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The ESEE-5P-E is the heaviest-built knife in the ESEE lineup, originally designed as a downed-pilot survival tool. A quarter-inch thick 1095 high-carbon steel blade and saber grind give it the mass to take abuse that would ruin a lighter knife.

Its robust construction supports prying, batoning, and general survival tasks in austere conditions, making it a dependable tool for demanding environments.

Carbon steel blades should be cleaned, dried, and lightly oiled after use to maintain performance and prevent corrosion.

"A prudent person foresees danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. - Proverbs 27:12"

— CHARLES, SRO FOUNDER & FORMER LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Quarter-Inch Thick 1095 Steel Blade

Designed for maximum durability under hard-use conditions

Saber Grind Geometry

Balances strength with cutting performance for demanding tasks

Full Tang Construction

Provides structural integrity for prying, chopping, and batoning

Micarta Handle Scales

Maintains grip in wet, muddy, or gloved environments

Survival-Oriented Features

Includes glass breaker pommel, bow drill divot, and thumb jimping

Kydex Sheath System

Supports belt or MOLLE carry with included clip plate

The numbers, flat and honest.

Blade Length 5.25 in
Overall Length 11.0 in
Blade Thickness 0.25 in
Weight 16 oz (knife only)
Steel 1095 High Carbon (55–57 HRC)
Grind Saber
Handle Canvas Micarta
Sheath Black Kydex with clip plate
Country of Origin USA
Blade Width 1.56 in
Blade Steel 1095 High Carbon (55–57 HRC)
Finish Textured powder coat
Handle Material Canvas Micarta
⸻ The SRO Standard

WHY YOU’RE BUYING FROM STAY READY.

We aren’t the Amazon of survival. We’re a small, opinionated shop that carries gear we’d stake our own lives on — and we back every piece with real support.

01

Curated

Every brand we carry has been vetted in the field by our team. If it doesn’t pass our 30-day use test, we don’t stock it.

02

Authenticated

Factory-direct from authorized dealers. No grey-market, no refurb, no knockoffs. Your warranty is real.

03

Supported

Real humans on phone, text, and email — seven days a week. We carry this gear ourselves and we stand behind it.

04

American

HQ in California. Orders ship from our US warehouse. US-based customer care.

JUNGLE-TESTED SURVIVAL KNIVES

Born in the Amazon jungle. Sharpened by Peru's Air Force survival school. Made in Gallant, Alabama.

ESEE Knives is the sister company to Randall's Adventure & Training (RAT), founded in 1997 by Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin out of frustration with hype-heavy survival marketing. Their first work was alongside Peru's Air Force jungle survival school — Escuela De Supervivencia En La Selva (ESSEL) — training students in the Amazon. ESEE knives are headquartered in Gallant, Alabama and trusted by military and law enforcement teams, film crews, and professional adventurers. The promise: never sell a piece of gear or teach a skill that hasn't been tested in the real world.

  • Founded in 1997 by Jeff Randall and Mike Perrin
  • Sister company to Randall's Adventure & Training (RAT)
  • Origin: Peru's Air Force Jungle Survival School (ESSEL)
  • Headquartered in Gallant, Alabama
  • Trusted by military, law enforcement, and professional adventurers
  • 5 stars: 2 (100%)
  • 4 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
R
ROBERT T.
Amazing knife from an amazing company

Amazing knife from an amazing company. Best warranty in the business. This knife is is a beast and should last generations.

Thank you Robert! Stay Ready! - Charles

L
Larry R.
If I Could Have Only One Knife, It Would Be the Esse-5

Esse knives are outstanding—a perfect blend of quality and value—and the Esse-5 is no exception. When I make a purchase, I’m not looking for the cheapest or the most expensive, but something that delivers reliability and long-term worth. This Esse-5 is a knife I’ll own for life, and then pass down.

As a serious survival knife, the Esse-5 is among the best. It inspires confidence as a tool you could stake your life on. This is a heavy-duty beast of a cutting tool—sharp, rugged, and built like a Russian tank. With a ¼-inch blade, its durability is no joke. I think breaking it would take extraordinary effort, which in a survival situation would give you peace of mind when you need it most.

Despite its toughness, the Esse-5 is also refined. I found the fit and finish excellent, and the ergonomics top-notch. At 16 ounces, it has a hefty weight with great balance, making it a pleasure to handle. After speaking with Charles, the owner of Stay Ready Outdoors, I went with the canvas Micarta handle. It provides superior grip in wet environments and feels great in my hand.

This knife is an American-made workhorse. If John Rambo ever decided to downsize from his signature blades, the Esse-5 would be a top contender.

Answers, straight up.

Product-specific questions on the left. Shopping with SRO on the right. Both open-ended — hit us if we missed one.

About this product
Will 1095 carbon steel rust?

Yes, if you neglect it. 1095 is a high-carbon steel chosen for toughness and easy sharpening, not corrosion resistance. Clean and dry the blade after use and wipe on a light coat of oil. Surface patina is normal and actually protective; orange pitting is not.

Which ESEE size should I choose?

The Izula and Izula-II are neck and pocket knives at 2.6 inches. The ESEE-4 at 4.5 inches is the do-everything belt knife most people land on. The ESEE-6 at 6.5 inches handles shelter building and wood processing. The 5P-E is a quarter-inch-thick survival tool built to be abused. Bigger is not better — pick for the work you actually do.

Can I baton with it?

The full-tang fixed blades — ESEE-4, ESEE-6 and 5P-E — are built for it, and batoning is squarely within their design intent. The Izula and Izula-II are too short and light to be sensible batons. For heavy wood processing, the Gibson Axe is the right tool.

How does the sheath carry?

ESEE ships molded polymer or Kydex sheaths that support multiple carry positions — belt, MOLLE, pack attachment or neck carry on the smaller knives. Clip plates and MOLLE-lok hardware are sold separately if you want to change the configuration.

What is the ESEE warranty?

ESEE knives carry an unconditional lifetime warranty. Break it and they replace it, regardless of how, and it transfers to whoever owns the knife. No receipt, no registration. It is the strongest warranty in the category and a large part of why these knives hold their value.

Shopping with SRO
How long does shipping take?

Most orders process within 1–3 business days from our warehouse. From there: 5–7 business days economy, 2–3 business days expedited, or overnight if you need it fast. Free economy shipping on orders over $150 (contiguous US). Alaska, Hawaii, and Pro Eagle / freight items are quoted at checkout. You’ll get a tracking number and link the moment your order ships.

What’s your return policy?

30 days from the day your order arrives. Gear has to come back unused, with all original tags, stickers, and packaging intact. For standard items we’ll send a prepaid return label and deduct return shipping from your refund. Oversized or freight returns are on you, unless the item showed up damaged, defective, or wrong — in which case we cover it.

Refunds hit your original payment method within 10 business days of approval.

What can’t I return?

Final-sale items, gift cards, food and drink products, personal-care items, anything customized or engraved, briefs (hygiene), and hazardous materials. If you’re not sure whether something qualifies, email us before you order — we’ll tell you straight.

Do you ship outside the contiguous US?

Yes. Alaska, Hawaii, and US territories ship on freight-quoted rates calculated after checkout. International orders are available worldwide at variable rates; duties and import fees are the customer’s responsibility. EU customers get a 14-day cancellation window per EU consumer law, on top of our standard return policy.

My package arrived damaged — what now?

Email info@stayreadyoutdoors.com within 7 days of delivery with your order number and clear photos of the damage (product + packaging). We’ll replace, refund, or ship a return label on us — no back-and-forth. Damaged, defective, or wrong-item claims never cost you shipping.

Can I talk to a human before buying?

Yes. Email info@stayreadyoutdoors.com — we answer every message ourselves, usually within a few hours during business days. We carry this gear, we use this gear, and we’d rather talk you out of a kit that doesn’t fit your mission than sell you the wrong one.

Do you offer a military/first-responder discount?

Yes. Active-duty and veteran military, police, fire, EMS, and medical first responders get 10% off every order. Verify through GovX at checkout — one-time, secure, and reusable across thousands of brands. Discount applies automatically once you’re verified.

IMPORTANT USE NOTES

The ESEE-5 is a heavy-duty fixed blade developed for survival and field use where strength and reliability are critical. Designed in collaboration with military SERE instructors, it features a quarter-inch thick 1095 carbon steel blade built to withstand extreme use.

⚠️ Proposition 65 Warning: This product can expose you to chemicals including nickel and chromium, known to the State of California to cause cancer and reproductive harm. For more information, visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov .

⚠️ Knife Ownership & Legal Compliance Disclaimer It is the responsibility of the purchaser and end user to know and comply with all applicable laws regarding knife ownership, carry, and use.