I purchased this knife last April and I am just getting to really telling about how great this blade is. Since day 1 I have really done a number on this blade with numerous trips into the woods. For the last year, the ESEE 5 has been my primary knife because of just how versatile that it is. There isn’t a whole lot that it can’t do. I will get straight to the point, I am a big ESEE fan, so I am going to try to be unbiased as possible, but I am not so in love with the brand that I don’t appreciate other knife makers or blades.
Who uses it?
Normally, I would give a list of details and stats about this knife, but this knife is pretty well known, so I will skip over the boring stats. Here is the thing about an ESEE knife, they are a no-nonsense type of blade that is designed for hard use and abuse in a whole lot of different environments as possible from Amazon jungles to the deserts of Afghanistan. Their products are actually marketed towards military and law enforcement and most of their blades are made with specific military functions in mind. Because of these reasons, it’s really popular with survivalists.
The test
The look and mods
ESEE blades look more like “tacti-cool” blades than practical knives but this couldn’t be further from the truth. They do look “cool” but they’re also highly functional. They have a modern look and feel to them, with the Micarta scales and the blade is powder coated black. These knives make a great “blank”, it’s practically like a “blank” canvas, for those of us who appreciate modding and decorating our blades and making them more one of a kind to us. Some of the best looking non custom made blades I’ve seen are modded ESEEs. There are a huge number of pictures out there of modded ESEE blades of different sorts, from the Candiru to the Junglas. Indeed, even with the current arrival of the JG3 close to a month or so back there have just been a few mods, particularly of the handle scales.
The ESEE 5 was my first ESEE blade. After much angst of which ESEE to choose (they’re not cheap!), I chose the 5, and after a lot of usage, I’m sure I made the right decision. If I had a time machine, I would still purchase this blade again. All things considered, is this blade for everyone? My answer is no. I don’t have massive paw hands, however they’re not precisely little either – and I discover this blade extremely agreeable to hold and utilize.
ESEE 5 benefits
So what are the benefits of the ESEE 5 in respect to similar, alternate blades?
To begin with is its size, by which I mean its measurements, and the general ergonomics. By and by, I think the length/width/thickness proportion is flawlessly on point. At precisely five inches in edge length, this blade is sufficiently short for great control and having your elbows locked in yet it’s long enough and at 1/4 inch thick it’s sturdy enough to split even the hardest of logs for your fire. It fits great in my hand but I can’t say if it will be comfortable if you have massive hands or small hands.
The grind
The next thing to look at is the grind of the knife. The grind is a saber grind. Because the blade is so thick at a 1/4 inch and the blade is wide, it allows for long bevels which means it’s easier to with without losing any strength in the blade. I know many of you don’t like batoning, but this knife batons easily.
The cost
You get what you pay for and the cost of buying this blade is fair. I don’t consider it to be overpriced at all. The price incorporates the Kydex sheath with movable pressure screw, belt clasp, and mounting equipment – also the unconditional lifetime warranty. I consider it to be great value for money because this knife will outlast you! You can hand it down to your children if you wanted to and the knife would still be good.
Overall rating
There’s no such thing as 10/10 perfect but this blade comes close. The blade is great, the ergonomics of the handle are great but I’m just not a fan of micarta.
