ESEE 5 Knife Review

Randall’s Adventure Training was established in 1997. This was an outdoor survival training agency that helped provide global training, gear, and logistical solutions to military and law enforcement agencies and civilians. However, they quickly noticed a lack of survival knives that were equipped to stand up to the challenges that they were encountering. So Randall’s Adventure Training decided to design and produce their own line of knives—ESEE. Many survival knives never actually get tested in the field by the company who is producing them. Instead, they choose qualities that are often good in the field. This is where ESEE sets themselves apart from these other companies. Each of their prototypes have been personally field tested before ESEE puts their finishing touches and mass produce their knives. After it has been field tested, they listen to the feedback and switch up the aspects of the knife that didn’t quite live up to what they had expected. Once they produce the final knife, they have it field tested again. ESEE sends the knife stateside and also to jungle survival outings in the Peruvian Amazon. The people who use the knife during this final phase send in their feedback and ESEE will make any final adjustments that are necessary. This means that when you buy an ESEE knife, you know that it has been specifically designed for real life survival circumstances. Your knife is going to be trust worthy and last you through the toughest experiences. This knife will be your best friend if you ever end up in a survival situation.

 

The Blade:

The blade on this knife is carved out of 1095 Carbon Steel. This steel is one of the most common high carbon steels that is used for knife blades. 1095 has better wear resistance than most other high carbons steels, however, it is less tough. Even though it is less tough than many other high carbon steels, it is still considered to be a very tough steel. One of the biggest advantages to 1095 steel is that it holds an edge fantastically and is easy to sharpen. Not only that, but it can get a crazy sharp edge. Another benefit to having your blade made out of 1095 high carbon steel is that it is available at a generally low cost. Some other drawbacks to this type of steel is that it has been known to easily chip or have microscopic dings in the edge, especially when it is at its hardest level or with a thin blade. One of the biggest drawbacks to 1095 high carbon steel is that it stains and rusts easily. If you want this blade to not rust, you are going to have to coat it with pretty much every use. To help prevent the rusting and staining, ESEE has finished it with a textured powder coat. This coating goes through four stages to fully complete the process, these four stages are: melt, flow, gel, and cure. The final stage is curing, or introducing extreme heat to the powder coating on the blade. This gives the knife a “final solid, tough, abrasion-resistant coating”. The knife blade comes in a variety of different colors: Olive Drab, black, and a custom venom green.

The ESEE 5 has a sabre grind. This grind has also been called the Scandinavian grind. With a sabre grind, the edge is left thick and thickens quickly beyond the edge. This grind is exceptional if you need to chop things or have other heavy duty tasks to complete with it. This grind also helps to keep the edge for longer periods of time. This grind gives you strength and is great for survival or tactical knives.

 

 

The Handle:

The handle is made out of linen Micarta. Micarta is made by soaking thin layers of linen in a phenolic resin. This produces a product that is lightweight and strong and still looks a little bit classier than some of the other plastic-y looking knife handles. One of the disadvantages to having a Micarta handle is that Micarta actually has no surface texture. Because of the resin, it is a smooth material. Of course, this would not work for any knife handle, so the manufacturers use hand labor to carve texture into the knife. Because it requires hand labor, the cost of Micarta is on the more expensive side of the spectrum. The ESEE 5 has had enough texture carved into it that you will also have a secure grip on it, even when it is wet. Many people have expressed that when you are holding this knife, whether you are bare handed or gloved, you will have a very solid grip on it. One of the other drawbacks to Micarta is that it is brittle, so if you knock it on a sharp or hard material, it might chip. Some of the major benefits to Micarta is that it is a very hard material that is not easily scratched. This material holds up to most things with ease.

 

The Mechanism:

The ESEE 5 is a fixed blade. There are many advantages to having your knife, especially your survival knife, be a fixed blade. First of all, fixed blades are stronger than a folding knife. Folding knives have many moving mechanisms and parts which also mean that they have weaker spots. A fixed blade can easily pry, twist, hammer, pierce, and pull while a folding knife might be able to struggle through those tasks, they would most likely break before you could complete it. A second big advantage to having a fixed blade is that they are easier to maintain. Like I mentioned, folding knives have many moving parts and many small parts inside. So after completing a messy task, you are going to have to take your knife apart to be able to clean it thoroughly. With a fixed blade, you can easily wipe the blade and handle down without worrying about all of the insides—because there are no insides to access. A third major advantage to having your knife be a fixed blade is that you can have a larger knife. Often times, your fixed blade is for survival or heavy duty tasks. These are two scenarios that you are going to desire a larger blade, which is easier to find on a fixed blade. However, the longer the blade is, the longer the handle needs to be. So if you increase the blade size, you have to also increase the handle size to maintain a good balance. A fourth advantage to having a fixed blade is that they are easier to get into action when needed. All you have to typically do is pull it out of its sheath. With a folding knife, you have to pull the knife out of whatever you are storing it in and then also open it. While it is just a couple of seconds, in a tactical situation, it’s the seconds that make a difference. There are a few disadvantages to having a fixed blade. One is that they are harder to carry with you, because they are bigger. Another drawback is that they are harder to conceal. This is partly due to the size, but also because the blade can’t be folded into the handle, it has to be sheathed.

 

The Extras:

This knife has a few extra features that sets it apart from the other survival knives available. The first extra is that on the butt of the handle, there is a pommel designed to be a glass breaker. This is a pommel designed out of hard metal that has been shaped into a point. You slam the pommel against the glass and it breaks it.

The second feature is that it has a bow drill divot in the handle. This divot is used to start a fire. A common way to start a fire is to use friction to create heat, which eventually turns to fire. Commonly, people actually use their hands to rub the two pieces of wood together and this can beat up your hands a little bit. This bow drill divot is where you put one of the pieces of wood, and instead of rubbing your hands down the length of that wood, you grip the knife and twist it. In a survival situation, this can help create a fire much quicker and easier.

 

The Sheath:

The sheath that is included with this knife is a kydex sheath. Kydex is a thermoplastic material that has extreme durability. This material can actually be submerged in salt water and maintain its quality. A kydex sheath can also withstand many other extreme environments without failing or falling apart. However, there are some drawbacks. A minor drawback is that it has no character to it, it’s basically a lump of plain plastic. Secondly, kydex is a loud material when you are trying to remove your knife or putting your knife back. Lastly, if you are repeatedly taking your knife in and out of the sheath, your knife edge will be dulled.

 

The Specs:

The blade on the ESEE 5 is 5.25 inches long, with a thickness of 0.25 inches. The width of the blade is 1.56 inches. The overall length of the knife is 11 inches long. The weight of the knife, not including the sheath, is 16 ounces.

 

The Pros of the ESEE 5:

• The steel choice on the blade is a tough steel.
• The steel is easy to sharpen and can get crazy sharp; plus, the edge lasts for long periods of time.
• The steel choice is relatively inexpensive.
• To help prevent rusting, ESEE has added a powder coating to the steel which helps add hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance.
• All ESEE knives are field tested multiple times in multiple occasions, so you can be sure that this knife will be able to accomplish what you want it to.
• The blade comes in a few different color choices.
• The Saber grind of this knife helps add strength and gives it great ability to chop.
• The linen Micarta is tough and durable.
• The handle provides you with excellent grip, no matter the weather or conditions that you are in.
• Micarta is hard to scratch.
• The fixed blade “mechanism” adds strength, durability, and makes this knife more versatile.
• Because the ESEE 5 is a fixed blade, it is very easily maintained—a quick wipe down will suffice.
• At the butt of the handle, there is a glass breaking pommel included.
• On the handle, there is a bow drill divot carved in, which helps assist starting fires.
• This is a large, heavy knife, which will give you the strength to survive almost any situation.
• The kydex sheath is durable and can stand up to a variety of different environments.

 

The Cons of the ESSE 5:

• The steel is very prone to staining and rusting.
• Because the steel is prone to staining and rusting, there is lots of maintenance required—you will need to oil the blade with every use.
• The steel is easily chipped or getting microscopic dings in the edges.
• Because Micarta requires lots of hand labor to give you adequate texture, the knife cost is going to be costlier.
• Fixed blades are harder to carry and conceal.
• The kydex sheath lacks personality.
• The kydex sheath will dull your blade if you pull your knife out and put it back in often.
• The kydex sheath is not quiet; if you are trying to conceal yourself, the classic “snap” of the kydex will give you away.

 

Conclusion:

ESEE is a great knife company because they do field test each and every one of their knife prototypes to guarantee they are providing you with the best possible survival knife. The ESEE 5 is an exceptional survival knife with super tough steel and a sabre grind to provide you with extra strength. The Micarta handle is easily maintained, lightweight, and durable. The ESEE 5 will give you a solid feel with strength behind it to help you accomplish any task.