Comparison Esee 3 vs Bradford Guardian 3

Comparison between two very awesome EDC fixed blades

[@chhr25]

Appreciate the really good side-by-side table top comparison, Kevin. I traded away my both my ESEE3 and Guardian3, the first for an LT Wright Little Workhorse and the second for a Ontario SK-4. I needed bigger grips than either of those two under review provided, and I learned that jobs are often just as well performed by a folder. That wasn't enough for me to justify the price of these two and the inconvenience of use. The handles are soooo small and though either feel fine when one holds it and gazes at it, actually putting it to use requires far more delicacy and care and injury risk in grip and application than I am willing to travel. My everyday carry of a 3-3.5" knife has reverted back to the old reliable, a slightly bigger fixed blade and the cheap KaBar Dozier Hunter. It took personal experience to learn that the jobs asked of such tiny fixed blade knives (the ESEE3 and Guardian3) are usually more conveniently performed and more comfortably carried to the job and better carried-out by a modest folder or by a short blade with a handle that provides safer connection. Table top discussions are great to draw attention to non-use evaluations, but it's usage that really tells the bigger story. I'm old, but old dogs can learn ... if slowly.

[@agger732]

Wow, love your reviews. Your channel is very under rated in my opinion. Been loving your comparisons the last month or so. Great work!

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

+agger732 Thanks bro glad you like the vids I have a few coming up that I'm fairly excited about

[@steveottavaino3804]

Great review, was rooting for the Guardian 3, which I own and love. For realistic everyday types of uses I've found none finer, mine in M390 full flat grind. It's out for sharpening right now and I miss it much; there is not a finer device ever created by man for draw cutting an apple!!! Thanks for the review brother, be well....

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

+Steve Ottavaino Nice I've heard the ffg version is really tough to find

[@Player_Review]

+Steve Ottavaino Different strokes for different blokes I guess. The Bradford is the clear winner for me too and I've not found a better knife steel than m390 for EDC (no microchips with my usage and it isn't rolling like the other steels... just stays sharp no matter what I do... I did refine the existing edge profile a bit with the Sharpmaker).

[@steveottavaino3804]

+Jeremy Madsen check out The Apostle P review on my actual Guardian 3. He's extremely critical with his reviews and did a great job with the video and the edge is just amazing. A razor for certain. Rob's my personnel favorite for sharpening needs, a true artisan and professional. Be well my friend.

[@Player_Review]

Steve Ottavaino I did check that review. I like the knife unmodified (scales and all), but that was a sweet edge he put on your blade!

[@danielchristian4415]

Great video bro thank you! Just ordered my Guardian 3.5 with the 3D G10 handle & was debating on that, the Esee 3 & the White River 3” & went with the Guardian 3.5. But I’ll pick up the other 2 as well along with others lol💯😎👍🏻

[@normcote270]

Question,...can you actually Pocket carry the ESEE 3 or do you think its size makes it too large? Im considering the ESSE 3 if you think Pocket carry with Ulticlip is a decent option. Thank you in advance!!

[@larrymarinas249]

I got this knife really like it but not d sheath, too lose knife comes out wish a kydech case

[@nickm212650]

If he had done this review comparing the Esee to the Bradford Guardian 3.5, then Bradford would win hands down!

[@teller121]

other than .54 ounces, I can't seem to figure out difference between Bradford 3 and 3D. They seem to have the same dimensions. Do you know the diff? Thx.

[@evanponsioen6087]

Nicholas Martin 3D scales are rounded

[@ericultra8456]

teller121 I’ll be honest it’s really not that big of a difference but to be really precise i wouldn’t say that the dimensions are completely the same just slightly more on the 3D

[@amm3300]

Scales

[@Player_Review]

I have the DPx HEST made by Rowen, which is fairly similar to the ESEE 3 and I have the ESEE 6. I also have the Guardian 3 in m390 and I have to say that the Guardian 3 is by far the better knife as an EDC. As a survival knife, I'd give the ESEE 3 a slight advantage as it is a bit more stout.

[@garrettferrell6821]

Great review,they are both great knives..I would personally lean towards the the Guardian 3,mainly because I prefer a good stainless steel over 1095 carbon steel...nothing against 1095,it is a great steel used in many great knives but I love being able to throw a knife or 2 in my bag and go and not having to worry about oiling it up to avoid rust..I know,it’s really not that big of a deal and kind of lazy on my end but I spend a lot of time in the woods and several times a year I’m out in the East Tennessee mountains for 2 or 3 weeks at a time..we get a decent amount of rain and the humidity is always extremely high,a good stainless is the best option for me..with that being said,I have some great knives in 1095..I’m considering getting an ESEE 3 (I have ESEE 4 and ESEE 5) but I think either the Benchmade Saddle Mountain Skinner or the Spyderco Serrata will be my next knife

[@faceinthecrowd5810]

I will probably end up with every esee model. I have the Izula 2, the 4, and the 3. The bradford knives are definitely nice but I prefer the esee sheaths because of the versatility of the clip, and the feel of the esee knives fit my hand great and allow hard use easier…esee for the win!!

[@narwhal7642]

I'd love to hear from people how secure the leather Bradford sheath is at holding knife?? I'm looking for a comfortable scout or angle knife for horseback. Great review.

[@philipjanes]

Well, I love my Esee 5, have the 6 on order. Both of these look well made, but the blades are so short, I just don't see why bother with a fixed blade at that size. A good quality folder like Cold Steel or Spyderco would most likely be just fine for any tasks I would happen to do with a blade that size. Just my preference of course. Some guys like fixed blade for edc. I would too, if they were half as convenient to carry.

[@timshull59]

Can you rotate the clip on the Esse and do a horizontal carry?

[@Lowsid3r]

TShull you buy a tech lock clip

[@cajunpipesmoker1519]

Great review. I am leaning towards the Bradford because I work in a public School. So I need something that is easily accessible and comfortably concealable. Before you ask, no... it will not be used to harm students. I am in charge of state and local testing and need a good knife for opening boxes! And, I love the outdoors... so it will be my secondary knife. I currently carry the Case XX M3 Finn, but I really want a horizontal carry!

[@victors307]

Great video. This is the exact comparison I was looking for. Looking for a concealed carry EDC fixed blade I can scout carry. You mind telling me what handle color/config you have on the Guardian?

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

I just had the plain leather one

[@victors307]

@@Kevinclearysharpstuff Yes the brown leather one with the kydex lining. I was asking about handle color of the knife itself? Thanks!

[@jayn8392]

If your talking about comparing the edc value of these knives then I would say there is no contest. No way I would be edcing the esee over the bradford. The esee is really more of a smaller outdoor/tactical knife. Out of esees offerings I would say the izula 2 is a much more comparable knife

[@RealBushMonkey]

LOVE the ESEE 3, I sold my OKC RAT 3 to upgrade to the ESEE 3 military. At work I tend to pair a folder with a fixed blade and the 3 is one of my go tos when Im not in the woods. I wish more companies would see the value in thinner blade stock like the 3 and TOPS Lite Trekker models. I carry mine with the nylon drop sheath mount to clear my work belt/survey vest or longer jackets but may try some other options and give it a whirl as an EDC around town. PS- got my TM1 and its amazeing, never thought a backlock could be so damn smoothe, now looking forward to the o804cf. Great vid

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

+RealBushMonkey Thanks for weighing in Esee 3 is great

[@RealBushMonkey]

+Kevin cleary ...but have you seen the new ones for 2016? no choil...should be pretty sweet!

[@taylorung1952]

RealBushMonkey What is the difference between the esee 3 military and the regular esee 3?

[@RealBushMonkey]

Its all black, g10 handles and the pommel has a glass/skull breaker

[@scotteger6271]

If that's your outcome and you like the ESEE more but the Guardian is more comfortable, get some Pull The Dot loops for the ESEE sheath or get an Armatus Carry sheath for it. They're both scout carry at that point. Armatus also makes kydex sheaths for the Guardian if you're watching this thinking you like it more but don't want a leather sheath.

[@voodoomojo7268]

I got a Armatus kydex sheath for my ESEE 3 and I dearly love it!!! I'll definitely be getting more of these sheaths for all future fixed blade purchases.

[@RandyG357]

Esee 3 and Esee Izula are two different knives…

[@sour7786]

Do u think this can be a neck knife?

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

both of these are too big to be a neck knife at least for me

[@sour7786]

Was hoping I could get away with the Guardian 3 in kydex

[@Meymeygwis]

Thanks for the review! I've carried ESEE3 as my bushcraft backup for years from the Amazon jungle to the northern Boreal forest. It's a great all-rounder & I love the boot clip carry: great versatility with a classic blade profile & high carbon steel, which I prefer. This being said I'd love to get the G3 for EDC; ESEE3 is just a bit big for going into town & G3's swedge (unsharpened) creates a nice EDC profile. You can get it now in CPM-3V steel with Micarta scales, which is probably what I'd do. Thx!!

[@steakandwhisky4470]

Couldn't decide, so I bought both

[@ajfam871]

Usually what happens eventually, lol... which do you like now that you have both?

[@steakandwhisky4470]

@@ajfam871 mora garberg

[@steakandwhisky4470]

Hey check my channel I have those knives and more

[@leithmurray736]

I own both, and hands down the Bradford in my opinion is far superior

[@blackwaterfrog]

Not an apples-to-apples comparison. The guardian 3 should be compared to the esee izula 2. The leather sheath that comes with the guardian is more comfortable all day everyday.

[@Renaldo135]

Dude loved the video good job but you must have called the Esee 3 an izula twenty times!

[@mikedifeo8344]

great review. I had a hard time settling on a fixed blade this particular size. The ESEE 3 was a candidate. Eventually I settled for the BK24(D2) and the BK11(1095). I had to make my own handles for them because I wanted a 4 finger grip. I still like the ESEE3 and I might eventually get one. I like the larger handles because I have large hands. And I agree with you on the sheaths. I prefer the leather sheath. I usually make my own, so I figure out exactly what I need before I make it. For me leather is so much more comfortable.

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

+mikedifeo The Beckers are great and it's awesome that you make your own sheaths gives you lots of freedom because you can set up any carry you want.

[@jayGrowsHavoc]

+mikedifeo i love my bk24 deskabar

[@mikedifeo8344]

+jay gould I really like mine as well. I made wooden handles for it, extended the rear just a tad and it made it a 4 finger hold handle. I think they are amongst one of the best values in small fixed blades. Mine takes the punishment and just keeps on truckin'

[@spencerfreed6947]

Being a complete "knifenerd" as well as an avid knife collector/user I'm thoroughly familiar with both knives. I'm actually looking to purchase a guardian series very soon, but I'm still contemplating which model size etc. So first off, thank you for a candid, honest review. But, simply put, Bradford knives are a much better quality knife inside and out, performance wise, esthetically, ergonomically and so on. Now if size is the issue, for blade or handle, Bradford offers the same knife in a variety of sizes as well as handle material(G10, stabilized wood, micarta and carbon fiber) and bladestock (N690, M390, S35VN, & 3V). All of which are much, much, much better quality than its competitor, ESEE. ESEE as stated in another comment has refused to grow with the times! The black coating is garbage and can be scratched off darn near with a finger and 1095 is extremely cheap bladestock. In fact the only thing good about it is you could sharpen it up if needed on a rock in a pinch, but it will corrode like nobody's business. Trust me I want to like ESEE and esthetically I love the look of a lot of their knives, but they just can't compare with a lot of the new maker's out there that have taken notes, studied their craft and grown with the evolution of the knife world. No disrespect meant honestly, you seem to have a love for knives, so I would encourage you to dig in and explore what's out there. Some really cool and amazing makes! Cas knives, HMC knives, Borrus Kustom Design knives just to name a few fixed blade makers. Highend?? Yes!! Heirloom worthy?? Absolutely!! With quality to last several lifetimes! Best of luck and happy hunting!

[@SourLymes]

Not to revive a necro comment but the things you've said about ESEE knives are total bullshit. Hope you've learned a bit more in the past four years.

[@spencerfreed6947]

@@SourLymes nope eseeknives are still gas station knives

[@SourLymes]

@Spencer Freed Oh okay. Can't fix stupid, I guess.

[@normcote270]

​@@SourLymes10-10 Brother!!!! Can't fix stupid!!

[@Mangiry]

When you say the sheath on the Esee3 is more versatile, I disagree. I own an Esee6 and an Esee4, and unless the Esee3 is different, the clip on the sheath cannot be rotated. I understand that a Tech Lock can be purchased, but that is not what the review is about. I would say buy the Esee3 if you plan on abusing the knife more (amazing warranty), and the Guardian 3 if you want an edc with a smaller profile that's stainless.

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

The esee sheath can be clipped to anything but the guardian reqires a belt

[@astrazenica7783]

Is Kevin a theologian? Cool library. Not one which I'd necessarily associate with a knife nut tho lol

[@Kevinclearysharpstuff]

Not exactly a theologian but a preacher with an academic bent

[@IndianaJoe0321]

I thought I saw Expositor's and Kittel's in the background.

[@howardmanley3388]

I think u said that because u have large hands

[@rayo7708]

Hey dude it's not the asula is the esee 3

[@TheBigToe69]

I would have compared it to the Guardian 3.5, then the blade length is closer.

[@tiffanywall4178]

Couldn't stand the throat hacking. Wait till your not sick to do reviews man.

[@daviddrake3481]

Esee Knives suck. they continue to use inferior cheap 1095 Steel versus higher-quality powdered Steel. esee and tops both refuse to evolve and listen to their customers. repeat after me 1095 sucks!

[@IndianaJoe0321]

Someone's a steel snob. 1095 clearly doesn't "suck." If it did, MANY manufacturers would not be using 1095 steel in 2018. If you don't prefer 1095 for edc, I completely agree with you. But to make a blanket statement that "1095 sucks" in order to justify your dislike of Esee outdoor knives is a bit overstated.

[@1996Gtalum]

As an EDC I would want the m390. If I'm going into the woods I want the 1095.