Knife Review: ESEE Laser Strike and Helle GT

Hello, all! Once again, I've put together a lengthy video here. I was hoping to do two separate videos, but I only had a short time to film the bits so I filmed both knives together and it turned out to just be easier on me to put them in one video. This is not supposed to be a versus video, but I do make some comparisons between the two just for reference. If you want to jump to a particular part, I've made the below timecode references for you. Clicking on the time should jump you there: Intro: 0:00 ESEE Sapling Cut: 1:06 Helle Sapling Cut: 4:51 Thoughts on Chopping with Knives: 7:16 ESEE Chopping: 8:24 Helle Chopping: 9:29 Chopping Recap: 10:38 Notching/Slicing: 13:18 Feathersticking 1: 21:20 ESEE Batoning: 28:11 Helle Batoning: 30:20 Feathersticking 2: 33:50 Thoughts on knives and condition after use: 39:42 Final comments and reconditioned edges: 50:15 Quick personal thoughts on knife performance are listed below. They are not side-by-side references, but rather, references on the perceived performance of each knife based on a scale of 0-5, with five being the highest value. The exact values are somewhat arbitrary, but it allows me more specific comparisons has I encounter more knives. Again, these are my personal thoughts only. HELLE GT Initial Sharpness: 4.7 Slicing/Notching: 4.5 Shaving/Feathersticking: 4.5 Batoning: 3.2 Heavy Chopping: 2.4 Drilling: 3 Rust Resistance: 4.5 Sheath Design: 4 Fire Steel Sparks: 1.5 (very difficult with this soft steel, but it can do it) Steel Durability: 3.6 Edge Retention: 3.5 Ease of Restoring Edge: 3.8 (with a flat stone and strops it's pretty good) Value: 3.5 (paid $115 online) Overall Rating: 3.6 (based on experience, not a mathematical average) Brief conclusion on the GT: The Helle GT is listed as a hunting knife on the Helle site, but that doesn't mean that it's razor-like scandi edge can't be at home in the bush. The esthetics are particularly striking, in my opinion, and despite it's size it's a joy to use even for more delicate tasks. General backpacking and camp chores are no problem for the GT, with it's only real shortcomings being batoning and sparking a ferro rod. The Helle can carry the burden of preparing fire tinder, but the spine of the knife might endure some dinting. As with the Laserstrike, you may have to resort to using the blade edge to start your fire if you run out of matches. Having said that, the GT is an admirable performer in most situations and for a stick tang knife I was surprised at its resilience under many conditions. Although it's not the first knife I'd grab for my deep woods excursions, it is fun to use nonetheless and can more than suffice in a family/weekend camping environment or any scenario that doesn't demand extensive wood prep. If you are an avid outdoorsman with lofty expectations, you might find that the GT comes up a bit short of the mark. ESEE Laserstrike Initial Sharpness: 3.5/4.2 (factory/modified convex) Slicing/Notching: 4 Shaving/Feathersticking: 4 Batoning: 4 Heavy Chopping: 4.5  Drilling: 4 Rust Resistance: 3 (excellent except on exposed edge) Sheath Design: 4 Fire Steel Sparks: 1 (you MUST use the blade edge) Steel Durability: 4 Edge Retention: 3.7 Ease of Restoring Edge: 4  Value: 4.5 (paid $110 online) Overall Rating: 4.3 (based on experience, not a mathematical average) Brief conclusion on the Laserstike: Though not a true "bushcraft style" knife, the ESEE Laserstrike does many outdoor and woodworking tasks exceptionally well. Batoning and mild to moderate chopping are strong points for the knife, but it's no slouch at subtle work like notching and slicing if the 1095 steel is modified with a convex edge. The handle is robust and strong and the forward finger groove makes for an exceptionally comfortable and stable grip. Clutching the knife deep on the handle for chopping is very good and the experience would be improved with a lanyard addition (hole provided). The ESEE is even more at home when considered as a "survival knife" with its only real pitfall (and arguably a major on at that) being the inability to throw sparks with a fire steel. One must use the blade or grind off some of the coating on the spine to do so. This seems rather ironic given that the knife comes with a fire steel and quick tinder built into the handle - another plus. Although it will suffice if the scenario presented itself, this will be a turn off for many outdoor enthusiasts. The knife does feature a socket in the handle for bow drill work, which is another nice feature. If you don't mind a heavier (14 oz.) blade and want a trusty companion that can take almost any task you throw at it then the Laserstrike should be on your short list. If you enjoyed this or found it helpful, please consider looking at my other videos and subscribing. Thanks