ESEE Izula 2 Knife Review: Perfect Small Survival Kit Blade
The ESEE Izula 2 Knife – A Rugged, No-frills Fixed Blade Knife That Can Handle Both Survival Duties and EDC Tasks
The ESEE Izula 2 has proven to be one of the best small fixed blade knives you can buy in the “under $100” category.
If the knife you carry tells the world who you are, the Izula 2 has plenty to say.
It’s small and stealthy enough to ride in your pocket or clipped to your belt, while still offering enough edge for survival situations or most daily tasks.
Let’s take a closer look.
The ESEE Izula 2 Review
It’s Convenient
The knife’s light weight keeps your load weight down.
The great ergonomics allow you to draw smoothly from the sheath, while the sheath maintains a firm grip on the knife while you carry.
The sheath has 4 screws that allow you to reconfigure so you can use it on either side, or you can string the cord to carry it as a neck knife.
It’s Capable
The Izula 2 is an excellent all-around fixed blade knife that can be used both in the wilderness and around town.
This full tang, high-carbon blade is made of 1095 steel and comes with a Micarta handle. It’s great for quickly and safely dressing an animal or any survival tasks you might have.
The design of this knife makes it more rugged than its smaller stature may suggest.
It’s Easy To Conceal (where the laws allow)
When you’re preparing your survival kit, the blade size of the Izula 2 is perfect. It’s big enough to handle the most common tasks but small enough to put anywhere while travelling.
The Izula 2 knife is the perfect size for EDC or for horizontal carry on your belt. It’ll fit under polos, t-shirts and sweaters without being conspicuous.
The Izula 2’s short stature gives enough handhold to get a good grip when drawing- while still being small enough for those who don’t want outward signs of carrying.
This knife is designed to be the perfect lightweight survival knife or concealed carry knife (where permitted).
ESEE Izula 2 Product Description and Specifications
The ESEE Izula 2 is a fixed blade survival knife that is made from 1095 carbon steel. It features a 2-5/8 inch cutting edge with a textured powder coat or black oxide finish.
The knife weighs 3.2 ounces and has an overall length of 6-3/4 inches with a generous 4 inch handle made of Micarta that provides excellent grip.
ESEE Izula 2 Specs
(Courtesy of ESEE Knives):
Overall Length: 6.75″
Blade Length: 2.63″
Thickness: .156″
Steel: 1095 Carbon
Weight: 3.2 Oz. w/o Sheath
Finish: Textured Powder Coat or Black Oxide
Grind: Flat
Molded Sheath & Clip Plate
Pommel: Carabiner Hole
Handles: Canvas Micarta
Randall’s Adventure and Training (better known as RAT) is the company that owns the brand ESEE.
They make other knife designs that they have produced by the Ontario Knife Company, but with this design they wanted a higher quality. Achieving this wasn’t possible with their manufacturing capabilities so they used a different manufacturer under the ESEE label. The Izula II knives are made by Rowen Manufacturing in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
How to best describe the Izula 2?
It is a compact, no-frills fixed blade knife which follows up on ESEE’s original Izula design.
The Izula 2 was designed to improve upon the original skeletonized Izula, while still remaining true to its overall form factor and intended use. The major improvement: better ergonomics with a ½ inch longer handle and Canvas Micarta scales.
The sheaths used for both models are interchangeable.
The Izula and Izula 2 have become ESEE’s bestselling knives.
Is The ESEE Izula 2 A Good Knife For Survival Situations?
The ESEE Izula 2 is a perfect knife for survival situations.
The 1095 steel blade holds an edge very well and is easily sharpened in the field, which is what you want in a survival situation. The handle has an extra-grippy Micarta handle that makes it easy for you to hold for extended lengths of time.
This knife combines utility with an no-frills design, all in a small package.
The blade can be used to cut through anything from cordage for building shelter or firewood, to skinning game or processing wood for shelter and fire, etc.
It has a long spine that provides plenty of cutting area so you can do finer cutting tasks like splitting kindling or carving small intricate cuts in wood.
Design and Features of the ESEE Izula 2 Fixed Blade Knife
It is a small, lightweight knife that only weighs 3.2 ounces and still delivers exceptional performance – most folding knives these days weigh more than that.
EDC
As a fixed blade with EDC aspirations, the Izula-2 is a jack-of-all-trades kinda knife.
It offers enough edge and functionality for most daily tasks that require precision to be handled with ease, while its compact size means it can also comfortably fit in your pocket or strap onto your belt.
It’s not as space-efficient as a folding knife but maybe we are missing the point. ESEE recommends this knife for hunting, self-defense, or inclusion in your survival kit.
Handle & Scales
The length of this knife’s handle is perfect for medium/large hands, and the textured handle is very grippy. The knife has a shorter blade, but you can still get a full four finger grip on that longer handle.
It just gives you a sense of confidence to have the control to make the cuts you want.
Jimping
The knife’s jimping on the back of the spine is machined well and comfortable on the thumb, and I have no complaints with it on mine.
Blade
The knife comes with a drop point styled blade, though it’s very close to being a clip point.
The blade came from the manufacturer very sharp right out of the box. Most factory-made knives are just barely sharp enough to cut through cardboard. This knife’s edge was ready to tackle the outdoors right away.
While the flat grind doesn’t make wood shaving as easy as a cheaper Mora, I was surprised by how good the Izula 2 cut nice wedges into kindling.
Blade’s Protective Coating & Colors
The entire knife (except the scales) comes powder coated by the factory. They sell a good variety of different powder coated finishes that will look great on your knife.
You can get a black oxide blade coating, desert tan powder coating or a olive drab powder coating. It’s also available in a gray powder coated finish.
The coating on the knife will eventually show wear, but that happens with any coating on a knife blade.
But, this coating is crucial to the blade’s longevity. ESEE warns the blade will rust and stain if not properly cared for, but this is to be expected with high-carbon steels.
Knives made with 1095 steel are also known for their toughness and holding a sharp edge. So it’s a bit of trade-off – maintenance for high performance. So to maintain your knife, simply make sure to keep it dry and oil it before storage.
Limitations
The knife is a useful tool for prepping food and general camp chores, but there are some things it can’t do well.
The coating on the blade doesn’t work well with a ferro rod or firesteel. You just can’t generate the shaving action required to create a shower of sparks.
An easy fix would be to remove a small area of coating on the spine where you can strike your ferro rod with a bare steel edge. Yes, it may develop a bit of rust on that area, but if you maintain your knife it shouldn’t be a problem.
Sheath
The sheath that comes with the knife isn’t bad, but it isn’t great either. It’s a molded thermoplastic – not Kydex.
I’ll say this: it’s adequate for getting the job done. It provides safe and reliable carrying in a few different positions. (Although a nice custom leather sheath may hit the spot.)
The reversible clip allows for either tip-up or tip-down carry and the molded sheath provides excellent retention while keeping it safe from the elements.
Lifetime Warranty
One of the best parts about owning an ESEE knife is the lifetime warranty. So whatever happens (and I mean anything), you’re covered.
Add in the full tang and the ergonomic handle, and you’ve got one seriously durable knife that feels great during daily use. This knife is tested to work for years without fail.
Pros and Cons of the ESEE Izula 2 Knife for Survival or EDC
Pros:
- Proven all-around survival knife – for hunting, food prep or tinder, even chopping wood to start a fire
- Rugged full tang construction can take punishment
- Small, unobtrusive so it’s easy to conceal
- Lightweight – easy to carry and adds little weight to your survival kit
- Longer handle allows for full hand grip
- Lifetime warranty
- Sheath can be attached to a belt in two different ways for carrying horizontally and vertically.
Cons:
- Needs regular cleaning and maintenance, blade needs to be oiled to keep it in good condition
- Sheath’s screws need to be checked and tightened periodically to make sure the knife is always held securely.
- The blade’s powder coat prevents use with a ferro rod (until coating is removed in striking area).
Who Is The ESEE Izula 2 Knife Made For?
Survival, The Prepared & The Gray Man
The ESEE Izula 2 is made for people who are looking for a high quality, tough, full tang blade, but want to carry a more discreet knife on their person.
It is a great smaller, rugged survival knife that’ll fit in a smaller survival kit.
It also makes the perfect back-up knife for a larger survival kit.
You are not going to use this knife to chop down trees. It’s not made for that.
The point is, on a daily basis, you are more likely to carry a smaller knife with you instead of lugging around a large heavier one.
So the lightweight, smaller size of the ESEE Izula 2 is its greatest asset.
You’re just more likely to be carrying it when the unexpected happens.
EDC Enthusiasts
The Izula 2 makes for one of the best edc fixed blade knives. This knife can handle any task you give it, from small woodworking tasks around the shop, to cutting up cardboard boxes with ease.
Is The ESEE Izula 2 Right For You?
The ESEE Izula 2 is a high quality knife that is made for a wide range of tasks. It has a full tang and a generous Micarta handle that feels comfortable. It gives you exceptional performance with any task that you throw at it.
The best way to describe it – it’s a small, lightweight knife that punches well beyond its weight class.
So, if you’re looking for a small fixed blade knife, then check out the ESEE Izula 2.
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