MNKF: ESEE-5

esee 5 review
April 17, 2017  
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Categories: Musings
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[This article was made possible by JTF Awesome team member PROOF Research. If you don’t know who they are, first knifehand yourself and then check in here]

MNKF: ESEE-5

Alexander Crown

Early last year I purchased an ESEE-5 for general outdoor and bushcrafting use, and also to focus on the Bushcraft USA forum Bushclass (It’s like earning a merit badge, but in your thirties). Now that I ‘ve had the knife for about a year and used it for a few tasks, I’ll grace your eyes with this eloquent write up.

Here are the specs direct from ESEE:

• Overall Length: 11.0″

• Blade Length: 5.25″

• Thickness: .25″

• Steel: 1095 Carbon, 55-57 Rc

• Finish: Textured Powder Coat

• Blade Width: 1.56″

• Grind: Saber

• Weight (Knife Only): 16 Ounces

• Handles: Canvas Micarta

• Black Kydex Sheath w/ Clip Plate

• Thumb Jimping on Spine

• Glass Breaker Pommel

• Bow Drill Divot in Handle

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Look at those specs. This is a knife that identifies as a machete. The ESEE-5 is a chunker, and you can feel every bit of that weight when wielding it. The heft is great when chopping mid-sized trees or batoning. The thickness brings me confidence that, when using it as a pry bar, the blade isn’t about to snap. I’ve read online some complaints about the powder coat finish. I guess guys get upset when they use their knife and the finish wears off? It hasn’t happened to mine yet, but seems like a natural progression for a tool that actually gets used.

I’m a fan of the Micarta handles. They may appear a little blocky, but they fit my admittedly petite hands very well. When I was searching for a new knife, the bow drill divot on the handle was a selling point. Bow drills are not something I’ve dabbled in yet but it’s nice to know when I do I can use my knife for support.

The sheath for the ESEE-5 isn’t impressive but gets the job done. It’s a simple fold-over kydex piece with a detachable clip plate. The clip plate is my least favorite thing about this whole package; it’s noisy and stiff, and while it has never fallen off my belt I always feel like it might. I may try to rig up a Blade Tech Tek-Lok or even a simple piece of leather in the future. The sheath has a built in tension adjuster that works pretty well, though.

The best part about the sheath is the purpose-built pouch that can be bolted on the front. The pouch is made specifically to hold an Altoids-sized tin in which you can put together a pocket survival kit (PSK). I also crammed an emergency blanket and ten feet of 550 cord in mine. Building your own PSK is an elective of the Bush Class skills and it makes for lightweight insurance for when you’re out in the woods and things don’t go according to plan.

One of the last skills on the advanced certification list is to live out of your PSK for 24 hours. All the guys that have done it made it seem easy.

MNKF ESEE-5 2

I’ve used the ESEE-5 for smaller jobs like feathering sticks, carving frog gigs, and even to cut up some dove breasts for a quick meal. The large size and weight of the knife made it rather difficult to do extra fine things like dig out a splinter or carve a dovetail, but overall it accomplished every task I used it for and I’m pleased with it.

ESEE has been doing the knife thing for a while and offer an extensive line up. Besides the 5, I also own the 3 and an IZULU. It is hard to beat an ESEE for the price especially considering how robust all of their models are. Whenever I set out for an adventure I always bring along one of my ESEEs.

-Alexander Crown



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Alexander Crown

Alexander Crown

About the Author

Alexander Crown (@acrown509)is a frequent contributor to Breach-Bang-Clear, and is a patched Minion. He is the almost certainly the littlest big mistake Gemtech ever hired. Astonishingly, they continue to promote him to a succession of higher positions. Prior to his early retirement due to an enemy winning a marksmanship award at the cost of his hamstring, Alexander served in the 3/509 PIR out of Ft. Richardson and spent time in Iraq. In addition to dabbling in the world of silencers and science fiction, he has a BS in biology and is an avid gardener who grows prodigious crops of improbably might vegetables.

1 Comment

  1. Leroy Jenkins

    Love my ESEE 4. Buddy of mine has the 5 and it’s a freaking beast! I carry my 4 as the main knife in my hunting pack and have dressed lots of animals with it in the 4 years I’ve had it. It can be a pain to sharpen but I’d buy it again in a heartbeat.

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