Benchmade Emerson SPEC WAR MODEL CQC7

[Bobby B]

I picked up a used Benchmade Emerson CQC7.
I believe it to be a 970S.
The blade is about 3.25", ground only on one side. It has the BALI-SONG logo on the ground side and the Emerson Spec war model CQC7 on the other. Unlike pictures of the 970s I have seen, it also says ATS-34 on the flat side. Is this unusual? Is there a trick to sharpening the 1 sided "chisel edge"?
Thanks,
Rob

 

[Mike G]

The two that I have are marked identical to yours, so nothing unusual there.

I have only used one of mine, and I sharpen it on a DMT diamond whetstone. No problems keeping it scary sharp.

 

[knifenerd]

A good find. The 970 was very successful for BM until Ernie Emerson started up his own factory company.

Sharpen at about a 30 degree angle on the chisel side only. Then strop off any wire edge on the other side.

 

[wire edge]

knifenerd said "Then strop off any wire edge on the other side."

Hey wait a minute, I'm not dead yet!!!!!

Seriously though, that's a good find Bobby B. My BM CQC7 is marked exactly like yours as well. I have found that if you hold your knife in your left hand (assuming your right handed) and holding a sharpmaker rod in your right, you can "freehand" sharpen a chisel edge pretty easily. It just seems easier to hold the angle that way.

 

[DBH]

Bobby, I own both a 970 and a 975. The 970 is a great knife. Knifenerd is correct on the sharpening of this knife with about a 30 degree angle. I will have to try and use wireedge's method next time it needs a good sharpening.

 

[Bobby B]

Thanks guys. I don't know what they're worth, but I paid $50 shipped for it...