I liked the heat treatment on their 440C ESEE knives, the things took a good edge. Edge retention was fine.
Primarily this is a question about steels, and whether paying more gets you more. That is very hard to quantify, Knifenerds does a great job, but after reading all the standardized test results, what becomes obvious, change a bevel angle, and the test results for steels are often re stacked.
You did not ask about 440C versus 1095. You want to know S35V versus 1095. The 1095 that ESEE uses is easier to sharpen than S35VN. That is an advantage if all you have is rudimentary sharpening equipment and are away from a work bench. It takes diamond hones to restore a S35VN edge. A shooting bud of mine, one of these Delta force types, all he had in the field to sharpen were small, three inch stones. He claimed sending one super steel knife back to the manufacturer for sharpening because he could not resharpen the thing. He also wanted "throw away knives". Pay too much, and when you lose it, you will cry longer. The stainless S35VN edge "should" last longer, but if you are going to chop trees, or bricks, a knife is not the best for that sort of work. 1095 takes an outstanding edge, but it rusts, hence the powder coating on ESSE blades. Many consider 1095 an old steel, and it is. You have to keep the edge dry or it will rust. But it cuts well and sharpens easily.Its price and its ability to be resharpened with rudimentary equipment are its primary advantages.
You will pay more for S35VN because it is one of the steel du jour's. Give it a couple of years, and S35VN will be old hat, and a new, more profitable steel, at an exponentially higher price will be heavily promoted. One should be skeptical that newer steels are all that much better. Is it worth paying 50% more for 3% performance improvements? There will be lots of influencers claiming so. I remember when 154CM was being promoted by Bob Loveless as the best that ever was, and now, 154CM is a yawn. However, original Loveless knives have increased in value, but it is not due to the steel in the blade.
I have a Becker 16, so can hold out until the time is right.
