It's funny how even while watching your videos I quite often end up forming opposite opinions to what you say after the tests. Althougg while rarely agreeing with you, I still like your videos. This knife I'm carrying for around 6 years now and I love its square handle. It gives me more control of side-swiveling than a round spine. Even though I never like a coating on a blade simply because of friction, I appreciate this 1095 chunk having it to prevent rust.
All of his gripes can be easily fixed by oneself in short order. I stripped the coating off my ESEE 6 the first day I got it. Then I squared off the spine which both throws sparks off a ferro rod and throws sparks off from flint and chert for use with charred cloth. Real easy and rather quick projects that could all be handled within a single day. As far as the square knife handle slabs...you can always buy the contoured ones. ESEE finally has their own now that you can buy on their newest versions. For me, the squared slabs never bothered me too much. Not a fan of the exposed metal tang but that can also be fixed by wrapping the handle in various tapes out there like tennis racquet tape, etc. As plain Jane as the ESEE 6, IMO, after all these years, it's still a winner.
That was a great job on the sheath. The new knives come with better scales that fit your hand better. The spine is softer and the edge is harder. That is the forging process. That is why it probably rounded on your use.
Glad I found this video! Let's see what you think of the 6. Back-up: Any reason you didn't try making finer feathersticks with the 6? No 90deg spine is a bit of a let down. Choking up using the choil; If the cutting edge starts right next to the handle front, why is a choil necessary? I dislike them - waste of an inch of cutting edge. That new edge of yours cuts well! 21:26 Ahh feathersticks! 23:07 Confirms my opinion that feathersticking needs a proper tool designed for the job. I also suspect that, what ability the 6 has, is due to your edge! 25:00 With the 6 it seems one needs an SAK with a saw (for the back to make sparks), or a lighter! Bottom line is the ESEE 6 is too small, light and thin to be a decent Large knife, and too large and bulky to be good for a survival/belt knife, as its unwieldy, can't make a spark and hard on the hands. Some may find it fine for some general around-camp tasks, but it is mostly disappointing. I can't fit it in anywhere! Cheers Rob!
Dennis my friend, thank you so much for agreeing with me on this "neither here nor there" knife, I've had some very negative comments on this video, some telling me that I lack the skills to use the knife others telling me that it's a survival knife not a bushcraft knife and my review was unfair. As a treat for you mate I'll let you into a secret......I've got a Demko Freereign knife to review very soon, a knife from one Cold steel's designers Andrew Demko, check it out. Hopefully get this done in the next two weeks, I'm sure it'll outperform the ESEE 6.
Ive got the Esee 6 HM which I think fixes a few of your negatives about the regular 6 .If you want to try it let me know and I'll send it to you to review Rob .I can strip the coating too as I'm not a fan of crap on blades .It's a very comfortable handle though still balanced a tad too far to the rear to be a good chopper .
I hate the choil on Esee knives. I own a few, the esee 6hm for example,rounded handle no choil. The 4-5" blade paired with chopper and saw covers things better. Another great video. :)
The reason you rounded off the back of your knife tip is due to the Rowen variable heat treatment. The back spine is less hard than the working knife edge. That makes the whole blade tougher overall, and less likely to break, but rather give and spring back to shape with heavy use. Even Tops blades are heat treated in a similar manor....both not for use with a ferro rod. Also nice contored G10 handles for all Esse knives are readily available through The Knife Connection in the USA.
Hey Rob, thanks for a great review. I am a little late (as usual), just ordred a esee6 part serrated. What is your opinion on serrations on a outdoors knife? Know most here don’t like them… Greetings from Norway.
Looks like you need to sharpen the 6 more than you did. Mine is razor sharp out of the box. 3D G-10 handle scales are most comfortable I've ever used. I haven't tried the flat Micarta scales in your video. Thanks for the time and effort to make this video.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to watch my video. I had the knife second hand and the edge was awful, I took the easy sharpening option and put a convex edge on it with my belt grinder, I have since sold the knife, I'd prefer something heavier that size. To be honest I'm not a big fan of that size knife, I like bigger and smaller if you catch my drift. That wasn't my best knife review either. The flat scales are not wonderful!
@@RobEvansWoodsman I don't think I would like flat scales either! I use a BK-2 for batoning, but it's not much at making curls and feather sticks. You might enjoy an Esee 5 or a TOPS Fieldcraft knife! Good luck with your channel!
"Coatings are a bit shit" Brilliant.......excellent review though, I've just scored one in a trade so I'm anxious to get it now and see for myself, also I've bought some gear and some of your knives from you in the past, good to see you out and about doing your thing.......I'm in Canada now, I miss the British hardwoods
@@RobEvansWoodsman Mors Kochanski RIP. The Esee 6 I like the Coating is a bit stupid to have on the spine of the blade, Its something they could have neatly done at the factory (i.e leave some of the steel bare for a ferro rod stiker)
I didnt like the feel of 3d g10 handles, but the 3d natural canvas micarta has a very good feel. I did, however, really like the dark earth blade color with the black g10.
A nice video on a sweet knife. Esee 6 is of the perfect size for me, neither too small nor too chunky and it performs all those tasks well. Have fun and enjoy the blade.
I feel pretty much the same about my Esee 4. It kinda sucks. Too thin and blocky scales, stupid choil wasting blade, coating(immediately removed). The only Esee I actually like is the Junglas.
@@grovesy333 of course it’s an opinion. Hence the “I feel”. We’re all entitled to our own. There’s no such thing as facts when talking about people’s preferences.
what kettle are you using? i've been looking for ages for a small kettle that would fit inside the pathfinder bush pot, it starting to seem like a lost cause thou,
Take the coating off the Esee 6. The coating is only there for the lazy people who don't know how to or don't want to care for there tools. I love my ESEE 6. It's my go to knife. It has an earned patina from all the work it's done over the last 8 years. Ditch that coating (a wire wheel on a bench grinder does the trick) and keep it sharp. It will never fail you. And if your not a fan of the grip, you can always check out the newer ESEE 6 HM. It has a more traditional handle.
@@RobEvansWoodsman Of course! I should have mentioned that. At least to me it's always a pleasure to watch a seasoned woodsman and bushcrafter work. And for the subject at hand I have always wondered if the narrow blade geometry of the full flat grind on the 6 would make it better at making feathersticks. This really answered the question perfectly.
@@RobEvansWoodsman no worries, appreciate the fast reply and letting me know. With your expertise. What night would you recommend for a bushcraft knife. Budget £150-200
You people don't know what you're buying. Esee are military oriented knives and survival not bushcrafting. There's reasons why the coating is there and if you like a scandi grind you should stick with that.
@@richroc7 have they ever claimed esee 6 is a bushcraft knife or the 5 or the hoonglas? And why the military colors on most of them? If you're buying a street bike and then complaining it's not good for enduro who's fault is it? That's what I'm trying to say here!
@@nickmegadeth6633 bushcraft is a part of survival and yes they state that they are designed for such. The 3 & 5 are for military and police forces with their pointed glass breaker pommels and the Izula, 4,6 & junglas are designed for survival use but imho any can be used for whatever reason a person has the need for.
@@richroc7 I was in the special forces and I would prefer having a 6 over a 5 cause it's slicier piercer and lighter. Staying alive from a wolf attack is part of survival too.. you don't get my point! The 6 is a good all arounder. It's not gonna excel in anything! The person that did the video is more bushcraft oriented and has this point of view and I don't think it makes the knife justice because of that.. that was my criticism and I have to say that I enjoyed the vid I just don't agree with the way he sees the knife. Even the square handles makes sense on a plate carrier or when you have a lot of equipment on you like a soldier does. Coating is another thing, besides the rust it's an anti reflective thing. It looks like a military knife to me and I don't care what esee says, I like their stuff cause I'm an ex special forces guy. If I had to do carving all day I was gonna choose something else for sure!
It's funny how even while watching your videos I quite often end up forming opposite opinions to what you say after the tests. Althougg while rarely agreeing with you, I still like your videos.
This knife I'm carrying for around 6 years now and I love its square handle. It gives me more control of side-swiveling than a round spine. Even though I never like a coating on a blade simply because of friction, I appreciate this 1095 chunk having it to prevent rust.
We're all different my friend, that knife is long gone.
All of his gripes can be easily fixed by oneself in short order.
I stripped the coating off my ESEE 6 the first day I got it. Then I squared off the spine which both throws sparks off a ferro rod and throws sparks off from flint and chert for use with charred cloth.
Real easy and rather quick projects that could all be handled within a single day.
As far as the square knife handle slabs...you can always buy the contoured ones. ESEE finally has their own now that you can buy on their newest versions. For me, the squared slabs never bothered me too much. Not a fan of the exposed metal tang but that can also be fixed by wrapping the handle in various tapes out there like tennis racquet tape, etc.
As plain Jane as the ESEE 6, IMO, after all these years, it's still a winner.
That was a great job on the sheath.
The new knives come with better scales that fit your hand better.
The spine is softer and the edge is harder. That is the forging process. That is why it probably rounded on your use.
I learn/re-learn several skills from you! Thanks!
Very nice sheath!
Glad I found this video! Let's see what you think of the 6.
Back-up: Any reason you didn't try making finer feathersticks with the 6? No 90deg spine is a bit of a let down.
Choking up using the choil; If the cutting edge starts right next to the handle front, why is a choil necessary? I dislike them - waste of an inch of cutting edge.
That new edge of yours cuts well!
21:26 Ahh feathersticks! 23:07 Confirms my opinion that feathersticking needs a proper tool designed for the job. I also suspect that, what ability the 6 has, is due to your edge!
25:00 With the 6 it seems one needs an SAK with a saw (for the back to make sparks), or a lighter!
Bottom line is the ESEE 6 is too small, light and thin to be a decent Large knife, and too large and bulky to be good for a survival/belt knife, as its unwieldy, can't make a spark and hard on the hands. Some may find it fine for some general around-camp tasks, but it is mostly disappointing. I can't fit it in anywhere!
Cheers Rob!
Dennis my friend, thank you so much for agreeing with me on this "neither here nor there" knife, I've had some very negative comments on this video, some telling me that I lack the skills to use the knife others telling me that it's a survival knife not a bushcraft knife and my review was unfair.
As a treat for you mate I'll let you into a secret......I've got a Demko Freereign knife to review very soon, a knife from one Cold steel's designers Andrew Demko, check it out.
Hopefully get this done in the next two weeks, I'm sure it'll outperform the ESEE 6.
I heard in another video you COULDN'T start a FIRE using an ESEE 6... I'm glad I came to your video.
sorry I meant fire not fight
Who said that?
Proper welsh outdoorsman love it mucka !!
Cheers 'brawd'
you will have to tell me how you keep your grass so nice
You know it's fake, joke is wearing thin Nicholas!!!!
🤪🤪
Nick Davies doesn’t Russ use it for grazing his sheep ? 🤔🏃🏃
great knife for the right application
Ive got the Esee 6 HM which I think fixes a few of your negatives about the regular 6 .If you want to try it let me know and I'll send it to you to review Rob .I can strip the coating too as I'm not a fan of crap on blades .It's a very comfortable handle though still balanced a tad too far to the rear to be a good chopper .
I hate the choil on Esee knives. I own a few, the esee 6hm for example,rounded handle no choil. The 4-5" blade paired with chopper and saw covers things better. Another great video. :)
Look into the HM models
The knife is awesome.
The reason you rounded off the back of your knife tip is due to the Rowen variable heat treatment. The back spine is less hard than the working knife edge. That makes the whole blade tougher overall, and less likely to break, but rather give and spring back to shape with heavy use.
Even Tops blades are heat treated in a similar manor....both not for use with a ferro rod.
Also nice contored G10 handles for all Esse knives are readily available through The Knife Connection in the USA.
Why not just make the blade thicker, thus stronger? It really needs a bit more weight up front to balance out that heavy micarta handle.
Nice work mate.
Hey Rob, thanks for a great review. I am a little late (as usual), just ordred a esee6 part serrated. What is your opinion on serrations on a outdoors knife? Know most here don’t like them…
Greetings from Norway.
If you're going to cut rope they are great, otherwise don't bother.
Greetings from Wales my friend 🏴🏴
@@RobEvansWoodsman Thank you very much for your reply 🙂I’m gonna have to find me some rope then 🙂
🤣🤣🤣
Looks like you need to sharpen the 6 more than you did. Mine is razor sharp out of the box. 3D G-10 handle scales are most comfortable I've ever used. I haven't tried the flat Micarta scales in your video. Thanks for the time and effort to make this video.
Hi, thanks for taking the time to watch my video.
I had the knife second hand and the edge was awful, I took the easy sharpening option and put a convex edge on it with my belt grinder, I have since sold the knife, I'd prefer something heavier that size.
To be honest I'm not a big fan of that size knife, I like bigger and smaller if you catch my drift.
That wasn't my best knife review either.
The flat scales are not wonderful!
@@RobEvansWoodsman I don't think I would like flat scales either! I use a BK-2 for batoning, but it's not much at making curls and feather sticks. You might enjoy an Esee 5 or a TOPS Fieldcraft knife! Good luck with your channel!
Don't watch my tops fieldcraft review if you're a big fan of the knife, I've been pulled through the mill by fans of the knife!
"Coatings are a bit shit" Brilliant.......excellent review though, I've just scored one in a trade so I'm anxious to get it now and see for myself, also I've bought some gear and some of your knives from you in the past, good to see you out and about doing your thing.......I'm in Canada now, I miss the British hardwoods
Great to hear from you Marc.
I remember Mors Kochanski sitting around our fire in the Bushmoot , he couldn't believe the heat output on our hardwoods.
@@RobEvansWoodsman Mors Kochanski RIP. The Esee 6 I like the Coating is a bit stupid to have on the spine of the blade, Its something they could have neatly done at the factory (i.e leave some of the steel bare for a ferro rod stiker)
@@youngg1068the coating is to prevent rust 🤷♂️ if ppp don’t like it they can strip it off and do a forced patina 😂
Good review I just sub☺
I didnt like the feel of 3d g10 handles, but the 3d natural canvas micarta has a very good feel. I did, however, really like the dark earth blade color with the black g10.
A nice video on a sweet knife. Esee 6 is of the perfect size for me, neither too small nor too chunky and it performs all those tasks well. Have fun and enjoy the blade.
Cool pack, who makes it?
It's a Bison Bushcraft Garron pack.
Made by a chap called Steven Henley in the UK.
I feel pretty much the same about my Esee 4. It kinda sucks. Too thin and blocky scales, stupid choil wasting blade, coating(immediately removed). The only Esee I actually like is the Junglas.
Someone with sense!
Thanks for comment.
I am liking my new esee 5 with the 3d scales.
That’s your opinion though not a fact
@@grovesy333 of course it’s an opinion. Hence the “I feel”. We’re all entitled to our own. There’s no such thing as facts when talking about people’s preferences.
what kettle are you using?
i've been looking for ages for a small kettle that would fit inside the pathfinder bush pot,
it starting to seem like a lost cause thou,
It's the pathfinder kettle, sadly it doesn't fit inside the bushpot, I've tried.
@@RobEvansWoodsman ... cheers for trying, ... the search goes on, lol
Hi Rob do u still have this esee6? If u have do u willing to sell it to me?
Sold it ages ago.
Sorry
Thanks for replying. I like your honesty I'm a great fan
Cheers mate
Wery soft wood
Take the coating off the Esee 6. The coating is only there for the lazy people who don't know how to or don't want to care for there tools.
I love my ESEE 6. It's my go to knife. It has an earned patina from all the work it's done over the last 8 years.
Ditch that coating (a wire wheel on a bench grinder does the trick) and keep it sharp. It will never fail you. And if your not a fan of the grip, you can always check out the newer ESEE 6 HM. It has a more traditional handle.
Too late, I sold it months ago.
Thanks for the input.👍
Sir, I enjoy your accent.
Thanks, call me Rob.
I hope you enjoy my content too!
@@RobEvansWoodsman Of course! I should have mentioned that. At least to me it's always a pleasure to watch a seasoned woodsman and bushcrafter work. And for the subject at hand I have always wondered if the narrow blade geometry of the full flat grind on the 6 would make it better at making feathersticks. This really answered the question perfectly.
Interesting film Rob...some of the Instagram guys use the Esse all the time but I’d want to do the adaptations you’ve suggested 👍
Never buy a used and abused knife from a young machinist. The new edge may take more than the original geometry can give back!?!
Boy those feather stick skills could really use some improvement 😅
They were crap , I'm better using a scandi or convex grind.
Lovely sheath that fella. How much would it cost me for you to make me one. Thats if your up for doing it that is. Great channel btw
Very sorry but I don't have the time.
@@RobEvansWoodsman no worries, appreciate the fast reply and letting me know. With your expertise. What night would you recommend for a bushcraft knife. Budget £150-200
@Jonathan-ch3eq probably a Casstrom.
I can do a basic carbon MK1 or MK2 for £200 if you want.
@@RobEvansWoodsman sorry for the late reply. I've looked online and you can pick them up brand new for that price? Or am I getting mistaken?
@@Jonathan-ch3eq sorry but I might not have made It clear.
I'm offering you a knife I make for £200, the Casstroms are cheaper
You people don't know what you're buying.
Esee are military oriented knives and survival not bushcrafting.
There's reasons why the coating is there and if you like a scandi grind you should stick with that.
That's "us people" told then!
That was rude not to mention incorrect
@@richroc7 have they ever claimed esee 6 is a bushcraft knife or the 5 or the hoonglas? And why the military colors on most of them? If you're buying a street bike and then complaining it's not good for enduro who's fault is it? That's what I'm trying to say here!
@@nickmegadeth6633 bushcraft is a part of survival and yes they state that they are designed for such. The 3 & 5 are for military and police forces with their pointed glass breaker pommels and the Izula, 4,6 & junglas are designed for survival use but imho any can be used for whatever reason a person has the need for.
@@richroc7 I was in the special forces and I would prefer having a 6 over a 5 cause it's slicier piercer and lighter. Staying alive from a wolf attack is part of survival too.. you don't get my point! The 6 is a good all arounder. It's not gonna excel in anything! The person that did the video is more bushcraft oriented and has this point of view and I don't think it makes the knife justice because of that.. that was my criticism and I have to say that I enjoyed the vid I just don't agree with the way he sees the knife.
Even the square handles makes sense on a plate carrier or when you have a lot of equipment on you like a soldier does.
Coating is another thing, besides the rust it's an anti reflective thing. It looks like a military knife to me and I don't care what esee says, I like their stuff cause I'm an ex special forces guy. If I had to do carving all day I was gonna choose something else for sure!