The Esee RB3 is a new knife for me. In fact, I just started testing it in December of 2021. However, I can already tell that we are going to get along just fine…
Simply put, this knife is a beast. It performs extremely well for the types of outdoor tasks that I enjoy doing. The rounded handle fills my hand very well and is extremely comfortable to use for extended periods of time. The zero-degree Scandinavian grind on this particular Esee Knife is a departure from their typical flat grind. And because of that, it is perfectly suited for woodcraft and survival tasks.
Don’t waste any time…
Day 1 with the Esee RB3 consisted of me pounding it through multiple pieces of hardwood to create a “one-stick-fire”, carving handfuls of feather sticks, and using the spine along with the Exotac fireROD XL on a very wet day to create a sustainable fire. Check out the video below to see more…
Esee RB3 Review
Obviously, I have not got enough dirt time in with the Esee RB3 to give a conclusive review of this knife yet. But, I wanted to go ahead and create this page so I can update it as I log more field time with it. In the meantime, since you’re here and wanna know more about this knife, here are a few quick first impressions about the knife…
- Hefty:
Immediately when you pick the RB3 up, you’ll notice it’s got some heft to it. Not only does this give the knife a great feel in hand, but it also gives it a solid and durable feel. - The 90º Spine (as you can see in the video above):
The spine comes screaming sharp from the factory. It will shred a ferro rod or tree bark for a tinder bundle…Which is incredibly important in a “survival” or bushcrafting knife. - Speaking of sharp:
The zero-degree Scandi ground blade is very sharp out of the box. It made feathersticks from hardwoods in a hurry and has stayed sharp ever since. - Sharpening:
When it does need a touch-up, Esee’s 1095 Blade Steel is always fantastic and touches up very easily in the field with a simple strop or whetstone. - USA Made by Great Folks:
I have become buddies with the folks at Esee this year and that is important to me. Not only do I like knowing the faces & names behind a brand. But I like knowing that they are good, honest people if I’m recommending their products to you all. I can confirm, Esee Knives & Randall’s Adventure are good people. - Price/Value:
You get a whole lotta knife-and-sheath for the Esee RB3’s $105-120 price tag. Sure, this isn’t pocket-change for someone getting into this world of knives. But I can assure you that this knife will stand the test of time with you. And, if you do happen to have an issue, Esee will back their knives no-questions-asked.
See my entire Esee Knives Collection Here
More to Come…
There will be plenty of upcoming adventures with the Esee RB3 on my hip, so stay tuned for more info about this knife. In the meantime, if you dig what you see and wanna pick one up for yourself, I’ll drop some links below.
Gear from the video
In the video, at the beginning of this article, I used very simple & minimal gear to get the fire going. The Esee RB3 and *Exotac fireROD XL (firestarter).
*use coupon code “anthonyawaken” for 20% off at Exotac.com