ESEE 6 Modification: Making An Amazing Survival Knife Even Better!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ค. 2023
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Esee 6 available from The Knife Connection & Amazon.com
Canvas micarta handles, sheath, dangler, leather backer --- The Knife Connection
Thanks Dan! I have seen many TH-cam videos on removing the coating on Esee carbon blades and adding patina using vinegar, as well as sharpening the spine, as I’m sure we all have. I just contacted Esee and shared your video link with them. I encourage all of your viewers to contact Esee and ask them to please make these options available to their customers-carbon blades on Esee 5, 6, Junglas, etc., available without the coating and with sharper spines to save us the trouble!
PS-really like those Knife Connection handles, particularly the woodland camo that you had your hand in!
Wonder if you void the warranty if you take the coating off? Like a lot of things…
Looks like you did what we talked about the other day… looks good. My only question, does it void the warranty???
Thank you! Greatly appreciated and hope ESEE will listen.
@@user-fu4wb1rg2f I haven't asked Esee directly, but it is a good question. I might send them an email and see what they say
I contacted Esee before I did mine and it doesn’t void the warranty. They just told me to put some kind of patina on it. Esee customer service is awesome. @@user-fu4wb1rg2f I
I did my ESEE 6 the same way. It's my number 1 woods knife. 👍
Nice! It's definitely a great set up!
Esee goes before my Fällkniven S1 :) @@ochocobushcraft1742
Good job Dan!
I have done the same modifications to ALL of my ESEE knives (Izula-II. 3, 4, 6, Junglas and Junglas II).
Even though I have an ESEE 6, my go-to bushcraft knife is a Survive! Knives GSO 5.1 in magnacut.
I have used ESEE knives for years and never understood why ESEE doesn't put 90-degree spines on their knives, albeit the spine coating would still prevent sparking a ferro rod.
The coatings are designed to prevent rust, but forcing a patina will help.
For those who want to refinish the blades, I normally use mustard to force a patina and have had good results. Gun blue will also work, but does not last as long.
I bought these knives prior to their new 3D scales, so I too replaced all of them from The Knife Connection, which are fantastic!
BTW, I reground my Junglas II, added a clip point, 90-degree spine and replaced the scales making it a fighter.
Thank you! Sounds like you have turned your Junglas 2 into one awesome knife!
Thank you! Great info! Great knife!
Thank you!
Good vibes and good video
Thank you!
Nice modifications
Thank you!
Hi Dan. It's nice to see/hear someone talking so passionately about a knife they love so much.
For quite a while I also felt that the ESEE 6 was a really good all-rounder, and a good investment. I actually still do.
However, I've been questioning in my mind where the ESEE 6 actually fits into the bigger picture, and I confess I struggle to find a spot for it.
Let me explain. I do not subscribe to the "one-knife-fits-all" school of thought! I rather subscribe to the "best-tool-for-the-job" school of thought. This translates, in the real world, to carrying more than one tool into the outdoors, because there are many different tasks needing different attributes. Also, having several blades means that the edges will be degraded much lass than if only one blade. So, I've boiled this down to the need for different "carries": a "heavy carry" for conditions requiring larger, more robust tools, and a "light carry" where one of the primary concerns is weight. Here are my current thoughts about how I'd like to set up these carries.
Heavy carry:
I would always have a saw! (This is not negotiable!) I'd have a Silky folding saw (either a Gomboy or a Bigboy, depending).
Large knife: this would be at least a 7+ inch blade quite heavy blade for the heavy work. (My Cold Steel Trail Master [in San Mai III version] will be the choice).
Medium size "bushcraft" belt knife. I'm currently interested in the Victorinox Venture Pro system, which is their latest foray into the fixed blade Bushcraft knife arena (and using the considerable expertise of Felix Immler on the design team). This I'd carry on my belt.
Multi-tool knife: here I'd obviously include my venerable Victorinox Swiss Champ that I have used for decades, worn on the belt.
Light carry:
Medium size belt knife: Cold Steel SRK (sabre grind, in CPM 3V). This will handle some of the more heavy tasks.
Multi-tool knife: Victorinox Hercules. This knife has more robust tools than the Swiss Champ but is very versatile and it has a larger saw. This means I would dispense with the additional saw, unless I anticipate a lot of wood processing, in which case I would chuck in a Silky Pocketboy.
If you look at this picture you'll (hopefully) see that there is nowhere that the ESEE 6 can fit in without overlapping quite significantly, or adding unwanted weight.
It would be great to share ideas about my approach.
Cheers mate!
Right now I carry the Becker BK9, BK14, Gransfors Bruk Hand Hatchet, and Silky Pocketboy Outback. If you check out some of my newer videos you will see me carrying this combination.
This summer I did a lot of ultralight hiking and rock climbing. There are places I went that I couldn't have made it with anything more than the one knife. I don't believe in the one knife only option. But I enjoy challenging myself with situations where I can carry nothing more than a knife and very small survival kit. So the Esee 6 has its place when I need to move as light or fast as possible.
@@ochocobushcraft1742 "So the Esee 6 has its place when I need to move as light or fast as possible."
So, wouldn't the CS SRK, which weighs 8oz to the ESEE6's 12oz, then not make sense? And with a BK-9 why a hatchet?
@@dennisleighton2812 personal choice on the Esee 6. SRK would be fine. Check out my videos on the bushcraft trifecta, and let's make a mallet. Just a couple examples of my hatchet doing its work.
Lookin good :)
Thank you for all your help and instruction!
I run the same setup but on my Architect 6
It’s basically an ESEE 6 but in 3v steel and it’s solid
I recently started using the Architect 5 5, and it has become my favorite knife.
I have an esee 6hm, w/ kydex sheath, really good knife.
I like the handle on the hm
Just got a 6 and an Izula 2 this month. Can’t wait to get out in the field with it.
Nice! Hope you enjoy using them!
I would love to see an Esee 6 in Magnacut!
What do you think of the junglas 2 and this esee 6? I’m trying to find a video against each other…. I would definitely do what you did and remove coating/ 90 degree
What process did you use to force a patina on the steel? Vinegar, orange juice, ACV, or something else? Great video.
Thank you! Ferric chloride.
Why do many say "put a 90 degree spine"? Does not the ESEE6 already have a 90 degree spine? All is needed is to remove the coating?
If you remove the coating, you will find that the spine is slightly rounded, just enough to keep it from throwing sparks. A couple passes on a belt sander puts sharp edges , a nice 90 degree edge, which throws lots of sparks
Good question.
Is them there tha black linen and brown burlap micarda scales from the knife connection?
Woodland camo canvas micarta from The Knife Connection.
@@ochocobushcraft1742 didn’t see that one must have missed it, ordered the black linen and brown burlap micarta. Hey is yours grippy? Heard some folks bellyaching that they’re micarta was too slick! Probably was just goofy Californians.
@@BayouGusto The g10 are a little smooth for my taste. Canvas micarta is very grippy. Not sure what the linen micarta is like. But I do know that the owner is very honest, so if you are not happy, I would think he'd exchange them.
What did you use to patina your blade?
White vinegar. Works well.
Have you done an EDC video?
Do you pack a firearm?
Yes, just did an EDC KIT a few weeks ago. You might also check out my scout survival kit video.
I haven't carried a firearm for a long time. My knife is always my go to.
I have a CS Drop Forged Survivalist for about €90,-- Now, I really like the looks of Esee6 a lot, but they cost more than 2 times the price, about €210,-- over here.
Sincere question :
Is the Esee6 really 2 times 'better'? Stronger? Tougher? Stays sharp longer?
Thanks in advance to all responders!
Greets from the Netherlands 🇳🇱,
TW.
Sounds like you have a good knife. I wouldn't pay double for the Esee , unless you are not happy with your knife. You also might check out the AK5.5 From Architect Knives. I have come to like it even better than the Esee 6.
@@ochocobushcraft1742 : Thanks! Appreciate it a LOT 👍
I reallllllllllllllllllllllly wish ESEE would make this knife in 3V and with a sharpened spine. It would then be the perfect 6" woods/camp knife.
Agreed!
I have the ESEE Laser Strike. I like the size (not too big, not too small), blade shape (spear point with some belly), and versatility (multiple handle grip positions and includes ferrocerium rod, fire tinder, and a bow drill divot). Excellent sheath, but the handle rides a little high and the belt clip is a little wonky. I say it is a jack of all trades, master of none. It chops OK, but not great. It feather sticks OK, but not great. It is great for what it was designed: a pilot's survival knife.
However, I dislike the blocky handle of the Laser Strike. A few years ago, I wrote to ESEE about the squarish handle. I just suggested they round the bottom (edge side) edges of the handle. They weren't interested. They said everyone would want something different done to the handle. Then suggested I buy G10 handle from the Knife Connection and a few months later came out with their own G10 handle scales. I don't want G10. I want micarta. They also suggested filing the micarta to the shape I want.
I purchased a BK16 off eBay to which the previous owner sanded the spine and gun blued it. He then used a Dremel to cut thin tight cross scores on the plastic handle. This made the handle feel like suede leather and gave it more grip -- no need for micarta. Also, he added red handle liners (apparently made from a plastic file folder).
What happened with your BK9?
Did you square the entire length of the spine? Did you use a belt sander?
Maybe just squaring 1" to 2" (the width of a file) in front of the gimping would be preferable.
Sounds like a good buy on the BK16. I have used the Laser Strike with TKC handles.
From the thumb jimping to the start of the false edge on back. just a few seconds on a belt sander with 120 grit gave me the spine i wanted. Perfect for my use.
In my opinion a 6in knife is to big to be a useful carver and to small to be a useful trail cleaner.
Those are my major knife uses. I believe a 4 in fixed blade is a perfect belt knife. Then a machete or long knife at least 9in at the smallest.
In my experience a saw and a 4inch blade will handle anything that is truly needed to survive.
But everyone has their opinions. Mine comes from my experiences.
if you have to modify a knife at those prices I don't want it
160$ on Amazon with a no question asked replacement guarantee. Very worth every made in America dollar.
I like Esee but they need to lose the stupid coating, Absolutely no need for it in this day and age because they could do something like a tennifer or DLC type of coating like on Glock and or handguns or just leave it bare like some others that are also top tier brands it's up to the owner if they can't take care of thier knives then shame on them they get what they deserve, and it's not like a little bit of surface rust is any big deal, grap some steel wool buf it off oil it sharpen it and use it, guys need to stop looking at these things as show pieces they are tools not jewelrey if you want jewelrey Esee is not the knife as he says in the vid Esee is a working knife not a show knife, I like my Esee 6 and my Izula 2 they make a great team when i head to the woods but I would love them even more if they didn't have the stupid coatings and had the sharp 90 degree spine, I don't actually use the spine for fero rod striking but having the option would be nice, guess I'm just going to have to do these mods to mine.
Absolutely agree! Same for Becker, get rid of the black coating!
Esee 6 and Izula 2 I'd a great combination!
It's not to difficult to remove the black coating. A really good paint stripper and some 800 and 1000 grit sand paper. Then soak in white vinegar and resharpen.
@@ochocobushcraft1742 Yepper but instead of the vinegar trick I was thinking of taking it to a mirror finish on my buffer ( i have the equiptment to do so) then blue them like a gun (also something I have experience with), don't know how long the bluing will last but I think it would look really good for at least a while, then when it starts looking bad just remove the bluing and go with the mirror polish look that I really like, anyhow just gotta stop being lazy and do it LOL, take care my friend.