Survival Knives

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review

I’m always amazed by what I don’t know. For example, before I got my hands on this Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration, I never knew who Bill Moran was. That sounds like sacrilege on a knife website, but I’m being honest. This isn’t an article on the greatness of Bill Moran, but he makes some beautiful knives that go for a small fortune. He helped found the American Bladesmith Society, and has been making knives for decades. The Bill Moran and Spyderco collaboration seems to blend the simple but effective Moran designs with an affordable price tag.

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The Moran Drop Point knife is mass-produced, unlike Mr. Moran’s knives, and are made for heavy-duty use and not so much for collecting. This isn’t a wall hanger but a reliable and well-made working knife. I’ve had it most of hunting season, but sadly I’ve been an unsuccessful hunter. In the many months, I’ve been carrying it, and I’ve gotten a good bit of use out of it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

Bill Moran’s designs are mostly known for their simple and elegant designs, and the Spyderco collaboration is no different. The blade is 3.875 inches long with an edge length of 3.375 inches. The blade is a standard .125 inches thick. The knife has a ¾ tang and the handle is molded directly to it. If you can’t tell by the knife’s name, it is a drop point design.

The stainless blade is quite shiny, but also very rust-resistant. The handle is made from FRN, and the overall length of the knife is 8.063 inches. It’s also one of the lightest fixed blade knives I’ve ever picked up. It weighs 3 ounces. 3 freaking ounces, holy crap is this thing light. I loved strapping it to my belt and never worrying about causing my pants slowly slide downwards on one side. I didn’t have to tighten my belt to an uncomfortable level to easily carry this knife.

From Spyderco, this knife was razor sharp. I always love it when companies send their knives out with a sweet edge, but get sad because I can’t replicate it. The Moran Drop Point is made from VG 10 steel, which is a very common kitchen knife steel. The main reason why is that it’s super resistant to corrosion. It’s stainless steel, but a solid and tough one. It’s perfectly suitable as a woods knife or a lightweight EDC blade for those working in more outdoor professions.

VG-10 proved to be a little challenging to sharpen for me, but to be fair, I suck at sharpening knives. Once you get it sharp, it stays sharp for quite some time. I only sharpened it, so I would have some perspective on sharpening it for this review. It’s also an ultra-sharp knife, and with a fine stone, you can get it very sharp.

I’ve used this knife for filleting trout, cutting chicken up for my famous chicken tacos, and doing typical knife work cutting tape, cordage, wire, boxes, and more. When it came to cutting up fish and chicken, I found the knife to be a delight. For the precise cuts required for cleaning trout, the knife was perfect. FOr cutting 4 pounds of chicken breasts into small chunks, it was a comfortable tool that made the task easy.

The same goes for your routine tasks. Admittedly when Christmas came and went, this knife got a lot of work. Why are toys so well secured in boxes? Holy crap, the number of cords, zip ties, and cardboard I had to cut before the day was over. The Moran powered through it with ease, though.

Handle and Ergonomics

What’s impressive is that the handle and the knife as a whole weigh about the same. This creates a super balanced knife that’s easy to control. The handle is made from fiberglass-reinforced nylon or FRN. This is a robust and lightweight material that provides a bit of grip to it. Spyderco is a master with FRN and uses it in some of their folding knives.

The FRN grips have non-removable Kraton panels. These are ultra-sticky panels that allow for a sure grip when working. Unlike most knives these days, there is no aggressive texturing. The combination of FRN and Kraton is enough to give you a no-slip grip under most conditions. I can testify that the grip is still strong even when your hands are wet and covered in fish slime.

Besides giving a sure grip, it’s also very comfortable. Aggressive texturing is excellent, but it tends to create hotspots. You’ll find no of those here. The grip is rounded off and ultra-comfortable in hand. The handle gives you excellent control of the blade and allows you to make fine cuts with little difficulty.

Sheath

The sheath is a lightweight boltaron model that comes with a multi-purpose G-Clip fastening system. The sheath’s G-Clip system is a polymer belt attachment with a sharp hook that connects under the belt to keep the knife in place. The system is reversible for lefties, and you can move the clip around quite a bit.

The angle of wear can be moved around for your comfort, and this includes wearing the knife horizontally if you so choose. The sheath comes up right over the blade and the knife locks in positively. It’s a good solid hold, and the knife stays put without the need for an active retention device.

The handle is also left with enough room for a good grip and an easy draw. The belt clip does its job well and hangs onto the belt without a hair of movement as the knife is drawn. The sheath is quite robust but keeps the theme of being lightweight, which keeps the entire knife system lightweight.

Spyderco Moran Drop Point Review – Final Thoughts

While the name Moran might not have meant anything to me before owning this knife, I can certainly see why Mr. Moran was such a popular bladesmith. This simple knife is far from tactical or high speed, but entirely practical. The ultra-lightweight and well-balanced design makes it an excellent tool. It’s one you can strap on and forget about, but when you need it, it’s there and razor-sharp. Plus, this is the only Moran knife I’ll ever be able to afford.

ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath

Editor: I recommend buying the Spyderco Moran Drop Point at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

ESEE-6 Review

by Dan Jackson 1 Comment

It has been a while since I’ve reviewed a large fixed blade. Regular readers know I’m in S.W. Florida. It’s a nice place to live, but it’s not exactly a mecca of bushcraft. I mostly moved here to be by the beach. The land itself is either dry and scrubby, or dank and marshy. It’s a beautiful place to live in it’s own way, but was one of the last places in the USA to be settled for a reason.

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And while I enjoy trimming trees on our tiny 1/4 acre lot and even having a bonfire a couple times a year, I’m no Ray Mears. Plus, I already have my big bushwacker – the ESEE Junglas. I’ll probably be buried with that knife. Maybe sooner than later depending on how this coronavirus plays out. Regardless, it’s my go to yard tool, and I’ve had it for almost a decade. Why mess with success?

Well, when you run a site like this, people have certain expectations. And they vary somewhat wildly. Since I’ve reviewed some outdoor fixed blades in the past (aka “survival knives“), some visitors may believe that I am duty bound to keep that section updated. And they make a good point.

So I want to keep reviewing survival knives. I enjoy them even if I can’t use them as much as I would like. So take the review with a pinch of salt. I don’t proclaim to be a bush master. I’m just a schlemiel with a knife review website and too much time on his hands.

One knife we have been missing from the website for years is the ESEE-6. And frankly, it’s missing from my understanding of the ESEE lineup as well. I’ve reviewed the smaller ESEEs, and the big Junglas, but haven’t touched anything between the 6 and 4. I’ve had Chad write on the ESEE-4, and Josh write on the Laser Strike, but I have to understand these knives as well. So here we go, a long needed review of the ESEE-6.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The ESEE-6 has an overall length of 11.75″, a 6.5″ blade, and the knife itself weighs 12 ounces. This is a pretty big knife. It’s not a Junglas, which is more of a fortified machete, but it’s still pretty damn big. It could be a good choice if you are looking for something that packs a whallop for chopping tasks, something that can baton pretty big pieces of wood, yet is still reasonably packable, and is also usable as a knife rather than a machete or small sword.

Certainly this would be a good camp knife. It can carve, cut and chop with the best of them. And it’s stout. ESEE knives. are tough, and this ESEE-6 is almost 5mm thick.

Here is a family portrait with my Junglas and ESEE-3 for reference:

It could also be used in certain martial applications. While it’s not a dagger, I think this 6″ blade has pretty good reach for a hog hunt or in an emergency. So the ESEE-6 strikes me as a large all-round utility / combat knife. The trade off is the size and weight. I wouldn’t take this on the Appalachian Trail, but if I needed something robust for a camp out or day hike, then the ESEE-6 could be a good choice.

Let’s turn to the blade. Here you get 6″+ of powdercoated steel. The shape is ESEE’s classic drop point. It’s a subtle drop point, offering about 3″ of straight edge and a good 3″ of curving belly as well. Lots of room to work with the ESEE-6. The blade is simple. It’s fully flat ground and there are no swedges or anything like that.

Blade steel is 1095. 1095 is high carbon steel, and is the same steel found on their regular lineup. For those who don’t know, 1095 is not a stainless steel. In exchange for being not-stainless, you get a tough high impact steel that is easy to sharpen. 1095 holds a good edge when used on wood. I find it dulls pretty quickly when used to cut material like cardboard. However, it is very easy to sharpen. That said, you will get good life out of the edge assuming you will be using this knife more for wood and food prep rather than breaking down a pile of boxes.

The entire knife comes with ESEE’s thick powder coat. The offer the coating in various colors, but I prefer the classic look of black powder coat. I took pictures of this knife before I started using it. You can see how the coating looks new, and you can see on my Junglas how the coating will hold up after years of use. It wears pretty well, but it isn’t invincible. It will do a good job of keeping rust off of most of the knife.

Here’s another size comparison. This time I have it next to the Fallkniven A1:

It compares favorably to the A1, friends. That’s why I selected it. Also, both knives are quite thick.

Back to the blade. In practice this is an extremely capable knife. It’s big enough for significant chopping and batoning tasks, but it’s still small enough to use as a knife. Not my first choice for peeling potatoes, but you can certainly chop them up, whittle, etc. The trade off is that the ESEE-6 is significantly heavier than a knife like the ESEE-3. But with the 3 you won’t be chopping, and unless you are a talented woodsman you are going to have a hard time batoning anything significant with the ESEE-3 either.

Handle and Ergonomics

My ESEE-6 came with gray linen micarta handle scales with red liners. It’s a handsome look, and the gray linen micarta is beveled for comfort. ESEE also offers G-10 handles if micarta isn’t your thing, and their extra handle scales are reasonably priced.

Personally, I like the way micarta wears, and it offers excellent traction even when your hands get wet or sweaty. This is a full tang knife, meaning the blade and handle are one continuous piece of steel, and that tang extends down to the pommel. This provides room for both a lanyard hole and am impact tool. You can crack walnuts or crack skulls depending on what the situation requires. Nice.

The ESEE-6 comes with a comfortable “Cadillac” of a handle. There is plenty of room, and there is a forward finger choil if you need to choke up on the blade. The micarta handle fills the hand and offers plenty of traction. ESEE included an inch or so of jimping on the spine of the blade. It’s aggressive jimping and is the kind that is better suited for gloved hands. Personally, I find the jimping to be a bit much for a naked hand, but that’s just me.

In practice I found this handle to be comfortable for extended use. This whether you use gloves or not. I tend to avoid gloves and did not run into issues with hot spots. The jimping I could live without, especially for crunching cuts, but I understand why ESEE put it there. All in all, it’s a comfortable handle. However, I prefer the edge radiusing (contouring) on the handle of the Junglas over the ESEE-6.

Sheath

The ESEE-6 comes with a high density thermoplastic sheath. It’s riveted and is built similar to a kydex sheath (pancake style). As usual, the quality is there. The sheath is nicely finished and holds the knife securely in place. There is a small amount of rattle, but nothing crazy. It takes a fair amount of force to pop the knife out of the sheath with your thumb, and ESEE included a short run of serrations on the sheath for that purpose. This knife is not coming out accidentally. They also included a drain hole in the bottom of the sheath and plenty of rivets for mounting options.

While you can lash this sheath to something or use MOLLE clips, I suspect most people will want to use the included belt clip. It mounts easily and securely to the sheath with the included hardware and allows for amibidextrous up or down carry. All the components of the sheath and belt clip are simple and of high quality. The plastic is dense, the steel clip offers a good blend of ease of use and high spring strength, and everything is set up to provide years of trouble free use.

Here is a better shot of that spring clip. The spring clip easily slides over a belt, so you can add or remove the sheath without taking your belt off. Once you have a sheath with a clip like this, it’s hard to go back to your standard sheaths with a belt loop.

ESEE-6 Review – Final Thoughts

Once again ESEE demonstrates their ability to make a high quality fixed blade knife and sheath. Everything is thoughtfully designed, made of high quality materials, and finished neatly. Oh, and it has all been made in the USA and is backed by one of the most comprehensive warranties in the business. They are on the expensive side, but I’ve found when you buy an ESEE fixed blade you are going to get a no-bullshit product that is designed for the long term. My Junglas and ESEE-3 are excellent examples of that, and I’m happy to add this ESEE-6 to the permanent collection. I have no doubt that it will serve me well for years. That said, if something happens I’ll update the review.

Perhaps the hardest part of selecting a knife within the ESEE catalog is settling on a single piece. The ESEE-6 is substantial, so that’s arguably it’s biggest potential problem. If you are looking for a knife to take on extended hikes, then you will likely want to give this one a pass. But if you are looking for something to use on a campsite, or packed into a truck, or even used in the yard, then I think the ESEE-6 has a lot to offer. Also, while I’m fond of my Junglas, it’s not usable as a knife. The ESEE-6 strikes more of a balance between a compact chopper and a utility knife.

ESEE Knives 6P Fixed Blade Knife w/Molded Polymer Sheath

Editor: I recommend buying the ESEE-6 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thank you for reading.

Doug Ritter RSK® MK1-G2 Review

by Dan Jackson 7 Comments

Everyone who has been around the knife industry for a while knows Doug Ritter. Doug is the founder and chairman of Knife Rights, an advocacy organization that promotes pro-knife legislation and opposes anti-knife legislation, and they also work to pursue knife owner civil rights. It’s a hugely important organization for knife owners and the industry. Doug is truly one of the pillars of the knife community.

And one of the ways Doug has been able to serve as that pillar is through the sale of his RSK MK1, which was commonly referred to as a Ritter Griptilian. The revenue from selling that knife gave Doug the financial freedom to pursue Knife Rights. Many folks preferred the high flat grind on the MK1 over the standard Griptilian. I had a MK1 with a set of Wilkins Grips. That was a super cool knife.

Somewhat shockingly, in 2016 Benchmade told Doug they would no longer make the MK1. So he had to turn to other manufacturers. He ended up partnering with Hogue, and the result is the RSK MK1-G2. You can read more about this on the KnifeWorks listing. I wasn’t aware of this background info and thought it was interesting.

When Doug approached me about reviewing the knife I jumped at it. I have been getting picky about what knives I review, as I haven’t had as much time to write recenetly, but as a fan of Hogue, Doug, and the original Ritter Grip, this is one I had to check out.

This review sample was provided free of charge. I’ll do my best to keep this review as objective as I can. After the review, I will keep this knife for long term testing and evaluation.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The MK1-G2 has an overall length of 8.15″, a 3.44″ blade, weighs 4.5 ounces, and is made in the USA. This is about the same dimensions of the original MK1. The MK1-G2 is approximately .7 ounces heavier, thanks in part to full G10 handle scales. The knife feels substantial. Not a boat anchor, but not an ultra-lightweight knife like the recently reviewed Para 3 LW. Doug has designed this with outdoor use / survival in mind, but I have carried the knife as an EDC piece. That’s the lens I’ll be examining it from.

The blade features the same wide drop point profile of the original MK1. The 2.92mm thick blade comes with a high flat grind, and a sweeping belly. The finish is a heavy stonewash. The edge bevel is wide and perfectly even.

Doug and Hogue selected Crucible CPM-20CV, a high end powered steel which is chemically similar to Boeller M390. Here is a link to the datasheet on CPM-20CV if you want to do some further reading. I’ve owned a number of knives in CPM-20CV at this point, and have been pleased with the blend of stain resistance, edge retention, ease of sharpening, and toughness. CPM-20CV is simply one of the best blade steels on the market currently, so it’s great to see it on this knife.

Here is a size comparison with a Delica and Endura:

Hogue is known for sending blades out of their factory with mirror polished edges. Mine came with a highly polished edge, and the blade was surprisingly sharp, even for someone like me who regularly handles sharp knives. That edge combined with the thin flat grind makes the MK1-G2 a beast to cut with. It slipped through cardboard, and cleanly sliced apples. I’ve used it on a few projects inside and outside of the house. I did a little carving with the knife for grins, and the blade zipped long peels of wood off a 2×4.

If you are looking for a solid performing folding knife, it’s going to be tough to beat the geometry of the MK1-G2. Combine that with CPM-20CV and you have a potent package.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The handle of the MK1-G2 is made of 3-D machined G-10. Gone is the old “cheap plastic” handle of the Griptilian. In it’s place is black G-10, fully machined. They really went all out, with a sunburst pattern around the pivot, blending into a patch of checkering, and then the sunburst picks back up again and radiates down the handle.

The handle itself is contoured. Inside, partial steel liners have been flush mounted into the G-10 handles. Everything is held together with torx bolts and 3 metal standoffs. All the machining is top notch and the fit and finish is excellent.

The MK1-G2 benefits from a practical handle design, and the knife has good ergonomics. The edges of the handle are square, so the knife doesn’t quite melt into the hand like a Griptilian, but it’s still comfortable thanks in part to the simple design and contoured handles.

There is also plenty of traction. The handle is obviously heavily textured, and there is jimping on the spine and pommel. There is a large thumb ramp, and the jimping isn’t overly aggressive. All in all, this is a handle designed for extended use. It’s practical and comfortable.

The MK1-G2 utilizes a deep carry spoon style clip. The clip has been given a tumbled finish. It’s not polished, but it’s not a matte finish either. The result is a fairly discreet pocket flip.

Spring strength and clip retention are pretty good. This is probably my biggest gripe with the knife. I’d prefer a little more spring retention on the clip. Living in Florida, I tend to wear lightweight shorts. This knife has slid around on me a little while in the pocket. The fact that this is a heavier knife doesn’t help. The knife hasn’t fallen out of my pocket, but I would be extra careful with this piece.

One interesting observation is that while the deep carry clip only uses 2 screws, the handle is drilled and tapped for 3 screws, so you may be able to pop a Benchmade clip on there, or an aftermarket clip.

Here is your shot of the knife in the pocket:

Deployment and Lockup

The MK1-G2 utilizes ambidextrous thumb studs. The thumb studs are large and easy to get to, and the blade pops out smoothly wish a brush of the thumb. Inside I can see thick phosphor bronze washers. Bearings are great for titanium framelock flippers, but I prefer the practicality of bronze washers for a true user piece like this MK1-G2. No complaints when it comes to getting this blade open, or the action.

For lockup we have have the ABLE Lock. This is described as an enhanced Axis Lock and the acronym stands for “Ambidextrous Bar Lock Enhanced”. That doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue, but “ABLE Lock” works. For those wondering, Benchmade’s patent on the Axis lock expired in 2016, so that’s why this lock is able to be used. The lock’s finish and geometry is a little different from the Axis lock, but it looks and feels like an Axis Lock.

In practice this has been a convenient and reliable lock. It’s fully ambidextrous, and locks up tight. There is zero blade play in any direction. Fans of the Axis lock will find a lot here. Practically speaking I haven’t noticed much of a difference between this and the Axis lock. If anything the lock bar on the ABLE Lock feels slightly smoother.

Doug Ritter RSK® MK1-G2 Review – Final Thoughts

Dubbing this knife the “Generation 2” of the RSK MK1 is a fitting title. I think the G2 a worthy successor to the original, and is a true next generation piece. The knife has been re-considered from the ground up and it shows, but at the end of the day it still features the robust cutting geometry, good ergonomics, and easy operation that the original MK1 was known for.

Upgrading to G10 handle scales is bound to appeal to most folks. It makes the knife feel more solid and expensive, and the side to side blade play that is common in a lot of the FRN handled Griptilians is nowhere to be found. The flip side is that you have a heavier knife. The 20CV blade steel was another nice upgrade, especially for a piece like this that will get a lot of use. The rest of the knife has been thoughtfully reworked. From the deep carry pocket clip, to the 3-D sculpted handle scales, to the improved ABLE lock, no stone was left unturned with this build. I am sure Hogue and Doug spent countless hours engineering this knife.

My only criticism is that I’d like to see a stronger pocket clip. This new G-10 version is heavier than the old FRN Ritter Grip, and the clip could use some extra spring. Especially with the thin shorts I wear here in Florida.

Pocket clip quibble aside, the end result is a knife that just works. Regular readers know I have a soft spot for largish work knives like this. I view this as an enhanced version of something like a Para 2 or Griptilian, but it’s not such a nice knife that you will feel bad using it. This knife lacks the jewel like quality of the G-10 Griptilian, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. The MK1-G2 was not designed to sit on a shelf, and I appreciate the practicality of it.

I can easily recommend this knife to fans of the original, or those looking for a premium folding work knife. It’s an excellent knife.

Doug Ritter RSK® MK1-G2 Review – From $159.95
From: KnifeWorks

The RSK MK1-G2 is available exclusively at KnifeWorks. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website, including Amazon and BladeHQ helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Thank you very much.

The ESEE Expat Libertariat Mini Machete Review

by Travis Pike 8 Comments

I’m a big fan of ESEE knives. They tend to be strong, well made, and designed to last. On top of that their knives tend to be very affordable and very simply made. Their target audience is often the outdoorsman, the hunter, the prepper, and general adventurer. The Expat line is a specialty line of knives designed outside of the typical ESEE crew.

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I’ve previously reviewed the Expat Cleaver and I was a big fan. The second Expat blade is the Libertariat, which is a compact machete designed for a few different purposes. This is a blade that is lightweight, easy to use, and can be used for a variety of purpose outside of hacking down a path.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The ESEE Libertariat has a 9-inch blade and an overall length of 14 inches. The blade is two inches wide and .12 inches thick. The handle is 5 inches long and 1.125 inches thick and made from wood. The Libertariat ways 13.08 ounces and comes with a canvas sheath.

It’s a very small, but also a very lightweight knife. The Libertariat doesn’t have a lot of weight to it, but it can still handle underbrush, vines, and limbs. I’ve even cut down some small trees without issue. The Liberariat lacks a point and is cleaver like. The lack of a point has never been an issue in my use of this tool.

The blade is made from SAE 1075 steel. It can get very sharp and is a good hard and tough steel. It can take a real beating when used as a machete is intended to be used. Of course, it doesn’t hold that edge for a long period. I find myself touching it up before any kind of daily use or yard work.

The blade has a Condor classic finish. This is a hammered finish that gives it the appearance of a tool built a long time ago. While it’s stylish its also effective, I rarely apply oil even though I live on the coast, and have yet to see rust.

As I mentioned this small machete is designed more or less as a bush tool more than a yard working machete. It can serve as a machete, as well as a general survival knife. It’s small and handy and could be used to clean game in a pinch.

The spine is a flat 90-degree surface that makes it easy to strike a ferrous rod with. The flat surface also makes it easy to baton wood into pieces if needed. I ‘ve batoned several pieces of pine wood without a problem. The hole at the tip of the blade allows the insertion of a rod to make what is basically a draw knife from this mini machete.

The Little Libertariat can do it all, or at least try to. Most importantly it’s an impressive machete. It chops and slices without issue and chew through some seriously thick material. As a small blade with little heft, you really have to know how to work a machete. Even an expert is going to expend more energy using the short and light Libertariat than a standard machete though.

With such a small blade you are using more energy, and losing reach causing you to bend over a bit to reach ground level. That’s the price to pay for a smaller, lighter, and handier machete.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle is made from wood and very smooth. In over a year’s worth of use I’ve never felt it slip from my hands, but I would see why some would want some form of checkering. I also haven’t developed hot spots when using the Libertariat heavily.

However, I did notice after one long day my hand got quite tired of handling it. The small handle requires a tight hold and that will cause fatigue to set in quicker than a full, thick, hand-conforming handle.

The angle of the handle is perfect for machete work. It tilts the blade slightly forward and gives you an angle that maximizes your swing. This makes your swing more natural when you use a proper technique or flicking the wrist prior to contact you’ll use less energy and cut deeper.

The Sheath

The sheath is very simple and made from a khaki colored canvas. It feels quite strong and very durable. Four metal snaps run along the seam of the sheath and hold it all together should the stitching rip or fail, or become cut all to hell from inserting and removing the machete over and over.

There seem to be two styles on the market. One that leaves most of the handle exposed and then mine which covers a good portion of the handle.

With mine the sheath covers the majority of the handle and drawing the Libertariat is not a fast endeavor. I have to pinch, pull, then grip the handle properly. I see why some of the newer models come with a sheath that allows a full grip.

A small thong secures around the handle and keeps the machete in the sheath. It attaches the belt through a loop and that is really all she wrote. It’s simple, but it works.

The ESEE Expat Libertariat Mini Machete Review – Final Thoughts

The Libertariat can do everything a bigger machete can do… with a lot more effort anyway. Its small size makes it easy to use for a variety of tasks outside of just hacking and slashing brush. It’s very light and would be a great camp tool, or for a hiker looking to cut pounds.

For the price, it is hard to go wrong. Plus ESEE backs it with their lifetime, no questions asked warranty. The Libertariat is a potent little tool that will serve you well for a long time.

ESEE ESLIB-BRK Expat Libertariat Machete Knife, Black, 9 in

90 degree spine for Ferro rod Use
Draw knife Hole in blade
Condor edge
A lightweight tropical survival knife
Care instructions: Hand Wash

I recommend purchasing the ESEE Expat Libertariat at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thank you very much.

ESEE Laser Strike Review

by Josh Wussow 9 Comments

Alright, I’ll admit it – I’m a huge fan of ESEE Knives. I own a Candiru, Izula-2, and JG3, and I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing an exquisite PR4. So, when the opportunity to sample their Laser Strike model landed in my inbox, you can guess the speed of my reply.

Buy the ESEE Laser Strike at BladeHQ

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While I’m hardly alone in this enthusiasm, much of the halo surrounding ESEE comes from inside the blade-enthusiast bubble. Their American-made pedigree and bulletproof warranty are great for nerds like me, but what about the regular folks who buy their camp knives at Walmart? Tell them you spent $115 on an outdoor blade, and they’ll shoot you some pretty strange looks.

I know this, because it’s exactly what I did. After a few weekends racing around the yard, the Laser Strike’s final lap came on an overnight trip to Devil’s Lake State Park in Wisconsin. A few of my friends were testing their camping kits, and they invited me along for the ride. We had a wonderful evening exchanging questionable decisions: Me, teaching them how to baton through logs and them introducing me to, well…

Don’t drink and play with knives, kids. Now, onward before that stuff kicks in.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

In a brand known for its rugged offerings, the Laser Strike stands out as a damage-duty champ. You’re looking at 10-inches of full tang 1095 carbon steel, with a blade nearly as thick as three US quarters stacked together (0.188-inches).

The blade length is a rangy 4.75-inches, 4.5 of which are sharpened. Its flat grind features ESEE’s rugged “Black Textured Powder Coat” over a 1.38-inch width, broken only by the maker’s marks. The knife’s total weight is 9.5-ounces, which is around half as much as a youth-sized aluminum baseball bat.

Now, let me be clear about the provenance of this particular tool. ESEE was kind enough to send it to notorious Youtuber and (I’m directly quoting him here) “big piece of doo doo” Advanced Knife Bro, who agreed to send it my way after mercilessly pummeling it.

As expected, the blade arrived in need of some love. But, that’s one of the beauties of 1095 – It’s easy to whip back into shape. A quick cleaning and Sharpmaker session were all it took to bring the edge back to shaving sharp. But, with a pile of firewood in the garage and a camping trip on the horizon, it didn’t stay that way for long.

So, how did it do with fire prep? Come on – It’s an ESEE. It powered through a half-dozen camp logs without so much as a hiccup. What really shocked me was its prowess at the picnic table. Our menu on this mosquito-rich evening featured ribeye steaks and flame-grilled veggies. I was recruited to help slice onions, peppers, and mushrooms on a small cutting board, which was probably just as thick as the ESEE’s blade. Here’s how things turned out:

Surprised? I certainly was. While it’s certainly no santoku, the Laser Strike turned out to be a more than adequate prep tool. And this was after I’d batoned through several pieces of damp firewood. You won’t be producing translucent onion slices, but for rustic fare like this, the ESEE is surprisingly adept.

Handle and Ergonomics

I love the way that ESEE’s tend to hold my hand. Is that creepy? Too bad, the statement stands. The company’s canvas micarta is on point, and the forward choil fits my index finger perfectly. I also enjoyed the widely spaced jimping, positioned at the step-down transition from blade to handle. It provides excellent traction for my thumb without any discernable discomfort.

A quick aside, for the sake of comparison: I took several knives on this camping trip, including my beloved L.T. Wright GNS and the Condor Swamp Romper (which I gave away to a buddy who didn’t know any better). I encouraged my friends to handle each blade, and the Laser Strike’s scales were the runaway favorite. This could be considered anecdotal, sure, but it was interesting to get some perspective from folks who’re just getting into the knife hobby.

Now, let’s take a moment to discuss the stuff inside the handle. See that metal washer hanging from the base of the sheath? Well, it’s not just for show. This metal disc acts as a flathead driver, allowing you to remove the handle scales. Stowed within are a fire steel and a couple tinder pellets, all included as part of the overall package.

This further pushes the Laser Strike’s “Survival Knife” image, though I do have a few qualms. While certainly serviceable, this small fire steel is pretty difficult to spark. And, given the powder coat, the only available striking surface is (shudder) the blade edge. Sure, the sharpening choil might work, but I’d need to be in a real-life “Fire or I perish” sort of situation before doing that much damage to the cutting surface.

The Laser Strike has another option built in. See that divot on the right handle scale? That’s for a bow drill, allowing you to make fire in an even more bushcraft-friendly fashion. Inefficient? Sure, but 100% cool.

Sheath

The Laser Strike ships with a black Kydex sheath setup, including an ambidextrous clip plate and the aforementioned lanyard/washer combo. It’s a far cry from the leather of the Camp Lore knives I’ve been testing, falling more into the ESEE’s number-knife family (3, 4, 5, etc.).

Retention on the Kydex is good, though it’s absolutely possible to shake 9.5 ounces of knife out of its grip with enough downward thrust. Tension can be adjusted using the sliding screw and washer above the choil area, so you can tighten things up if you feel the need. I like ride height, despite my usual preference for leather danglers. It also manages to be fairly slim, making the knife carry much easier than one would expect from a blade of this heft.

ESEE Laser Strike Review – Final Thoughts

Going into this review, I had no doubts about the Laser Strike’s capabilities as a field-first tool. But it impressed me in every application, from batoning to carving to cooking. Expectations aside, part of the joy of this particular test came from the look on my friends’ faces as they watched me hammer it through our firewood, and the smiles when I handed it over and said “Give it a shot.” Being able to follow up with “You’re not going to break it” and watching them realize it was true – Man, that was a neat moment.

Sufficed to say, I’m completely sold on the Laser Strike as a heavy-duty hacker. It’s not going to replace your smaller blades for ultralight outings and day hikes, but it’s a super-solid addition to a hard-use loadout or car camping kit.

Thanks again to ESEE Knives and Advanced Knife Bro for allowing me to check it out.

Sale

Laser Strike Knife, Black Blade, Micarta Handles, Kydex Sheath

Made in: USA
Category name: knives
Made in USA or imported

Editor: I recommend purchasing the ESEE Laser Strike at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Gerber StrongArm Review

by Travis Pike 6 Comments

One thing I have always had is a healthy respect for is a good fixed blade knife. As a young infantryman I fell victim to some clever marketing from Gerber and purchased the Gerber LMF II Infantry. It had infantry in the name so I couldn’t go wrong right? While I may have been a victim of marketing, I didn’t feel victimized. The LMF II served me well, but everything can be improved. The Gerber StrongArm is in many ways the successor to the Infantry, and is better suited to the infantry role.

Buy the Gerber StrongArm at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

The LMF II Infantry has a fascinating story and was built for a very specific purpose you should check out here. That specific purpose resulted in the knife’s lack of a full tang. The Gerber StrongArm resolves this issue. The StrongArm is a little lighter, a little shorter, and is more refined than the Infantry LMF II. The StrongArm is a versatile capable, and affordable knife made in Portland, Oregon.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Gerber StrongArm has 4.8 inch fixed blade made from 420 HC steel, is 9.8 inches overall, weighs 7.2 ounces and is proudly made in the United States. This is a classic fixed blade knife that isn’t trying to revolutionize the standard military style survival knife. In terms of fixed blades it’s actually somewhat small. It’s a half inch shorter than the LMF II Infantry, but has an almost identical blade length.

Gerber StrongArm

The knife is easy to carry, and perfect for those looking to trim as much weight as possible from their loadouts. That’s generally the goal of dismounted infantry. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain.

The StrongArm comes with options for both a serrated or plain edge. I prefer the plain edge. The blade is coated with a cerakote black matte finish. The finish is tough, but will wear with time and effort like any finish would. The 420 HC steel does mean that once the finish is worn away rust may develop. Keep the knife cleaned, and oiled as the finish migrates and you won’t have any issues.

The older FDE StrongArm you see here has been used and abused hard for a year. It’s been hunting, camping and fishing. The knife has been used to hammer, pry, and dig and its taken a few hits to the finish as you can see.

Gerber StrongArm Brown vs. Black

420 HC steel is a cheaper steel, and this is a knife on the affordable side. The downsides to 420 HC is that it won’t hold an edge for long. It’s one of those steels you sharpen before any really heavy duty cutting is needed. For a survival knife you don’t necessarily need a razor sharp edge for day to day work. It stays sharp enough for cutting paracord, stripping wires, and slicing through clothing for some time.

When it comes time to cut through thick materials you may need to run the blade over or through a sharpener a time or two before you go wild. 420 HC steel can actually get impressively sharp if you know your way around a sharpening stone. I’ve never failed to be impressed at how sharp my Dad makes his old Buck knife before skinning a deer and its made from the same 420 HC steel.

Gerber StrongArm Blade

The StrongArm has a squared off spine that’s perfect for stripping bark, batoning wood, striking a ferro rod, and truncating wood. All tasks the Gerber StrongArm can commit to with real force. The StrongArm’s small handguard doesn’t really allow for a thumb on the blade grip so the less comfortable square spine isn’t an issue.

Handle and Ergonomics

The handle on the StrongArm is an interesting design. I do find it slightly smaller than necessary, but to be fair I have XL sized hands. Even with my large hands I still find the grip comfortable. The smaller grip isn’t much of an issue due to its design.

The Gerber StrongArm is glass filled nylon that’s covered with a rubber overmold. This makes the grip ‘soft’ in the hand. Squeezing it tight doesn’t result in much fatigue or pain. The little bit of give the rubber overmold offers results in a lot of comfort. The little bit of give also allows the blade to mold to your hand just a bit.

The rubber overmolded material is coated with a raised diamond textured pattern. This glues the knife to your hand and is perfect for cold, wet, or gloved hands. The pattern is rough, but doesn’t rub the hand raw, or even really create hotspots that I’ve noticed.

Gerber StrongArm in Sheath

The bottom of the handle is a small pommel. It’s a lot smaller than the LMF II, but still capable enough to smash windows and skulls. It’s also got a lanyard loop if your StrongArm needs a leash.

Sheath

We’ll finish this up talking about the brilliant sheath system Gerber included with the StrongArm. It’s designed to be adaptable to the user. Popular knives typically have plenty of sheath options, but with Gerber you are getting all of them with the knife.

Gerber StrongArm Molle Compatible

This includes a MOLLE mount, a drop leg system, and a belt loop option for horizontal carry. The knife is too big for any kind of horizontal concealed carry, but it’s really great for a snag free carry while wearing armor. When you draw from a standard belt carry sheath while wearing armor you are likely to get snagged on your gear in one way of the other. Drawing horizontally from the belt prevents this.

I also like the horizontal belt mount for mounting the knife vertically on my pack straps. This means my knife never leaves the pack I go camping with.

The Sheath employs both passive and active retention depending on the mount being used. The active retention is a simple snap button thong. The passive retention comes from an indent in the center of the handle. The sheath locks into this indent and holds the knife well.

In all my adventuring near and far it hasn’t fallen out when I’m using only passive retention. The sheath is also outfitted with plenty of lashing holes for those who aren’t satisfied with the included sheath options.

Gerber StrongArm Review – Final Thoughts

The Gerber StrongArm is a great little knife, especially when you factor in a street price of around 50 bucks. Gerber’s reputation was hit hard by imports of poorly made foreign knives, but they seem to be working hard to fix that reputation. The StrongArm is proudly stamped made in Portland, Oregon. The StrongArm is one of many made in USA knives in their catalog and likely one that will be around for a long time It’s an excellent budget bushcraft knife.

The StrongArm may not be the LMF II Infantry, but it’s a great knife, and a worthy successor to the LMF II.

Sale

Gerber Gear StrongArm - Fixed-Blade Camping & Hunting Knife with Striking Pommel & Sheath - Premium Survival Gear - Black, Plain Edge

Iconic Strongarm Design: This Gerber Gear fixed blade knife features a full-tang, 420HC steel blade with a ceramic coating
Dependable Cutting Knife: Our camping knife boasts a rubberized diamond-texture grip for secure handling
Versatile Knife Sheath: The StrongArm knife includes a MOLLE-compatible sheath for adaptable carry options, ensuring the hunting knife is accessible
Tactical Edge: This fixed-blade knife also features a striking pommel, ideal for survival tasks in the toughest environments

Editor: I recommend purchasing the Gerber StrongArm at Amazon or BladeHQ. Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.