Best years for Emerson knives

colubrid

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Nov 26, 2005
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Jut wondering which years are the ones that have more issues than other years.

Was it the early ones or more recent years like 2009-2011 have more or less quality control. What about the last years?

wish somebody could break it down for me.
 
I'd say 2012 and 2013 is when emerson decided to make his knives better
 
I've owned Emerson's from 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. I have never had an issue with any except the 2012 roadhouse which was fixed under warranty. I personally prefer Emerson's 2006 and older. 98's anyone? ;)
 
I've owned Emerson's from 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011, and 2012. I have never had an issue with any except the 2012 roadhouse which was fixed under warranty. I personally prefer Emerson's 2006 and older. 98's anyone? ;)

I am talking about the fit and finish. Things like mentioned by everyone and blade centeredness ect.

Funny I have owned several that had flaws like the lockbar being to far over, loose blades and leaning blades ect with all of them.

Not to mention machine marks and misaligned scales.
 
I've got samples from 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and 2013. I too had an issue with the lockup of a new Roadhouse made in 2012, but that's the only issue I've had. That said, the 2011 and newer knives do appear to be a step above the 2005 and 2006 knives in terms of fit and finish. To be clear, I've never had a problem with F&F, but some people do.
 
I am talking about the fit and finish. Things like mentioned by everyone and blade centeredness ect.

Funny I have owned several that had flaws like the lockbar being to far over, loose blades and leaning blades ect with all of them.

Not to mention machine marks and misaligned scales.

Half of the "problems" you mentioned are purely cosmetic, and have no effect on how a knife functions as a tool. Emerson production knives (and even customs) aren't meant to be art knives. They are hard use tools. If scales not being perfectly aligned, or the presence of machining marks are things you consider problems, Emerson probably isn't for you, regardless of what year the knife was produced. I have had several knives from 2012-2013, and a few of them had visible machining marks (*GASP*!), and the scale on the non lock side of my 2012 Mini-Commander isn't cut perfectly in line with the butt of the liner, so it sits slightly proud. I'll tell you what... Every time I go to cut something with it, that darned proud portion of the scale on the butt of the handle gets in the way of the blade and causes the lock to fail, and make even worse machining marks in the jimping. Absolutely unacceptable!
 
I have a 2006 mini commander I EDC (a bit les these days :-)... So many new goodies). Anyway, no problem ever with that and only cosmetic thin I picked up so far was the coating on the blade showing the signs of use over the last 7 years.

I bought a Horseman for a friend (2010 or 2011) and that had no problems either. Times and technology changed but I still think the mini commander is a real brilliant EDC "sweety" which inspire confidence in me.
 
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