Pros: Weight, Handle Material, Overall Quality, Sheath/Scabbard, Finish, Blade Sharpness
Cons: None
Impressive fit and finish
After considering some larger and heavier blades, this ESEE-3 turned out to be a great compromise with respect to size vs weight. The molded sheath fits the knife perfectly with no rattle. I choose to use the large Tek-Lok system with this sheath, which attaches with two screws only on this particular sheath. Nevertheless, the sheath is very securely attached with just those two screws. Right out of the box, I was very impressed with the fit and finish of the micarta handle scales, as well as the coated blade. The etching on the blade is clean and clear. The knife came from the factory extremely sharp, slicing paper effortlessly. Esee is quite transparent about the need to maintain the blade with a rust inhibitor. But, I feel that this small bit of maintenance is far out weighed by all of this knife's strengths. Great combination of features for a knife in this size range.