5 Things You Should Know About the ESEE 5

Just about one inch longer than the ESEE 4, the ESEE 5 (hence the name) is somewhere between a survival knife and a camp knife, but it is a capable tool that can meet the needs of outdoorsmen from all backgrounds. Those interested in survival and bushcraft will be just as well met by the capabilities of the ESEE 5 as will most hunters. 

But is this the knife for you to carry when you go into the field? To answer that, we’ll look more closely at a few specific things you should know about this model if you are not yet familiar with the brand and have never carried an ESEE before. 

So, with no further ado, here are 5 things you should know about the ESEE 5. 

• The edge will rust.

ESEE Knives are predominantly made from 1095 steel, with the exception of some special models like the Izula and ESEE 4 S35VN. The former is a tool steel with just shy of a solid percent of carbon in the matrix, so it is pretty tough and shatter resistant, and it’s soft enough that sharpening in the field on a stone is pretty practical. 

But what 1095 is not good at is resisting corrosion, as anyone that has ever carried ESEE knives will tell you. So, ESEE coats most of its knives in a powder coat that protects the steel and helps prevent it from rusting. 

The powder coat does a reasonably good job and on top of that, it makes the knives look pretty cool. In addition, in the orange and venom green colors, the powder coat improves the visibility of the knife so that if you place it down in the field, you’ll be less likely to lose it. 

The catch is that (although it’s not really a catch, just a consideration) for obvious purposes, for a knife to have a serviceable, working edge, the edge cannot be powder coated. This is the one Achilles’ heel of ESEE knives; they are prone to rust along the edge. 

So while you might be thinking that you can use that ESEE 5 or get the blade wet, sheath it and forget it, you’d better remember you have a naked edge. When you draw it again it will be rusted. 

The solution here is never to put the knife away wet or dirty, and to remember to be consistent about treating the edge with oil periodically so that it doesn’t rust. 

• It’s fairly good as a chopper even though it isn’t a Junglas.

The ESEE 5 has a more oblique, half-flat grind, unlike its smaller cousins, which have full flat grinds. While this does make the knife a little less “slice-y”, it does make it a reasonably good chopper. It’s not as good as an ESEE 6 and not nearly as good as a Junglas, but if it’s all you have in the field, it’s still a pretty good option. The great thing about the ESEE 5 is that it’s enough of a camp knife to take on some pretty brusque jobs, but it doesn’t feel unwieldy in the hands. It remains small and nimble enough to be used for finer work than you’d usually use a camp knife for while remaining tough enough to put to pretty serious tasks, like carving notices, drilling holes, and batoning rounds. 

• ESEE will replace it if you break it.

This is not exclusive to the ESEE 5, but ESEE’s warranty is legendary. It follows the knife for its lifetime and is not respective of purchaser. That means you could theoretically find an ESEE 5 (or any ESEE knives) or a trail, pick it up, break it, and send it into ESEE for a replacement, no questions asked. 

• You can easily replace the scales. 

ESEE knives like the ESEE 5 have scales made of G10 or Micarta that are secured with hex fasteners. All you need are some compatible scales and a hex key and you can replace the scales at home. It’s a 5 minute job and a very easy way to personalize your ESEE to improve its visibility, ergonomics, handling, or visual allure. 

• You don’t need to carry it tip down on your belt. 

The ESEE 5 comes with a thermoplastic sheath that offers an excellent friction fit and solid retention. It comes with a clip plate for tip down carry on a belt, but the truth is a 5 inch knife like this is a bit big and a bit heavy for that carry discipline.

With a bit of paracord, you can rig the sheath for carry horizontally on your belt either in the scout carry or cross draw configuration, or you can lash it to a pack or strap to improve access. These are only a few examples but nonetheless the point is that the sheath offers you a lot of flexibility and versatility with respect to how you carry this relatively large knife. 

Get a New ESEE 5 Here 

If you don’t have an ESEE 5 yet, but need a knife that can fill the role of a camp knife, and which is covered by an industry-leading warranty, you could definitely do a whole lot worse than one of these. Check out our collection and if you’re not sure whether this or another ESEE knife is best for you, get in touch with us and we will be more than happy to assist.