Is the Little Bird really better than an Izula???

[Talshiar]

I have recently purchased a larger Esee 4 and am now considering an Izula but then I came across the Ontario Ranger Little Bird. It is cool looking and the little bird does come with the Micarta but Izula doesn't, though it could be added later. I was wanting to know if anyone has a little Bird and what they think of it and is it $12.00 better than an Izula or is the difference just the micarta grips. They seem similar so which is a better knife??
thanks for all the help


Esee IZULA Black $44.95 But no Micarta http://www.jsesurvival.com/

Ontario Ranger Series Little Bird Micarta $56.95 http://www.knifecenter.com/item/ON9412BM/ontario-ranger-series-little-bird-knife

 

[gotigers]

Ontario is ok to good, but the ESEE has lifetime warranty. The Izula is proven and loved by the survivalist crowd. I like the Izula, but both had a blade to short for me. Either will do for a neck knife.

I went with the Ka-bar/ESEE Eskabar because of the longer blade. For a small blade i prefer a small folder.

 

[uspJ]

Have you considered the izula 2? Same size blade but with a longer handle. I have 2 of the original izula knives and love them. I put scales on both of mine and it really makes a difference in how the knife feels. The one I carry most has the esee micarta scales and my other has a set of G10 custom scales, I believe I got the custom scales from theknifeconnection.com if your interested.

 

[hso]

The blade shapes are different enough that you would find a lot of difference in how they use.

 

[VA27]

I have a Little Bird...get the Izula.

 

[Talshiar]

I have a Little Bird...get the Izula.

What don't you like about the Little Bird?

 

[alaskanativeson]

Having had both the Ontarios and the ESEE knives (bought back while they were R.A.T Cutlery) I can say I could tell a clear quality difference in the two. Also, I tried once to get customer service help out of Ontario, I might as well have tried getting truth out of an elected official. Or blood from a stone. Or speed out of my brother's Volkswagon Van. After 3 attempts to contact them, I gave up and put my Ontario stuff on eBay. My RC-4 still has a happy home in my collection. I would still have my RC5 if my buddy hadn't decided it was too nice to return (I have a habit out of losing knives to friends.)

 

[KungFuNerd]

The Izula II is excellent and gives you the option of Micarta scales.

 

[VA27]

What don't you like about the Little Bird?

I had to do major work on the blade to get an edge that was useful. It was surprisingly bulky for a small knife. The blade is all belly, making it good for skinning, but not much else. It looked neat, but wasn't what I was looking for in a small knife.

 

[MIL-DOT]

I'd go with ( in fact, I did) the Ka-Bar BK11 ( Becker Necker) before either the Izula or the Little Bird ( and I own 1 knife each from Randall/ESEE and Ontario).
They now offer micarta scales, or you can wrap with paracord ( as I did). This is a dynamite little knife.
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-BK11-Becker-Necker-Knife/dp/B001N1CBB6

 

[JShirley]

They're not much alike, other than they're small and not horribly expensive. The Little Bird is about the smallest blade you can find, for its shape. As VA said, it's also quite bulky for a small knife.

 

[mgregg85]

I'd go with the Izula, or if you want to go cheaper you could pick up the eskabar which is a joint design between Esse and Becker/KaBar. The eskabar has the handle of the Izula and the blade of the Becker necker.

Here is a picture of all three knives...


At about $35 its pretty cheap but if you want micarta you'll have to buy it separetly and do a little trimming to make it fit.

 

[Marlin60Man]

http://www.rockynational.com/ESEE_RAT.html

Izula I = $43.95

Izula I + Micarta Handles = $58.90

Izula II (Full Length Micarta Handles included) = $64.95

Also, down the road if you decide you really like the Izula ( most do ) you can get some really nice G10 scales for it for about $40. It's really nice without them, but it's really nice with them.

http://www.the-knife-connection.com/esee-knives--izula-custom-handles.html

 

[MIL-DOT]

Once again, the Ka-Bar/Becker BK11 is U.S. made in 1095 cro-van steel, for $30,delivered. Given the limited range of applications for something as tiny as all of these knives,there's no way this knife won't perform at least as well as the other options.......at considerably less cost.
http://www.amazon.com/Ka-Bar-BK11-Becker-Necker-Knife/dp/B001N1CBB6

 

[HellBlazer]

Izula II. Trust me.

 

[KungFuNerd]

The longer handle of the Izula II makes it much more useable for me (of course the scales do too).
Ive been meaning to carry it itch out the scales to try it out to see how I like the slimmer profile.
Nice to have the option