I'm currently carrying an izula daily. I'm looking to purchase a new knife soon. I deer hunt in the midwest alot. I'm also getting ready to go on a fly in fishing trip to Canada. I also do some car camping. I was thinking about buying an esee 4 but was worried about it being to big? Do you guys think the 4 will fit the bill for my needs? Or do you recommend something else? Thanks for any help.
Welcome to the forum!! It's hard to gauge the utility of a knife without knowing what your constraints are. Are you planning on using it as a neck knife, pocket knife, belt knife, pack knife? Do you want it to compliment Izula or replace it? What do you need it to do? Overall, ESEE 4 is about as versatile of a size as you can find. If you want a smaller, more nimble, better slicer, an ESEE 3 moght be a better option.
Imo, you don't need a 4 to process a deer. And you don't really need much of a knife at all for fly fishing. A CR 2.5 would probably be great for those uses. Are there other intended uses beyond that, that make you think you need a knife that's bigger?
Great. Now you've opened Pandora's box. Welcome to the forum, new guy. Watch your step going down the rabbit hole. Get the 4. Then the CR 2.5. The izula will do your deer, the CR 2.5 will do your trout and birds, the 4 will do the rest. Remember the 4 has a thicker, sturdier blade. No one is allowed just one or two Esee knives.
I plan on using it as a belt knife. I would want it to compliment the izula. I don't plan on doing much bush craft with it. But I will be doing some fire starting. I know the izula is a tough little knife but I was looking for something a little more utilitarian. I'm going northern pike fishing. They fly us in and drop us off and come back in a week. I probably don't need something bigger but I would like to have the option of a bigger blade if needed.
4. Not overly large, big enough to process wood, play camp chef, etc. One of my favorites, and if I'm not mistaken, it's the size used in the survival kit?
Either 4 or 3 will work well. Inside a deers cavity,the 3 will be more handy. The 4 is 3/16" which is fairly thick for its size,the 3 is 1/8". For more detailed work & slicing,the 3 is better.
I think that everyone needs a 4, and i dont think the 4 will ever be big enough to be awkward, but my personal opinion, which may be hated, is that if i were in your shoes, i might consider the pr4 before the 4. If i were to deploy again, i would choose the 4 out of the two choices. But for woods stuff, i prefer the pr4 being thinner and lighter and imho slicier. Ymmv
He got a 4HM. He made the correct choice. Now the rest of ye bugger off a'fore the young lad makes a grievous error and buys more knives, thereby leading to his social downfall. You do remember what happened to the last new guy we kept giving advice to, don't you?
