As a newby to knives, I really am learning a lot from your videos. As a collector of fixed-blades, you have certainly helped me with my selections. Thank you.
I love my Esse 5. I have to disagree about feeling “slow” in your hand; that is merely a short term perception. It is four extra ounces over the 6; your body will adapt with enough use. It is no different than buying a heavier golf club. At first you feel it, but with enough use, you adapt to the club and become amazed at the extra power the club has.
Gary Johnson actually a lighter club swings faster so in actual fact it hits the ball harder , this is why baseball bats, cricket bats and golf clubs have become lighter over the years.
Michael Parr - Ummm, no, a person will generate more force with the same effort with a heavier club. Gravitational downward pull helps. Club-head weight (or more correctly, mass) is the key contributor to driving distance off the tee. The greater the mass of the clubhead and the greater its speed, the farther the ball will go. You are talking about the increased mass which you think will be a slower speed at impact, which may be slight if someone isn’t strong enough, but the force of the impact will be greater because of the mass of the club. It is a simple physics equation. It takes a swing of about 108 mph to drive a golf ball 300 yards. If you tell me the person doesn’t have the strength for a four ounce heavier head (which I doubt) and can only generate 105 percent mph, it will still drive the ball father than the lighter head. A .73 lb club at 108 mph generates 3.59 lb/ft. of force at impact. A .77 lb club at 103 mph generates 3.61 lb/ft of force. However, it won’t be that much loss of mph. Gravity pull should offset the loss of speed. So let’s say it is maybe 106 mph, at which it will generate 3.72 lb/ft of force, so it is more with a heavier head. We are talking about a few ounces on a knife that is not going to be used striking all day, as a carpenter would use a hammer. There should be no tiring, or loss of force for typical intermittent camp use of this knife. For frequent chopping, someone would be better to bring along an axe, regardless of the weight of the knife.
Great review. I had a hard time after doing my research deciding between this and the ESEE 6, eventually I went with the 6. I've also recently purchased the ESEE Junglas.
I haven't bought the 5 or 6 yet. Planning on it before too long. I really wanted the 6 first, until I saw how thick this thing is! I think I'm going with the 5 first, then the 6
@@taphillips75 i agree with you There are way better options for bushcraft. The esee 5 is just way to thick behind the cutting edge. If i buy the esee 5 it would probably just be for self defense purposes. And thats a big IF
Enjoyed your video, my personal choice for a serious bet your life on knife will be the Esee 5. I do also own and enjoy the BK2 and SCHF9. My choice is based on and in this order, design, materials, construction and ergonomics. The Gen 2 BK2 is not full Tang...but hollow tang and has better ergonomics, SCHF9 is full Tang and does not have great ergonomics. All of these knives mentioned are 1095 carbon steel the Esee 5 has good ergonomics full tang construction and is constructed with top shelf materials. In my opinion if a person is involved in a real world live or die scenario the Esee 5 will serve you well.
They all serve you well. This knife is so over done in the bomb proof category that it severly limits the basic uses for it. If you want to penetrate engine blocks get this knife. Though you may as well just sharpen one end of a crowbar. Then you still can also use it for other things a 5 wont do.
Nice Knife only thing I dont get is why does it need to be a good chopper ? Its a knife for crying out loud,if you need something to chop with buy a axe or a machete etc etc. Always better to use a tool for its intended purpose. I think trying to chop with a knife is like trying to hammer with a wrench...kind of silly. Good review though.
Thanks for the comment Ken, there is a large & always growing, group of people who are looking for knives that can do more then one thing. I agree that having a good 4in. knife and a hatchet or ax maybe able to get more work done, but for many people, including me, are looking for one tool to do everything. Companies understand that and are stepping up to the plate with knives like the BK2/BK9/ESEE5/ESEE Junglas/SP50/Rtak II just to name a few. These knives are not all that great at just doing cutting task, but when you use them to split wood or chop down trees they begin to show how they shine as a survival tool the just a knife. Again, thanks for the comment and opinion!
Put a loop of paracord through the eyelet at the base of the handle and twist your wrist into it before chopping. That's what I did on my Junglas and it makes chopping 100% easier since I never have to worry about the knife flying away.
I went with the 5 with desert tan blade and blood red and black g10 handles. I love it so far. I decided against the esee 6 only because Texas knife laws won’t let me carry over 5.5 inch blade anywhere. I just ordered an esee 4 s35vn that I should get this week
Really?!? I thought Texas would be one of those places that allows anything! I live in Indiana and you can, carry all, kinds of handguns, used to need a permit, now as long as you can, purchase it legally, you can open or conceal carry it without a permit. Knife laws, no ballistic knives and no throwing stars. I'm guessing by default that means no throwing knives, but it does not specify. That's it. You can carry whatever you want. You can walk around with a machete on your hip lol. Switch blades and auto knives are legal and so are brass knuckles!
I'd love to have a mix of the 5 & 6... 3/16" thick, 6" handle to tip, the 5's saber grind profile w/ strong thick tip, no choil or flat spot and bring the edge close to the handle/guard, skip the glass breaker, and of course use standard countoured g10 scales along with the excellent slide-lock kydex sheath. I'd probably cough up a $220'ish street price for that one (vs $130-$160 for the current 5&6). I have a 5 & 6 with the fantastic countoured grips.. the 5 is too short and heavy, but has a great slide-lock sheath.. the 6 is too long w/ the choil, has a delicate tip, and comes with a so-so (lousy really) plastic sheath. Cant believe after all these years they have not made one that fits between the 5&6 by combining the robust elements of the 5 with the lighter weight and reach of the 6.
@@benbrown5159 Since posting that I've bought a TKC Architect 6.5 - Esee handle, Tops steel, Ceracoat, and even better sheath than the 5 - its pretty much exactly as I was wanting from Esee except for the choil :/ Choil be damned, its about perfect. Also, I like the looks of the Esee scales better, but he TKC scales are a wee bit wider up front where there's a lot of pressure between my thumb and index finger... in other words, noticably more comfy when working it hard. Added bonus, you can pick any color you want with TKC's "knife builder" on their site.
On chopping if you twist the lanyard to the adjusted tightness it would slip a lot less opposed to just leaving it loose around your wrist. God bless brother
It always bugs me when preppers and survival youtubers talk about tactical uses for a knife. Can I defend myself with that knife? Of course you can defend yourself with it. You can also defend yourself with a fork or a chair, or you can be disarmed and stabbed with your own knife. Having the best combat knife in the world isn't what will make you the victor.
My guess is that he is speaking to military/law enforcement and yes a knife matters in tactical situations. “Tactical” is not synonymous with “self defense.”
Hi mate, my hands are so sweaty. 1.Will the canvas micarta handle be grippy for me? 2. How do I restrain the knife from rusting, since it's high carbon? 3. Fallkniven or Esee, which is better for sweaty palms. Thank you for your valuable video and response
A guy did a test recently and concluded that the ESEE 5 was a better knife then the Becker BK 2 due to the Rowen Heat Treat. The Becker BK-2 ended up actually getting broke, and the ESEE 5 held up. Wish I could remember the link, but I do not.KA-BAR is a good company, but there is something very special about Randal's Adventure Training and the ESEE brand. IMHO the ESEE can do everything a Becker BK-2 can, plus it has the tools to be a tactical knife as well. ESEE 5 was designed by SERE Instructors and the Becker BK-2 was designed by a Woodsman,Mountain Climber,Chef. No disrespect to Mr. Becker, I have alot of respect for him, and I think he is a hell of a guy and I love his knives, but for my survival rather that be in a fighr to the death, living off the land, or busting out glass in a urban scenario, i,ll take the ESEE 5 and know I have a trusted friend on my side. I will say that if your gonna process wood all day, the Becker BK-2 is designed for that and its more comfortable. - Stay frosty, stay safe.
Yeah. What about the fact that the esee rusts and dulls way faster then the becker. The esee uses regular 1095. The becker uses 1095 crovan which is a all around better version of the regular 1095 that esee uses
Ok I've got a question. I love your videos and respect your opinion so here goes. If you had to pick one Between the Esse5 and Blackbird sk5 which one do you feel is the better wilderness survival knife.
I use a cord lock on my lanyard and it helps keep it from slipping while chopping. The Supply Captain on-line has some really cool and strong grenade locks for a decent price. Thanks for the vid! Good Luck and Godspeed, danofiremano
You could snap all those branches and twigs off with one hand. You don’t have to hack at it with a “tactical “ knife. I have the 5” and like it but I just use it when I really need it.
Esee 5. The answer to a question that didn't need to be asked. Whatever that question is. Basically its an anvil with an edge. By and large useless for the things you would want to use a 5 inch blade for. So many more functional and capable knives in that size range out there. And most are far lighter while still being as durable as you need them to be. I have the esee 6. I enjoy it but its applications are limited. I think the 4 is probably the ideal all around knife that esee offers. The 4hm is the more functional of the 2 types offered.
If I were a military helicopter or fighter jet pilot, or any MOS that finds itself in possible jeopardy during conflict, this or the ESEE 4 would be strapped to my vest or belt at all times. But my days in uniform are over now, and this is most definitely a purpose-driven design; which is why we have 1095 steel that lends to the abilities and features of this blade. That means "not as brittle as some of the currently popular tool steels", which is a very good thing. It is, in the true sense of the words, a "survival knife", and a pretty damn good one. The drawbacks are; the black coating, which is necessary, but makes it nearly impossible to strike a ferro rod unless you use your cutting edge; it's a bit heavy, which means a lot if you have to carry in excess of 80 to 100 pounds on your back all the time; and it is a bit awkward when attempting to tackle fine woodcrafting tasks. If you make sure you have a good sharpening system to accompany this tool, you'll be fine through any S.E.* E. scenario. One of the best. But don't fool yourself; there is no such thing as one knife that does everything well. A Mora, or any other specific blade on the market may outcut, or outperform this ESEE, depending on the task; but I would never trust my life on a Mora if I were to be in an actual survival situation, especially if it's a dire situation. Happy shopping! If this is what you need, it's a good one; but be prepared to put some work and maintenance into the cutting edge. (funny how the presenter downplays the addition of a divot in the handle slab for bow-drill fire-making. I would think that any functional capability added to a tool, would only enhance a tool, and give a person in dire straights, an edge in surviving a bad situation. But what do I know?)
Hard to find a person that is disappointed with a ESEE. They're priced right. Though since most of what I do now tends to be scouting on property, I use my Junglas more for brush clearing. I love that bugger to death
The ESEE comes with a kydex sheath. Better heat treatment, and a better grip. Which one would you trust your life too? Esse is standard issue to pilots for escape and evade in emergencies. The Becker isn't. That should tell you which knife is better.
Lol. Doesnt matter. Both will work for general use. Just like any other blade that can take and hold a working edge. Dont get caught up in the internet hype over blades. Almost every reliable knife on the market today is superior to what actual real woodsmen and trappers used 100 years ago and they all "survived" just fine with those.
either i have a 5 my dad has a 6 there both brill but the esse 5 is wayy thicker but the esse 6 has nicer looking handles i made custom antler scales for my esse 5 but there both amazing knives
Thanx, , , I watched this video again, and almost asked the same question, Boy am I glad I looked. Yeah, I have a few 5" blades in the 1/4" thickness, my BK-2, O.K.C. Ranger Afghan, my Gen2 SP-47 and the T.F.I. which I think is a very good bush craft knife, But I also like my BK-10 because it's lighter and almost just as tough. But I sometimes wish when I'm batoning with a 5" blade that it was a little longer. So a 6" blade to me is just about right, Although I got some good 7" blades that if I'm batoning alot in the winter, That size knife comes with me, I found the Ka-Bar Johnson Adventure Potbelly is a good extended BK-2, But I have other's too because it's my Fav's Survival size Knife.
I love ESEE. 5” long x 1/4” thick blade in 1lb? Wow beefy, puts some perspective in my Cold Steel Trailmaster.. same weight, but 9.5” length x 5/16” thick 🤔🤔 interesting
Hey, Gideon, I would really love your input here if you have the time, I’m shopping for a new, general purpose wilderness survival knife. I often have a folding silky saw, but I want a knife I can really rely on, even if I lose my saw. I’m really torn between the Architect 6.5, which is basically the ESEE 6 in 3v steel, and the ESEE 5 The stupid reliability and batoning ability of the ESEE 5 is attractive to me, but the weight is a concern, and if it’s going to be my only knife, I’m concerned about how well it performs finer tasks. However, my main use for a knife would be batoning lots of wood, and processing small game. However, the 3v steel of the architect 6.5 has great strength and better corrosion resistance. The extra 1.5” of blade length could come in handy, but the skeletonized tang has me concerned about reliability under heavy batoning. I know you have tons of videos out there about this, but i would still really love some direct input on this decision, Thanks m8
so after tons of research and watching your ESEE 5 vid... AND .. the BK2 V ESEE 5 vid ...and the ESEE 6 vid : so i need one knife for everything. i do some Wilderness and a lot of urban preparedness... and i have limited financial reserves. What one tool to Invest In, to trust your life to in basically ANY contingency? I understand no one tool can excel at every task in every situation. but that is what we aspire to, when our choices are Buy It Once. So instead of BK2 v E5 ... what is your thoughts on E5 vs. the E6 ... the sheath is a ding ( WHY would they not do the Kydex ?? ) on the E6 ... i see you baton wood like a champ with the E6, but you mention in the E5 vid that the 1/4in blade gives you a lot more confidence than the E6 blade for both Baton and for Prying. I like the blade choil on the E6 and the extra length for more thickness on baton. but ok, for the all around One Blade. mostly as a preparedness blade, but still a lot of practical thumping on it in the woods. Which One ??? ( i think i caught a easter egg... why not just make a E6 with a 1/4in blade ??? you should tell that to ESEE ... and then tell them to make a more 'hooked' BK2 style profile to the rear of the handle ! ... maybe they will listen to people like you and Nutn, and MAC ... they dont listen to us !!!!! ) but hell, i am leaning towards the E5 because i live in the city and it might be a more Versatile overall tool. but, as someone who trusts your reviews... if you only bought one ... cash consideration, where i live, 'just can't fail' tool ... would it be the E5 or the E6 ? OH, and thank you for all the time, care and work you put into your projects !
Sin-Jin Satayathum @ Sin-Jin Satayathum: so what did you choose? I know it’s been four years since your comment. I went went the Esee 5 as I thought it was the best all-around for me between the 6 and BK 2. I have a few other knives as well: Ka Bar Fighter & U.S. Army; BKs 9, 11, & 16. Now, if I had to choose one out of the aforementioned it would between the BK9 & Esee 5. I am probably leaning towards the BK9 because it has little more length.
Duuude! Love your show it's my go to when I research knives. Especially if you voucher for it. I know the video is old bro but my Esee five is brand new. Now,I still gotta fork over almost as much for the sheath. Haha 🤣..Smart Esee very smart. I love it. It's literally made for crashed pilots over enemy lines. If memory serves me Gerber's LMF 2 is the only other I've ever heard of for such a situation.How bad ass is that? Thank you for what you do. Living the dream. Appreciate you
"I could use it in tactical stabbing format". Lol wtf, I have 4 combat tours and if my primary and secondary weapons fail I'm using my rifle and then my Kevlar as a weapon. The internet is saturated with these bearded wonders, drives me freaking crazy. My knives have served me well as the worlds most efficient MRE opener's.
You'd remove your head protection to use as a weapon before you use a knife!? Must be a fobbit because that's the dumbest shit I've ever read. 4 deployments has shit to do with combat, which is obvious from your asinine wannabe hardass comment.
My serrated edge Gerber, one of the most popular knives amongst my unit in the 90’s was a savage opening MRE’s. I treated that knife horrible. Still have it and looks brand new.
The esee 5 is way better than the Becker 2 by a long shot. To make the Becker even close to the esee will cost at least 100 bucks. The heat treatment on the esee is better also. Good review though.
I think I'm going to save up and buy this one like you said I just wish it was an inch longer. I sound like my wife now. :) LOL thx for another great review as always.
Say Heah Aaron, I have (3) Brutes, Actually prolly more, But my O. K. C. Ranger Afghan in the 5160 is one, It simply amazes me that it's selling for around $350.00 now, WoW'wee. Then ofcource my BK-2 No question tgere either and my O. K. C. Ranger T. F. I. (Tactical Force Infidel) Another 5" 1/4" thick Brute. I bought it when O. K. C. HRC'ed them at 58 they also sold it as a Survival and Bushcraft knife. But one of my Fav's is my Modified Attitude I had made by Battle Horse it came out Spectacular. Beautiful Work on it in O1 and sort of looks like a Woodlore on steroids. But also a Brute.,,.p
I bought the 5 and was doing a tip test and batoning some. I was checking the bevel on the knife and it was off to the right. How can a get it to be straight? And how did it get off? Thanks
Hi Aaron, I understand this (Esee 5) is a good tactical blade Would that be a good blade for defense into the wilderness ? ( E,g. against , say, bears ..) Or is too small for that ? Would be an Esee Junglas more appropriate for the task or that would be too big and cumbersome ? Ok, I suppose you don't have experience with "CQB" with a bear 😊 (hopefully none of us will have ...) - but just in case - from your experience with knives - which would be an appropriate blade for the task ?
Would you consider sending me your Wife/Sister/Mother for review and testing? After all, it's appropriate to go on product review UA-cam channels and just ask them to send you their stuff so you can play with it. Message me so we can coordinate shipping the broads out here.
Hi all. I recieved an OD ESEE 5 today, and when inspecting the blade, it had microchips the whole length of the edge. It looked like it had been tested hard against cardboard. It was not that sharp either. Is this normal for these knifes to ship in this condition?
1/4 knives aren't that great against carboard lol. But where did u get it from? A lot of fakes. If u paid less then 160 you prob got fake. But my Esee is razor sharp shaves hair
Hi. I live in Norway, paid $280. I do not believe it is a fake. I believe they sent me a demo model, and hoped to get away with it. I sent it back, and purchased a new one from Finland.
I just subscribed to your channel not long ago. Esse 5 and 4 both interesting to me. Tops BOB blade as well. Be nice to own them all. I'll keep going through your play list and go from there. Nice videos my friend. Take care.👍👍👍🇺🇸
You might wanna do a review of this knife with a skeleton paracord wrapped handle. Maybe wrapped like the lanyard setup on the Tops Silent Hero. I've heard that with a paracord wrap handle it's a totally different knife, in a good way.
I bought the 6 first, but the sheath and the fact that this thing is practically invincible made ESEE 5 my primary carry... Best sheath I’ve ever had, love it.
Hi, may I ask you a question, you saud this ESSEE 5, was around a 1lb, and the Becker BK-2 is 1lb, and reviewing both knives, which one would you suggest for me, if I was just buying one knife, experience from your handling both, I like deferentially tempered blades, Top's does it too, so are my go to Swamp Rat's, I do LIKE THE SR101 Steel the best, and my Ratmandu is my go to knife, but I was just wondering, since I do want another 5"er, Swamp Rat has nice Rodent 5, let me know though.
In all your vids, you chop, cut, baton a lot of pine, but I never see any fatwood, nor have you mentioned it (it is VERY HARD to chop through). Do Colorado pine trees have fatwood in them? In KY., I find fatwood in the branches, next to the trunk, in fallen pines. It is easy to find. Just curious, and keep up the great work.
As a newby to knives, I really am learning a lot from your videos. As a collector of fixed-blades, you have certainly helped me with my selections. Thank you.
I just got this knife 2 days ago and this thing is solid. It feels like you can take over hell with this knife.
My first real survival knife was the Esee 5, I still have it in one of my hiking backpacks. My go to blade
I love my Esse 5. I have to disagree about feeling “slow” in your hand; that is merely a short term perception. It is four extra ounces over the 6; your body will adapt with enough use. It is no different than buying a heavier golf club. At first you feel it, but with enough use, you adapt to the club and become amazed at the extra power the club has.
Gary Johnson actually a lighter club swings faster so in actual fact it hits the ball harder , this is why baseball bats, cricket bats and golf clubs have become lighter over the years.
Gary Johnson and titanium hammers are another good example
Michael Parr - Ummm, no, a person will generate more force with the same effort with a heavier club. Gravitational downward pull helps. Club-head weight (or more correctly, mass) is the key contributor to driving distance off the tee. The greater the mass of the clubhead and the greater its speed, the farther the ball will go. You are talking about the increased mass which you think will be a slower speed at impact, which may be slight if someone isn’t strong enough, but the force of the impact will be greater because of the mass of the club. It is a simple physics equation. It takes a swing of about 108 mph to drive a golf ball 300 yards. If you tell me the person doesn’t have the strength for a four ounce heavier head (which I doubt) and can only generate 105 percent mph, it will still drive the ball father than the lighter head. A .73 lb club at 108 mph generates 3.59 lb/ft. of force at impact. A .77 lb club at 103 mph generates 3.61 lb/ft of force. However, it won’t be that much loss of mph. Gravity pull should offset the loss of speed. So let’s say it is maybe 106 mph, at which it will generate 3.72 lb/ft of force, so it is more with a heavier head.
We are talking about a few ounces on a knife that is not going to be used striking all day, as a carpenter would use a hammer. There should be no tiring, or loss of force for typical intermittent camp use of this knife. For frequent chopping, someone would be better to bring along an axe, regardless of the weight of the knife.
Marco www.sportsrec.com/398461-the-average-speed-of-a-baseball.html
Marco www.scientificamerican.com/article/baseball-bat-speed-all-star/
Great review. I had a hard time after doing my research deciding between this and the ESEE 6, eventually I went with the 6. I've also recently purchased the ESEE Junglas.
how was the six for you? im thinking about getting one but im wondering what you think
I haven't bought the 5 or 6 yet. Planning on it before too long. I really wanted the 6 first, until I saw how thick this thing is! I think I'm going with the 5 first, then the 6
The 49 people who dislike this also think Gerber is a superior blade....
Maybe they understand that this is not a bush crafting knife. There are 10 knives I’d grab before this one of this size.
@@taphillips75 i agree with you There are way better options for bushcraft. The esee 5 is just way to thick behind the cutting edge. If i buy the esee 5 it would probably just be for self defense purposes. And thats a big IF
Lol
Thank You, for a honest answer, I didn't mean to put you on the spot, but you helped me.
Esee 5 OD MY current favorite overall fixed blade survival knife
Enjoyed your video, my personal choice for a serious bet your life on knife will be the Esee 5. I do also own and enjoy the BK2 and SCHF9. My choice is based on and in this order, design, materials, construction and ergonomics. The Gen 2 BK2 is not full Tang...but hollow tang and has better ergonomics, SCHF9 is full Tang and does not have great ergonomics. All of these knives mentioned are 1095 carbon steel the Esee 5 has good ergonomics full tang construction and is constructed with top shelf materials. In my opinion if a person is involved in a real world live or die scenario the Esee 5 will serve you well.
They all serve you well. This knife is so over done in the bomb proof category that it severly limits the basic uses for it. If you want to penetrate engine blocks get this knife. Though you may as well just sharpen one end of a crowbar. Then you still can also use it for other things a 5 wont do.
Nice Knife only thing I dont get is why does it need to be a good chopper ? Its a knife for crying out loud,if you need something to chop with buy a axe or a machete etc etc. Always better to use a tool for its intended purpose. I think trying to chop with
a knife is like trying to hammer with a wrench...kind of silly. Good review though.
Thanks for the comment Ken, there is a large & always growing, group of people who are looking for knives that can do more then one thing. I agree that having a good 4in. knife and a hatchet or ax maybe able to get more work done, but for many people, including me, are looking for one tool to do everything. Companies understand that and are stepping up to the plate with knives like the BK2/BK9/ESEE5/ESEE Junglas/SP50/Rtak II just to name a few. These knives are not all that great at just doing cutting task, but when you use them to split wood or chop down trees they begin to show how they shine as a survival tool the just a knife. Again, thanks for the comment and opinion!
Put a loop of paracord through the eyelet at the base of the handle and twist your wrist into it before chopping. That's what I did on my Junglas and it makes chopping 100% easier since I never have to worry about the knife flying away.
I went with the 5 with desert tan blade and blood red and black g10 handles. I love it so far. I decided against the esee 6 only because Texas knife laws won’t let me carry over 5.5 inch blade anywhere. I just ordered an esee 4 s35vn that I should get this week
Really?!? I thought Texas would be one of those places that allows anything! I live in Indiana and you can, carry all, kinds of handguns, used to need a permit, now as long as you can, purchase it legally, you can open or conceal carry it without a permit. Knife laws, no ballistic knives and no throwing stars. I'm guessing by default that means no throwing knives, but it does not specify. That's it. You can carry whatever you want. You can walk around with a machete on your hip lol. Switch blades and auto knives are legal and so are brass knuckles!
My first of 6 ESEEs... it's an absolutely "farm grade" implement. Beat on it for generations. Just keep it clean and sharp.
I'd love to have a mix of the 5 & 6... 3/16" thick, 6" handle to tip, the 5's saber grind profile w/ strong thick tip, no choil or flat spot and bring the edge close to the handle/guard, skip the glass breaker, and of course use standard countoured g10 scales along with the excellent slide-lock kydex sheath.
I'd probably cough up a $220'ish street price for that one (vs $130-$160 for the current 5&6).
I have a 5 & 6 with the fantastic countoured grips.. the 5 is too short and heavy, but has a great slide-lock sheath.. the 6 is too long w/ the choil, has a delicate tip, and comes with a so-so (lousy really) plastic sheath.
Cant believe after all these years they have not made one that fits between the 5&6 by combining the robust elements of the 5 with the lighter weight and reach of the 6.
Agreed
@@benbrown5159 Since posting that I've bought a TKC Architect 6.5 - Esee handle, Tops steel, Ceracoat, and even better sheath than the 5 - its pretty much exactly as I was wanting from Esee except for the choil :/
Choil be damned, its about perfect.
Also, I like the looks of the Esee scales better, but he TKC scales are a wee bit wider up front where there's a lot of pressure between my thumb and index finger... in other words, noticably more comfy when working it hard. Added bonus, you can pick any color you want with TKC's "knife builder" on their site.
Im stuck deciding between a esee 5 or 6 for this specific reason!!
I wish you would have talked about the edge and some tips on sharpening
On chopping if you twist the lanyard to the adjusted tightness it would slip a lot less opposed to just leaving it loose around your wrist. God bless brother
I have esee 5
And
Musso 5160 bowie knife, 14 in blade, 3oz light of 2lb , sweetness !*...
I wear XL gloves and the esee knives fit good. Even the Izula-2
It always bugs me when preppers and survival youtubers talk about tactical uses for a knife. Can I defend myself with that knife? Of course you can defend yourself with it. You can also defend yourself with a fork or a chair, or you can be disarmed and stabbed with your own knife. Having the best combat knife in the world isn't what will make you the victor.
That is true. I think he was talking about it also as using it for breaching and other hard uses one might encounter in "tactical" situations.
First rule of a knife fight: Carry a gun!
Thank you for a tactical reply. :)
My guess is that he is speaking to military/law enforcement and yes a knife matters in tactical situations. “Tactical” is not synonymous with “self defense.”
You just turned in to my go-to channel for gear reviews
use the lanyard properly for easier chopping. ie insert thumb and wrap lets you three finger the back easy and chop effortlessly.
Hi mate, my hands are so sweaty.
1.Will the canvas micarta handle be grippy for me?
2. How do I restrain the knife from rusting, since it's high carbon?
3. Fallkniven or Esee, which is better for sweaty palms.
Thank you for your valuable video and response
Esee 3 S35VN with TKC Extended G10 Grips is what I use as my so called Tactical Blade .
A guy did a test recently and concluded that the ESEE 5 was a better knife then the Becker BK 2 due to the Rowen Heat Treat. The Becker BK-2 ended up actually getting broke, and the ESEE 5 held up. Wish I could remember the link, but I do not.KA-BAR is a good company, but there is something very special about Randal's Adventure Training and the ESEE brand. IMHO the ESEE can do everything a Becker BK-2 can, plus it has the tools to be a tactical knife as well. ESEE 5 was designed by SERE Instructors and the Becker BK-2 was designed by a Woodsman,Mountain Climber,Chef. No disrespect to Mr. Becker, I have alot of respect for him, and I think he is a hell of a guy and I love his knives, but for my survival rather that be in a fighr to the death, living off the land, or busting out glass in a urban scenario, i,ll take the ESEE 5 and know I have a trusted friend on my side. I will say that if your gonna process wood all day, the Becker BK-2 is designed for that and its more comfortable. - Stay frosty, stay safe.
Yeah. What about the fact that the esee rusts and dulls way faster then the becker. The esee uses regular 1095. The becker uses 1095 crovan which is a all around better version of the regular 1095 that esee uses
Wow looks good for EDC. I wish tops made a Bob 5 inch. I think this will a options for EDC.an a good sheath. Thank you. Stay healthy.
Ok I've got a question. I love your videos and respect your opinion so here goes. If you had to pick one Between the Esse5 and Blackbird sk5 which one do you feel is the better wilderness survival knife.
+Mario Clark SK5 is what I would go with.
+gideonstactical I was leaning towards that but wanted someone's opinion that has used both. Thanks a lot.
+gideonstactical my laser strike slides out even with screw tension all the way up. Is that normal? My Esee 5 won't budge
I use a cord lock on my lanyard and it helps keep it from slipping while chopping. The Supply Captain on-line has some really cool and strong grenade locks for a decent price. Thanks for the vid!
Good Luck and Godspeed,
danofiremano
Thanks so much Dano
Ok I caved and got the ESEE 5 today. Also got the Tops Operator 7.
You could snap all those branches and twigs off with one hand. You don’t have to hack at it with a “tactical “ knife. I have the 5” and like it but I just use it when I really need it.
rattle rattle rattle, "Almost zero rattle." LOL!
Esee 5. The answer to a question that didn't need to be asked. Whatever that question is. Basically its an anvil with an edge. By and large useless for the things you would want to use a 5 inch blade for. So many more functional and capable knives in that size range out there. And most are far lighter while still being as durable as you need them to be. I have the esee 6. I enjoy it but its applications are limited. I think the 4 is probably the ideal all around knife that esee offers. The 4hm is the more functional of the 2 types offered.
I have one and I love it. More like a sharpened crowbar it is so tough.
If I were a military helicopter or fighter jet pilot, or any MOS that finds itself in possible jeopardy during conflict, this or the ESEE 4 would be strapped to my vest or belt at all times. But my days in uniform are over now, and this is most definitely a purpose-driven design; which is why we have 1095 steel that lends to the abilities and features of this blade. That means "not as brittle as some of the currently popular tool steels", which is a very good thing. It is, in the true sense of the words, a "survival knife", and a pretty damn good one. The drawbacks are; the black coating, which is necessary, but makes it nearly impossible to strike a ferro rod unless you use your cutting edge; it's a bit heavy, which means a lot if you have to carry in excess of 80 to 100 pounds on your back all the time; and it is a bit awkward when attempting to tackle fine woodcrafting tasks. If you make sure you have a good sharpening system to accompany this tool, you'll be fine through any S.E.* E. scenario. One of the best. But don't fool yourself; there is no such thing as one knife that does everything well. A Mora, or any other specific blade on the market may outcut, or outperform this ESEE, depending on the task; but I would never trust my life on a Mora if I were to be in an actual survival situation, especially if it's a dire situation. Happy shopping! If this is what you need, it's a good one; but be prepared to put some work and maintenance into the cutting edge. (funny how the presenter downplays the addition of a divot in the handle slab for bow-drill fire-making. I would think that any functional capability added to a tool, would only enhance a tool, and give a person in dire straights, an edge in surviving a bad situation. But what do I know?)
At the end of the day I went with a 6 over the 5. With the wight saving you can get a Izula or candiru for more finer works
I like the ESEE6 way better as well.
Hard to find a person that is disappointed with a ESEE. They're priced right.
Though since most of what I do now tends to be scouting on property, I use my Junglas more for brush clearing. I love that bugger to death
Oh ya!
I end up lending that Junglas out quite a bit. People love it until they see the price Then they call me crazy
No way, I do love that blade and my BK9.
The ESEE comes with a kydex sheath. Better heat treatment, and a better grip. Which one would you trust your life too? Esse is standard issue to pilots for escape and evade in emergencies. The Becker isn't. That should tell you which knife is better.
+ron peregrim It's not standard issue. It is designed for pilots. Standard issue is lowest cost bidder. The knife they give us sucks.
Thanks for the review! Just ordered!
Sometimes I use tactical spoon
Hey which one would you use as a survival knife esee 5 or 6. While being used in the woods at the same time?
Lol. Doesnt matter. Both will work for general use. Just like any other blade that can take and hold a working edge. Dont get caught up in the internet hype over blades. Almost every reliable knife on the market today is superior to what actual real woodsmen and trappers used 100 years ago and they all "survived" just fine with those.
either i have a 5 my dad has a 6 there both brill but the esse 5 is wayy thicker but the esse 6 has nicer looking handles i made custom antler scales for my esse 5 but there both amazing knives
Between the Esee 5 or Gerber Strongarm, which one would you shoot for...and why?
Thanx, , , I watched this video again, and almost asked the same question, Boy am I glad I looked. Yeah, I have a few 5" blades in the 1/4" thickness, my BK-2, O.K.C. Ranger Afghan, my Gen2 SP-47 and the T.F.I. which I think is a very good bush craft knife, But I also like my BK-10 because it's lighter and almost just as tough. But I sometimes wish when I'm batoning with a 5" blade that it was a little longer. So a 6" blade to me is just about right, Although I got some good 7" blades that if I'm batoning alot in the winter, That size knife comes with me, I found the Ka-Bar Johnson Adventure Potbelly is a good extended BK-2, But I have other's too because it's my Fav's Survival size Knife.
I love ESEE.
5” long x 1/4” thick blade in 1lb? Wow beefy, puts some perspective in my Cold Steel Trailmaster.. same weight, but 9.5” length x 5/16” thick 🤔🤔 interesting
Hey, Gideon,
I would really love your input here if you have the time,
I’m shopping for a new, general purpose wilderness survival knife. I often have a folding silky saw, but I want a knife I can really rely on, even if I lose my saw. I’m really torn between the Architect 6.5, which is basically the ESEE 6 in 3v steel, and the ESEE 5
The stupid reliability and batoning ability of the ESEE 5 is attractive to me, but the weight is a concern, and if it’s going to be my only knife, I’m concerned about how well it performs finer tasks. However, my main use for a knife would be batoning lots of wood, and processing small game.
However, the 3v steel of the architect 6.5 has great strength and better corrosion resistance. The extra 1.5” of blade length could come in handy, but the skeletonized tang has me concerned about reliability under heavy batoning.
I know you have tons of videos out there about this, but i would still really love some direct input on this decision,
Thanks m8
Esee 5 or a Joker nomad ( for your first fixed blade knife) ? . Happy Christmas.
The best survival knife ever made.
so after tons of research and watching your ESEE 5 vid... AND .. the BK2 V ESEE 5 vid ...and the ESEE 6 vid : so i need one knife for everything. i do some Wilderness and a lot of urban preparedness... and i have limited financial reserves. What one tool to Invest In, to trust your life to in basically ANY contingency? I understand no one tool can excel at every task in every situation. but that is what we aspire to, when our choices are Buy It Once.
So instead of BK2 v E5 ... what is your thoughts on E5 vs. the E6 ... the sheath is a ding ( WHY would they not do the Kydex ?? ) on the E6 ... i see you baton wood like a champ with the E6, but you mention in the E5 vid that the 1/4in blade gives you a lot more confidence than the E6 blade for both Baton and for Prying. I like the blade choil on the E6 and the extra length for more thickness on baton. but ok, for the all around One Blade. mostly as a preparedness blade, but still a lot of practical thumping on it in the woods. Which One ??? ( i think i caught a easter egg... why not just make a E6 with a 1/4in blade ??? you should tell that to ESEE ... and then tell them to make a more 'hooked' BK2 style profile to the rear of the handle ! ... maybe they will listen to people like you and Nutn, and MAC ... they dont listen to us !!!!! )
but hell, i am leaning towards the E5 because i live in the city and it might be a more Versatile overall tool. but, as someone who trusts your reviews... if you only bought one ... cash consideration, where i live, 'just can't fail' tool ... would it be the E5 or the E6 ? OH, and thank you for all the time, care and work you put into your projects !
Sin-Jin Satayathum @ Sin-Jin Satayathum: so what did you choose? I know it’s been four years since your comment. I went went the Esee 5 as I thought it was the best all-around for me between the 6 and BK 2. I have a few other knives as well: Ka Bar Fighter & U.S. Army; BKs 9, 11, & 16. Now, if I had to choose one out of the aforementioned it would between the BK9 & Esee 5. I am probably leaning towards the BK9 because it has little more length.
How is this knife for field dressing? Is it worth the xtra price over the bk2?
Duuude! Love your show it's my go to when I research knives. Especially if you voucher for it. I know the video is old bro but my Esee five is brand new. Now,I still gotta fork over almost as much for the sheath. Haha 🤣..Smart Esee very smart. I love it. It's literally made for crashed pilots over enemy lines. If memory serves me Gerber's LMF 2 is the only other I've ever heard of for such a situation.How bad ass is that? Thank you for what you do. Living the dream. Appreciate you
Esee 5 ROCKS. Great Vid
ESEE 5 or 6 for all around use, hunting, fishing, camping and homesteading? Excellent video! you have become my go to channel!
Thanks so much!
Are there any top knives you suggest?
Im really thinking about buying this knife but does anyone have any opinions on how this compares to the Tops Black Rhino Knife?
Great video. I enjoy using the Esee 5. Great knife indeed
Go with the 6 or esee 5??
Where do I get it ,, from Amazon
can you use it with a ferro rod and throw a spark? that is a big one for me to buy a survival knife.
Just wondering, what's the difference between a sabre grind vs a scandi grind. I'm thinking of making a knife but not sure what grind to use.
How would YOU sharpen the Esee 5 after hard use?
What sharpening method do you use? Thanks.
Will the Esee 5’s spine throw sparks from fire steel with that coating?
"I could use it in tactical stabbing format". Lol wtf, I have 4 combat tours and if my primary and secondary weapons fail I'm using my rifle and then my Kevlar as a weapon. The internet is saturated with these bearded wonders, drives me freaking crazy. My knives have served me well as the worlds most efficient MRE opener's.
You'd remove your head protection to use as a weapon before you use a knife!? Must be a fobbit because that's the dumbest shit I've ever read. 4 deployments has shit to do with combat, which is obvious from your asinine wannabe hardass comment.
ScoutsOut come up to brag and explain your Kevlar story lol they would get A kick out of that one. You cav scouts crack me up lol
My serrated edge Gerber, one of the most popular knives amongst my unit in the 90’s was a savage opening MRE’s. I treated that knife horrible. Still have it and looks brand new.
should i get the esse 5 or 6 i have average sized hands by the way
A fine collegae suddenly was attackked by some wild fighting dogs during patrol. He never loved his Esee 5 soo much.
The esee 5 is way better than the Becker 2 by a long shot. To make the Becker even close to the esee will cost at least 100 bucks. The heat treatment on the esee is better also. Good review though.
In your dreams lol
Can the Esse5 fit in a b2k sheath?
Hi, tks for the video man. Can you tell me what paracord did you use to wrap the sheath ?
What is the brand shirt/jacket being worn esee 5 video wool?
what about using the e5 as a steel striker on a piece if flint for fire starting? does the coating interfere with that at all?
The black coating won't allow it to strike. Sand the spine down with sandpaper and it works fine
What are the chances you will review the Vulture Equipment Cholera?
Hi Aaron from Wisconsin, what kind of gloves are those ?
John West I think they are just big r brand
I think I'm going to save up and buy this one like you said I just wish it was an inch longer. I sound like my wife now. :) LOL
thx for another great review as always.
Then just get the 6 dude. The cons outweigh the pros with the 5. And i dont think thats opinion honestly.
Esee 6 is the best out of all of them!
What do you like better about the esee5 compared to Kabar-BK9?
The BK2 is actually more comparable to the ESEE 5 in size, blade thickness, etc.
The thickness but I would choose the BK9 over the Esee 5, because of the length of the blade.
Say Heah Aaron, I have (3) Brutes, Actually prolly more, But my O. K. C. Ranger Afghan in the 5160 is one, It simply amazes me that it's selling for around $350.00 now, WoW'wee. Then ofcource my BK-2 No question tgere either and my O. K. C. Ranger T. F. I. (Tactical Force Infidel) Another 5" 1/4" thick Brute. I bought it when O. K. C. HRC'ed them at 58 they also sold it as a Survival and Bushcraft knife. But one of my Fav's is my Modified Attitude I had made by Battle Horse it came out Spectacular. Beautiful Work on it in O1 and sort of looks like a Woodlore on steroids. But also a Brute.,,.p
I bought the 5 and was doing a tip test and batoning some. I was checking the bevel on the knife and it was off to the right. How can a get it to be straight? And how did it get off? Thanks
send it off to esse life time warrenty
*esee
Hi Aaron,
I understand this (Esee 5) is a good tactical blade
Would that be a good blade for defense into the wilderness ? ( E,g. against , say, bears ..)
Or is too small for that ?
Would be an Esee Junglas more appropriate for the task or that would be too big and cumbersome ?
Ok, I suppose you don't have experience with "CQB" with a bear 😊 (hopefully none of us will have ...) - but just in case - from your experience with knives - which would be an appropriate blade for the task ?
Esee 6 is the best Esee knife
how would you compare the size of the handle of this guy to say the sog force
+ArkH1ve The esee5 is much thicker.
What do you use for thumbnails? Seems like you always have amazing thumbnails.
gimp software, it is free.
Can you do a review on fiddleback forge the duke?
I think I might get the design and make one From some good 440c, and mod it a little. great design.
so would you consider sending me a Ontario RAT 5 for review and testing?
Sold my RAT 5 to my buddy.
how about your Ka-Bar bk16
Would you consider sending me your Wife/Sister/Mother for review and testing? After all, it's appropriate to go on product review UA-cam channels and just ask them to send you their stuff so you can play with it. Message me so we can coordinate shipping the broads out here.
Buzz4Killington
lol i only stated this cause he has loads of knives and never does a GAW
Not a bushcraft knife for batoning or some of those tasks. Great knife for its purpose!
Hey! I would love to see you do a review Test on the new MSK-1 knife and compare it to the esee 5 Thanks really like your videos Ciao
Seems more tactical and less fieldcraft than the tops bob. Definitely looks cooler.
Hi all. I recieved an OD ESEE 5 today, and when inspecting the blade, it had microchips the whole length of the edge. It looked like it had been tested hard against cardboard. It was not that sharp either. Is this normal for these knifes to ship in this condition?
contact ESEE. could be a fake
1/4 knives aren't that great against carboard lol. But where did u get it from? A lot of fakes. If u paid less then 160 you prob got fake. But my Esee is razor sharp shaves hair
Hi. I live in Norway, paid $280. I do not believe it is a fake. I believe they sent me a demo model, and hoped to get away with it. I sent it back, and purchased a new one from Finland.
I just subscribed to your channel not long ago. Esse 5 and 4 both interesting to me. Tops BOB blade as well. Be nice to own them all. I'll keep going through your play list and go from there. Nice videos my friend. Take care.👍👍👍🇺🇸
Cheers Mate!
Do I have to oil it? Seems like a burden after a while.
John-Ryan Sofranko high carbon steel does require some maintenance to prevent rust. 3 in 1 works better than you'd expect on this type of steel.
Thanks
I like the knife, just not the thickness. They should make a model called Esee 5S (S for slim.) And it's 3/16th. I'd buy that
+Steve Smith like the bk10
They do but the Esee 5S stands for serrated haha
get the esee 6
You might wanna do a review of this knife with a skeleton paracord wrapped handle. Maybe wrapped like the lanyard setup on the Tops Silent Hero. I've heard that with a paracord wrap handle it's a totally different knife, in a good way.
so why would someone in SAR . need a EsEE 5 for EDC OR AO DEPLOYMENT ? OR BOY SCOUT ? NEED one ?
I bought the 6 first, but the sheath and the fact that this thing is practically invincible made ESEE 5 my primary carry...
Best sheath I’ve ever had, love it.
Hi, may I ask you a question, you saud this ESSEE 5, was around a 1lb, and the Becker BK-2 is 1lb, and reviewing both knives, which one would you suggest for me, if I was just buying one knife, experience from your handling both, I like deferentially tempered blades, Top's does it too, so are my go to Swamp Rat's, I do LIKE THE SR101 Steel the best, and my Ratmandu is my go to knife, but I was just wondering, since I do want another 5"er, Swamp Rat has nice Rodent 5, let me know though.
paulie 4x I prefer the bk2 to the esee5
How much do they go for?
LA Prepper Amazon have them from $140 to $190. go to knifeworks.com and you can get them from about $130 to $180.
know i really don't know anymore to get the Esee 5 or 6? Both really good knifes
Thats my next knife !. THANKS !
In all your vids, you chop, cut, baton a lot of pine, but I never see any fatwood, nor have you mentioned it (it is VERY HARD to chop through). Do Colorado pine trees have fatwood in them? In KY., I find fatwood in the branches, next to the trunk, in fallen pines. It is easy to find. Just curious, and keep up the great work.
Yes we do have fat wood in the pines.
in my dreams? Joseph. The Becker isn't even in the same league. But you keep your Becker if it makes you feel better.
The guy who reviewed this knife said the Becker 2 is better :)
+Joseph Griveas he didn't say it was better he said he preferred it
Looove my e5ee 😉😍😎
My esse 5 I love it:) very stout knife
Sweet knife man. I've had my eye on this guy for a while.
*gayyyy*
😂😂😂😂😂😂 jk I know you meant knife.