The pricing of ESEE Knives has been called by some people “ambitious,” and that’s a very generous, even euphemistic way, to put it.

Frankly, ESEE knives are very expensive for non-custom knives, and considering the fact that they’re predominantly made with budget steels (although not always) this is a real head-scratcher.

Yet they remain extremely popular among sportsmen and those who carry fixed blades in general. Let’s see if we can get to the bottom of some value here.

The Warranty

Arguably the one thing that really justifies the price of ESEE Knives it’s the warranty. It is, to put it lightly, one of the most sincere and legitimate warranties in the industry, perhaps in any industry.

If you break your knife, they will replace it. Period. The warranty covers the knife, for the life of the knife, and does not account for the buyer.

That means if you pick up an ESEE knife off the ground, carry it for three years, then break the tip off, you can send it back to them and they’ll replace it, pretty much no questions asked.

The Quality of the Steel

It’s no secret that most ESEE Knives are made with powder coated 1095, which is a cheap steel, no matter how you look at it.

That is, cheap, meaning it doesn’t cost a lot. The steel itself is not a paltry performer. In fact, it’s a great steel for the applications ESEE intends, as beaters.

Yes, it will rust, and it will rust easily, but it is also extremely tough. You will have to try hard to break an ESEE, or even chip the edge.

And that’s another thing. The steel is soft and won’t hold an edge long, but that also means if you’re 20 miles from the nearest road and all you have is a pocket stone, you can restore the edge easily in the field.

The Quality of the Sheath

Most ESEE Knives are issued with thermoplastic sheaths that, like the knife steel, are probably not all that expensive to manufacture.

But there are two things to consider here. One is that they are tough and the other is that they are versatile.

For one thing, they will never need any maintenance, and that alone is worth something. But they are also perforated around the outside margin, which enables them to be rigged in as many ways as any sheath can be.

They can be belt carried, pack carried, scout carried, lashed to another piece of gear, carried in a cross-draw configuration, or even worn as a neck knife.

Overall Robustness

Lastly, despite the fact that ESEE’s warranty covers them anyway, their portfolio of staples, like the ESEE-3, ESEE-4, Junglas and Izula, constitutes some of the toughest knives in the industry.

You can put them through such hard use that the powder coat will all but wear off entirely, and generally, the knives are none the worse for wear.

They do break, but rarely, and only under the most extreme use, and most of the time, the only maintenance you’ll have to administer is a retouch on the edge.

Where to Learn More About ESEE Knives

Want to learn more about ESEE Knives or get a new one for yourself? Check out what’s in stock at White Mountain Knives and if you’re looking for something you don’t see listed get in touch with them directly.

For more information about Cold Steel Tanto Knife and Kershaw Hunting Knife Please visit: White Mountain Knives, LLC.