ESEE 3 Survival Knife Review

ESEE knives are built to take a beating and still be fully functional. ESEE knives are designed for extreme situations and are popular with the Military, LEO and survival community. Everything about them screams utility and performance. They are not designed to look pretty or be handed down through the generations as a heirloom. They are hard use tools. The ESEE 3 is at its heart a survival knife and this review is based on their use for that kind of scenario.  

ESEE is so confident that their knives are built to last, that ESEE has the BEST warranty that I have ever seen. The Legendary “No Questions Asked Warranty”

ESEE 3 First Impression

When unboxing the ESEE 3 for the first time, the first thing that stands out from the competition is that the ESEE arrives with a sharp edge. You would think that would be the case with all the new knives you buy. But sadly most of the knives I have bought need a touch-up after they arrive. So far the only two exceptions are ESEE and Buck knives.

At first glance, it appears a little small for what is expected of it. But there is a lot of blade for such a small knife. It feels as solid as a chunk of steel. And the handle is surprisingly grippy and comfortable. Most of the knives I have used in the past have contoured grips, and I expected that the flat scales of the model ESEE 3 I got would take some getting used to. But as soon as I held the knife, it felt just right.

ESEE 3 Survival Knife Blade Material Options

Blade Material: The ESEE 3 I chose is 1095 high carbon steel, a tough, durable tool steel that can take a lot of abuse. But has one distinct weakness. It does rust. Therefore maintenance is required, oil it regularly and check for rust.

ESEE does sell a range of their products in S35VN steel, but … well it just does not feel like an ESEE. The S35VN steel is stainless and has far greater edge retention, but there is a tradeoff, It is brittle compared to 1095. And ESEE themselves do NOT recommend the S35VN models be hard used.

ESEE 3 Blade Length. Is It Large Enough For A Survival Knife?

Blade Length: The cutting blade length is 3.37”, which does not sound like a lot, but weirdly enough, when using the knife it feels larger. Its deep belly, slim profile, and superb design make it a great cutter. But the ESEE 3 is by no means a chopper, it’s way too small and light for that. If you prefer bigger survival knives check out the ESEE 6 or Junglas 2. I would say that the Junglas is closer to a machete than a knife, but that’s just my opinion.

1095 Edge Retention

Edge Retention: This is a 1095 carbon steel blade, so edge retention is good, but not as good as a high-end steel. On the plus side, it takes only a couple of minutes to bring it back from dull to razor sharp with a wet stone or a strop.

ESEE 3 Grind

Grind: a full flat grind, which is great for slicing, feather sticking, whittling, etc. It also makes it easy for novices to sharpen.

Handle Material Choices For The ESEE

Handle: The handle material I chose was the micarta, a very grippy material even when wet. Although it is porous to an extent and will discolor after use. The other option was G10 which is more durable but feels a little slippery to me when wet. Although most people aren’t as picky as me, so choose whichever design/color tickles your fancy. Both materials are durable and make good knife handle materials.

Ergonomics And Hot Spots

Ergonomics: The ESEE 3 is unapologetically minimalistic in its design. The ergonomics may appear simple, but it is obvious that a lot of thought went into the design. Using the knife for extended periods produced no hotspots, although some people with smaller hands have complained. So it does depend on the person.

Thumb Jimping is just aggressive enough to prevent slippage without being uncomfortable.

ESEE 3 For Larger Hands

Grip: For such a small knife, I expected that my XL-size hands would have a problem with the ESEE 3. But the grip fits great, I can get all 4 fingers on it comfortably.

Pommel For Breaking Glass

Pommel: The knife is a solid chunk of metal with the pommel extending out from the full tang of the blade. Making it a solid pommel that can be used to break glass, or bludgeon something. I have never needed to break a window or windshield with my ESEE, although I have heard that it works well for that.

Sheath Options

Sheath: The plastic sheath is…. Molded plastic, is not the fanciest or most durable of sheaths. But functional. The knife sits firmly in the sheath, does not rattle and there is no chance (with normal use) that the knife will fall out. ESEE is a very popular brand, there are a ridiculous number of custom sheath options on the market now, so if you want a Kydex or leather sheath. Have no fear, they are easily available on ETSY or if you want a scout carry Kydex sheath, Armatus makes great Kydex sheaths for ESEE.

ESEE 3 Carry Options

Carry Options: The sheath has 8 strategic holes in it, and a belt clip-on that can be screwed onto the sheath for belt carry. Paracord can be slipped through to neck carry. Or an optional Molle sleeve can be attached to the sheath to attach to any PALS webbing.

With a little bit of ingenuity, leather, and paracord, it is easy to makeshift a scout carry.  

ESEE 3 The Lightweight Survival Knife

Weight: The ESEE 3 is a lightweight knife and only weighs 9.3 ounces with the sheath. Making it a great fit as a survival knife for a bug-out bag where weight is a concern.

1095 Durability

Durability: This knife is tough, beat it up tough. In fact, ESEE knives are so tough that they come with the best knife warranty in the knife industry.

Grade A Fit And Finish

Fit And Finish: All ESEE knives have exceptional fit and finish. The ESEE 3 in the images is of my second ESEE 3, the first one I gave away. I got this one with the MOLLE back (the MOLLE is fantastic BTW). The fit and finish in both the old and the new ESEE 3 I got were perfect.

Value

Value For Money: This is not a cheap knife by any means. But it is 100% worth every penny. The durability, design, ease of sharpening in the field and fantastic fit and finish more than justify the cost. The exceptional Warranty, well that just makes it a bargain.

Pros And Cons Of The ESEE 3

Pros:
Durable
Compact
Lightweight
Multiple carry options
Easy to sharpen in the field
Comfortable to use
Best warranty EVER

Cons
Rusts, needs care to keep rust free
Expensive (but worth it)

ESEE 3 Specs

Overall Length: 8.31″ (Standard Model)
Overall Length: 8.19″ (Modified Pommel)
Cutting Edge Length: 3.38″
Overall Blade Length: 3.88″
Drop Point Tip
Full Tang
Maximum Thickness: .125″
Blade Material: 1095 High Carbon Steel,
Rockwell Hardness: 55 – 57 Rc.
Coated Blade: Textured Powder Coat
Weight of knife without sheath: 5.2 Ounces
Weight of knife with sheath: 9.3 Ounces
Handles: Micarta or G10
Sheath: Molded w/ Clip Plate
MOLLE Back Compatible (sold separately)
Made in the U.S.A.

Conclusion:

Even though the ESEE 3 is one of the smaller fixed-blade knives in ESEE’s range. It is extremely tough. It eats through wood like a hungry beaver. Is a great slicer for food prep, degutting fish, and dressing small to medium game. Is the perfect size to carry around as an EDC (if legal in your geographic location). This means that it is the perfect survival knife, as it will be the knife you have on you. It is also the perfect size to throw in a get-home bag or bug-out bag.

Although if you are packing it in a bug-out bag, I assume that there will be a secondary wood processing tool there, such as a saw, axe, or machete. While the ESEE 3 makes a great survival knife. Do NOT rely on one cutting tool for all your needs, it does not matter how great that tool is, always have redundancies in place.

Is it worth the price? YES, definitely, the ESEE 3 is a great survival knife. Perfect for those who prefer smaller survival knives.