Wow! Never mind the knives, you guys have just set the standard for doing knife reviews! This was the best one I've ever seen! A great blend of technical, practical, aesthetic, visual and descriptive. That is going to take some beating. The two knives ESEE 5 & 6: your test demonstrates quite clearly that they are two very different knives, good at different things. Basically the 5 is a master splitter and power tool, great for hard dry wood. Clear. The 6 on the other hand, is a cutter, and a nimble worker, and would be best with wet wood or softer species of dry wood. My biggest problem with the ESEE range of great knives is that I would agonise all night long about which one to leave at home. Not a bad thing, as it would make me think much more deeply about what it actually is that I'm going to be doing where I'm going to need a tool! In particular, and possibly even more so, I would face the same problem with the Junglas and Junglas II! Great stuff guys, and now I'm going to watch the video again to pick up some subtleties I might have missed. That was a lot of fun! Thanks
I agree! I have watched this video a bunch of times. Being a blade fan, I watch a lot of knife reviews on youtube. This one is the best. I had to get both the esee 5 and 6. I hope Eric makes more like this!
It's now some time later, and I've had more time to think about things ESEE-wise. Now, my thinking goes like this - it has to do with the ESEE 5! Your video proved conclusively for me that the ESEE 5 is unique and in a category on its own. It will be in my pack, come hell or high water! The dilemma comes with the thinner blades. Firstly, I think I would dispense with the Junglas, as I'm never going to be in a jungle type environment needing a machete type tool. Done. However, it's now between the ESEE 6 and the Junglas II. In the video, the ESEE 6 seemed to lack mass, so it seems logical that more mass coupled with the flat grind would give superior performance. Also, with the longer blade, blade-head speed would be higher, making it a much better brush-clearer than the ESEE 6. So, bottom line is, I'd select the Junglas II to partner the ESEE 5! Your comment about the ESEE family of knives is exactly how I feel about them. I'd have them all, and select from them the combination best suited to the type of situation I'm intending to embark upon. As Lord Baden Powell insisted, "It's all about PREPARATION!" Thanks again guys, I enjoyed the video the second time as much as the previous times!
What a great review! I have many interests and have watched many YT videos over the years. Overall, this takes the cake for best review/ testing of any product i have ever seen. Awesome!! My 5 is on the way!
The best knife review ever!! Thank you for sharing!! I bought two ESEE-5's several years ago. Great knife. Now I make my own custom knives and try to use all of them. ESEE-5 is my go to for robust uses as it is 1/4 inch thick. My custom knives are 3/16 and thinner. All have their strong points.
Have both ,and several other ESSE knives but after years and years still gravitate to my esse 6 , it has been very versatile for camp chores including food prep , fire building and shelter construction , jungle /forest /bush go to tool , it has never failed . Great review , it nice to watch people that love what they do and enjoy it like you guy do , great review 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼👏👏👏👏
The answer is simple. Esee 5. Then Esee 6,Then Esee 4, then Esee 3. I'm a knife nut, and this is the best knive vid i've seen. I watched it like a dozen times. Please make more like this! Thanks!
Thanks for watching! We will be making more for the Out of Doors series which are similar as a topic based theme video. We have Tops and Becker covered if you look back...I have an Out of Doors playlist. Thanks!
The 5 is my fav but not out of the box. Raise the bevel a bit, sand some of the roughness off the coating or remove it, and it’s the best all rounder you can ask for.
YOU MADE MY CHOICE! JUST now finished this video and I have to say, REMARKABLE job gentlemen. This was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable and INFORMATIVE knife videos I've ever seen. Before the video, with extensive research, I was SOLD on the 6... Then I watched the wood processing portion and I must say I've decided on the 5! Thanks to u guys so much for a great video. A good quality survival knife is important to me
Thanks for checking out the channel...I appreciate it. I like covering reviews and trips, but every now and then Joe and have more of these conceptual ideas that we showcase. This one was great fun!
I really enjoyed this.....talking... no sell, no review, just sit and talk. We all need more like this and compelled to jump in and converse as well. Everyone is different and specifically "needs are different." A tip for some here....(I live in NE U.S.A in a river, lake, pine hardwood, Harsh winter, area).....I own a Jungulus and a Condor Village Parang. Attached By lashing paracord (if needed if hurt or emergency). I attached my Essee 6 to the Jungulus, and my Esee 5 to the Condor Pyrang. My Jungulus setup is for long/short hikes about, and my Condor setup is for BASE Camp/RV Travel/Tent site setups. A compact system that compliments the Voids in every blade selection. For Food processing I use a simple light weight Opinel #8 Stainless Steel, plus another Opinel for small game/fish skinning. I do not wear a neck knife, because I wear a bear/moose whistle, backup neck compass and the weight of a knife just bothers me. I carry no hatchet/axe this way (Jungulus and Condor replaces the hatchet/small axe)....and I beat the heck out of my Esee 5& 6's. Those 5 & 6's skin large game, dig in dirt, feather stick to light splitting, etc. My Jungulus/Condor Proccess as choppers/splitters, cot frameing, limb stake process etc. ALWAYS USE LEAST EFFORT & ENERGY WITH SAFETY when you are tired, cold, and hungry. Biggest TIP...DONT CHOP ANYTHING OVER 4".....Thats what my Silky Gomboy 240 OR my Silky Pocketboy Large Teeth is for. That Silky I use also for notching pole and splitting it out with the Essee lashing them for strong cots, or lock points for tarp setups. A Quality Ferro/dry tinder fire kit is REQUIRED....make sure on your Essee's to remove a small area of coating on the spine... or Pummel TIP (thats what I did) to get a positive 90° sharp edge for the Ferro. Essee...You, youR kids, and your kids kids will have a setup that lasts....if it fails on the 3rd generation...send it back to Essee. A full refund of regardless who owns it will be replaced FREE !!!
I enjoy your reviews. I realize I am posting a bit late (4 years late) however, I wanted to share that you have been very helpful and it is actually a bit fun to watch you two. I own several ESEE's (5, 6, Jungless), and will likely purchase another couple. The warranty can't be beat and the knives are excellent especially for the price. AnyHoo - Thanks for the videos keep'em commin pleeeze. ;)
I think it comes down to how you define a "survival knife." The 6 is easily the better overall knife in almost every way, however if you're after a knife that is guaranteed to last no matter what situation you may encounter, for however long you may have to have to rely on it, I would trust the 5 more. The 6 is the knife I'd prefer on my belt for a day/weekend/week hike, the 5 is probably what I'd pick for a bug-out go-bag.
I have a survive knives gso 5 in cpm 3v. And its like a hybrid of the esee 5 and 6. The thickness is 3/16s like a esee 6. Its a sabre grind like the 5. Its 5 inches. And has handle scales more contoured than the regular esee but not quite as much as the new ones. I quite enjoy it. Ive only ever owned the esee 4, however i gave it to my nephew because he needed a good knife he could depend on and i thought it would be an excellent choice. Eventually I hope to get another esee if and when i can afford it. Great video guys.
Great video! I learned a ton about knives in general. I just bought an ESEE 3 and an ESEE Gibson hatchet. Can't wait to put them to good use this summer and fall!
I used to have an Esse 5 but I got rid of it. I currently own the Esse 6 and to me it's the obvious choice for it's weight and cutting ability. The Esse 5 is ALOT heavier and weight is important when packing other gear. Sure the 5 does some of the task like chopping and batoning better but that's physics due to it's thickness. If you have to span thicker logs the 6 wins out due to length. The things you will be doing most of the time with a knife are preformed better by the Esse 6, again , it's physics, and the Esse 6 is thinner thus it's gonna slice better plus it's an inch longer so it me, it's the better combat knife as well.
I have each and my personal preference is the 5" model with the 3D grips! The extra inch in the 6" just gets in the way it seems. The 5 is more robust and takes up less room along your leg and when sitting. I just instinctly go to the 5" when ever heading out to camp, just handier and more robust!
Still with you. Lol I found it very informative. I found myself thinking I wish they made the Esse 5 with the length and the finger choil of the Esse 6. I currently own the Esse 5 I got it 2 weeks ago. I was messing around with the sheath testing retention and put it 3 inches into the side of my hand with hardly any force. I took 20 stitches I get them out the day after tomorrow. It really is an amazing knife.
Bought an Esee 4HM and love it - I also was reluctant to jump on the Esee train but I can easily say it's my favorite knife, however, the blade is short for a survival knife - great for bushcraft paired with a Mora and my chopping tools/SwissAK. However, I am going to go with the Esee 6 over the 5. You don't need 1/4" of thickness in a blade and based on my wood processing techniques, the 6 looks like a better option, and I find the flat grind to be a good compromise between the Esee 5 and a Scandi grind. Blade length is also a factor. Thanks for the video!
@outer limitless. I have the BK2 but I just ordered the ESEE 5. I love the design of the BK series knives, but since finding out that the BK tangs are skeletonized , I just don’t have the same confidence in them. I’ve slowly begun replacing my BK 2, 7, and 9 with the equivalent ESEE models; a little bit aggravating because they are not cheap. Do you feel that the skeletonized tang of the BK knives makes them more prone to failure when used for heavy tasks? I really love the design of the BKs, but a skeleton tang on anything other than a neck knife doesn’t give me peace of mind. I’ve seen pictures of broken BK2s and 9s; almost all of them break where the skeleton tang meets the blade. Yet, I can’t seem to find any pictures of a broken ESEE knife. I’m curious what yours and other peoples thoughts are on this
Any knife can break including an esee. There is a video on youtube of a bk2 being used to chop down a big tree. The guy pounded the bk2 into the tree with a hammer. He hit the bk2 with the hammer atleast 1000 times before the bk2 broke. Maybe you haven't seen as many broken esee's because esee's cost a lot of money and people dont want to risk breaking them. Joe X did manage to break a esee 5 on his you tube video. Esee and Becker both have different pros and cons. Esee has great heat treatment and their knife shapes are beautiful, but its ridiculous that they use regular cheap 1095 steel. Beckers use 1095-crovan which is much better then the regular 1095 that esee uses. But Beckers come with plastic handles and cheap sheaths.
I agree with you. Actually, I did end up seeing the video you speak of. And you are right; 1095 crovan is a much better steel. I feel that the Esse knives are overpriced considering the steel they are made of. My main issue is that the Becker knives aren’t advertised as having a skeletonized tang, so when I bought mine I was under the impression that it was a true full tang knife. Some people don’t mind a skeletonized full tang, but I feel it should be advertised as such so that the customer can make an informed purchase. I especially think that this is important for the bk2 since it is designed as a survival knife. . I just feel a skeleton tang is inherently weaker and prefer a true full tang in all my knives for peace of mind. That said, I don’t abuse my knives, so I doubt I will ever break one.
Simplicity and quality is what drew me to Esee, now I have Izula, Esee 4, and Junglas. Having not felt any other models, I'd think the 3 better than the Izula, and the 5 or 6 would be better than either the 4 or Junglas. But I got the Junglas mainly for a lifetime machete purchase, for homestead work and it is great for that.
Awesome vid knife bro. I bought the 5 last year&have nothin but all good to say about it. I have the Izula ll for a companion blade&with both there aint nothin I cant do with ease in a camp or survival situation.
Good video guys! You just can't go wrong with ESEE and The Knife Connection! FYI: The ESEE 5 was designed for Military air crews as a survival knife, hence the pommel "spike" for breaking glass. THE ESEE 5 also has a .25" thickness for added durability, vs the .188" on the ESEE 6. I do prefer the ESEE 6 over the 5 because it has a choil, but you just can't go wrong with either knife! My only criticism with them is (generally speaking) sometimes the spines are not quite 90-degrees, but my Worksharp fixed that. On a side note: I bought a Bark River "Survivor" knife, and was very disappointed that the spine was not sharp at all, again my Worksharp fixed that issue.
The 90 deg spine is at least a fairly straight forward mod. My 6 has a small spot on the spine in front of the jimping...not the whole spine for striking a ferro rod.
Excellent comparison! Just what I needed to see. The ESSE 5 appears to be noticeably more capable than the ESSE 6 in terms of splitting and delimbing, but both knives are great quality. I think I’ll try a 5. Cheers, gents! 🥃
Imo I’d go for the Laser Strike and 5. Those 2 are both amazing blades for both edc and a survival situation. Small enough to carry comfortably each day yet big enough so accomplish all the tasks you could possibly need to achieve and can put your life on the line for.
OK great review guys! My thing is I have a bk 2 and that sucker is tough now for camp chores and any kind of bushcraft as well as, skinning I would choose the 6 but if if the shtf I'm going with the bk 2 or the esee 5. Again, great vid love the content! Makes me want to get out there and beat the hell out if my knives!
I totally agree. 6 for hunting, 5 for shtf/camp-bush chores. So basically the 5 for a one stop shop but I coild see skinning going extremely easier with the 6
If the s h’s the f, I would want both. A 6 to actually be a knife that is good at knife chores, and a heavier knife for that “oh shit I broke my better knife, at least I know this one will never break.
Absolutely amazing comparison!!!!! Great work guys and I think the last segment is where I decided. The point about urban survival and opening doors, locks, brick, etc was what kicked me to the 5. I think I would always have something smaller for the finer work that the 6 would bring to the table. But ----- If I didn't, the 5 would still do the job! Again, fantastic test and both of you guys are the bomb!!
I've had an esee 5 for years, but I'm finally picking up a 6 just due to the weight reduction. I still love my 5 may she rest in peace(lost during a move), but I really want the lighter weight of the 6. I'll probably get another 5 too, but it will end up as a loaner so someone else can carry that weight on a camping trip.
Exactly, I was deciding between the 5 and 6 because I wanted a robust knife with the best performance for camping/survival/bushcraft situations and I was leaning towards the 5 but damn the 5 weighs around 16 ounces(knife without the sheath...) and the 6 is around 12 ounces and as they mentioned in the video every extra weight counts on a long hike so I chose the 6.
Gotta get past the dress code, backwards hat and sunglasses but you have done a great review, well done. I put knife and machete together as a tool kit. I go with esee4 tactical, for my knife work and a ontario sp53 for bushcraft.
@@outerlimitless just a grouchy old man. Being 70 I want to learn from mentors i respect. Clothes can make the man. I do respect your knowledge and vid production. No problems from this grouchy old man. Thank you for the video. I am far from well coiffd myself.
Really enjoyed the video, all the testing, and footage. Great info. Really went above and beyond there fellas! Only thing is, I wish you gave more definitive and harsh judgements, there was too much "both of these knives are the best things ever, let's leave it to the viewers to decide". As a viewer, I'm not holding the knife and doing those tests, you are, tell me what you think and don't be afraid to offend people! I'm still on the fence as to which to buy. E5 would mean I don't need to take a hatchet with me anymore, but I think I prefer the E6. Lol
Hi, loved your Video. I am planning on buying an Esee knife but am confused between the 5 and 6.I am not much of an outdoor person, but I do go to my Farm occasionally, when I do so I usually carry my Nepali Kukri, which is abt 10 to 11 Inc. Cutting edge blade, total length of 1feet 5inc. But it's quite heavy to carry. I am planning to go for a hike and want something which i can do some light if needed heavy chopping as well, fine crafts for making fire, prep some food as well.
I personally think the 6 is a great place to start. If you're like the rest of us you'll eventually make further knife purchases so maybe the 5 later if you're still curious?
@@outerlimitless I decided on the 6 for a week-long bushcraft course I took last year... SOOOOO GLAD I DID! Over the course of the week, just about everyone asked to borrow it - NOTHING it could not do! Traps, shelters, fires - the 6 was just an absolute joy to use. Not once did I hesitate to use it - or offer it to someone else to use - no matter how tough the situation was. The 6 will be by my side for many years to come! THANKS for the review! :)
I've had them both but I love the -6 as the preferred knife as it's a better all around used IMHO. That said, I love clobbering wood with the -5. It's a monster.
There’s no question that the 6 is the better knife. And I don’t personally believe in chopping with knives. They aren’t axes and they aren’t machetes. I don’t think it’s efficient, I don’t think it makes sense at all.
@@thopkins2271 I see your point and applaud you for having common sense which a lot do not have lol but , for me I’m out way in the middle of know here sometimes. I can’t carry an axe or machete that far. Although I don’t have an esee at the moment but I do have to chop with my knives sometimes. My lord I want an esee 6
@@TheBeaver50 I just think that in the absence of an axe, carve a couple of wedges and split wood that way if you’re doing pieces that are questionably big or hard. All that said, I love a monstrously thick knife too...they just aren’t good at anything other than splitting wood.
That molle backer and pouch combo is an ESEE product. I believe they have them on their website...but they are also available if you search around a bit.
I am a man who is on a fixed income due to a stroke and one of the things I do to try and get my health and movement back is bushcraft, I recently bought the ESEE 5 to help in the endeavor but the knife came without a sheath, when I asked about that I was told that model did not come with a sheath and I would have to order one myself and pay extra. It's my opinion that when you pay 150 dollars for a knife you would expect it to come with a sheath. You said in this video that it does come with one so now I'm thinking that the store where I bought the ESEE took the sheath and sold it to someone needing a sheath or kept it for themselves. Luckily I live close to a army surplus store and was able to find a sheath there and was able to carry the knife on my next camping trip. If you do supply your knives with a sheath then there are people ripping customers off and possibly giving ESEE a bad name
Alrighty quick disclaimer, I own a 5 and not a 6. My only other ESEE is an Izula. Therefore I’m probably bias to the 5. I’ve handled my buddies ESEE 4 and I can say I was impressed with have nimble, agile, and how great a slicer that knife is. And I know that fits the class of the 6 as well. Personally I’d pick the 5 if I could only have 1 knife and that was it for forever and eternity. That being said. I want a 6 now really really badly lol. Great video guys
I splurged this year and bought the Junglas then the 6, 4 and recently the 5 with contoured handle. I have been looking at these knives for many years and was always dissuaded because of the flat handles but once I got the large one I was hooked. I only bought them all at once because things seem to be going out of stock here in Canada and who knows what's going on in this world these days so better get it when you can or snooze you lose.
There is a one knife that has both. It’s the Ontario Rat 5. I have one on D2, it’s a thinner stock then the ease 5, full flat grind with a forward finger choil.
Normally, I’d go with the 6 because of the length, but I think I’m favoring the 5 because of the thickness and the grind. The 5 did these tests with less effort. Now, what do you think of the Work Tuff Elbrus? I saw a review of that knife the other day and was thoroughly impressed with it.
Great review. I really like the way you put it together--chopping thru to fire-making. After all, that is the process we go thru to make a fire. As for the knives, I have been looking for my first Esee knife. I have narrowed it down to the 5 or the 6. After watching your vid I am leaning more to the 6 than the 5 for what I need in my collection and use. I am looking for something between my BK9 and White River Caper. I tend to carry a chopper, neck knife, and general use knife when hiking and camping. Thanks for the great comparison. I look forward to future ones.
Thanks! Yes, I almost always test from chopping to batoning, to splitting, to feathering...and sparking the ferro rod! That's the real world field use practical approach and proves how easily or difficult work is with a particular knife. I love the 6...and ironically, Joe bought a few 6's since this video!
I got the BK9, the Essee 6 and a Bark River Bravo EDC. The 6 is perfect for me taking on every canoe and hiking trip, I think it’s the best medium size survival knife. The BK9 is awesome but I use it for clearing bow hunting lanes and backyard destroying of wood for campfires! Just my input. Hope that helps!
Most of my fixed blades are Esee knives. Izula2, 3 w/micarda, 4w/ 3d, 6w3d, and a n expat darian machete. Zero complaints on any, no need to shop around, although a couple of Tops knives just for variety…no harm there!
Do you plan on actually using it as a knife? Woodcraft/bushcraft, skinning game, cleaning fish, carving trap triggers, or doing anything that a knife is meant to do? If so, there is no question at all that the 6 is 100 times better than the 5. It’s more than durable enough for anything reasonably expected of even a heavy duty survival knife...and SOOOO much better in every other respect. The 5 will help you cut a car in half. But most survival situations don’t tend to call for cutting a car in half. And most wilderness survival/bushcraft skills definitely don’t. For the same weight as a 5 and sheath you could damn near carry an esee 6 AND a full size leatherman. I can tell you which combo would lead to more survivors or more competent woodsmen/outdoorsmen.
@@thopkins2271 hahahaha.. thank you sir. Nope, definitely not planning to cut a car in half😂.. ok please share your combo that you mentioned. Would love to know it.. cheers
@@kamalfaridz Oh just that. A 6 and a leatherman wave/charge or if you’re insensitive to weight a super tool 300/surge is what I was talking about in this particular instance. Knives SUCK at chopping. Saws make short work of the same tasks. A quality multi tool can cut up forearm sized wood in no time flat. Plus you get a knife that’s sized much better for cleaning game/detailed carving, pliers for twisting snare wire/found fence wire/can opener for making makeshift hobo stoves etc...san awl for repairing fabrics and leather/drilling small holes and so forth. I don’t love serrated blades but they have their place in the world and it’s basically a free one. A file for roughly sharpening your main knife/axe is hard to say no to as well. But when you’re picking a knife or a two knife combo think about the strengths and weaknesses of each. And while there are exceptions, rare indeed is the expert that doesn’t gravitate towards well constructed smaller knives. As an example If you’re going to the Everglades or jungle and really want a large chopper because that is really the one environment they make sense in, and we’re only going to take one, then something like the 6 is the obvious choice because it’s so versatile. But it’s not an ideal chopper so you’d probably want a junglas or something even bigger. But what can’t that knife do? It’s going to really suck at carving and processing fish and game. So maybe something like an esee 4/jg5 makes a lot of sense as a smaller handier more versatile pairing. It just varies. And there are good arguments for different systems. The 6 is hard to beat if you believe in the one tool option type knife and want an esee. The 4 is handier and does some things better but can’t process wood that’s quite as big. It’s all a balance. I think the best rule of thumb is 4-6 inch blade and thicker than 1/8” and less than 1/4”. But geometry matters too when discussing thickness...almost more than overall thickness as it pertains to durability. The grind you select is important too. Full flat grinds and saber grinds are probably the best compromise to anything grinds with saber being stronger but not as efficient, and scandi grinds cutting wood much more efficiently and being very strong in terms of the overall knife not breaking, but not at the actual cutting edge which is more prone to rolling or chipping. So on some level maybe the best answer is...get an esee 4 or esee 6, and learn what it can and can’t do and learn the operating envelope of the knife. You can do anything you need to with either. Then you’ll buy your next knife which in all likelihood will be bigger than the 4 and smaller than the 6, and do it all over again. And then eventually you’ll realize that it doesn’t matter all that much...and that a good multi tool compliments all of them exceedingly well and that as long as it’s sharp and handy, that none of esee’s options make the game unplayable. Plenty of experts could survive much easier with a scalpel blade and no handle than I could with the whole lineup at my fingertips. Which is why I always gravitate towards the knives that work as knives better. The more you use it because it works well, the more your skills will grow and the better off you’ll be when you forget it at home and are making do with a sharp rock. Edit: All that said, my esee 6 now lives in a bugout bag. When I go to the woods I take a pr4, esee 4hm, or LT Wright Genesis. If I knew I was going to be stuck in the woods and have to live forever with only one knife and no other tools...I would take a Battle Horse Knives Highlander in a scandi grind. The esee 6 being a good choice as well but a little thinner. Note I wouldn’t strap that on unless I thought there was a really high likelihood of getting stuck or stranded/being placed into a long term survival situation. They’re great...it’s just that in gaining an ability to truly do everything, you lose the ability to do many things particularly well.
@@thopkins2271 yup i agree.. Oh btw i do EDC my LM Wave + wherever i go. Its a perfect daily tool and does a decent job in everything i do with it. For me, a combo would be a smaller knife and it can then be my as kitchen knife. Thinking of maybe a Morakniv companion for it. I dont think i will need two workhorse eventho they say two is one and one is none. But maybe i will get the 4 aswell for backup or just for fun.. hahaha✌🏻Oh btw, love your detailed explanation. Thank you so much for the info🙏🏻
I like my ESEE-4. It came with orange G-10 scales, that were flat. I would like to get a orange/black 3D contoured handle, but my retailer didn't have them. I'm currently waiting for a Survive! Knives GSO-5.1 with CPM MagnaCut and 3 Color Camo G10. I'm going to pimp that knife out as far as I can. I really like a 5" blade with a nice choil and nice steel. It's like a 5 with a 6 choil.
Excellent video guys very informative. I don’t have either but plan to ge ton eventually. I like the 6 because to me it’s a better slicer and could serve as a kin of machete role if need be. I do know that the 5 will chop better but I don’t want to or plan to chop with a blade, although you still can with the 6 albeit not as good. But I feel the 6 will serve better in more knife roles such as splitting, slicing, feathering, and detail work. Just my dads work cents. I’m curious what’s your opinion on the Becker Eskobar. Thanks.
For a field knife, the 6, easy. I don’t know what or how Rowen does it, but I’ve absolutely smashed the 6 through exceptionally knotty oak where I burned through multiple batons. The 6 just shrugged it off. It is just a more useable design, in grind and thickness. The 5 is just too thick. It’s a demolition knife (see the pommel). The 5 is a sharpened pry bar... which has its uses, just not a shiner in the field.
I just purchased an 6, but second guessing myself after watching this. So it just sounds like i will need to order both and figure out who’s my favorite.
Interesting; I have never used an Esse, and did not know that the 5 had a thicker blade. I was very surprised at the results. My current "survival knife is a Schrade 52 and i really like bbn it, it is a 1/4 inch and does all these chores well.
You guys how bout a esee cm6 vs Spartan blades ronin shinto???? 😮 think you guys will throw all them esee knives away after you try the Spartan blades ronin
Well I was having soooooo much trouble deciding between a 5 or a 6... after this video I'm going with the 5. Thank you guys so much for the amazing video! God bless you both
I would buy one of each one. Because I couldn't tell the difference with your test on the both them sir. Take care and be safe sir. See you on the next video.
I have a CS Drop Forged Survivalist for about €90,-- Now, I really like the looks of Esee6 a lot, but they cost more than 2 times the price, about €210,-- over here. Sincere question : Is the Esee6 really 2 times 'better'? Stronger? Tougher? Stays sharp longer? Thanks in advance to all responders! Greets from the Netherlands 🇳🇱, TW.
It's a tough one for sure!! Even Joe who is a long-time ESEE 5 believer has now been extensively testing the 6. I'll be curious to hear his thoughts after extensive testing. I personally need more field time with the 5. I owe it to that knife. I'm on the search to buy one...haven't pulled the trigger yet!
I have 4 Esee blades. I just stripped the finish off them, sanded them with 800 grit paper, and polished with Flitz. I love the character of the blades like that, they look great.
Got the 6 from the knife connection with green micaeda scales/kydex/fireloop/pouch. Love the knife. Let’s me being a small first aid kit and water purifiers with me. When I’m just going on a small hike and wan to go lighter or for carving I would recommend esse 4 hm. Would highly recommend you haven’t used them.
I got the ESEE mil 3 and a bit disappointed in it. Just got a real sharpening stone kit and gonna try and make it a better knife. Out of the box though the ESEE mil 3 was pretty sub par. Rusted in 2 camping trips, and seems to get dull just cutting food. Maybe this is just the type of knife that you have to break in. The ESEE mil 3 is a bit to small to make a good camping knife for wood work and what not. I’m not giving up on it though! But just got a bench made bushcrafter 162 and man what a knife. I would love to make the ESEE mil 3 my EDC though as its a nice size to store discreetly.
Anybody else think that Esee needs to combine the blade style/geometry of the 5 with the length and finger choil of the 6? Also the pommel of the 6 obviously. Maybe they could thin the blade by a millimeter or two for weight and make a version with lighter more premium steel, but if that knife existed, I don’t think I’d need any others, and I have it all designed in my head, it’s beautiful and I hope it gets made in the near-future.
I never leave home without my ESEE 4 S35VN. Its my edc i use it everyday of my life. This is a good vid im back n forth between which to buy the 5 Or 6. Im such a ESEE fan I will probably end up with both. Ha.
Guys, you did a great job with the ESEE series. The 6 is my oldest ESEE, along with an Izula II, but I just purchased a 5 and some other ESEE knives and the 5 is freaking awesome. I don't really abide by the one tool/knife theory but I understand the question of if I could only have one... If I choose the 6 I'd have the caveat of needing a pry bar of some kind. If I choose the 5 then I'd want a slicer for food prep. I can't imagine processing fish and small game with the 5 for the rest of my life. Could I do it though? Yeah, it'd be ugly but doable. So I guess that for me the 5 wins in total capability, despite the extra weight of the thicker steel.
Is it just me or does the 6 always get the wood with the most knots lol. Great review though. Best k ife review/comparison I have ever seen. Absolutely loved this video
If your talking about the pouch on the sheath I just ordered one from eBay today not sure of the real name but it says esee 6 accessory pouch. Ran me about 20$
Wow! Never mind the knives, you guys have just set the standard for doing knife reviews! This was the best one I've ever seen! A great blend of technical, practical, aesthetic, visual and descriptive. That is going to take some beating. The two knives ESEE 5 & 6: your test demonstrates quite clearly that they are two very different knives, good at different things. Basically the 5 is a master splitter and power tool, great for hard dry wood. Clear. The 6 on the other hand, is a cutter, and a nimble worker, and would be best with wet wood or softer species of dry wood. My biggest problem with the ESEE range of great knives is that I would agonise all night long about which one to leave at home. Not a bad thing, as it would make me think much more deeply about what it actually is that I'm going to be doing where I'm going to need a tool! In particular, and possibly even more so, I would face the same problem with the Junglas and Junglas II! Great stuff guys, and now I'm going to watch the video again to pick up some subtleties I might have missed. That was a lot of fun! Thanks
Thank you! Greatly appreciated! Thanks for watching!
I agree! I have watched this video a bunch of times. Being a blade fan, I watch a lot of knife reviews on youtube. This one is the best. I had to get both the esee 5 and 6. I hope Eric makes more like this!
It's now some time later, and I've had more time to think about things ESEE-wise. Now, my thinking goes like this - it has to do with the ESEE 5! Your video proved conclusively for me that the ESEE 5 is unique and in a category on its own. It will be in my pack, come hell or high water!
The dilemma comes with the thinner blades. Firstly, I think I would dispense with the Junglas, as I'm never going to be in a jungle type environment needing a machete type tool. Done. However, it's now between the ESEE 6 and the Junglas II. In the video, the ESEE 6 seemed to lack mass, so it seems logical that more mass coupled with the flat grind would give superior performance. Also, with the longer blade, blade-head speed would be higher, making it a much better brush-clearer than the ESEE 6. So, bottom line is, I'd select the Junglas II to partner the ESEE 5! Your comment about the ESEE family of knives is exactly how I feel about them. I'd have them all, and select from them the combination best suited to the type of situation I'm intending to embark upon. As Lord Baden Powell insisted, "It's all about PREPARATION!"
Thanks again guys, I enjoyed the video the second time as much as the previous times!
This is the reason I'd bring both lmao
What a great review! I have many interests and have watched many YT videos over the years. Overall, this takes the cake for best review/ testing of any product i have ever seen. Awesome!! My 5 is on the way!
The best knife review ever!! Thank you for sharing!! I bought two ESEE-5's several years ago. Great knife. Now I make my own custom knives and try to use all of them. ESEE-5 is my go to for robust uses as it is 1/4 inch thick. My custom knives are 3/16 and thinner. All have their strong points.
Have both ,and several other ESSE knives but after years and years still gravitate to my esse 6 , it has been very versatile for camp chores including food prep , fire building and shelter construction , jungle /forest /bush go to tool , it has never failed . Great review , it nice to watch people that love what they do and enjoy it like you guy do , great review 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼👏👏👏👏
The answer is simple. Esee 5. Then Esee 6,Then Esee 4, then Esee 3. I'm a knife nut, and this is the best knive vid i've seen. I watched it like a dozen times. Please make more like this! Thanks!
Thanks for watching! We will be making more for the Out of Doors series which are similar as a topic based theme video. We have Tops and Becker covered if you look back...I have an Out of Doors playlist. Thanks!
The 5 is my fav but not out of the box. Raise the bevel a bit, sand some of the roughness off the coating or remove it, and it’s the best all rounder you can ask for.
YOU MADE MY CHOICE! JUST now finished this video and I have to say, REMARKABLE job gentlemen. This was one of the most relaxing, enjoyable and INFORMATIVE knife videos I've ever seen. Before the video, with extensive research, I was SOLD on the 6... Then I watched the wood processing portion and I must say I've decided on the 5! Thanks to u guys so much for a great video. A good quality survival knife is important to me
Went with the 6 with g10 grips. Felt lighter/better balanced than the 5 to me. Worth every penny.
Best channel of comparison for two majors.
Glad I found you.
Thanks for checking out the channel...I appreciate it. I like covering reviews and trips, but every now and then Joe and have more of these conceptual ideas that we showcase. This one was great fun!
Why not both! I always like to have a couple on me. These may be my next purchase!
I really enjoyed this.....talking... no sell, no review, just sit and talk. We all need more like this and compelled to jump in and converse as well. Everyone is different and specifically "needs are different." A tip for some here....(I live in NE U.S.A in a river, lake, pine hardwood, Harsh winter, area).....I own a Jungulus and a Condor Village Parang. Attached By lashing paracord (if needed if hurt or emergency). I attached my Essee 6 to the Jungulus, and my Esee 5 to the Condor Pyrang. My Jungulus setup is for long/short hikes about, and my Condor setup is for BASE Camp/RV Travel/Tent site setups. A compact system that compliments the Voids in every blade selection. For Food processing I use a simple light weight Opinel #8 Stainless Steel, plus another Opinel for small game/fish skinning. I do not wear a neck knife, because I wear a bear/moose whistle, backup neck compass and the weight of a knife just bothers me. I carry no hatchet/axe this way (Jungulus and Condor replaces the hatchet/small axe)....and I beat the heck out of my Esee 5& 6's. Those 5 & 6's skin large game, dig in dirt, feather stick to light splitting, etc. My Jungulus/Condor Proccess as choppers/splitters, cot frameing, limb stake process etc. ALWAYS USE LEAST EFFORT & ENERGY WITH SAFETY when you are tired, cold, and hungry. Biggest TIP...DONT CHOP ANYTHING OVER 4".....Thats what my Silky Gomboy 240 OR my Silky Pocketboy Large Teeth is for. That Silky I use also for notching pole and splitting it out with the Essee lashing them for strong cots, or lock points for tarp setups. A Quality Ferro/dry tinder fire kit is REQUIRED....make sure on your Essee's to remove a small area of coating on the spine... or Pummel TIP (thats what I did) to get a positive 90° sharp edge for the Ferro. Essee...You, youR kids, and your kids kids will have a setup that lasts....if it fails on the 3rd generation...send it back to Essee. A full refund of regardless who owns it will be replaced FREE !!!
What a team! You guys are a perfect match for reviewing knives. I really enjoy watching your videos. Keep up the outstanding work.
Thank you, I appreciate that. Joe is the man... I wish we had more time together!
Thank you for this excellent video, it was the one that decided me on the 5.
I enjoy your reviews. I realize I am posting a bit late (4 years late) however, I wanted to share that you have been very helpful and it is actually a bit fun to watch you two. I own several ESEE's (5, 6, Jungless), and will likely purchase another couple. The warranty can't be beat and the knives are excellent especially for the price. AnyHoo - Thanks for the videos keep'em commin pleeeze. ;)
I think it comes down to how you define a "survival knife." The 6 is easily the better overall knife in almost every way, however if you're after a knife that is guaranteed to last no matter what situation you may encounter, for however long you may have to have to rely on it, I would trust the 5 more.
The 6 is the knife I'd prefer on my belt for a day/weekend/week hike, the 5 is probably what I'd pick for a bug-out go-bag.
I have a survive knives gso 5 in cpm 3v. And its like a hybrid of the esee 5 and 6. The thickness is 3/16s like a esee 6. Its a sabre grind like the 5. Its 5 inches. And has handle scales more contoured than the regular esee but not quite as much as the new ones. I quite enjoy it. Ive only ever owned the esee 4, however i gave it to my nephew because he needed a good knife he could depend on and i thought it would be an excellent choice. Eventually I hope to get another esee if and when i can afford it. Great video guys.
I’ve watched this video many times and it’s a great review of both knives. Well done.
Great video! I learned a ton about knives in general. I just bought an ESEE 3 and an ESEE Gibson hatchet. Can't wait to put them to good use this summer and fall!
You'll be happy with them... nice to have a compact knife/ hatchet combo!
ESEE 3 is a bit to small for a bush craft knife. In my opinion.
Awesome job guys. Great info and demonstrations. Thank you.
Had the 3 for 8 years love the kife, jest bought the 5, 6 is good but I have the tops silent hero almost the same as the 6
I used to have an Esse 5 but I got rid of it. I currently own the Esse 6 and to me it's the obvious choice for it's weight and cutting ability. The Esse 5 is ALOT heavier and weight is important when packing other gear. Sure the 5 does some of the task like chopping and batoning better but that's physics due to it's thickness. If you have to span thicker logs the 6 wins out due to length.
The things you will be doing most of the time with a knife are preformed better by the Esse 6, again , it's physics, and the Esse 6 is thinner thus it's gonna slice better plus it's an inch longer so it me, it's the better combat knife as well.
Ya esse 6 is perfect
I have each and my personal preference is the 5" model with the 3D grips! The extra inch in the 6" just gets in the way it seems. The 5 is more robust
and takes up less room along your leg and when sitting. I just instinctly go to the 5" when ever heading out to camp, just handier and more robust!
Can you get the 5 shaving sharp ? Or is it too fat behind the edge ?
Still with you. Lol I found it very informative. I found myself thinking I wish they made the Esse 5 with the length and the finger choil of the Esse 6.
I currently own the Esse 5 I got it 2 weeks ago. I was messing around with the sheath testing retention and put it 3 inches into the side of my hand with hardly any force. I took 20 stitches I get them out the day after tomorrow. It really is an amazing knife.
Oh shit! That's a serious cut man! Yikes...hopefully it heals up well! Thanks for watching though!
Bought an Esee 4HM and love it - I also was reluctant to jump on the Esee train but I can easily say it's my favorite knife, however, the blade is short for a survival knife - great for bushcraft paired with a Mora and my chopping tools/SwissAK. However, I am going to go with the Esee 6 over the 5. You don't need 1/4" of thickness in a blade and based on my wood processing techniques, the 6 looks like a better option, and I find the flat grind to be a good compromise between the Esee 5 and a Scandi grind. Blade length is also a factor. Thanks for the video!
Thanks for your comment. I was torn between the two - I’m going to go with the 6 as well.
@outer limitless. I have the BK2 but I just ordered the ESEE 5. I love the design of the BK series knives, but since finding out that the BK tangs are skeletonized , I just don’t have the same confidence in them. I’ve slowly begun replacing my BK 2, 7, and 9 with the equivalent ESEE models; a little bit aggravating because they are not cheap. Do you feel that the skeletonized tang of the BK knives makes them more prone to failure when used for heavy tasks? I really love the design of the BKs, but a skeleton tang on anything other than a neck knife doesn’t give me peace of mind. I’ve seen pictures of broken BK2s and 9s; almost all of them break where the skeleton tang meets the blade. Yet, I can’t seem to find any pictures of a broken ESEE knife. I’m curious what yours and other peoples thoughts are on this
Any knife can break including an esee. There is a video on youtube of a bk2 being used to chop down a big tree. The guy pounded the bk2 into the tree with a hammer. He hit the bk2 with the hammer atleast 1000 times before the bk2 broke. Maybe you haven't seen as many broken esee's because esee's cost a lot of money and people dont want to risk breaking them. Joe X did manage to break a esee 5 on his you tube video. Esee and Becker both have different pros and cons.
Esee has great heat treatment and their knife shapes are beautiful, but its ridiculous that they use regular cheap 1095 steel.
Beckers use 1095-crovan which is much better then the regular 1095 that esee uses. But Beckers come with plastic handles and cheap sheaths.
I agree with you. Actually, I did end up seeing the video you speak of. And you are right; 1095 crovan is a much better steel. I feel that the Esse knives are overpriced considering the steel they are made of. My main issue is that the Becker knives aren’t advertised as having a skeletonized tang, so when I bought mine I was under the impression that it was a true full tang knife. Some people don’t mind a skeletonized full tang, but I feel it should be advertised as such so that the customer can make an informed purchase. I especially think that this is important for the bk2 since it is designed as a survival knife. . I just feel a skeleton tang is inherently weaker and prefer a true full tang in all my knives for peace of mind. That said, I don’t abuse my knives, so I doubt I will ever break one.
I splurged today on my vacation in Tennessee and got the esee6 so far I love it
Sweeeet!! Good splurge for sure! You'll always have it...such a solid purchase. Enjoy it!
Knives make great souvenirs! I agree with this!
Id love the ease6 with.the spine.of the5 what are my chances of having one.made to order?????please answer?
Video was very detailed and great info. Thanks for the help
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching!
Simplicity and quality is what drew me to Esee, now I have Izula, Esee 4, and Junglas.
Having not felt any other models, I'd think the 3 better than the Izula, and the 5 or 6 would be better than either the 4 or Junglas. But I got the Junglas mainly for a lifetime machete purchase, for homestead work and it is great for that.
Awesome vid knife bro. I bought the 5 last year&have nothin but all good to say about it. I have the Izula ll for a companion blade&with both there aint nothin I cant do with ease in a camp or survival situation.
Good video guys!
You just can't go wrong with ESEE and The Knife Connection!
FYI: The ESEE 5 was designed for Military air crews as a survival knife, hence the pommel "spike" for breaking glass.
THE ESEE 5 also has a .25" thickness for added durability, vs the .188" on the ESEE 6.
I do prefer the ESEE 6 over the 5 because it has a choil, but you just can't go wrong with either knife!
My only criticism with them is (generally speaking) sometimes the spines are not quite 90-degrees, but my Worksharp fixed that.
On a side note: I bought a Bark River "Survivor" knife, and was very disappointed that the spine was not sharp at all, again my Worksharp fixed that issue.
The 90 deg spine is at least a fairly straight forward mod. My 6 has a small spot on the spine in front of the jimping...not the whole spine for striking a ferro rod.
Excellent comparison! Just what I needed to see. The ESSE 5 appears to be noticeably more capable than the ESSE 6 in terms of splitting and delimbing, but both knives are great quality. I think I’ll try a 5. Cheers, gents! 🥃
Imo I’d go for the Laser Strike and 5. Those 2 are both amazing blades for both edc and a survival situation. Small enough to carry comfortably each day yet big enough so accomplish all the tasks you could possibly need to achieve and can put your life on the line for.
OK great review guys! My thing is I have a bk 2 and that sucker is tough now for camp chores and any kind of bushcraft as well as, skinning I would choose the 6 but if if the shtf I'm going with the bk 2 or the esee 5. Again, great vid love the content! Makes me want to get out there and beat the hell out if my knives!
I would say ESEE 5 and BK2 are very similar in terms of build stoud-ness.
I totally agree. 6 for hunting, 5 for shtf/camp-bush chores. So basically the 5 for a one stop shop but I coild see skinning going extremely easier with the 6
If the s h’s the f, I would want both. A 6 to actually be a knife that is good at knife chores, and a heavier knife for that “oh shit I broke my better knife, at least I know this one will never break.
Absolutely amazing comparison!!!!! Great work guys and I think the last segment is where I decided. The point about urban survival and opening doors, locks, brick, etc was what kicked me to the 5. I think I would always have something smaller for the finer work that the 6 would bring to the table. But ----- If I didn't, the 5 would still do the job! Again, fantastic test and both of you guys are the bomb!!
Very helpful. Good job and thank u. Looks like a 5 for me. If it wasn’t for your video it would be
A six.
I've had an esee 5 for years, but I'm finally picking up a 6 just due to the weight reduction. I still love my 5 may she rest in peace(lost during a move), but I really want the lighter weight of the 6. I'll probably get another 5 too, but it will end up as a loaner so someone else can carry that weight on a camping trip.
Exactly, I was deciding between the 5 and 6 because I wanted a robust knife with the best performance for camping/survival/bushcraft situations and I was leaning towards the 5 but damn the 5 weighs around 16 ounces(knife without the sheath...) and the 6 is around 12 ounces and as they mentioned in the video every extra weight counts on a long hike so I chose the 6.
Well said about the quality of sheath has to match knife I agree
Gotta get past the dress code, backwards hat and sunglasses but you have done a great review, well done.
I put knife and machete together as a tool kit. I go with esee4 tactical, for my knife work and a ontario sp53 for bushcraft.
Not sure if that's a dig or a compliment... But I guess thanks for watching?
@@outerlimitless just a grouchy old man. Being 70 I want to learn from mentors i respect. Clothes can make the man. I do respect your knowledge and vid production. No problems from this grouchy old man. Thank you for the video. I am far from well coiffd myself.
I just bought another esse 6. After a while though, I considered returning it for a 5. I think now seeing the end, I'll stay with the 6
Hard to decide, right!! They're both great. I FINALLY bought a 5. Haven't used it yet.
I have the Esee 6hm and Esee 5. Need a few more years of use to decide which one I like better.
Really enjoyed the video, all the testing, and footage. Great info. Really went above and beyond there fellas!
Only thing is, I wish you gave more definitive and harsh judgements, there was too much "both of these knives are the best things ever, let's leave it to the viewers to decide". As a viewer, I'm not holding the knife and doing those tests, you are, tell me what you think and don't be afraid to offend people!
I'm still on the fence as to which to buy. E5 would mean I don't need to take a hatchet with me anymore, but I think I prefer the E6. Lol
Get both
Hi, loved your Video. I am planning on buying an Esee knife but am confused between the 5 and 6.I am not much of an outdoor person, but I do go to my Farm occasionally, when I do so I usually carry my Nepali Kukri, which is abt 10 to 11 Inc. Cutting edge blade, total length of 1feet 5inc. But it's quite heavy to carry. I am planning to go for a hike and want something which i can do some light if needed heavy chopping as well, fine crafts for making fire, prep some food as well.
I personally think the 6 is a great place to start. If you're like the rest of us you'll eventually make further knife purchases so maybe the 5 later if you're still curious?
@@outerlimitless I decided on the 6 for a week-long bushcraft course I took last year... SOOOOO GLAD I DID! Over the course of the week, just about everyone asked to borrow it - NOTHING it could not do! Traps, shelters, fires - the 6 was just an absolute joy to use. Not once did I hesitate to use it - or offer it to someone else to use - no matter how tough the situation was. The 6 will be by my side for many years to come! THANKS for the review! :)
I've had them both but I love the -6 as the preferred knife as it's a better all around used IMHO. That said, I love clobbering wood with the -5. It's a monster.
I was surprised at the heaft of the 5. Definitely hits hard!
There’s no question that the 6 is the better knife. And I don’t personally believe in chopping with knives. They aren’t axes and they aren’t machetes. I don’t think it’s efficient, I don’t think it makes sense at all.
@@thopkins2271 I see your point and applaud you for having common sense which a lot do not have lol but , for me I’m out way in the middle of know here sometimes. I can’t carry an axe or machete that far. Although I don’t have an esee at the moment but I do have to chop with my knives sometimes. My lord I want an esee 6
@@TheBeaver50 I just think that in the absence of an axe, carve a couple of wedges and split wood that way if you’re doing pieces that are questionably big or hard. All that said, I love a monstrously thick knife too...they just aren’t good at anything other than splitting wood.
I went with a esse 3 and esse 5 the 5 for the big brute stuff and 3 as a finer cutting tool
Great video, I've been an esee fan boy for a while and personally I'd go with the 6, just for the lighter weight. And the haters gonna hate...
Good discussion of the key differences between the 5 and 6...made me a little nervous de-limbing barefoot, just saying.
where do you get the pouch? and the tin to fit? the molle backer and {pouch} {OLIVE DRAB} and i like the one you have ?
That molle backer and pouch combo is an ESEE product. I believe they have them on their website...but they are also available if you search around a bit.
I am a man who is on a fixed income due to a stroke and one of the things I do to try and get my health and movement back is bushcraft, I recently bought the ESEE 5 to help in the endeavor but the knife came without a sheath, when I asked about that I was told that model did not come with a sheath and I would have to order one myself and pay extra. It's my opinion that when you pay 150 dollars for a knife you would expect it to come with a sheath. You said in this video that it does come with one so now I'm thinking that the store where I bought the ESEE took the sheath and sold it to someone needing a sheath or kept it for themselves. Luckily I live close to a army surplus store and was able to find a sheath there and was able to carry the knife on my next camping trip. If you do supply your knives with a sheath then there are people ripping customers off and possibly giving ESEE a bad name
Alrighty quick disclaimer, I own a 5 and not a 6. My only other ESEE is an Izula. Therefore I’m probably bias to the 5. I’ve handled my buddies ESEE 4 and I can say I was impressed with have nimble, agile, and how great a slicer that knife is. And I know that fits the class of the 6 as well. Personally I’d pick the 5 if I could only have 1 knife and that was it for forever and eternity. That being said. I want a 6 now really really badly lol. Great video guys
I splurged this year and bought the Junglas then the 6, 4 and recently the 5 with contoured handle. I have been looking at these knives for many years and was always dissuaded because of the flat handles but once I got the large one I was hooked. I only bought them all at once because things seem to be going out of stock here in Canada and who knows what's going on in this world these days so better get it when you can or snooze you lose.
There is a one knife that has both. It’s the Ontario Rat 5. I have one on D2, it’s a thinner stock then the ease 5, full flat grind with a forward finger choil.
Normally, I’d go with the 6 because of the length, but I think I’m favoring the 5 because of the thickness and the grind. The 5 did these tests with less effort. Now, what do you think of the Work Tuff Elbrus? I saw a review of that knife the other day and was thoroughly impressed with it.
Work Tuff is impressive. I have many of their knives and i trust them. The Elbrus looks awesome... I've never tested it.
Great review. I really like the way you put it together--chopping thru to fire-making. After all, that is the process we go thru to make a fire. As for the knives, I have been looking for my first Esee knife. I have narrowed it down to the 5 or the 6. After watching your vid I am leaning more to the 6 than the 5 for what I need in my collection and use. I am looking for something between my BK9 and White River Caper. I tend to carry a chopper, neck knife, and general use knife when hiking and camping. Thanks for the great comparison. I look forward to future ones.
Thanks! Yes, I almost always test from chopping to batoning, to splitting, to feathering...and sparking the ferro rod! That's the real world field use practical approach and proves how easily or difficult work is with a particular knife. I love the 6...and ironically, Joe bought a few 6's since this video!
I got the BK9, the Essee 6 and a Bark River Bravo EDC. The 6 is perfect for me taking on every canoe and hiking trip, I think it’s the best medium size survival knife. The BK9 is awesome but I use it for clearing bow hunting lanes and backyard destroying of wood for campfires! Just my input. Hope that helps!
Great work guys...deff..getting the 6
Most of my fixed blades are Esee knives. Izula2, 3 w/micarda, 4w/ 3d, 6w3d, and a n expat darian machete. Zero complaints on any, no need to shop around, although a couple of Tops knives just for variety…no harm there!
Can NEVER have too many! ESEE or otherwise! Thanks for watching!
Just signed up at kc and going to get a 5 and the moly back system I believe. Thanks for the nice review. 👍
Thanks for watching! Enjoy the new setup!
Awesome comparison guys.. After 1 hour of watching the full video, i still couldnt decide. . .hahahaha😂
Do you plan on actually using it as a knife? Woodcraft/bushcraft, skinning game, cleaning fish, carving trap triggers, or doing anything that a knife is meant to do?
If so, there is no question at all that the 6 is 100 times better than the 5. It’s more than durable enough for anything reasonably expected of even a heavy duty survival knife...and SOOOO much better in every other respect.
The 5 will help you cut a car in half. But most survival situations don’t tend to call for cutting a car in half. And most wilderness survival/bushcraft skills definitely don’t.
For the same weight as a 5 and sheath you could damn near carry an esee 6 AND a full size leatherman. I can tell you which combo would lead to more survivors or more competent woodsmen/outdoorsmen.
@@thopkins2271 hahahaha.. thank you sir. Nope, definitely not planning to cut a car in half😂.. ok please share your combo that you mentioned. Would love to know it.. cheers
@@kamalfaridz Oh just that. A 6 and a leatherman wave/charge or if you’re insensitive to weight a super tool 300/surge is what I was talking about in this particular instance.
Knives SUCK at chopping. Saws make short work of the same tasks. A quality multi tool can cut up forearm sized wood in no time flat. Plus you get a knife that’s sized much better for cleaning game/detailed carving, pliers for twisting snare wire/found fence wire/can opener for making makeshift hobo stoves etc...san awl for repairing fabrics and leather/drilling small holes and so forth. I don’t love serrated blades but they have their place in the world and it’s basically a free one. A file for roughly sharpening your main knife/axe is hard to say no to as well.
But when you’re picking a knife or a two knife combo think about the strengths and weaknesses of each. And while there are exceptions, rare indeed is the expert that doesn’t gravitate towards well constructed smaller knives.
As an example If you’re going to the Everglades or jungle and really want a large chopper because that is really the one environment they make sense in, and we’re only going to take one, then something like the 6 is the obvious choice because it’s so versatile. But it’s not an ideal chopper so you’d probably want a junglas or something even bigger. But what can’t that knife do? It’s going to really suck at carving and processing fish and game. So maybe something like an esee 4/jg5 makes a lot of sense as a smaller handier more versatile pairing.
It just varies. And there are good arguments for different systems. The 6 is hard to beat if you believe in the one tool option type knife and want an esee. The 4 is handier and does some things better but can’t process wood that’s quite as big. It’s all a balance. I think the best rule of thumb is 4-6 inch blade and thicker than 1/8” and less than 1/4”. But geometry matters too when discussing thickness...almost more than overall thickness as it pertains to durability.
The grind you select is important too. Full flat grinds and saber grinds are probably the best compromise to anything grinds with saber being stronger but not as efficient, and scandi grinds cutting wood much more efficiently and being very strong in terms of the overall knife not breaking, but not at the actual cutting edge which is more prone to rolling or chipping.
So on some level maybe the best answer is...get an esee 4 or esee 6, and learn what it can and can’t do and learn the operating envelope of the knife. You can do anything you need to with either. Then you’ll buy your next knife which in all likelihood will be bigger than the 4 and smaller than the 6, and do it all over again. And then eventually you’ll realize that it doesn’t matter all that much...and that a good multi tool compliments all of them exceedingly well and that as long as it’s sharp and handy, that none of esee’s options make the game unplayable.
Plenty of experts could survive much easier with a scalpel blade and no handle than I could with the whole lineup at my fingertips. Which is why I always gravitate towards the knives that work as knives better. The more you use it because it works well, the more your skills will grow and the better off you’ll be when you forget it at home and are making do with a sharp rock.
Edit: All that said, my esee 6 now lives in a bugout bag. When I go to the woods I take a pr4, esee 4hm, or LT Wright Genesis.
If I knew I was going to be stuck in the woods and have to live forever with only one knife and no other tools...I would take a Battle Horse Knives Highlander in a scandi grind. The esee 6 being a good choice as well but a little thinner.
Note I wouldn’t strap that on unless I thought there was a really high likelihood of getting stuck or stranded/being placed into a long term survival situation. They’re great...it’s just that in gaining an ability to truly do everything, you lose the ability to do many things particularly well.
@@thopkins2271 yup i agree.. Oh btw i do EDC my LM Wave + wherever i go. Its a perfect daily tool and does a decent job in everything i do with it. For me, a combo would be a smaller knife and it can then be my as kitchen knife. Thinking of maybe a Morakniv companion for it. I dont think i will need two workhorse eventho they say two is one and one is none. But maybe i will get the 4 aswell for backup or just for fun.. hahaha✌🏻Oh btw, love your detailed explanation. Thank you so much for the info🙏🏻
The answer is simple. Both!
I like my ESEE-4. It came with orange G-10 scales, that were flat. I would like to get a orange/black 3D contoured handle, but my retailer didn't have them. I'm currently waiting for a Survive! Knives GSO-5.1 with CPM MagnaCut and 3 Color Camo G10. I'm going to pimp that knife out as far as I can. I really like a 5" blade with a nice choil and nice steel. It's like a 5 with a 6 choil.
Excellent video guys very informative. I don’t have either but plan to ge ton eventually. I like the 6 because to me it’s a better slicer and could serve as a kin of machete role if need be. I do know that the 5 will chop better but I don’t want to or plan to chop with a blade, although you still can with the 6 albeit not as good. But I feel the 6 will serve better in more knife roles such as splitting, slicing, feathering, and detail work. Just my dads work cents. I’m curious what’s your opinion on the Becker Eskobar. Thanks.
The Escobar is cool...collaboration with ESEE... like most knives, what is your intended purpose? Small companion/ EDC?
For a field knife, the 6, easy.
I don’t know what or how Rowen does it, but I’ve absolutely smashed the 6 through exceptionally knotty oak where I burned through multiple batons.
The 6 just shrugged it off.
It is just a more useable design, in grind and thickness. The 5 is just too thick. It’s a demolition knife (see the pommel). The 5 is a sharpened pry bar... which has its uses, just not a shiner in the field.
My 6 has taken a serious pounding and has no issues at all. It is incredible how effective the Rowen heat treat is on the 1095.
So glad I watched this..I only had the esse 6 ,ontario rat 7 ,bk 7 and bk2 in my top buys ..now its the esse 5 vrs the rest
The 5 is a wonderful addition to the collection! Thanks for watching! Keep an eye out Sunday...new ESEE vid on the schedule!
I just purchased an 6, but second guessing myself after watching this. So it just sounds like i will need to order both and figure out who’s my favorite.
Interesting; I have never used an Esse, and did not know that the 5 had a thicker blade. I was very surprised at the results.
My current "survival knife is a Schrade 52 and i really like bbn it, it is a 1/4 inch and does all these chores well.
Yes, the 5 is closer in thickness to your 52. I would love to have a 3/16" ESEE 5 just for fun!
@@outerlimitless I would like to have any Esse period.
Where do you get the sheath back at 11:45?
I have an Esee -4 and 5. The 4 is my edc and the 5 is in my BOB.
5 makes a sweet bug out blade...good idea.
You guys how bout a esee cm6 vs Spartan blades ronin shinto???? 😮 think you guys will throw all them esee knives away after you try the Spartan blades ronin
That will be awesome showdown
Great Video. What color are Joe's G10 scales on his 5? Can't seem to match them on the site. Thanks guys
I'm not certain...I will try to find out from Joe...I'll get back to you if I can get the details. Thanks for watching!
outer limitless No worries, thanks!
Well I was having soooooo much trouble deciding between a 5 or a 6... after this video I'm going with the 5. Thank you guys so much for the amazing video! God bless you both
Thanks...glad we could help!
I'll be watching a lot more! You guys are great
Buy both! Get the 5 first though. :P
I have the 6 but wish I’d of went with the 5 instead
I ended up with the Laserstrike. I am happy with it
I love my ESEE 6, best choice in knifes I made so far, and didnt find anything better until now
I would buy one of each one. Because I couldn't tell the difference with your test on the both them sir. Take care and be safe sir. See you on the next video.
I have a CS Drop Forged Survivalist for about €90,-- Now, I really like the looks of Esee6 a lot, but they cost more than 2 times the price, about €210,-- over here.
Sincere question :
Is the Esee6 really 2 times 'better'? Stronger? Tougher? Stays sharp longer?
Thanks in advance to all responders!
Greets from the Netherlands 🇳🇱, TW.
I bought a 5 and wanted a longer blade and bought a 6. THEN the other day bought DARIEN Machete I love all
Which one would you pair with an Esee 4 ?
Great video. I really enjoyed it. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!! If you like that kind of video, check out my latest release with Joe covering Tops knives. Can't go wrong with an ESEE though!
Thanks for watching!! If you like that kind of video, check out my latest release with Joe covering Tops knives. Can't go wrong with an ESEE though!
@@outerlimitless I'll go watch it now. Thanks!
Hi. Great video.
Just ordered the 6. I have the 5. Also the Rat3 and Rtac. 4” blade. I think the wife believes I need someone to help me!🤩
I'll help you,,, get some more knives hahaaa lets goooooo
Rockin the fjallraven pants , I only noticed because I just bought a pair
I'll take the 5 over the 6.
It's a tough one for sure!! Even Joe who is a long-time ESEE 5 believer has now been extensively testing the 6. I'll be curious to hear his thoughts after extensive testing. I personally need more field time with the 5. I owe it to that knife. I'm on the search to buy one...haven't pulled the trigger yet!
Hey guys, maybe tell us any mods you did to these blades, would love to know how you both did the patina on each. Good vid!
I would also like to know how you patina ed these knives
I have 4 Esee blades. I just stripped the finish off them, sanded them with 800 grit paper, and polished with Flitz. I love the character of the blades like that, they look great.
Got the 6 from the knife connection with green micaeda scales/kydex/fireloop/pouch. Love the knife. Let’s me being a small first aid kit and water purifiers with me. When I’m just going on a small hike and wan to go lighter or for carving I would recommend esse 4 hm. Would highly recommend you haven’t used them.
I got the ESEE mil 3 and a bit disappointed in it. Just got a real sharpening stone kit and gonna try and make it a better knife. Out of the box though the ESEE mil 3 was pretty sub par. Rusted in 2 camping trips, and seems to get dull just cutting food. Maybe this is just the type of knife that you have to break in. The ESEE mil 3 is a bit to small to make a good camping knife for wood work and what not. I’m not giving up on it though! But just got a bench made bushcrafter 162 and man what a knife. I would love to make the ESEE mil 3 my EDC though as its a nice size to store discreetly.
Do you epoxy on the Knife Connection scales, or just bolt them tight?
I don't Epoxy anything personally
Y’all mention the 5 in a full flat, what are your thoughts on the rat 5?
Where does the laser strike fit in between the 2?
Laserstrike IMO is the best Esee model they make.
I'm definitely interested in the Laser Strike...have never tried it, but it has desirable features for sure.
+1 for LS. Just wish they made it with a stonewash and 90 degree. Just picked up a JG-5. Great knife. Very well balanced.
Anybody else think that Esee needs to combine the blade style/geometry of the 5 with the length and finger choil of the 6? Also the pommel of the 6 obviously. Maybe they could thin the blade by a millimeter or two for weight and make a version with lighter more premium steel, but if that knife existed, I don’t think I’d need any others, and I have it all designed in my head, it’s beautiful and I hope it gets made in the near-future.
Great review/comparison by the way fellas, this was very helpful, thank you 🫡
What you're describing is why I designed the TFK T17.6. It was basically my answer to wanting the ESEE 6 with a saber grind.
Esee and Bark River are my 2 favorites.
I never leave home without my ESEE 4 S35VN. Its my edc i use it everyday of my life. This is a good vid im back n forth between which to buy the 5 Or 6. Im such a ESEE fan I will probably end up with both. Ha.
Tried finding Joe's youtube channel does it not exist?
No he's only Instagram
May I ask what scales are on the 5 in the testing?, the dark brown w orange liner?
Guys, you did a great job with the ESEE series.
The 6 is my oldest ESEE, along with an Izula II, but I just purchased a 5 and some other ESEE knives and the 5 is freaking awesome.
I don't really abide by the one tool/knife theory but I understand the question of if I could only have one... If I choose the 6 I'd have the caveat of needing a pry bar of some kind. If I choose the 5 then I'd want a slicer for food prep. I can't imagine processing fish and small game with the 5 for the rest of my life. Could I do it though? Yeah, it'd be ugly but doable.
So I guess that for me the 5 wins in total capability, despite the extra weight of the thicker steel.
Is it just me or does the 6 always get the wood with the most knots lol. Great review though. Best k ife review/comparison I have ever seen. Absolutely loved this video
Thank you! We definitely enjoyed working on it! Two fantastic blades! Thanks for watching!
what is that green sheath/pack that is holding the esse 6 that you used in testing?
If your talking about the pouch on the sheath I just ordered one from eBay today not sure of the real name but it says esee 6 accessory pouch. Ran me about 20$
The 5 wins. I love it.
You def helped me choose. Much as I like the better cqb capabilities the seeming indestructibility and that look is just too good. 5 it is.
I'll take the 5. I would like to grind the point off the butt. Great knife. I like them both.
Porque es español no lo haces tambien panama t quiere ver
The 6 at 19:00 looks bomb. 💪💪
Yup really great comparison!!!