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Why are esee knives so expensive?

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stabman said:
So, where are all the USA made knives with Kydex sheaths and excellent ergonomics which cost so much less?

I haven't seen them.

As for the "pride" of saying you own a particular brand, guess what? When it comes to knives that's a waste, because 99.99% or so of the entire population couldn't care less...you end up impressing no one.
So that cannot really be put forth as the reason pretty much any knife costs what it does.
Click to expand...

Exactly.
 
I don't own any ESEE knives, but nothing I have ever heard or read about them leads me to suspect they are overpriced. Indeed, considering the fact it appears they can barely keep up with the demand for their products we should probably count ourselves lucky they don't cost more.
 
1095 is a really good steel when done right. They use a thick stock of it to and heat treat it well. It is usually coated as well which is nice. I had an Esee 5 and it was very well built, the quality impressed me very much especially the thick stock they used.
 
It's misleading to think that just because they use 1095 carbon steel (edge retention, easy sharpening but not corrosion resistant) exclusively (almost?) that they should be priced less. One forgets about quality parts, workmanship and customer service.
 
stabman said:
So, where are all the USA made knives with Kydex sheaths and excellent ergonomics which cost so much less?
Click to expand...

The ergonomics part is
debateable :D

Handles are too small and I detest choils.

Otherwise not bad for the price.
 
I've found them to be a great value. That's not to say it's in everyone's budget but I've always went for quality tools because you get what you pay for. And when I'm gone my kid will use it for the rest of their lives too. In addition; I'm the kind of guy that will pay more to have it made in the USA.
 
Hmm, pretty sure Michael Burchtree uses a lot of 1095 also, his knives must be cheap and crappy... :p;)
 
Todd21969 said:
Just a tad larger than I want to carry. :eek:

Some people just can't be pleased. ;)
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Luckily, there is a HUGE variety of knives out there, so I'm sure you'll find a bunch which fit your needs along the way. :)
 
Yep its made off-shore, has a limited warranty, cost more than an ESSE of comparable size, and the stock sheath was found wanting.:D
 
It seems like bk2 would be better for the money. It could use some better handles... but I guess people are willing to pay for the esee warranty.
 
spydercobenchmadekai said:
Because they are amazing quality...

And even if you cut one if half with a saw, you can send it in for a free replacement. What better warranty can you ask for?

You are missing:

The warranty.
The made-in-USA aspect.
The handle material (Micarta or G10).
The overall fit & finish.
The quality of the heat treat.
The design.
Click to expand...

Not entirely true. ESEE knives warranty does not cover normal wear-and-tear or usage as a throwing knife.
I suspect that acts of stupidity will only be covered on a case by case basis and only once.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...ty-issue-that-is-unbelievable?highlight=idiot
 
m0sfet said:
It seems like bk2 would be better for the money. It could use some better handles... but I guess people are willing to pay for the esee warranty.
Click to expand...

Not really. They are paying for a better (slightly) sheath and micarta scales.
 
The BK-2 is a good knife. But if you haven't handled one, give some thought as to the bar steel thickness (0.25") versus the 0.188" on the BK-10. I have a BK-2 and for the most part, it stays home. The BK-10 would be a better general knife and quite frankly, the BK-16 or BK-17 are even better for general use.

Part of the ESEE cost is in the handles. The Becker handles are plastic, but I find them to be very functional and comfortable to use. If the handle cost doesn't mean anything to you, take a look at the Condor Woodslore with wood or micarta handles and compare cost. By the way, if cost is a big issue, you can do very well with the Condor line. The Hudson Bay makes a nice camp knife.
 
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