Benchmade VS ESEE: A High Performance Knife Brand Standoff

In the world of knife manufacturing, there are a number of manufacturers that have really made their mark with high quality, high performing products. Two companies that are well known within this sector for the production of innovative and stylish products are Benchmade and ESEE.

Benchmade known for its tactical, and everyday use knives has been a pioneer in the successful knife industry, like its competitor ESSE which has been successful making high quality knives  since 1997.

While both knife brands are great, and both brands have a number of excellent styles, making the right choice usually comes down to experience, quality and price.  Let’s look at both brands in more detail below.

1. More about Benchmade

Benchmade has been creating high-quality knives for close to three decades. The company was founded in 1988 and is situated in Oregon City.  Many of their knives are manufactured in the United States.

Benchmade has amassed a following from all over the globe, because of their premium build quality, although they have a premium price tag to go with it. Benchmade creates knives with some of the highest standards and uses the latest technology to ensure top performance.

2. Products and Specifications

Benchmade carries a huge selection of different knives, depending on your budget.

Benchmade Freek: If you want an everyday carry knife that is easy to carry but powerful, the Freek is an excellent option among the many knives in Benchmade’s folding knife collection. The blade of the knife is made from CPMS30V steel and is 3.60 inches in length. The overall length of the knife when open is 8.46 inches.

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Saddle Mountain Hunter: If you are looking for a hunting knife, this robust knife has a satin steel blade that measures 4.05 inches and the overall length of the knife is 8.59 inches.  It makes a great hunting companion on any excursion.

The Tactical Triage: The Triage has a blade made from CPM-S30V steel and a blade length of 3.48 inches. This is a multi-functional tactical knife, which also has a safety hook and glass breaker, making it a perfect knife for any rescue situation.

The Foray: With a 3.24 inch satin steel blade, this is a powerful yet versatile knife that is perfect for any and all outdoor activities.  It has a drop point style and an open length of 7.32 inches.

The Azeria: Performance is key when you are looking for a good tactical knife, and the Azeria has an Austrian steel blade measuring 2.90 inches and an overall length of 5.64 inches. This is a knife that combines stylish design with a tough build for any tactical circumstance.

Benchmade Bushcrafter: Tough and sturdy, Benchmade’s Bushcrafter is one of the best field knives that money can buy. The knife has a blade measuring 4.40 inches and an overall length of 9.15 inches, and is perfect for just about any situation that calls for a fixed blade knife.

3. More About ESEE

ESEE has been making great quality knives since 1997.  They were previously known as RAT Cutlery, which stood for “Randall Adventure Training” before splintering off to become ESEE.

Since ESEE was formed, their knives have become a fixture of many hardcore survivalists. While they specialize in fixed blade survival knives, their product selection has a variety of knives that you can choose from to fit just about any budget or situation.

4. Products and Specifications

While ESEE fans typically flock to their fixed blade knives, they have a variety of different categories of excellent quality knives.  Here are some of our favorite choices:

The ESEE Laser Strike: This fixed blade knife has a 4.75 inch blade made from carbon steel. The knife measures 10 inches overall and comes with removal handles. The weight of this knife is 9.5 ounces and it has a study built but with stylish design enabling you to enjoy the best of both worlds.

The ESEE Candiru: This is a utility knife that combines lightweight design with powerful performance. Weighing just 1.7 ounces, it has a skeleton handle and the 2 inch blade is made from carbon steel. Overall, the length of the knife is 5.13 inches and it comes in a drop point design.

The ESEE Junglas: This knife is the perfect companion for camping and other outdoor activities. It combines a fixed blade knife and a machete and its name comes from the police force in Columbia. The blade length is an impressive 10.38 inches and is made from carbon steel. The overall length of the knife is 16.5 inches.

The ESEE Izula: With its skeleton handle and sleek design, this is a stylish knife that is compact and lightweight. The blade length is 2.63 inches and you can choose from stainless steel or carbon steel. The knife measures 6.25 inches overall and the weight comes in at 2 ounces.

The ESEE Tertiary: Designed by a SWAT officer, this product combines a push dagger and knife making it very versatile. Many law enforcement agencies and military units use this product. It has a 2.5 inch blade with an overall length of 5 inches.

Related: What are the Best Tactical Knives? Top Military Style Knife Reviews

5. Which Manufacturer is Best?

Choosing between these two manufacturers isn’t easy, as both offer great quality and great choices. Benchmade is on the upper end when it comes to price point, so if that’s a big factor for you, then ESEE may be a better bet without sacrificing too much quality.  If you can afford the best, Benchmade is tough to beat.

It’s impossible to really go wrong with either manufacturer though, and both offer an excellent selection of knives that are manufactured to the highest standards.