I would only want Tops and Esse 1095. 1095 with good customer service and return policy is better than a mid grade steel with a bad return policy and bad customer service.
for the price esee is charging these days i'd rather get a different steel. in the $90-175 range, which is where most their models are these days, I think there's better steel options.
While I like 1095, to me it's more of a budget steel. In the same way I don't see myself ever paying $200 for an AUS8 folder, but I have paid that for K390, M4 etc.
That said can't knock their warranty and their knives are solid. I've sold most of mine as I found other models I like better but I've kept my first izula 2 around.
It's already been said, but yeah, its cheap and easy to work with. It blows me away when I see $200+ knives made from 1095. I could care less how good someone is at blade smithing, no knife made of 1095 is worth that much. That's like paying $50 for a McDonalds cheeseburger. (Which I suppose isn't too far off) Anyway, I'm sure I'm going to get all sorts of angry replies from the 1095 lovers. Oh well
ESEE is approaching those prices these days. A new Izula 2 lists for more than I paid for a 3V SRK. I know it's comparing US made to taiwan but still.
That's pretty crazy, but I wonder how inflation has affected that. An Izula II used to be about $60-$70 ten years ago.
