ESEE Ashley Emerson Game Knife Review

ESEE began as a survival knife brand, and has launched many fixed-blade knives. The ESEE Ashley Emerson Game Knife (AGK) is designed for outdoor and hunting usage. It is a fixed-blade full tang knife that comes with a Kydex sheath. It is named after its designer, Ashley Emerson, a hunting guide with years of hunting experience. It comes in many varieties, but we would be focusing on one.

The ESEE Ashley Emerson Game Knife (AGK) is an 8.25” long fixed-blade with full tang and 3.5” blade with drop point stonewash finish and CPM S35VN as its blade material. Its handle is 4.75” orange and black sculpted G10 with a lanyard hole.

​

ESEE Ashley Emerson Game Knife Prices
		Check Price at Blade HQ
		Check Price at Chicago Knife Works

The blade of ESEE AGK is only 0.95” wide and 0.15” thick, which seems too thin for camping or hunting. It is 3.5” long, which is typical for an EDC folding knife. The cutting edge is 3.4” with flat grind and plain edge, which makes it more suitable for an EDC rather than hunting knife. However, the fact that it is full tang fixed-blade knife, makes it rigid and capable of rugged use.

The CPM S35VN is made up of finer grain structure with niobium. That makes it easier to machine and sharpen, with improved toughness. It offers excellent toughness, edge retention, and stain resistance for its price. It is more durable and weather resistant for outdoor use, however small.

The blade does not have a finger choil nor jimping along the spine of the blade. The only bluntness you will feel is the blade’s stock thickness without refined edges. That may make it difficult to use as a survival/hunting knife. It does however, has a bend near the back spine for a comfortable grip.

The full tang along with the drop point provides powerful slicing and piercing abilities for things like field dressing a deer and cooking camp food.

The drop point has a soft recurve that makes the width of the blade narrower near the ricasso than in the middle. It provides more belly to the blade. The edge is continually curved with an optimal blade geometry.

The orange and black textured G10 scales do a really good job of making the knife non-slippery. The handle width of 0.90” with a thickness of 0.75” makes it ultra-thin, lightweight, and easy to carry. It also incorporates a guard for skillfully maneuvering slippery cutting jobs. You can also hold and use it when wet without it getting slippery.

The lanyard hole is large enough to swoop 550 cord rounds through it. The G10 is a great choice for the handle material and very commonly used on folding knives. The grip and feel of the knife is great and is impervious to blood, sweat and hand oils. It also contributes to the lightweight knife.

The full tang really makes up for the thinness of the handle, providing enough beef and weightage to the knife holding it.

Kydex is one of the most common sheath materials for fixed-blades. It is durable, flexible, easy to use and carry, and lightweight. The drawstrings make it easier to hold and can pass through the drain holes on the sheath, which also makes it easier to wash it.

The blade locks itself inside the sheath with a click and completely covers it without exposing any sharp edges. That makes it easier to carry the knife on your belt or pocket. The fact that the blade is only 3.5” and the knife weighs 5.60 oz. makes it easy to carry as well. The bigger and heavier the knife is, the more challenging it may be to carry it.

As ESEE AGK is a hunting knife, it is imperative to know its field performance. It is made for cutting all food-related items, including raw meat, skinning, and chopping bones. The high-quality blade combined with the thick flat blade stock makes cutting quick and sharp. It also feels really lightweight, thin, and a breeze to use.

You can also use a baton to cleave through the chicken bones when preparing meat. It also does a great job in preparing other food items like celery, mushrooms, carrots, onions, and other vegetables. You can easily carry it and use it during camping, hunting, and fishing. The kydex sheath also feels durable and easy to carry around the belt. You can also use the drawstring to tie it up to your belt. It will stay intact and lock itself in place.

The G10 scales are a breeze to use even in freezing cold and snowy weather conditions. The same goes for sweaty and humid weather. The textured scales provide a smooth, comfortable yet slip-free hold.

ESEE AGK vs ESEE Sencillo

ESEE Sencillo is also a fixed-blade knife that comes with a black kydex sheath just like the AGK. Their overall length is almost the same, except Sencillo is 7.25” long with 3.25” blade. However, Sencillo’s blade has a stock thickness of 0.125” and is more suitable for EDC tasks. The Magnacut however, gives it an edge as it is a high-quality steel.

Sencillo also weighs less with sheath at 5.4 oz. as opposed to AGK without sheath, which weighs more. Sencillo has a 3D brown Micarta scale, as opposed to the black and orange textured G10 scales on AGK. The Sencillo was designed by Jeff Randall and costs more than AGK.

​

ESEE Sencillo Prices
		Check Price at Blade HQ
		Check Price at Chicago Knife Works

Just like AGK, the Izula-II is also a survival/hunting knife. It is compact and lightweight with minimalist design. However, it is a much smaller and lightweight knife than the AGK. Its blade is 2.63” with 1096 carbon steel blade and Micarta handle. It costs a lot less at $70 and comes with a molded plastic sheath with a clip plate for versatile carry options.

Izula-II is better for a budget-friendly, small, and lightweight carry as compared to the AGK.

ESEE Ashley Emerson Game Knife, or AGK, is a fixed-blade full tang hunting and camping knife that comes with a black kydex sheath. It may be small and lightweight, but it does its job well. The CPM S35VN flat grind blade has a thick blade stock purposed for cutting through raw meat, skinning, and preparing meat. It does the job equally well when slicing and chopping vegetables.

The sheath is durable and flexible, and covers the blade fully. The black and orange textured G10 scales work well in freezing cold weather, as well as hot and humid climate. It is slip-free, comfortable and smooth to hold. It also comes with a large lanyard hole to attach a lanyard of 55 cords. Although, you can easily carry the knife with average-sized hands without the need for lanyard to extend the handle length.