Knives:Layout 1
KNIVES CHECK OUT THESE KNIVES Rated 9.5 Out Of10 NOT YOUR AVERAGE EVERYDAY CARRY KNIVES
The ESEE-5 and ESEE-LS (Laser Strike) retail from about $100 to $200.
ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KEITH SIPMANN few cons. One thing any knife user looks for is a good warranty for their s a magazine geared more towards guns, hunting and shoot- investment. ESEE delivers with an ex- cellent 100% lifetime unconditional, ing, we don’t conduct a lot of knife reviews. But guns don’t al- transferable, worldwide guarantee. ways “cut it,” so to speak (cheesy knife pun intended), Meaning if your knife ever fails for any A reason, they will repair or replace it. I therefore a good back-up blade should always be on hand by any doubt you’ll ever have to use that war- hunter, law enforcement/military professional and outdoorsman. ranty, however.
The question I see come up the most blades are the ESEE-5 and the ESEE-LS OVERALL QUALITY: 9.5 OUT OF 10 in conversations about knives is, “what’s (Laser Strike) from ESEE Knives. These If I had to use just one word to describe the best knife to use?” While there is no are not your average EDC (Every Day the quality of materials or the assembly definitive answer, just as there is no Carry) knives, and you can’t find these of either blade, it’d be: Exceptional. “best gun,” I would like to share with at just any local sporting goods store, Both knives come with high-quality you my thoughts on two very well-bal- but they are in my opinion some of the Kydex sheaths that have adjustable re- anced, high-quality blades that I’ve best quality made survival and multi- tention screws. All ESEE blades are been testing for over a month now. The purpose blades on the market with very made in the USA (which is becoming
AUGUST 2013 westernshootingjournal.com 71 aren’t really that far off from the original. The ESEE-LS (Laser Strike) But, when it comes down to it, like most nicely comple- other things, you get what you pay for. If ments a regular- sized handgun, you’re looking for a high-quality blade like the author's that’ll last you a lifetime, then yes, they FNP-40 pictured here. are worth the price. If you’re looking for a one-time use camp knife, then no, they are not worth the price. Consider these knives investments, or trail-worthy fam- ily heirlooms to future hunters, campers,
DESIGN AND SPECS
ESEE-5 SPECS The ESEE-5 is designed by Military SERE Instructors as “Hard-Use Downed Pilot’s Survival Knife”. • Overall Length: 11.0” • Blade Length: 5.25” • Thickness: .25” increasingly rare as production prices good “jimping” on the blade for extra • Steel: 1095 Carbon, 55-57 Rock- rise) and are made from high carbon thumb-grip while thrusting. well Hardness 1095 steel, which is used by many top The ESEE-5 is an absolute beast of a • Finish: Textured Powder Coat knifemakers, especially those who make knife. It’s thick and heavy (weighing in • Blade Width: 1.56” knives intended for hard use. at 16 ounces). Being pretty bulky, it’s • Grind: Saber The only real drawback with high- probably not the best for EDC use or as • Weight (Knife Only): 16 Ounces carbon 1095 steel is that it will rust and a defensive blade. With that being said, • Handles: Canvas Micarta stain if not properly cared for. There- it has a saber-grind blade and is ab- • Sheathing: Kydex Sheath With fore, you’ll want to keep the blade lu- solutely sharp right out of the box. It Clip Plate bricated and cleaned after each use, just has a great fitting ambidextrous • Features: Glass Breaker, Bow like you would any high-quality rounded edge canvas micarta grip and Drill Divot firearm. I’d expect survival blades of will easily chop like a small machete if • Spine: Thumb Jimping this caliber to be more water-tolerant, gripped correctly. but the tough-textured powder coating The Laser Strike is more of an over- LASER STRIKE™ SPECS on the blade does help with this a lot all multi-purpose knife, in my opinion. The Laser Strike is a “Survival Craft and it keeps the blades looking new The spear point blade of the LS can and Fire Making” knife. even after some seriously tough use. normally be controlled better when • Overall Length: 10.0” woodworking or cutting than most • Cutting Edge Length: 4.5” TYPE OF USE: PRACTICAL OR NOT? saber and drop point blade designs. I’ve • Overall Blade Length: 4.75” As I stated, I’ve been testing these carried the LS as an EDC blade on sev- • Blade Width: 1.38” blades for over a month now in vari- eral occasions, and although it is a lot • Grind: Spear point ous conditions, ranging from defensive bigger than most of my normal carry • Weight (Knife Only): 9.5 Ounces carry as an EDCB (Every Day Carry blades, it was concealable and light- Maximum Blade), survival blade, tactical blade, weight (9.5 ounces), enough not to be • Thickness: .188” camping and fishing knife, fire mak- a bother. Plus, it has two compressed • Steel: 1095 Carbon Steel, 55 - 57 ing, food preparation and batoning. tinder tabs and a ferrocerium/magne- Rockwell Hardness Based on my observations, there is sium fire flint hidden within the han- • Blade Finish: Black Textured very little you couldn’t do with either dle, which I thought added a nice useful Powder Coat • Removable Canvas Micarta blade. Both knives have medium- touch to the knife. Handles (w/Bow Drill Divot) length blades and micarta handles • Rounded Pommel With with bow drill divots (for fire-making) VALUE: ARE THEY WORTH THE PRICE? Lanyard Hole that are just perfect in my view. I have It’s hard to justify the hefty price of any • Ambidextrous Black Kydex Sheath average-sized hands and the handle fits highly-priced knife when the market is very well, with great finger swells and just flooded with cheaper copies that
72 Western Shooting Journal AUGUST 2013 preppers or survivalists. High-quality knives make cutting wood a cinch. OVERALL If you’re looking for a high-quality blade to put to good use for many years, then look at ESEE to deliver a great overall product. They have many different knives available, and are always coming up with new ideas to stay on top of the game. Along with an impressive lineup, they have a very stout reputation for making great blades. When looking for a new survival knife, I spent months com- paring brands and designs - ultimately choosing ESEE. After my testing, I now understand why a lot of bush-crafters swear by their ESEE blades. Due to their high quality, functionality and servicea- bility, both knives will serve as perma- nent tools in my survival toolkit. WSJ
Editor’s note: Keith Sipmann is a veteran of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division,a firearms enthusiast, gun rights activist, conservative po- litical writer and owner of Boot Camp Bravo Firearms and Self Defense Clinics.
74 Western Shooting Journal AUGUST 2013