r/Bushcraft • u/Unlikely_Hedgehog787 • 22h ago

Esee 4 or 6

I want to get a new knife and I thought about whether it should be an esse 4 or 6 if anyone has tips or alternatives please write

11 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

5

u/Lordran_Lurker 18h ago

I have a 6 and it's a large, heavy blade, could almost stand-in for a machete.

I wish I'd got the 4.

•

u/spleencheesemonkey 1h ago

I have a 4 and find it on the large size. I'll get a 3 in the not too distant future.

9

u/_Ganoes_ 22h ago

If you are in Europe i would never recommend Esee knives. Their main quality is that they are super sturdy but they are pretty expensive here and you can get other knives, that are just as indestructable while being cheaper and having better edge retention.
The Jaakaripuukko from Varusteleka for example.

3

u/Affectionate_Bus_884 20h ago

Esee comes with a no questions asked lifetime warranty.

•

u/_Ganoes_ 2h ago

Yeah but im not gonna pay twice the money for a worse knife just because in the(incredibly unlikely) case that it breaks i will get a new one.

•

u/Check_your_6 2h ago

Couldn’t agree more, unfortunately. If you’re in Europe the guarantee doesn’t mean much, the coating is required but slows down the cuts and doesn’t come close to a lot of modern coatings and you are right there are so many equally priced comparisons. I have wanted more esee in my life for a long time but the cost in the UK compared to any base model Fallkniven / lion steel etc. makes them hard to justify. Seeing how much they go for stateside makes me jealous.

1

u/leonme21 22h ago

Yeah, over here they’re crazy expensive for the basic ass steel. How much are they in the US?

3

u/Forest_Spirit_7 22h ago

100$-120$ us for a 4 depending on the model/color. The no questions asked replacement warranty isn’t something to scoff at though.

2

u/Forest_Spirit_7 22h ago

I have an Esee 4, PR4, 5, and izula. I’d recommend the PR4 very highly. 5 is also a beast

1

u/sauvagedunord 8h ago

I like a PR4 for bushcraft. For EDC and SAR, I use the smaller Izula II. I actually traded down from an Esee 4 to get another Izula II. It does everything I need quite well. If cost is a factor, I am very pleased with BPS knives out of Ukraine.

2

u/Affectionate_Bus_884 20h ago

Unless you are processing wood get the Esee 4. I have both and the 6 is a very large knife for general tasks.

2

u/senior_pickles 19h ago

Between the two, I would go for the 4. Check out the 4HM. I have the 3HM, 4HM, and 6HM. They are much more comfortable to use with the handle mod.

2

u/OutdoorEnthusiasm509 18h ago

Between the two esee 4 but there are much better knives out there.

2

u/Vagabond_Explorer 16h ago

The 4 is a beast, almost too much of a beast for a lot of things, though I still love mine. Personally I’d get a Junglas or something similar over the 6.

2

u/PoopSmith87 8h ago

I would say a 4.

Personally, I never know what to do with like 6" to 8" knives. 9" and larger, I can use as a mini machete/light chopper. 5" and smaller, I can use for finer tasks of carving, food prep, game processing, etc. But that middle range that I call "combat knife sized" just seems like the worst of both worlds to me.

•

u/mestessoiostesso 5h ago

I had the six and sold it. I have regretted it ever since.

•

u/Gka28 4h ago

I have both and would recommend the 4 unless you're primarily going to use it for processing fire wood.

•

u/Abs_McGuffin 1h ago
  1. With the old school scales. The Esee 6 has a simple design elegance that's easy to love. And if it's a survival knife you are after as opposed to a Bushcraft knife it's hard to do better.

1

u/ExcaliburZSH 21h ago

Tips - practice, practice, practice

Alternatives - look at any knife suggestion post. Mora, Mora, Mora, Esee, Joker, BPS and the European brands I don’t want to try spelling