ESEE ESLIB-BRK Expat Libertariat Machete Knife, Black, 9 in

Couple of disclaimers:I have NEVER needed to use the ESEE WARRANTY. I absolutely have NO IDEA how it works. Why? Because the knives I have in the ESEE line are overbuilt and tanks. I don't go around trying to break them. I just use them like a tough tool is meant to be used, and their heat treat is solid. I've only HEARD about ESEE's notorious warranty. They are serious about it too, from what I've seen. And why wouldn't they be? The warranty brings some serious worth to these knives, and a silent promise to the consumer. In this world, every business wants to make money. They don't want to be swamped in time-consuming returns for a poor quality item that they made. So, this warranty? It is an unspoken understanding that any intelligent consumer recognizes. In order for ESEE to become what they are today, in order for them to make money, they need to make the best possible knives they know how to make. Every returned knife is an opportunity for them to improve upon their designs, and they send those knives back out. The "testing" would eventually be in real world application by real people. ESEE would be forced to continue to evolve their knives. Better and better. Why? Because they don't want to make that gosh-darned return! Genius. Absolute genius. Every American company should follow this direction (Filson does this too if I remember correctly).So, I seriously consider this an absolute genius move, and I'll tell you why: It basically makes ANY ESEE knife "worth" getting. ANY ESEE. Because it will ALWAYS eventually pay for itself in SPADES. NO ESEE knife will ever go "down" in value. Why? Because ESEE stands behind it 100%. An ESEE can ONLY go UP in value. How? By getting you out of that extreme situation you accidentally discovered yourself in, and building that psychological worth. You will get it into your brain that when you absolutely needed, ESEE was there. What a way to promote a name brand!Anytime I see an ESEE that I want and can afford, I click on that buy button. No need to hesitate and no need to worry about it. Eventually, the knife will pay for itself. It just has to be by your side for that "one" time you absolutely need it, and that's all. That knife just became "priceless." Don't use it anymore? Give it to your kids. The warranty TRANSFERS. You can't lose. ESEE is not trying to get you with "technicalities this" or "technicalities that" - they just want to make it simple. It breaks, you get a new one. Done. None of that other nonsense. They want to give you every opportunity to carry that ESEE on your belt. I would even say, they are trying to make it so there is NO EXCUSE NOT to carry an ESEE on your belt! HA!Absolutely buy these knives with confidence. As long as ESEE stays with this genius warranty, these knives will always be worthy. A person can criticize this knife all they want. But in the end, when you come across a painter that keeps complaining about how terrible his paintings are because his super high quality brush is not painting the pictures "right" for him - what do you think? I see some reviewers surprised with the sheath, or the shape of the knife. Really? There are photos of this item on the listing AND it's measurements.This particular knife looks like a collaboration between Condor knives and ESEE. Both are great knife companies, and personally, I'm thrilled that they decided to get together on this one. It is 1075 steel. A great steel (obviously the heat treatment is still like 90% of it). I've beaten on it in the CONDOR line of knives that I own, and I haven't been able to break one yet either. This one is shaped like a weird long thin cleaver. It has machete like properties, kitchen chopper like properties, and bushcraft-y like properties. From what I see, it looks like it has something like a "convex" edge on it (most of my condor knives have this edge). It was probably sharpened on a belt type grinder ("slack-ground" might be the term for it) as opposed to a stone type. For those that don't know about this edge, it looks like a fat "V" with the edges bulging out. There are several different types of sharpening that will give the knife different types of "bite" when cutting. Convex edges are hardier and pretty forgiving but not always the easiest to slice with. They are great for batoning wood, or chopping... like I said, bushcraft-y. The handle is a definitely thinner than ESEE's normal offerings, but thin handles can be comfortably used when wearing gloves. So, it depends on your style. My sheath was tight. I can't deny that. I do wish that condor would have just stepped in and sent these knives with one of their lovely leather sheaths, but that would also mean the price would need to reflect that. So canvas is fine for me for now.Anyway, I'm a big fan of these two companies. I haven't used this knife long term yet, but if there is interest I can update. I can't really see these knives breaking without some seriously reckless, negligent abuse - AND EVEN AFTER THAT, ESEE WILL STILL REPLACE YOUR KNIFE UNDER THE WARRANTY! WHAaaaAAAaaAAaaT? Yeah~! So, just remember, you're not just paying for a knife. You are paying for an ESEE!I buy these items with my own pennies. If you've read this far, THANK YOU. I know that couldn't have been easy. If I was helpful at all, share the love! Click on that helpful icon and I'll know I should be looking to update this review in the future after some further in depth use of this product.FINALLY, if you're ESEE or CONDOR - I WOULD LOVE LOVE LOVE to not have to spend money on your knives and review them! LOVE it. L-O-V-E I-T. But you probably shouldn't, because I would be heavily biased. BECAUSE I LOVE YOUR KNIVES. LOL!

Thick, heavy bladed small "machete". Workmanship for knife and sheath is very good. I really like it.I'm using this as a replacement for the small hatchet I typically carry. It's a great small chopper and cleaver. It is super effective with a baton to split firewood, far better than either a hatchet or a typical 4" to 6" woods knife. With the squared off end it can be used safely as a draw knife. I wouldn't hesitate to use the end for light digging. I've heard that a hold in the knife, like this one has near the squared "tip", could be used with a nail to use the knife as a shear. I've never really needed that but maybe I should toss a couple of large nails in my kit. Hmm.The only drawback is the right handed only. very snug nylon sheath in a light color. It seems plenty robust but it's not easy to get the knife out of the sheath. It's fair to mention that at this price point the included sheath is much better quality than I would expect. Then again I'm a lefty and knew I'd need a sheath or have to wear it on my right side. Fortunately there are some makers out there producing kydex sheaths for not too much money. If I were right handed I'd probably just stick with the factory sheath.I usually wear size large gloves, but mediums are too small and often larges are a hair too loose. With that in mind -- the grip on the Libertariat fits me perfectly. If my hands were any bigger I'd want a larger handle on this thing.

This is an Esee in name only. It is manufactured by Condor but it is still a great machete. It has a 9" blade and the grind is excellent. It is extremely sharp but not razor sharp but I had it cutting hair in minutes. It has an 1/8" spine that runs true all the way to the end. It has an overall length of just under 14" with a 5 7/8" wooden handles that are very comfortable. It doesn't have any thumb jimping which I prefer on all my blades but that shouldn't stop you from buying it. Its design is very simple and it has a great balance. It weighs just enough to help with chopping things and making it easy but not so heavy that it makes you tired quickly from just the weight itself. It has a typical Condor finish on it and the steel is a 1075 which is one of my favorites, tough but forgiving and takes an edge very easily but stays sharp. It is a machete that can be used in the backyard, vacant lot clean up or on a hiking/camping trip. It has a nylon sheath and the machete fits nicely into it. I gave it 4 stars because of the sheath. A machete should always come with a leather sheath or the option to buy one when you order it. However the sheath does have double stitching and is put together well. If you keep it oiled, clean and sharp it will give you years of work and enjoyment.

This is the first Esee I wasn't all googily over but its still a really cool blade with a neat finish.While I can't really bring myself to call this a machete due to its length it excels at camp food prep for my needs. Holds a razor sharp edge and is thin enough to slice veggies and thick enough to cut through the fattest steak and cuts up raw meat laughing. It'll bust through chicken bones easily too.The handle is a little on the small side for my large hands and I wouldn't even consider bushcrafting, clearing brush, or even processing kindling with it but that's just my opinion. It just doesn't have the weight and heft.