Great review! :) My reason for switching to the Avispa from the Rat-1 is the blade shape - the Avispa has almost spear-point while the Rat is almost straight back. Two more pros of the Avispa for me are the strong framelock and not so high "step" with the gimping on the spine of the blade.
It is extremely rare, if ever, that I am doing knife research on TH-cam and can get ALL of the information I am looking for from the first video I click on. Your thorough work made that possible. As a lefty, and a fan of bigger knives, I came looking for a video specifically comparing the strtengths of this Avispa to the RAT 1, as well as covering it's Lefty ergonomics. Thank you so much for your dedication to your craft, and moreover, your thoughtful nature, going out of your way as a right handed person to give lefties that much needed information. Duly noted! You've earned yourself a new subscriber. Thank you. By the way, it's eight years later- how's your dog?
The reason the frame lock is so difficult to disengage on your Avispa is due to the pocket clip orientation. When you have it in the tip-down carry position it’s not pressing against the lock bar. Makes a big difference. Kind of a bummer since I prefer tip-up carry, but on my D2 Avispa I’ve settled for tip-down for smoother deployment and an easier disengagement for the lock.
I bought this knife shortly after buying a Buck Vantage Pro. I like it much more than the Vantage Pro (though the Pro has superior steel S30V). Overall, for less than $30, you can't go wrong with the Avispa in my opinion. Plus it's about 1/2 the cost of the Vantage Pro.
60 dollars here in Australia. One of the few decent knives available locally. Knives here are a good 2 or 3 times more than in America. Good vid tho man, earned a sub 👌🏻
I bought the green/stonewashed D2 Avispa & grey Zancudo awhile ago but it seems like the AUS-8 on my Zancudo retains an edge longer than the D2 Avispa.
Love my avispa in d2. I was going to buy it in aus 8 from amazon then i went to blade hq and found it for $5 more. Great edge retention on it and rock solid too. Super hard choice between this and the d2 rat 1 (same price at bhq). Thanks for always making real reviews unbiased always great content.
Hey Gideon, great review. May i make a request for a Cold Steel Warcraft Tanto review please?? Either Magnum or standard version. Really want to know if it lives up to the hype.
1st yt review on this knife and a good one, congrats! So BRK actually makes this for esee? I guess esee is not tooled for folders... What was the weight again?
What color scales are those on the knife in this video.? Iv been trying to find one with grey color scales but they don't have that option. I'm thinking this is the desert tan color.?
Mine had terrible action and almost impossible to close too. After every lock stick trick failed I had to literally bend the lock back to a much earlier lock up just so the knife would work. Apart from that it’s a great little knife and I find it interesting no one mentions this.
Rusty Shackleford no offence but it would sorta be more dangerous but in the plus side I think it would be an amazing experience cus I've never seen a real gun in my life
Danny Kim wow I'm 14 and I do a sport called trap and there's basically a bunch of kids with shotguns shooting clay targets out of the air right off of a busy road
Wild Stove what?? Yur kiddin right? If some shit goes down, yur ready teddy. Use yur head for more than a hat rack, lol. A Man always carrys a knife. Always son👊👊🔪
I disagree with a lot of statements regarding the same steel being better in one company than another. Unless it's powdered metals (CPM)... No company can heat treat one steel "better" than the other. Heat treatment is relatively simple. Their is no crazy science on getting a "better" heat treatment. If you want strength within the steel, you simply temper it more, thus making it less hard.If you want a higher hardness, you temper it less, making it harder. Harder steels obviously hold edges better. So if AUS8 is the same composition in both Cold Steel products and ESEE, and the hardness is the same, the product is exactly the same, given the products have the same hardness depth or uniformity. Heat treatment isn't crazy science and i completely disagree when someone says another manufacturer's same steel is better than another, when the numbers and data are the same.
Great review! :)
My reason for switching to the Avispa from the Rat-1 is the blade shape - the Avispa has almost spear-point while the Rat is almost straight back. Two more pros of the Avispa for me are the strong framelock and not so high "step" with the gimping on the spine of the blade.
I like the spear point blade too.
That thumb ramp is what I love about the RAT1
It is extremely rare, if ever, that I am doing knife research on TH-cam and can get ALL of the information I am looking for from the first video I click on. Your thorough work made that possible. As a lefty, and a fan of bigger knives, I came looking for a video specifically comparing the strtengths of this Avispa to the RAT 1, as well as covering it's Lefty ergonomics. Thank you so much for your dedication to your craft, and moreover, your thoughtful nature, going out of your way as a right handed person to give lefties that much needed information. Duly noted!
You've earned yourself a new subscriber.
Thank you.
By the way, it's eight years later- how's your dog?
I actually gave away my Zancudo because it was too small in my hand. I'm happy to see this Avispa; it's now on my list. Thanks for posting this.
No Problem!
Good knife, i built my house using Esee, very good knife!
The reason the frame lock is so difficult to disengage on your Avispa is due to the pocket clip orientation. When you have it in the tip-down carry position it’s not pressing against the lock bar. Makes a big difference. Kind of a bummer since I prefer tip-up carry, but on my D2 Avispa I’ve settled for tip-down for smoother deployment and an easier disengagement for the lock.
Both in hand I agree in the woods a choice of the two I take the Rat, the Avispa is a very nice knife.
Bought one based on ur recommendation. Luv it! It now my edc. Bought two more as Christmas presents!
Merry Christmas 2020 and Happy New Year!
I bought this knife shortly after buying a Buck Vantage Pro. I like it much more than the Vantage Pro (though the Pro has superior steel S30V). Overall, for less than $30, you can't go wrong with the Avispa in my opinion. Plus it's about 1/2 the cost of the Vantage Pro.
I'm considering this knife, now that they offer it in D2.
Same here, well worth the upgrade for only ~$10 more.
Good review as always. I linked up this video and the Avispa/Rat 1 comparison video on a thread on the Esee forum. Thanks for the review.
Awesome! Thanks Marty!
Best Avispa review I've seen
60 dollars here in Australia. One of the few decent knives available locally. Knives here are a good 2 or 3 times more than in America. Good vid tho man, earned a sub 👌🏻
Hazza Big 1 Where can u find them for 60 dollars in Aus? i saw 70.
I bought the green/stonewashed D2 Avispa & grey Zancudo awhile ago but it seems like the AUS-8 on my Zancudo retains an edge longer than the D2 Avispa.
Love my avispa in d2. I was going to buy it in aus 8 from amazon then i went to blade hq and found it for $5 more. Great edge retention on it and rock solid too. Super hard choice between this and the d2 rat 1 (same price at bhq). Thanks for always making real reviews unbiased always great content.
I just bought this Esee Avispa in D2 steel.
Is the Avispa the same length as the Zancudo when folded?
Excellent video bud!
Avispa and RAT1 both made in the same plant. Blue Ridge Knives Avispa. No warranty.
Love your reviews, thanks.
Right on!
OK...im a bit confused in what you said...." it will hold a good edge but dull pretty quick"
dragon3831 good and sharp edge, but it wont last as long as better knives, simple
Hes just saying crap about a knife he’s hardly used
Thanks for an informative, usefull review man.
No problem, thanks for watching.
As a lefty could you take the clip off with out an issue ?
For sure!👍
isn´t it a little sippy on the metallic side?
Hey Gideon, great review. May i make a request for a Cold Steel Warcraft Tanto review please?? Either Magnum or standard version. Really want to know if it lives up to the hype.
The Warcraft is on my radar, but I can't tell you when I will get my hands on it. Hopefully late this year or early next year.
Okay, Thanks for the reply. I will look forward to it :)
1st yt review on this knife and a good one, congrats!
So BRK actually makes this for esee? I guess esee is not tooled for folders...
What was the weight again?
Around 4oz. I do not have an exact weight.
+gideonstactical 4.4 oz acording to amazon. Just orderd one ;)
What color scales are those on the knife in this video.? Iv been trying to find one with grey color scales but they don't have that option. I'm thinking this is the desert tan color.?
My local knife shop has this in D2 steel and a carbon fiber scale. I'm considering getting it.
Mine has 100% lock up which makes it very hard to close. It's yours like that?
David Kappelt I had close to that and was hard to disengage but it is getting easier the longer I use it.
Mine had terrible action and almost impossible to close too. After every lock stick trick failed I had to literally bend the lock back to a much earlier lock up just so the knife would work. Apart from that it’s a great little knife and I find it interesting no one mentions this.
as a leftie I have one of these and just unscrewed the thumb stud and flipped it around no problem
Is that wood ? Where's the table ? Where's the paper ?
Hilarious we both uploaded a video about this knife on the same day. Lol
Great minds think a like!
EDC Gear Reviews soul sister's
What color are the scales?
Ty:)
I don't have to worry about edc cus im in Australia (edc is illegal)
Rusty Shackleford no offence but it would sorta be more dangerous but in the plus side I think it would be an amazing experience cus I've never seen a real gun in my life
Danny Kim wow I'm 14 and I do a sport called trap and there's basically a bunch of kids with shotguns shooting clay targets out of the air right off of a busy road
It’s kind of illegal in some circumstances. Know your legislation.
I'm a bit disappointed to not see a flipper on it
I found this useful (especially being a leftie) but wondered why you would want to carry a knife around town and to watch a movie?
Wild Stove what?? Yur kiddin right? If some shit goes down, yur ready teddy. Use yur head for more than a hat rack, lol. A Man always carrys a knife. Always son👊👊🔪
Seriously? Why would you NOT carry a knife around town. Always be prepared.
I disagree with a lot of statements regarding the same steel being better in one company than another. Unless it's powdered metals (CPM)... No company can heat treat one steel "better" than the other. Heat treatment is relatively simple. Their is no crazy science on getting a "better" heat treatment. If you want strength within the steel, you simply temper it more, thus making it less hard.If you want a higher hardness, you temper it less, making it harder. Harder steels obviously hold edges better.
So if AUS8 is the same composition in both Cold Steel products and ESEE, and the hardness is the same, the product is exactly the same, given the products have the same hardness depth or uniformity.
Heat treatment isn't crazy science and i completely disagree when someone says another manufacturer's same steel is better than another, when the numbers and data are the same.
I'm a leftie & am able to flip it open like a switchblade with the chubbie thumbstud
Reviewing a knife you barely used lol