How do you know "it gets the job done" if you've not used it? All three of the knives you've shown, haven't been used.

I use ESEE as my go-to field knifes. I have a 3 with those black/grey 3D scales, an S35vn 4 with TKC extended scales, a stock 6, and a Junglas. ESEE makes a solid product, with good grinds, and an attractive price point.

Great review! You hit it all. And I love the way you set up the sheath and the new handles!!

The ESEE Warranty is definitely way better than the GSM, Cold Steel Warranty. But, I would pick the 3V Cold Steel SRK over the ESEE for the type of purposes you mentioned. I own both and the ESEE 6, too. My ESEE 4 is the CPM-S35VN Model with the ESEE, G-10, Scales, similar to yours. I find, in the Field, the ESEE 4 is great for small and light tasks. But, not so good for larger or more heavy-duty type tasks. Whereas, the SRK can handle batoning and setting up a Fire and Camp Site Shelter much better and easier than the ESEE 4. The ESEE is easier to Scout Carry due to it's diminutive size. And, would take up a little less space in a Pack. But, I wouldn't be concerned about those differences, because I would want to carry my Knife on my hip, in the Wilderness, not in a Backpack, for easy and fast access. Now, if your comparison was between the 1095HC ESEE 6 and the Standard SK5 or San Mai or 3V Cold Steel SRK, that would be a tough decision for me. Why? Because, I absolutely luv my ESEE 6 and have used it in the Wild many times; to me it's a proven "ROCK STAR!!!" And, you just cannot beat the ESEE Warranty. And, it's made in the good old U.S.A., too! To me it's the size you want for light to heavier-duty use. It's a Jack of all Trades. Mine has the Micarta ESEE Scales with the Palm Swell. I absolutely luv it. And, it's an easy hip carry also. But, the 3 and 4 are a bit too small in size for me for setting up a Camp Site and Fire. I use my ESEE 4 for cleaning game, food prep, and small chores. :-) You should give the ESEE 6 a try. I'll bet you'd absolutely luv that one for the reasons I have mentioned. :-) Peace, Stiletto :-)

Great discussion, over the years I have ditched many knives but 2 have always stayed with me and I constantly find myself automatically reaching for them...being the Esee 3 and SRK compact, looooove them both.

@rtz549

11 ай бұрын

Great choices. Have both myself.

I just got one. I look at this as it will do 80% of what you need well, 20% ok. In my mind everything is a compromise and I think this is about as flexible as you can get.

Fill that tin with rolled up ones 👍

Srk is a jack of all but mainly for combat/Survival. Esee is bushcraft. Id def go with the srk not the best for bushcraft tasks but it will do the job. ✝🇺🇸✝

Can I ask, is this pouch the same size as the one you can purchase for the Esee 5/6

I prefer the flat scales, helps keep the knife from rolling in your hand

@TheIReviewStuff

11 ай бұрын

That’s a very good point too!

Esee knives are great and their contoured 3D G10 scales are awesome. If you want a knife that you can pry with, try the Esee 5. If I could only have one knife to survive, it would probably be my Esee 6 with the above-mentioned scales. With good jimping and a choil it allows you to choke up on the blade for more control when working on smaller tasks. It's not a fillet, gutting, or skinning knife but if you know what you are doing, it'll work in a pinch. It'll make decent feather sticks and shavings for starting a fire. It's large enough to use as a chopper or even for splitting wood if you haven't got an axe or hatchet handy. It's a quality blade that is able to function well in a variety of situations. Of course, my Frost River tool roll is always in my Rush72 backpack. It has my gutting, skilling & fillet knives as well as my cooking/eating utensils in it. Plus, I always have my folding saw and Hults Bruk Aneby small axe attached to my pack. But, if I was stuck outdoors without my pack, I would at least have my ESEE 6 😁

@sosteve9113

11 ай бұрын

Or a fallekniven,they are pretty tough as well

@geraldwilliams497

11 ай бұрын

Yall crack me up, with your expensive tools. I've lived in the woods since I was old enough to be out of mom's sight. I carry a thirty dollar fixed blade with full tang 1095. Which I picked up off Amazon a few years back. I'm a collector of knives and I have many different ones. Esee [including the 4, 5, and 6], buck Gerber boker and others. But I carry that cheap little Amazon special every day. I've skinned deer, I've cleaned fish, built shelter, started fires and everything a knife is needed for. If you have the skill set needed. You don't need all that fancy gear. But I guess that's the difference between growing up living the life. Starting out as a kid with an allowance. Learning how to make do. Vs wanting to look the part. I guess I could even make feather sticks but I've never felt the need to waste my time. When I can just build a fire without all that glitter.

@sosteve9113

10 ай бұрын

@@geraldwilliams497 most down to earth comment I read for a while,and your absolutely right.

The Terävä Jääkäripuukko 110 or 140 are much better knives at a cheaper price. It beats both the SRK and the ESEE 4. Even the steel (80crv2) they use is a crap ton better.

6" minimum blade length. That's necessary to span the diameter of dead trees large enough to have dry wood in the center, reach the vitals of a large opponents in a thrust, use with two hands for drawknifing, and other critical tasks. A survival knife should have at least a 6" blade, anything less than that should be a pocketknife. I prefer 8", because that's the maximum length I can EDC without issues, and if I snap the tip off I can regrind it and still have more than 6".

@Surv1ve_Thrive

11 ай бұрын

Good points.

SRK vs ESEE 4 is not a good match-up - I agree with other commenters. The better match-up would be the ESEE 6, as it has almost exactly the same dimensions. However, I'd still go with the SRK, but the San Mai III version (mainly to match my Trail Master San Mai III!).

@nightfevernight

11 ай бұрын

3V …

@dennisleighton2812

11 ай бұрын

@@nightfevernight I'd have to think about that, but it is a good option. Don't know enough about it to evaluate alongside the San Mai iii blade, which I do know about.

If you prefer the Esee 4 but want it a better slicer then try the s35vn version.

Had 6 SRK blades & all of them had the handle come loose/ rattle after splitting soft kindling. Very common thing with cold steel krayton handles.

@leroy7513

11 ай бұрын

How about using a knife to cut with and not a spitting maul . That's why white man made axes and hatchets. Did they not teach you in school " the right tool for the right job? " Or have they stopped teaching common since any more. If your in a survival situation you sure don't want to damage your knife by doing what it wasn't designed for.

@klausheisler5014

11 ай бұрын

@@leroy7513 SURVIVAL RESCUE KNIFE! Which is showed doing seriously abusive tasks by cold steel themselves. They literally market their knives as hard use tools. I'm not talking about Splitting a huge piece of season oak covered in knots. Splitting a bit of soft kindling while camping / hiking isn't even a remotely stressful task for a knife. A Mora companion with a stick tang has ZERO issue doing the same tasks without the handle coming loose. A cutting tool should be able to perform multiple tasks, including split a bit of kindling. I never said anything about being in a "survival situation". Oh & someone who can't spell & apparently doesn't know the difference between your & YOU'RE trying to imply that I lack sense? 🤣👏 🤣 Good one ...

@klausheisler5014

11 ай бұрын

@@leroy7513 Cold steels own description of the SRK. "Survival & Rescue operations demand a versatile knife able to withstand the most extreme conditions. Simply put, the Cold Steel SRK (Survival Rescue Knife) was designed specifically with this in mind. A popular knife with Military and Tactical Law Enforcement Personnel, the SRK is the standard issue knife of the Navy SEALS for their BUDS - or Basic Underwater Demolition training - the SRK has proved its worth time and time again in the most demanding environments. Whatever the mission, we're confident that the SRK is the knife for you!" Now go look at the cold steel own demonstration video on the SRK where they cross cut / batton through a 2X6, split, & pry wood with it. They literally market the knife as being designed for many different tasks. Far harder tasks than splitting a bit of kindling.

@tikkidaddy

11 ай бұрын

I haven't purchased a new SRK since the mid 90s. Haven't had to do so. My first was bought in 1987'made of Carbon V. Cold Steel changed the rubber material they were using and whatever they are using to attach them. I've beaten the hound dog snot out of that knife as well as my 80s era Carbon V Trailmaster. Most important thing is to keep water out from under that handle. A simple pipe flaring tool is used for the lanyard hole. When and if the handles on those knives need replacing Ill use African Blackwood wrap around scales and Corby fasteners.

@klausheisler5014

11 ай бұрын

@@tikkidaddy Yeah only one of my handles from cold steel haven't come loose. That's my old gurkha kukri, also in carbon v. Even the sheaths were better back then.

I personally would pick the master hunter in 3v. The srk in sk5 is $35 so to compare it to esee you could get the srk in 3v for the same price as the esee in 1095. I look at the warranty as a gimmick. If a knife im using breaks. Then i don't want another one. I don't abuse my knife so that means its failure was manufacturing. Do i really want to get another one an hope its right this time. So i have no use to pay extra for something that everyone else does without bragging. One last thing my most used knife is a mini pendleton hunter with the mora Garberg a close second. Both are extremely tough.

I Want This Set-Up, What's The Price Of It ???

@TheIReviewStuff

11 ай бұрын

Honestly I don’t remember anymore but you can order ala cart from The Knife Connection.

Looking at all the blades you have reviewed reminds me much of myself 10-12 year’s ago. I can say that if you stay on the path you’re perspectives will change greatly with time and use. Geez, I sound like Confucius...lol

@ludoA.K.A

11 ай бұрын

You look more like an inexperienced geek who buys too many knives based on the KZread videos he watches, without knowing any of them perfectly, and who does survival courses in his garden rather than Confucius... Twenty-five years of experience with Cold Steel blades ; 10-12 years with other brands now... A real collector who invents himself a veteran past 🤔 Keep it up, buddy

@dlrmon1

11 ай бұрын

Lol...I would suggest you go out and experience life rather than sitting behind your media device stirring shit and drawing conclusions for 30 word comments...not your fortay...

@nobodyatall7039

11 ай бұрын

I'm 33 and my opinions on knives have changed very little over the years. In highschool I thought the ideal "survival" or "all purpose" knife was the largest fixed blade knife that I could carry concealed every day, having not less than a 6" blade, and made from a tough carbon or tool steel with low hardness and the strongest tang design possible. That is still my opinion today after thousands of hours of using knives professionally in the butcher shop, practicing survival skills, hunting, fishing, camping, and studying martial arts and wound trauma. My favorite knife for the past several years has been the Cold Steel Drop Forged Survivalist and I carry it every day.

@dlrmon1

11 ай бұрын

Interesting. When I started out there were few options. Much of the terminology, designs and steels started coming into play when I was around your age. That’s when I really started to evolve. We live in a “Golden Age” when it comes to knives today. The journey has been a interesting, educational experience. Yes I’m a 61yo oldfart...lol

@ludoA.K.A

11 ай бұрын

@@dlrmon1, Only an oldfart, I assure you, "lol". Serious people don't talk like you do : you know cutlery as much as I do about American cuisine. Change the record with your invented science, and change your dirty diaper, dad : a golden age with increasingly fancy, overrated, overpriced steels, for invisible quality differences outside a laboratory, it's useless. The best is the enemy of the good, Grandpa Conficius, "lol".

Where can I get that set up can u send me that

@patrickohara4901

16 күн бұрын

I would like to purchase that set up w a stainless option let me know

If anyone has either model SRK; get the other size too so you have both.

The Esee 4 is my companion blade lol

This guy has a great imagination. He doesn't even have to use his knives!

I can't answer that question unless you send me an Esee 4 lol

The Esee 4 is severely handle heavy and unbalanced … My favorite is the Esee 3…

4 inches is too short. I own both knives. Srk need a pomo.

No!

E4 can't beat it because of price.

I love mine in orange g10 BUT HATE THE CHOIL....there is no reason to choke up on a 4 ish inch blade.....wasted the best part of the edge for power cuts and precision. But what do I know with growing up running trapline and 14 years as a meatcutter and former backpacking guide How I wish the longer handled version came out when I purchased...still a waste of a half inch IMOP but still a better version