etc.

The pro of the Becker is it is cheaper and has a more rounded handle which some people prefer.

The ESEE-5s pros are:

-Better sheath
-Micarta scales with bowdrill divot (aftermarket micarta scales are available for BK-2)
-ESEE service and warranty. It just can’t be beaten in my opinion.
 
I'd like to add another pro if I may:

-Rowen heat treat

(Disclaimer: The BK2 is a quality knife, I just have a lot of faith in the Rowen heat treat)
 
All the features that are different, are features that are intended to keep the cost down on the BK2. The handles, sheaths are the biggies. At the least, if the BK2 came with a kydex sheath and micarta, damn near same price. I prefer the BK2 because of the handle ergos. That is about as personal of a choice as it gets in a knife. Hell, the blades are almost identical, but I challenge anyone to find a chore that either knife can do better than the other. The BK2 has a higher flat grind, giving you a "normal" edge to work with, and the coating is not krylon (:D), anyone that has tried to strip one without the assistance of a chemical stripper can tell you that. Once mine starts looking all to hell, I stripped it,and I have never been happier.

The glass breaker tool on the end throws me off. The BK2 Gen 2 has an extension, but it was put there to beat on, not to break things. I find the GB spike on the 5 to hinder pommel strikes, causing your baton to roll when you are hitting it, YMMV, though. I haven't tried the BK2 extension on glass yet, but some of my good friends are EMT/Rescue personnel here, I'll see if I can try it to see what it'll do.

The divot in the handle (on any knife really) is a mystery to me. I have used them, and they work, but I usually make a bearing block for my kits anyway, so not much need there, and I don't like the idea of using a knife, while pressing down on a rotating spindle, unsheathed. I have never cut myself that way, nor have I heard of anyone else getting hurt, but it does put the chance there when it might not be needed. I have a TOPS XCEST and it has the sam feature, I just don't like using it for that. Seems to add risk where its not needed.

Either way, I say other than a few features, that you pay more for with the ESEE5, that you have to buy aftermarket for the BK2, either knife will perform the same duties. Hard to choose, but, I'm a Beckerhead, its not that hard for me :D

Moose

PS, Jeff Randall wears lipstick, foundation and eyeshadow. Daily.
 
I worry about anyone who even knows what "foundation" is
 
The ESEE 5 is my preference of the two, because I like the sheath I got with it more. (I got the Eagle sheath) The Kydex is likely also fantastic. Also because of the handle. I prefer the Micarta, and it is standard.

As far as warranty, if you break either, I doubt you will be needing a warranty. :eek:
 
the sheath on the 5 is amazing. i prefer the bk-2's handle ergonomics though. i'd skip both and go for the junglas imho. if i'm going to carry that much weight in the woods a junglas is far more useful.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top