Update: I ordered the Izula Survival Kit from knifeworks.com Tuesday night and ended up just driving down to their shop, which is only about 35 minutes away, and picking it up yesterday. The Izula was pretty dull out of the packaging (tore printer paper instead of cutting through it). Planning to work some more with it on my Sharpmaker tonight. Also wrapped it with some bergundy and high-viz neon green paracord.
Picked up a brown Delica 4 FFG while I was there as well, and that thing was scary sharp out of the box. Actually felt much sharper than I remember my Endurance 4 FFG feeling when I got it a while back.
Strange that it was dull. I have 2 izulas’s and the esee 4. All have been stupid sharp from the factory. Infact this is the first I have heard of an esee edge being anything less than outstanding from the get go
Yeah I found it strange as well. The edge felt sharp when running my finger sideways across it, but I usually defer to the paper cut test with 8.5x11 printer paper. After repeated tries at that, all it would manage is to tear and/or bend the paper. In your experience(s), have Izula’s come paper-slicing sharp from the factory? It may have also been that the coating on the blade was hanging up on the paper I guess, but even with that, it wasn’t as sharp as I want it to be. I haven’t had time to work on it with the Sharpmaker any more as planned, but I probably will today. As it sits now, the belly of the blade will slice paper fairly well but if I try it on the flat part of the blade it will start tearing the paper. I also put a new wrap on it that i really like, I’ll snap a picture of that and get you guys an update on the sharpness issue. Razors edge from the factory or not, I love this thing!
Yes, the very much so have. Curve cuts/wavy cuts, hair thin cuts, all no problem at all. Also they all three easily shave hair. Even the number 4, and it has a very thick blade. Only thing about the 4, is to get optimal hair shaving I have to bring it up at a slightly higher angle due to the thickness of the blade
Another good Knife to look into is the GSO series by survive knives…good steel, they will definitely by sharp outta the box, and they are comparable in size to ESEE/RD series. Mora is another good option, and Grizzly Outdoors makes a nice sheath set up that has a LED knife and firesteel built in for Moras.
I don’t follow the usual mindset when it comes to knives, I guess my experiences have molded my mindset.
I carry a blade for survival and a blade for defense. My use is for hiking, camping, since I don’t run trails.
For hiking/camping I use the old school Becker BK7 or another BK series. For defense I’ll use a fixed blade Karambit, Hissatsu, or a even good defensive folder. Skinning a fish is messy with a fixed blade made for camping.
I’ve never said “Damn, I wish I would have brought another knife”, or “Damn, I wish I wouldn’t have brought an extra knife”.
Exactly, the one knife for every task is a difficult and usually prohibitively expensive item. I’d like to hear about the knives that are the master of all trades, so post em up.
