ESEE-4 and the evolution of a reluctant “Fan Boy” It’s funny to me how things change. How I change, I have been aware of ESEE since it’s inception. Back in the days of the old “Knife Forums” I was busy discovering what I didn’t know, I didn’t know. I slowly migrated over to Blade as Knife Forums fell victim to profiteers and lack of updating. Like any education, mine didn’t come cheap. I don’t carry any Student Debt from my learnings. But I have draws full of both cheap and expensive reminders of my tutorials. I was out this morning, first a three mile hike, then coffee, then breakfast. At my side for all off it was my ESEE-4. A knife I have stated numerous times I didn’t really care for. In an effort to make this not totally boring, here is a shot of the 4 doing some quick fire prep, We all know you can’t make good feather sticks with a full flat grind. You absolutely need one of those Scandifluvian Ground knives from a witch doctor in Helsinki. But I muddled through. I tried out my new Stanley French Press coffee pot this morning. I like it!. It won’t replace my old perk pot. But it does a nice job. Dump coffee in the bottom. I like to add a little coarse salt as well, not a lot, just several grains. Pour hot (200ºF) water in. Wait five minutes and slowly push the rod down to move all the grinds to the bottom. Breakfast today was a simple affair. I like simple. I've never had an affair. Back to the ESEE-4, I’m not even sure any more what I didn’t like about my first one. The internet like the world, is full of very smart individuals, and those at the other end of the spectrum. With most folks falling somewhere in between. Some days I think I at one end to that spectrum, other days, I’m pretty sure I’m at the other. I was instantly attracted to the ESEE concept. A no frills knife that you could stake your life on if necessary, at a reasonable cost. That the average woodsman could afford. Jeff and Mike walked the walk. That goes a long way with me. But it seems that there is a sizable portion of the internet that absolutely needs to have its butt kissed on a regular basis. I could sense the frustration. It was palpable. The feedback from folks, many of whom I doubt have ever even **** outdoors was annoying even for me. So Blade went the way of the Dodo. And the new ESEE Forum was created. I was fine with that. But somehow, I screwed up the log in instructions and was not able to access it for several years. By then ESEE was in full swing. Replacing ESEE-6 knives that broke in half on people, "Who were just using it to crack open a few eggs for an omelette" I found Jeff’s attitude pleasantly refreshing. Low BS, call a spade a spade. But still stuck to the ESEE warranty. Still Folks whined and carried on. "I broke my ESEE-5 and all I was doing was peeling carrots at camp!" Meanwhile back at the ranch, I’m hammering all manner of ESEEs through hard maple, red oak, cherry, and other species. I know that Hard Maple doesn’t compare to carrots. But I never had any breaking, rolling or chipping issues. Did I mention Breakfast?? With the fire going and the pan getting hot, I tossed on a couple Sausage Pattys. I kind of lost touch with ESEE for a while. Nothing that they did. Just chasing the eternal better blade. When the HM models came out. I got interested again. I love my 3HM. I picked up a 4HM pretty used off the secondary market. I still was not enamored with the 4. I gave it to a friend to try. He liked it so I told him to keep it. Not even sure why. There was just something about the knife that I couldn’t make myself love. All the while reading about everyone else who was raving about how good the ESEE-4 was. One Knife option was bandied about often. Tossed on some eggs, a bagel for the bride and an English Muffin for myself. Last winter, I decided to give the 4 another shot. Not sure why, I just was sure somehow I was missing the point. This place doesn’t help. Folks here are enablers. Don’t lose focus, flip those eggs! Well this time it stuck. The knife not the egg. Suddenly it made sense. First it was the sheath. Close to the body, good retention, quiet, easy to access. I tolerated the knife because I loved the sheath. I do a lot of fire prep with my knives. I don;'t have to, But I like using a knife to make fire. It causes me to believe I might at least have a 50/50 chance of surviving in the woods if I were to get lost or need to evade. But I do even more food prep. I can keep a fire going for days. I like to eat more often. Let’s face it food rocks, Especially Sausage and eggs cooked over a wood fire with lots of runny yoke goodness. There is an old Japanese saying; “When the Student is Ready, The Teacher Will Appear” With three RMKs hanging on my wall, a Dozier Wilderness Knife sitting on the kitchen counter, Boxes of Bark Rivers, Fallknivens, L.T. Wrights, Giant Mice, and a small truck load of others. I am pleased to say I can do most everything I need to do with my ESEE-4. YMMV, LV
I was driving down the road a few weeks back, and all of a sudden this guy flips me the bird!! Where I live, that means something different than it does for a lot of you. It was a neighbor giving me some chicken. Organic free range chicken at that. I know some folks get weirded out about Sam & Ella. I'm real anal about hygiene as well. So I cut my table down an inch or so to expose fresh oak. Here were the tools for the job. The EMT Shears made quick work of the backbone, which now resides in our freezer for use in the future. Folks always ask why my food tastes so good. I don't let on the secret ingredient is Bar OIl. If you go on the interwebs, they tell you you'll need a chef's knife for this. I think the 4 did just fine, I marinaded it in one cup of Ken's Zesty Italian and one cup of Founder's Solid Gold Beer for about an hour and a half. Plus the cajun seasoning and some Sea Salt and fresh ground black pepper. Hum, what to do with the remaining 4 oz. of beer??? Speaking of Marinating, any hard working machine needs lubrication right? Fire around the outside, chicken in the middle, Slow and steady, Just about there, Calling it good, Does it get much better?? The bride snagged a breast, I toasted a roll and had a leg with cheese, Ya Know, if you don't look at the news and stay outside, life is pretty good!!! LV,
I think it was @DiscoveryLover who had a table at Blue Ridge Overland Gear's annual flea market a few years ago and had a couple of ESEEs on the table. IIRC, one was an orange 3. Being a simpleton who excuses his love of bright colors by claiming his gear is harder to lose, it got my interest but I never made it back to the table to see it or handle it before he packed up for the day. I had seen ESEE knives so I was aware of the brand but didn't know it. I started looking and ESEE knives were exactly what I was in the market for. Affordable, simple, no-frills fixed blades. Plus a lifetime warranty! I had to have one. I traded a Benchmade Griptilian M390 for my first ESEE, a 4CP. I loved the size, feel and shape of the knife, but not the clip point. It was soon traded off for a CR2.5 that I absolutely love. It's one of the best day-to-day knives I've ever had. I now have a collection of ESEE knives. More than I can use really. I finally replaced my first 4 with a DT 4 with the 3D scales in a PR4 sheath. It's been on my side in every outdoor outing since the sheath arrived. It's not exotic or a status symbol, but it's a tool that does its job without worry. Thanks for great knives. Sorry for the hijack.
Of all the stupid expensive knives I've been letting go of that alot of people would consider grail knives.. my cheap simple esees always stick around or make a return. The cr2.5 will be with me till death.
