Recommendation? Esee Camplore CR 2.5 (or Izula?) – RUST

[fa-s-ter]

Hi,

I know there are already some threats to this discussion but nothing within the last months/ year, thus I hope to get some new inspiration...

I am looking for a fixed blade that I can use as a backpack/ travel knife. Kind of: Always with me in the pack and to be used for everything.

Mainly because of the warranty but also because I like the company (although I haven't had any personal experience yet), some Esee knifes came in closer consideration.
Mainly, the CR 2.5 or otherwise the Esee Izula (I or II – not decided yet but probably the Izula I to keep the size smaller)....

Thus: Which knife is more suitable for this use?

Has anyone any experience with the CR 2.5? How do you like it?

Any rust issues (on the blade or under the scales)? How is it suitable for my purpose?
The rust question actually concerns both knifes, as I plan to strip the coating if I buy the Izula and put a forced patina on both anyway...

Any help is much appreciated!

Thanks a lot!

 

[fielder]

Get a stainless Izula.

 

[ocnLogan]

In the available choices, I'd take the Izula II, or the camplore. The izula I's handles are too small for using for more than a few minutes, making my hand cramp up when carving things like feathersticks/etc.

That said, what sort of climate do you live in, and how often do you see yourself using this knife?

In humid places, if you didn't use/check on the knife for long periods of time (like leaving it in your backpack for weeks/months), rust could start to be an issue. The problem could exist in arid climates, but would take much, much longer to really be an issue. But for a knife to leave in a backpack? I'd likely go with stainless, that way I didn't have to worry about it. However, most of my fixed blades are carbon steel, and I haven't had problems with rust at all, as long as I've put them away dry when using, and stored with a light coat of oil if its going to be a long time.

For what its worth, my favorite backpacking knife is a mora companion. I've found that while backpacking, I don't need the knife for tons (alcohol stove, hammock doesn't require any cutting, and pre-assembled meals that only need to be rehydrated/heated). The knife is mostly just in case, for whittling, or anything else. It is enough that I could start a fire, and build a shelter/splint if needed. Its also lighter than a lot of folders (3-4oz, depending on model), and is stronger and easier to clean as well.

I leave a stainless mora companion in my 72 hour bag, as I want it to be ready even after not looking at/maintaining it for months/years.

Good luck on the choice .

 

[JeffreyC]

Of those you mentioned I have experience with the izula. I have had the stainless version and have carried it off and on in a pocket sheath for the past couple years. I’ve not had any issues with rust, and feel like it’s a great knife. As previously mentioned though, the handles are small enough that after extended usage, you might be wishing there was more there. That being said, if you’re looking for something you’re going to use periodically and not for extended amounts of time, it would work just fine.

 

[Boggs]

If rust is a concern that buy stainless...but really what is rust except oxidation can always be rubbed off...
And since you’ve mentioned that a patina is to be applied ...less worries.

Not really sold yet on the CR2.5 mainly because I have numerous single blade trappers that fill its niche...so I’d have to choose something different like it’s bigger brother...

 

[Quiet]

I would candidly say that the Izula II would be the way to go. The CR 2.5 looks like a tiny paring knife, and definitely not something I'd consider a serious use-case knife. The Izula II also has the benefit of having a fuller handle, that due to the shape, fills the hand well.

 

[DJC72]

I owned the stainless and found that it sharpens/strops easily. I believe that the warranty on the stainless versions differs from their 1095 blades. Another option (stainless) is the Bradford Guardian 3. While considerable more expensive, it is offered in m390.

 

[fa-s-ter]

Thanks for all your great replies!

I admit that in the beginning I really liked the idea of a stainless, too! The problem I have with the stainless Izula is the choice of a 440C steel..... I‘d prefer the idea of having a 1095 carbon knife, as it‘s supposed to be much easier to sharpen and much tougher....
But it seems that you all like it quite a lot!

For the warranty: DJC72, I asked the support, their answer was: „The warranty for the Stainless is exactly the same.“ Thus, the warranty shouldn‘t be an issue!

The question in this case is whether the rust-resistant abilities of the 440C outweight the easier shearpening and higher toughness of the 1095...

Having said that I use it for a backpacking knife, I didn‘t mean a bug out bag that doesn‘t see any use; it‘s the backpack I use for all my trips.

Most of the use that the knife will see is going to be food prep though... but it should be able to withstand daily travel abuse.... Still, I don’t mind the sight of a little rust, I’d even enjoy the patina, as long as it stays under control...

For my region: I‘m from Germany, we don’t have a really high humidity, on the other side, during my journeys I will defnitely be at the sea (thus, salty water, higher humidity).

In each case it seems that you prefer the Izula over the CR2.5??

 

[ocnLogan]

I'd grab the izula II. The extra handle space makes a difference for me, and is worth it over the other options Imo.

A few more thoughts:

I'm a big fan of carbon knives for the outdoors. However, in a smaller knife, the additional toughness that the carbon steel may provide (depending on the steels in question of course), may not be as beneficial as they may be if you were talking about a larger knife (where the toughness/impact resistance is more advantageous). And as you say, the warranty is the same for both, so in my mind, ESEE believes them to be functionally identical (otherwise if they thought they'd have a problem with it, I believe they'd have a different warranty for their stainless models). Also, notice how they don't make any stainless knives larger than the ESEE 4 (where the increased toughness would be needed more with the carbon blades).

Second, you mention that you want to strip it. I'd strip only the blade, and leave the coating under the handles, as well as on the exposed bits of the tang/ricasso. The coating really is a pain when stuff sticks to it, so I prefer to take it off as well, but under the handle, its best to leave it, as you don't inspect there frequently (well, not most people), and rust can "hide" there for a long time.

 

[kgd]

My wife keeps a pink izula clipped to her lifejacket. I keep an esee-3 on mine. We've had this configuration since 2012. The coating is still on our knives and we don't worry about rust. They will pick up a couple of spots at the end of a trip that gets stropped off or removed during sharpening. Of course, all our trips are in freshwater not salt. My bushcrafter is kept in the barrel for night camp and is also 1095 without any coating. Oil it before a trip, and don't forget to use every once in awhile and it does fine. The only really critical time to do maintenance is after a trip, so as not to store your knife in a wet sheath for long time periods. Always good to unpack, clean and repair all your gear after a trip.

 

[seabil]

I really like the handle on the Izulu 2. The blade is pretty thick for a lot of jobs. I am gradually thinning the blade every time I sharpen. I stripped half of one of mine. Cuts better. Sandpaper takes off the coating i wanted and kept what I wanted. Kept the coating on the handle side. Got a horizontal sheath set up. Nice small belt knife. Wipe and oil/wax the blade. It will rust a bit and take minor work.

For a pack knife, to keep in the pack, I would suggest the stainless mora, cheap ($10-15), weighs nothing, thin, comes sharp and no rust. I have them in packs and cars.

 

[knoefz]

Izula's are hard to beat.
And this thread needs more pics

 

[fa-s-ter]

I just figured that the Camplore CR 2.5 isn't available in the uncoated version anymore. The new model has the black oxide finish. Does anyone have experience with this? Is it a good rust preventative (at least as good as a forced patina?)
If so, it would replace the forced patina, right? (I bet, I can't force a patina on the black oxide, right? I mean, it's not a "paint" coating, so for me, the possibility to add a patina on this oxide-finish seems maybe still possible?! – would be awesome to have two different layers of rust preventative on a carbon knife!!)

In the case that the black oxide protects fairly well, the CR 2.5 would be the winner, wouldn't it?
➮ advantages of a high carbon knife
➮ still no big rust issues (for long term storage I'd just apply some vaseline)
➮ decent handle length
➮ nearly the same blade length as the Izula