ESEE PR4 Camp-Lore Kephart Bushcraft Knife

ESEE PR4 Camp-Lore Kephart Bushcraft Knife
The ESEE PR4 is an incredibly cool bushcraft knife designed by Patrick Rollins. For this knife he was inspired by the classic Kephart design. The PR4 was tested during many survival outings and hikes.
The ESEE PR4 is, of course, also made from 1095 carbon steel. In terms of finish one chose a dark stone wash. Also called blackwash. As a result traces of use are barely visible. The handle is made from micarta, a composite material made from linen and synthetic resin. Incredibly strong, light-weight and feels great in hand. Because of the coarse cut-outs in the handles this knife feels great in hand.
Because the spine of the blade has been sharpened you can easily use it with a firesteel. It will rain sparks! To make sure you won’t slip and end up on the edge the knife has been enhanced with a finger guard. Just enough to protect your fingers.
You carry the ESEE PR4 with you in the right-handed leather sheath.
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[@thesmallwoodlot433]

I agree Wooly, a knife must be comfortable in your hand, if not you won’t want to work with it! And it does look like the scales can be replaced to me! But the real question... can you shave with it?🤣😂🤣😂 After all it is a bush crafter’s knife!

[@stevemcdermott6199]

Yeah you can buy aftermarket scales and swop them out no problem but then you need a new sheath, I like it the way it is, it's my favourite

[@ARH0101]

I actually find it very comfortable to handle.

[@thesmallwoodlot433]

@@ARH0101 well not all of our “paws” are the same size, and some are not used to grabbing certain sized objects, so theses knives are of personal preference. Some are more comfortable for me, but might not work well with you or Wooly.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Everyone is different

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Agreed

[@jamesconnors5653]

Wear it and use it all day. My favorite. Thank you.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Glad you like it

[@MB-jg4tr]

I love mine, it feels great in my hand, and doesn't give me hot spots. I find the thin handle helps me keep a good cutting angle.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

It seems to be like that, you love it or hate it

[@Pharto_Stinkus]

The handle catches many people off guard. It looks too thin, and even when you first hold it, its seems too thin, but then you use it and it somehow, ISNTT too thin. It magic!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I didn't mind how thin it was it was the feel of it

[@Pharto_Stinkus]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Fair enough. As you pointed out, everyone's hands are different!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes, I have the ka-bar kephart and I love it

[@mikewhite7462]

I like mine.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Nice one

[@KendallWampler]

Wait, you told me in the thumbnail exactly what you thought; no clickbait? You gave it a fair review, including its positives, without just bashing it for its perceived flaws? Here’s a like and a subscribe. Thank you

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Lol, thank you, great comment. Welcome to the channel if you have any questions fire away

[@eriksmith4223]

One of my fav camp knives! Great ESSE quality!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Nice one

[@Pandemos]

Your stats are wrong. It is a flat grind to a high saber, not a hollow grind. I've never seen a Kephart done in hollow, only flat and convex. Prefer convex, but this one is okay. Just need to replace the scales (there are absolutely custom scales you can find online) or add some liners to thicken it up. I did the latter.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

How does it feel in the hand

[@Pandemos]

@@RedBranchBushcraft it helped quite a bit for me. I have average sized hands, but like the scalloped texture because it is specifically designed for use with gloves in mind, to have more grip if you're wearing them. The thinness had me get hot spots on the back of the handle surface bare handed, but liners spread that out a bit. With gloves on, I had zero problems with or without the liners added. I had no hotspots from the scales themselves, just the spine running into a tang with little width. If you have big hands maybe new scales from somewhere like The Knife Connection. I got my 0.030 G10 liner sheets (adds up to 0.060, since you'd use two) from USA Knifemaker and ordered hardware from ESEE. Here's a video on one of the guys at ESEE taking a crack at it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oF6ni4SDpdaHnac

[@gobigrey9352]

I can feel the blisters forming already

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Lol, exactly

[@michaelcampbell7919]

I absolutely love mine. I am currently in search of a different sheath.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Nice

[@douglasreed9237]

While I haven't got one or used one l believe I'm going to try one out. Esee also makes some nice thicker handle scales if one needs them. I like the size overall. Beautiful canine buddy also. Thanks for the nice review and info. 👍

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Thanks Douglas

[@jamesconnors5653]

Update. Still wear and use all day. Good knife.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Glad you like it

[@stevemcdermott6199]

Good man woolly, when I get over there I'll show you how to use it so you won't get hot spots. It's a mighy knife in a little package. There's a little bit of learning in it too so that's always good ☺️

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

cheers buddy

[@marty4886]

I love my handle!

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Cool

[@elimeuchel6012]

Watched this video to decide weather or not I wanted to buy the knife. Often times it’s hard to tell how I’d like a knife based on pictures from online but I love the shape of the blade. I’ll definitely pick this up and maybe even make some scales of my own for it.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Go for it, seems a great knife from all I've heard, I just couldn't get on with it

[@katrinagarwood6196]

I want one anyway. Subscribed for Bruno😍

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Lol, he's a great dog

[@James-ke5sx]

The handle looks edible. So I wouldn't leave it out for your dog. Recently I got the Ka bar Kephart. This one looks kind of cool but it's a bit too fancy for me. Plus I did not buy it to use it I wanted a collectible as a part of History seeing as he designed it after one of the originals. I think I remember seeing you in another video with the other one I'm going to check it out again.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes 8 have and love the kephart, great knife

[@navigator1372]

Have you tried the joker trampero? How does this or the condor kephart slice and notch compared to them?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I've never tried it, I reached out to joker but no response

[@richardgroves5559]

I had to place spacers between the scales and is much better.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

NIce

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

Have you considered after market handle scales? They make some good ones that fill the hand out better. Would that improve this knife for you?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

i had this knofe as a loaner ffrom a friend, he sent me to , this and the kabar kephart , i sent the esse back and kept the kabar. i wasn't just the thickness of the scales it was also the texture. some knives you just dont get on with i find

[@KnifeCrazzzzy]

@@RedBranchBushcraft Ya man I get that. Cheers 🤙🏻

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

No problem buddy

[@kriskabin]

Pros: high saber grind. Spear point right down the center line of the knife. Blade length, not too long, but not too short. 90° sharp spine; shave carrots clean with it or easily throw sparks from a ferro rod. Great food prep knife that works in the bush. No issues with the handle in my medium hands; owned & used it for yrs. I own knives 3x the cost of this PR4, with super glossed G10 handles, but they're cold in my hand & super slippery. The good thing about these original PR4 scales is the good & secure grip that they give you. *This is paramount in a good daily user knife, along with the pronounced finger choil. 👍 Cons: The sheath color & knife scale color sucked. Stained both with Cordova red leather stain. Beautiful now! Deep brown with a hint of burgundy.👌 That's it. Great knife. Try the original unique scales, if they don't agree with you, The Knife Connection sells beefier scale replacements for this PR4. However, you might need a bigger sheath for it.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Great comment, cheers buddy

[@martintrj5620]

Nice review, I agree. I like, no wait. I love esee knives but I just don’t understand the logic behind this handle. I was actually thinking about buying it but I would have to buy the custom scales. Might as well get something else.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Yes, me neither? The kabar kephart is a lovely knife , similar of course but with a different blade profile

[@StandardAmericanCarnivore]

I love mine… but only after I put the TKC handles on it.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Nice

[@ivanncastro]

What jacket is that your wearing wooly?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

thats the excellent Vaursteleka windproof anorak

[@zztopfan5201]

Get the Architect G10 handle scales.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Cheers buddy

[@wrldtrvlr2227]

What ferro rod are you using?

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

That's a fat boy from the bushcraft store

[@fyarafianny2309]

Great video 👍 Good morning Wooly 🌞 Hii Bruno n Cooper 🐩🐕💕 Wooly,, the knife looks 🔪 is thick n sharp , strong enough to scrape the wood 🪵 and to cut meat 🥩 for cooking,, that’s a good knife Woolly 👍🙂 Stay safe n healthy 👏 Success always 🤲

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

same to you , thanks for your support

[@Watchmanonthewall77]

Give the pathfinder kepart a try

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

I'll have a look

[@GrumpyGrunt]

Those scales and the hollow grind will keep me away from it, even though I love an ESEE and Kephart style blades. I think my next ESEE is a Laser Strike. Thanks for your thoughts on it, Wooly. Stay well.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Right on, might be it will grow on me but i probably wont give it a chance

[@Pandemos]

Its not a hollow grind, it's a flat grind to a high saber. He's completely off on it being a hollow grind.

[@denisdegamon8224]

Not a hollow grind. Flat grind to a high sabre.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Probably

[@mikewhite7462]

why are you beating the hell out of someone else's knife. Change the scales, it makes it much better

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Cheers buddy

[@ARH0101]

I absolutely love mine. I disagree with everything you’ve said.

[@RedBranchBushcraft]

Lol, no problems buddy