POLL!!! Outdoor knife: Fallkniven A2 vs ESEE Junglas

[Zag]

I need a big chopper to complete my outdoor system.
This knife will come in addition of my Bushcraft knife and a SAK (usually a Farmer)
I want something big to chop through logs more easily.

I have now bought the above two knives but can only keep one.

Here are the pro's and con's I found

Fallkniven:
Pro's: Stainless - rust resistant; PERFECT size blade, Strong tip
Con's: Sheath (leather) - Too Small handle - VG10 will chip more easily

Junglas:
Pro's: Will not chip easily, Best sheath I ever seen on a knife, Larger handle, "No questions asked" lifetime warranty
Con's: Blade is slightly too big, twice the Fallkniven's weight

I can see the advantage to the ESEE for chopping but i would give the advantage to the Fallkniven for batoning (Thicker spine) 

My gut feeling says to keep the Fallkniven but i would be interested to hear your opinion 

Here is a picture of the two:

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'd be tempted to go for the A2 as it's still the more versatile package

[Sparky415]

I think that if the handle feels too small to you on the Fallkniven go for the bigger handle
If you ever have to use the knife a lot your hand will thank you 
And as you already have a Bushcraft knife I would go for the bigger blade 

[Neil]

I'll second Tony's comments.  You already have a more general bushcraft knife so go for the bigger knife. 

Would a small hatchet not be the best bet?

[Pacu]

ESEE looks mighty nice and x2 about getting a good feeling handle. Should zombies attack you are covered on that front too.

[Zag]

Should zombies attack you are covered on that front too.

I didn't want to put that in the ESEE pro's, but, yeah i though of it   

[Zag]

Would a small hatchet not be the best bet?

I found a big knife is more versatile and easier to carry around in the backpack
Besides, I already have a Small forest axe 

[AimlessWanderer]

Would a small hatchet not be the best bet?

I found a big knife is more versatile and easier to carry around in the backpack
Besides, I already have a Small forest axe 

Is the SFA a Granny B?
Have you tried the Wildlife hatchet?   
Personally I'd rather have a GB WH than either of these knives .... and I'd have no concerns about versatility

That said if I HAD to choose one of the knives I'd go carbon steel for chopping (therefore ESSE) or the smaller knife for better control on all other chores

[Zag]

Well after a lot of  I decided to go with the ESEE.
To be fair, i have been trying both of them and they have very very similar capabilities.
The Fallkniven is half the weight and I so capable. Some paracord on the handle has kind of sorted that problem.
Why did i choose the ESEE then? Well, using the A2 I always had the chipping possibility in the back of my head.

I may (probably will) change my mind in a few months in anyway 

Both of them are amazing blades and you cannot take a wrong decision choosing either of them!

[ryan1835]

id choose the esee one as it looks cooler 

[asupernothing]

While I voted for the ESEE, I would like to retract that vote.

I think you should carry neither,
 as they would both look much nicer in MY kit...


In reality I have been considering getting a Junglas, just trying to decide between that and the 6.

I know the answer is to just get both and I will, just gotta figure out what order to get them in.

[Ray1980]

Hey guys,

Even though I'm kind of late with my response, I still think I might be able to add some value to the discussion. I own both the Fällkniven A2 and the ESEE Junglas and have used them side by side. Overall, the A2 gets my vote, but I'd like to elaborate on that for a bit...

> Chopping
As far as chopping large pieces of wood, I'd go with the A2. The convex edge hardly gets stuck (I found that the Junglas got stuck more often) and because of the weight distribution of the A2, it chops just as fine even though it's lighter than the Junglas.

I haven't used the Junglas in the jungle though, which is its intended habitat, as the Junglas is meant to be a light machete. My guess is that if I had to cut / chop my way through a thick bush, the extended reach of the Junglas would serve me better than the A2, which is a bit shorter.


> Batoning
The Junglas and the A2 both baton very well. Again, the convex edge of the A2 wins me over. Yes, the Junglas is longer, so in theory you could baton larger logs with it. To be honest though, I think if a log is too big to be batoned with an Fällkniven A2, you shouldn't want to baton it at all. Enter the forest axe. ;-)


> Other bushcraft chores
Making spoons, carving notches, sharpening sticks, etc. It can all be done with both blades. The Junglas is pretty big though. If you really want to choke up on the blade and the piece of wood you're working on, the A2 is the knife you want (of course, a smaller blade would be even better, but we're comparing the Junglas and the A2 here, so bear with me on this one). The blade of the Junglas is very wide spine-edge-wise. This makes it difficult (not impossible, just difficult) to use it for small chores.


All in all, I'd say the A2 is the more versatile blade. I'm glad I own both, but if I really-really-really had to pick one, I'd say (with pain in my heart) "Hasta la vista!" to my Junglas and keep the A2. Again though, I'm happy to own both and I'm sure I'll be using both of them (separately or side by side) on many adventures to come!

[Gareth]

great first post Ray, welcome to the forum.

[Sparky415]

great first post Ray, welcome to the forum.

+1

  Zag, What did you go for in the end?

[Ray1980]

great first post Ray, welcome to the forum.

+1

  Zag, What did you go for in the end?

Thanks you guys, appreciate the love!

Also, I'd like to add one more thing:

Zag, you mentioned the leather sheath of the A2 as a con. I definitely agree with you on that. As a matter of fact, it's more or less my only gripe with the A2. However, I've discovered that my Fällkniven H1 rides securely in my nylon SOG Seal Pup Elite sheath, and the same goes for my A1 and my nylon SOG Seal Team Elite sheath. Both Fällknivens are slightly shorter than the SOGs, so it's just perfect...even the straps around the handle fit nice and tight...almost like they were all made for each other.

Therefore, my educated guess is that the A2 might just be a great match for the SOG Tigershark sheath. If I ever get a Tigershark (to be honest, it's probably just a matter of time...hehe!), I hope I'll remember to get back here and post my findings. In the meantime, take my words for what they are: just an educated guess. And if anyone has the chance to actually try this, please let us know how it worked out!

[Syph007]

I bought an Fallkniven A1 and an ESEE4.  I kept the Fallkniven.  Superior steel in my opinion.  Both top notch work horses, but you just cant beat VG10 steel.  I'll admit im lazy with tool care and I like that it wont rush on my like the ESEE will.  I dont like leather sheaths either, and I have the zytel for my A1.  I havennt seen VG10 chip on me personally. Those that I have talked too, say its very tiny chips if it does (like hitting a rock etc) and you can sharpen them out.   I will never give up my Fallkniven, best knife I have ever owned.

[kinskibrain]

I bought an ESEE 6 and later traded it for an A1. I also own an Izula as well as F1 and a WM1. Overall I prefer the Fällkniven knives. Much better ergonomics and better grinding being the main reasons.

Personally I really can't see why anyone would ever by an ESEE Junglas in the northern hemisphere. It's the same weight as a Gränsfors small forest axe which completely dominates the Junglas in terms of chopping power. (It really is easy to strap it to the backpack btw)

I would get the A1 or an axe. The A2 is just too heavy for what it does, a hatchet would do better. Im out camping all the time, including snow camping, and what you do need is a good saw That, and a good 4 inch knife.

[Ashley]

I'm a HUGE esee fan so my opinion is of course the junglas!

[rayraychil]

I am with the Fallkniven A2 mob as I have an S1 and the F1 bushcrafting knives and both have been on many camps over the years in all sorts of places not just the UK, Switzerland, Croatia, Jersey, Spain, France, USA, Germany and they have never let me down in fact the S1 has been almost abused beyond belief but still going strong without any damage to blade or handle, I had a Kydex sheath made up from a guy on Ebay he made it custom fit with a friction method for holding the knife in the sheath, still have the original leather sheath but it lives in the Kydex one along with the fire steel great knives made in Sweden, I also own there small U2 locking folder with there Lam.SGPS blade which has a hardness rating of 62 HRC and Zytel handle this has been to many if the same places as well and has been an excellent pocket knife.

80)

[Ashley]

Esee is the best fixed blade on the market IMHO. I received this junglas for Christmas. I also have 3 izulas, 1 izula 2, esee 3 and esee 6