All About Pocket Knives

So this past week my family and I were in the Smokey Mountains and as such made our pilgrimage to SMKW. I had had my eye on a couple of ESSEE knives for quite sometime and was determined I was going to bring one home with me. Unbeknownst to me, my oldest son went there with my parents before I did one night and bought my Christmas present, an ESSEE 3. But he couldn’t stand to wait until Christmas (he never could, lol), so he gave it to me that night! So when I got over there, I picked up the other ESSEE I had been wanting, the Isula 2.

I’m right impressed with both of them for different reasons. The Izula 2 just isn’t big enough for long periods of use, but it’s a great concealed carry knife, string cutter, etc… when carried scout style. I really like it. The ESSEE 3 is fantastic! It’s going to be my bumming around in the field/hunting knife. The ESSEE 3 has the powder coated blade, which I think I’m going to like, and the Izula has just a stone washed finish on the blade. Here are some detailed pics and some comparison shots of the two.

Nice pair! I've been trying to decide between those two. I like the Izula because it's thin and pretty lightweight, but the Esee 3 is more of a "real knife". I prefer larger fixed blades to larger folders, but when it comes to knives with less than 3" blades, it's always folders. Except when I'm doing really nasty work, and find the all-metal fixed blade and Kydex sheath easier to clean.

Cody, if I were only going to get one of them it would be the ESSEE 3. But I have bigger hands and the Izula just wouldn’t work well for any kind of extended use. But there are a world of folks out there that use them for everything.

For me, the Izula shines when carried scout style, weak hand side. It’s a great fast deploying fixed blade for daily tasks and even concealed carry. I’m going to experiment today with taking off the scales to make it thinner and carrying it as a neck knife. Some places I have to go, that would be right handy.

Congrats!
I have been fighting the urge to get a esee 3.

ken98k wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:02 pm Congrats!
I have been fighting the urge to get a esee 3.

Thanks Ken. I think I’m really going to like it. Seems to me it’ll be about perfect as a field dresser/skinner and everyday chore knife. Come on and jump in I think you’ll like it.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I’ve never had any knife of any pattern come out of the box as sharp as these two. And perfect grinds as well.

Wade, two is always better than one and one being a gift from someone you love makes it even better.

That Esee 3 is just a dandy looking knife...looks tuff,,heavy duty,,
and blade pattern looks as tho it could handle bout anything !!!
Love that coating on it to...
And how bout them Cats...5-0

Stag

Thanks guys!

doglegg wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 1:55 am Wade, two is always better than one and one being a gift from someone you love makes it even better.

Absolutely! Although it made me feel a mite odd. He’s 16, a good boy, he has a job, has bought his first truck, and is getting to the age where he’s not dependent on daddy like he used to be. It’sa whole different vibe.

stagman wrote: ↑Sun Oct 03, 2021 3:23 am That Esee 3 is just a dandy looking knife...looks tuff,,heavy duty,,
and blade pattern looks as tho it could handle bout anything !!!
Love that coating on it to...
And how bout them Cats...5-0

Stag

Thank you sir! It’sa nice knife for sure. It’s 1095 which I really like and the coating is a powder coat. We’ll see how it holds up.

Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:53 pm

ken98k wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:02 pm Congrats!
I have been fighting the urge to get a esee 3.

Thanks Ken. I think I’m really going to like it. Seems to me it’ll be about perfect as a field dresser/skinner and everyday chore knife. Come on and jump in I think you’ll like it.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I’ve never had any knife of any pattern come out of the box as sharp as these two. And perfect grinds as well.

Well, I took your advice and got an Esee 3 and yup, it comes shaving sharp!
I figured while I was at it I would try out a Rat 3 from OKC,
While the 2 knives are nearly identical, I have to give the nod to the the Esee 3.
1. The handle on the Rat3 is 1/4" to 3/8" shorter making it less comfortable due to there being no pinky rest on the handle.
2. The Rat 3 is stamped "Made In USA" but I read on the net that the blades are actually made in Taiwan. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, --
The good news is the Rat 3 was only 1/2 the price of the Esee 3, probably due to this particular knife is marked as a 2nd, due to the color of the handles.

ken98k wrote: ↑Thu Oct 14, 2021 5:59 pm

Colonel26 wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 9:53 pm

ken98k wrote: ↑Sat Oct 02, 2021 8:02 pm Congrats!
I have been fighting the urge to get a esee 3.

Thanks Ken. I think I’m really going to like it. Seems to me it’ll be about perfect as a field dresser/skinner and everyday chore knife. Come on and jump in I think you’ll like it.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I’ve never had any knife of any pattern come out of the box as sharp as these two. And perfect grinds as well.

Well, I took your advice and got an Esee 3 and yup, it comes shaving sharp!
I figured while I was at it I would try out a Rat 3 from OKC,
While the 2 knives are nearly identical, I have to give the nod to the the Esee 3.
1. The handle on the Rat3 is 1/4" to 3/8" shorter making it less comfortable due to there being no pinky rest on the handle.
2. The Rat 3 is stamped "Made In USA" but I read on the net that the blades are actually made in Taiwan. While that is not necessarily a bad thing, --
The good news is the Rat 3 was only 1/2 the price of the Esee 3, probably due to this particular knife is marked as a 2nd, due to the color of the handles.

Awesome Ken! You’re right, that ESEE is about the sharpest new knife I’ve ever had, including pocket knives. I’ll be interested to know what your opinion of it is after using it.