Aesthetically, I like the Baja better. I disagree. Having 2 knives of the same length just because one is nominally better at slicing and food prep is a huge waste of weight. Care/Maintenance: ESEE carbon steel knives are made from 1095 steel. The Esee 4 also has many aftermarket sheaths available from the standard leather to more modern polymers. The HOG seems to have everything I'm looking for, but I've heard the nylon sheath is difficult to work with. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. It's just that people don't intentionally try and break em like esees. ESEE knives are made with absolute attention to detail using the finest raw materials and care during the manufacturing process. The ESEE 4 is shorter than the ESEE 6 but that is ok because a shorter blade is ideal for many survival tasks. The blade length is a rangy 4.75-inches, 4.5 of which are sharpened. LinkedIn. 4. With its 3/16″ thickness, it’s the perfect blend between toughness and cutting efficiency all in a small package. Do not publicly post your email address or name. For slicing, light cutting, and food prep I use the Mora. The acid wash is sexy as hell, and I've heard they have a better heat treat. If you are acquainted with the ESEE-3, then you already know the ESEE-4 handle, because it is the exact same handle minus the additional 0.063” difference in metal thickness of the ESEE-4 over the ESEE-3. Handles are in good shape, comes with original kydex sheath. for day hikes, short time (2-3 days) hikes, or short distance hikes, it really doesn't matter. Even if you don't own the knife feel free to share your opinions. Do I really need that much of a more heavy duty blade? Esee-4’s blade is solid and thick, and a square spine and a ridged thumb rest portion to extend your control over the knife for fine cuts. Its flat grind features ESEE’s rugged “Black Textured Powder Coat” over a 1.38-inch width, broken only by the maker’s marks. Firearm Discussion and Resources from AR-15, AK-47, Handguns and more! The standard Esee 4 is the choice for many other Esee owners. As a long distance backpacker, I would never take 2 knives that are that similar. The ESEE-4 is the product range equivalent to the Ontario RAT-36 This knife is the little brother of the ESEE-6 and is the closest of the three to being a ... reddit. The 4's overall length is bumped up to 9 inches with a 4.5 inch blade length. As a newbie, it's really appealing to me. Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin, two field-proven experts, founded ESEE Knives with a mission to cut the hype out of the survival gear industry. The chances of getting in a knife fight are near zero, but the chances of needing a field knife are much higher. There’s a gentle palm swell that starts at 0.58” at its skinniest and thickens about 0.87” at its thickest. Use it to skin small game, for example, make wood curls for fire, cut cloth/canvas, cut up food and even repair your gear, cut sewing or suture thread and the list goes on. The dimensions of the knife are as follows: Overall Length – 9”, Blade Length – 4.5”, Cutting Edge – 4.1”, Blade Width – 1.25”, and Max Spine Thickness – .188”. I know the jimping can be a pain though. I wonder if that's something to worry about as far as the 1095 steel is concerned. As a long distance backpacker, I would never take 2 knives that are that similar. And it has a better sheath than the mora. I bought the FC4 for Backpacking prior to the release of the 3.5 and absolutely love it as a camp/backpacking companion. I think a lot of people think an idea survival knife should be huge. - plain blade ESEE-4 $93 - partially serrated - ESEE-4 $97 - ESEE CM-6 $126 Unlike the Ka-Bar, the ESEE 4 was not designed as a fighting knife but as a survival, utility, and field knife. If you are interested in my gear, klick the link in Bio! ESEE heat treat and warranty are unmatched. The ESEE 4 is my ideal survival knife based on all qualities mentioned within this thread. Read a review on the ESEE-4. ESEE has excellent customer service, no doubt. Any help and input would be much appreciated. I think the 4 is the ideal size for designation and application as a survival knife. Unless you absolutely need "field sharpening" capabilities, also take a look at Survive GSO 4.1/5 series, a few from Swamprat (RatManDu, Rodent Solution), and Becker BK* series. I think the warranty is pretty hard to beat though. Cookies help us deliver our Services. They’re textured with ridges that add slip resistance while still being easy on your hands. I feel like I would mess up the blade really quickly. At 3.5 inch blade length there is not enough edge for me to do the effective batoning that I have needed to do on previous backpacking trips. This warranty follows the knife throughout its life, anywhere in the world. The ESEE 4 is a full tang, 1095 steel blade that is 3/16“ thick with a full flat grind and is had for right around 100 bucks. Good luck breaking either of those knives I wouldn't worry about the warranty I have both and are fantastic. In a brand known for its rugged offerings, the Laser Strike stands out as a damage-duty champ. It has to be able to do everything from field dressing deer, to carving tent pegs. The acid wash is sexy as hell, and I've heard they have a better heat treat. Get the one you like best, but if you do go for the ESEE, you will not be disappointed. Do you make a fire every night when you're backpacking? I am really interested in ESEE's new 4HM. In the altoids tin: Length of jute twine, fatwood slivers, tinderquik, firesteel striker, diamond sharpening stone, Bic lighter, fresnel lens. Just weight your priorities and I think you'll find that a really heavy knife is not worth taking if you have to carry it, those things can weigh more than all your sleeping gear combined. I think the esee looks pretty good, but do you think the differential heat treat will make a noticeable difference? Second is an ESEE 4 in 1095, great user knife just a little too big for my tastes. The ESEE-4 is a drop point, flat ground knife made from 1095 high carbon steel (55-57rc). Does the warranty make up the difference? That BK-2 is compared to the ESEE-5 a lot. They’re absolutely comfortable in hand. Got it off here, batoned it a bit and now its back on the market, damage is only cosmetic to the coating, edge has been sharpened but again not much. Is the heat treat better? Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. I own both and I take both camping and backpacking. Also a great all around woods knife choice, but more expensive. The ESEE just seems like a great blade. Carrying a smaller knife and a hatchet has always worked better for me than carrying a bigger knife. The mora is nowhere near as weak as many like to claim it is, but if you will do impact tasks like baton chopping and batonning, the ESEE will be a tougher knife. I keep the mora mounted on the outside of my pack while the Esee I have vertically mounted on my backpack strap for immediate access. an esee 4 is terrible for chopping, anyway. Please PM mods with any question of price or authenticity. Pinterest. Benchmade 162 or ESEE 4 for general bushcraft? Wow those are some nice looking knives. I'm planning to do an 2016 ESEE Pass-around Challenge with the RB3, JG3, 3HM and 4HM (and maybe an old school LS for fun). Yeah, I think I've done too good a job of narrowing it down haha. I know the jimping can be a pain though. Buy, Sell, and Trade your Firearms and Gear. All raffles above $200 require mod approval. The only thing they don't cover is rust. But they both feel quite robust. I might suggest doing a few trips with just the Mora and see if you need the heavier duty ESEE 4. Using a part of the Toaks Titanium Stove as pot stand for the Toaks Siphon. The ESEE 3D 4PB-008 features a bright vibrant blue and black G-10 handle. Thanks for turning me on to them. The finished product is a 4″ blade with a 4.75″ handle, 1/8″ thick 1095 High Carbon steel blade, 90 degree spine for striking a Ferro rod and a simple leather pouch sheath made of thick leather. I take the lightest possible outfit capable of performing the most tasks, which usually means a multi tool and a lightweight fixed blade like a 4 or a mora. After you have paid, please PM OP with the name and email address associated with your PP. The kn… The ESEE-4 is the longer, thicker "wilderness" model of the popular ESEE-3 tactical knife. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. The 1095 steel blade is 3/16" thick with a full flat grind. Another good choice, but again heavier, and thicker than the 4. Aesthetically, I like the Baja better. I'm looking to purchase a new fixed blade knife for general bushcraft tasks, and to take on camping/hunting/fishing trips in northern Minnesota. The Good, the bad, and the Ugly. I personally pick esee over TOPS for warranty and aesthetics, I'd honestly take it for the warranty. I've basically narrowed it down between the ESEE 4, and the TOPS Baja 4.5/HOG 4.5. The ESEE-4 is one of the most popular ESEE knives ever made. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. I'd mostly be using it for backpacking, but I'd like to be able to really rely on it. I wasn't too sure about the TOPs warranty, but I probably won't be doing anything too hard with it. The ESEE brand represents legitimate, tried and true knives and tools that are designed to seriously perform under demanding circumstances. My thing is that I'm still not quite a proficient sharpener. I love camping and backpacking, and I recently bought a cheaper mora knife for those purposes. The sheath can be worn on the belt but has no drop loop option. The ESEE just seems like a great blade. I have three of the five set aside and ready to go, just waiting to find the 3HM and 4HM. Asking 60 shipped The balance is all wrong. I'm trying to figure out whether to buy it or not and would love to hear some thoughts on the blade. If you can only choose one, then the ESEE-4 is the do-all workhorse of the ESEE line. 5. It's got a pommel, which I like, and an incredible warranty. The width of the Esee make it a poor slicer but for light chopping it is immensely better. I like the look and feel of tops knives more overall. That makes sense. Just a question, why would I need an Esee 4 instead of a Mora when I am backpacking? Their customer service is also spot on, send them an email and you get a response from one of the owners. I've been looking to get my first serious companion knife. Raffles $200 or less do not require mod approval. It has a solid belly for deep slices and a rock solid point for deep stabs. They are both great and I recommend both. The handle has removable Micarta scales and a rounded pommel with a hole for lanyard attachment. We stand behind our knives with a 100% unconditional lifetime guarantee. What do you guys think? If you are looking for the knife for Backpacking could I suggest something lighter like a White River Knives FC 3.5 at only 3.2 oz. if its dry and warm, or you have a good alcohol or gas stove, then you don't need a fire at all. Depends on how much batonning you plan on doing with it. The ESEE 4 is a knife that has benefitted from decades of improving design and modern mission orientation. More to think about. Forgot to mention, while I do carry the 5, I also have a little Fallkniven F1 in my flightbag which is sized close to the ESEE-4, just a tad smaller. 6 years ago Contents include: ESEE 4 knife, kydex sheath, Tek-lok locking device, Exotec firesteel. Edit: Decided to add the HOG into the mix. I thought that's what I was going to be doing on a 2 week trip, I never made a fire once and ended up mailing the knife home because I had a tiny one for cutting rope and stuff. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, Press J to jump to the feed. Torn between ESEE 4 and ESEE 6 for camping/hiking I need a full flat ground fixed blade to replace my Gerber (cringe, I know) fixed blade which isn't exactly cutting it for my needs. I typically bring the 4 with me camping/backpacking but I also usually carry a folder for slicing and lighter tasks. They get a little expensive, but the small ones look nice. Thank you. The sheath is simple and strong. unlimited, lifetime, no questions asked, and mods are ok. It's got a pommel, which I like, and an incredible warranty. If you manage to break a TOPs they'll do right by you. ESEE knives have a reputation for their handle ergonomics and the ESEE-4 is no exception. The ESEE-4 is a fixed blade outdoor, survival, bushcraft and tactical blade made of 1095 High Carbon Steel which holds an edge through the toughest of chores. I've basically narrowed it down between the ESEE 4, and the TOPS Baja 4.5/HOG 4.5. I take the lightest possible outfit capable of performing the most tasks, which usually means a multi tool and a lightweight fixed blade like a 4 or a mora. Both great knives get what knife you like more and use the shit out of it they'll both outlive you if you take care of them. Seems like it solved the problems the 4 had when it comes to wilderness use. About the Esee 4HM. The balance is all wrong. The ESEE-4 line of fixed blades boast the same flat ground powder coat 1095 carbon steel blades as the 3, but in a bit larger package. But if you're on a trail with elevation gain for the next 5 days, you're going to curse yourself for not sucking it up and using your knife for food prep AND firewood prep.