The author slowly shaved the handle down to a comfortable, smooth level. (Photo: Reuben Bolieu) After the rough handle was shaped, the carving started. The author makes a mallet with the ESEE-4 S35VN by batoning through a round of maple to split it down to the stop cut made with a saw. Eventually, the knife was used to shave down and fine-tune the handle (which I plan on using for many years). The log was put on a stump, and I used the ESEE-4 S35VN to baton and split sections, forming a rough handle. Out came the bow saw, which I used to cut around the circumference of the log that would act as my stop-cut. However, I wanted a more traditional baton mallet. It was cut with a saw at the junction of a Y section, so there was a handle of sorts, offering a lot of leverage when splitting or pounding stakes into the hard ground. I had a large, heavy baton in my camp that I’d cut from a piece of hard maple. I proceeded to split the chunky oak with the ESEE-4-tip down, held in an icepick grip and a stout baton in hand. Hammering the exposed tang with a heavy baton. The author used the ESEE 4 S35VN to easily split through a chunk of oak by Rather than dig out my tomahawk to split it, I opted to use the ESEE-4 S35VN. When I arrived at my camp, I found a piece of oak from a previous campfire that still had some ice on it. “ESEE Knives now offers its classic ESEE-3 and ESEE-4 knives in S35VN steel with regular Micarta handle scales and contoured 3D G10 handles.” So, I packed the ESEE-4 S35VN with my cold weather gear, and away we went. The weather report called for below-freezing conditions and snow. I decided that the new 3D G10-handled ESEE-4 would be my choice for woods work, and the ESEE-3 S35VN would be on EDC detail. The 3D gray/ black G10 scales (bottom) are the newest scales for the S35VN ESEE-4. The classic ESEE-4 look is still offered with the orange G10 scales and canvas Micarta scales that feature an upgraded S35VN steel. I wasted no time with the selection process to choose which of these knives would be my woods test subject and which would get the utility, EDC treatment.
The texture is smooth but has a grainier look than a plain satin finish. However, feeling them is believing! The blade finish is called “Stone Wash,” and it’s appropriately named. Taking them right out of the package, I saw a noticeable difference between the standard canvas Micarta scales and the luxury 3D G10 scales. In the latter part of 2020, I got my mitts on both the ESEE-3 S35VN and the ESEE-4 S35VN, which featured 3D G10 scales. That’s S35VN steel performance!” Extreme Evaluation Result? There were no problems, even after the array of materials that had been cut. “At the end of all the slashing, puncturing, slicing and dicing, I shaved hair off my arm as an extra test. I still take it out on trips and know it’ll last a lifetime! Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the original flat Micarta scales on the ESEE-4 S35VN model (right) and the new, contoured 3D G10 scales. It was never a “safe queen,” nor will it ever be. Since then, I’ve used it on countless trips and survival classes. It was my “class knife” after completing the Randall’s Adventure & Training Jungle Survival Class in 2007. I have to include myself in that list of practitioners. There’s a handful of survival community practitioners and experts who swear they’ve used the original 1095 carbon steel ESEE-3 (or its RAT-3 predecessor) as their go-to knife and cut their teeth with it coming up. The rounded, exposed pommel and “Stone Wash” blade finish elegantly complement the scales. Two ESEE Knives classics are now available with 3D G10 scales and S35VN stainless steel blades. These are often regarded as the flagship knives offered by ESEE Knives, so good just got better. As an added benefit, the S35VN models fit all the standard ESEE-3 and ESEE-4 sheaths. According to Crucible Industries LLC, its chemistry has been rebalanced so that it forms some niobium carbides, along with vanadium and chromium carbides. It’s also easier to machine and polish than S30V. Often referred to as a “super-steel,” S35VN is a martensitic stainless steel designed to offer improved toughness over S30V. This company’s been busy! Classic RevampsĮSEE Knives now offers its classic ESEE-3 and ESEE-4 knives in S35VN steel with regular Micarta handle scales and contoured 3D G10 handles. NEW STEEL AND SCALES ACE GRUELING WINTER CAMP TESTS.ĮSEE Knives started 2020 out with a new steel for its offerings, along with one new model and revamps of its classic ESEE-3 and ESEE-4 models.
0 kommentar(er)
