For the battlefield or for surviving in the forest, no other knife is more indispensable than the ESEE 5P Survival, Escape, Evasion Knife. This knife is great when one is out camping and it is far more durable than the average Swiss knife. It is also a must-have for military men during training and out in combat, especially when resources are scarce. Manufactured by Randall’s Adventure and Training, the ESEE 5P is one of the ultimate tools in survival.
About Randall’s Adventure and Training
Since 1997, Randall’s Adventure and Training has designed and manufactured affordable and no-nonsense gear and field knives particularly for backpackers, adventurers, law enforcement, and military personnel. The company is the sole knife maker that employs full-time adventurers and trainers especially tasked with testing and developing products and training, which work in remote and secluded wilderness environments.
ESEE 5P Features
ESEE 5P Black Tactical Survival Knife
Let’s go back to the ESEE 5P. Judging by the looks of it, one can say that the ESEE 5P is indeed for heavy-duty purposes. Like all the knives in Randall’s Adventure and Training line-up, the ESEE 5P is made of high-carbon 1095 steel. While it is one of the best choices for professional cutlery meant for heavy-duty use, 1095 steel will stain and rust if not cared for properly, particularly around the laser engraving and on the cutting edge.
The knife has an overall length of 11 inches and a thickness of 0.25 inches. The blade has a length of 5.25 inches and its steel is made of 55-57 Rc 1095 carbon. The ESEE 5P, which is finished in a textured powder coat, has a blade width of 1.56 inches and a saber grind. The knife weighs about 16 ounces and the handle is made of Canvas Micarta. The knife comes with a Kydex Sheath with clip plate. Other features of the ESEE 5P include a bow drill pivot and a glass beaker. The spine can be operated through thumb jimping.
All of the knife’s specifications suggest that the ESEE 5P should not be used for ordinary purposes. The knife’s size also suggests that it is not meant for kitchen use. A larger knife would be best used to prepare meals than this heavy-duty ESEE 5P. Its size and weight make it best suited for camping and military applications.
ESEE 5P Review
ESEE 5P reviews have been mostly positive. One ESEE 5P review states that the knife grip is well-proportioned and extremely comfortable. The blade is also very thick and the reviewer is surprised that he can split firewood using this knife. The sheath, which has a tension adjustment, also gets rave reviews. It comes with a clip that is attached to the sheath for belt mounting.
Another review states that the ESEE 5P knife can cut through tree bark with relative ease. The only thing that one has to be careful with, though, is handling the canvas micarta handle. The material would surely graze the skin with prolonged use on the first few camping and survival trips.
Another reviewer of the ESEE 5P uses the knife for outdoor purposes. He could cut down a smaller tree or shuck oysters while using this knife. He can also say that the knife is very durable and can last a lifetime. While Randall’s Adventure and Training warns against rusting, the ESEE 5P can withstand all kinds of weather elements like water and snow and still not rust. The knife is something that men would truly appreciate.
Conclusion (with rating)
Based on the collated reviews, this reviewer would give the ESEE 5P a generous 8.5/10 rating. This is due to the micarta handle roughing up one’s skin. However, the handle is only an issue in the beginning. The user would get used to the handle after several uses. In all, the ESEE 5P knife is a reliable partner when one is out in the woods.
It is absolutely the best bushcraft knife I have ever owned. I was skeptical at first. On my first backpacking trip with my son and some cousins to Mt. CHEAHAU Alabama . We were hiking out the ridge to McDill Point. After setting up Camp my son got my NEW KNIFE and began to prepare firewood . After buttoning and hacking through a section of starter pine (rich pine) about 5 ft long and approx 6 to 8 inches in diameter it still shaved. ???????????????? I was dumbfounded. That was just the beginning. 2 years later it still shaves. I have put a Smith diamond pocket steel to it a hand full of times mainly to keep the high carbon steel clean from rust and maintain its factory sharp edge. I would spend a lot more than it cost knowing now what I know. U never go in the woods without it.
Remember: The old original USMC K-Bar combat knives were also made for many decades of 1095 (steel with 0.95% carbon) for hardness the same as this ESEE knife.
The engineers of that awesome knife also knew what they were doing. As millions of US Marines who have used the K-Bar in many conflicts around the world.
1095 is not a newer exotic metal. It is a simple tried and true formula that won’t let you down for hardness and durability.
ESEE knives likewise.