Better of two evils...

[JPD1998]

I voted for the Horseman, IMO it's one of the most usable Emerson designs for an EDC.
Compared to the two older Emerson knives I have (2004 - 2006 production), the newer Horseman seems to be better, as far as fit an finish.
For me the ergos are perfect. It's like a favorite pair of gloves, it just fits my hand perfectly.

 

[James Y]

I own several Emersons, the most recent I bought one was maybe back around 2002 or 2003(?). I own about 8 of them. So I REALLY tried to like them, but for some reason they never worked out FOR ME for my EDC. The models I own are:
CQC-7 A (3 of them)
CQC-7B (2 of them)
Commander
Mini-Commander
La Griffe

I think that's it. Of the lot, I think I liked my 2001 CQC7-B the most. However, even it just didn't suit me as I'd hoped. It's not so much the chisel grind or the V grind chisel edge bevels; it's that they're on fairly thick (or thickly-ground) blades, which makes the bevel angle steeper/more obtuse. Because I have Spydercos like the fully-serrated Delica 4, Endura 4, and a new David Boye sheepsfoot boat folder, etc., that are V grind (saber grind) with single-sided 'chisel' edges that cut great, because the blade's grind is thinner and/or the edge bevels are ground thinner/less obtusely.

Also, the locks on my Emerson folders got "mushy" after awhile. Not really confidence-inspiring. Plus, a couple of them develop lock slip. It's possible that Emerson has upgraded his liner locks since then.

YMMV. Many people have no issues with Emerson's grinds, and that's great, too. I'm just sharing my personal experiences of trial and error off and on over several years.

But...IMO, of the choices in the OP, I would probably choose the Horseman, though I've never owned one. If you cannot handle one in person beforehand and order an Emerson, I'd recommend calling and asking the dealer beforehand to check the knife for certain things, such as certain pre-listed flaws as well as pre-listed positives, before shipping the knife.

Jim

 

[marrenmiller]

I would never buy an Emerson for full price. I keep looking for super CQC-7s and Roadhouses on eBay, but every time I find one and want to bid on it, I stop myself. I think the only things I like about their knives are the general aesthetics and and beautiful blade grinds.

As noted above, you can buy a Benchmade adamas for less than the price of a full sized Emerson knife. That's a ludicrously better knife than any Emerson for so-called hard use tasks (ie. abuse). That alone should tell you something.

If you're dead set on an Emerson design, ZT makes better ones than Emerson themselves.

 

[115Italian]

Horseman

Horseman next to the Roadhouse.

The Horseman is a great edc size folder. The finger choil in the handle give a very secure grip.
Emerson knives arent for everyone. Theyre not the best edc knives out there. Theyre more of a specialized tool. That’s why people tend to recommend the zt emersons. If you need a folder that’s a work horse then you will really appreciate an emerson. The steel wont hold an edge like s35vn but its tough as hell and holds an edge. It sharpens quickly especially with the chisel edge and is very stainless. I use my emersons for work, im a landscaper.

 

[Wowbagger]

I didn't vote.
How the hell can a guy have an opinion on knives he has never owned ?

. . . oh . . . that's easy.
First I will attempt to add what has not already been mentioned.
Second I will try to be positive and not troll. That's not so hard; these are certainly iconic knives and people enjoy Emersons.

Now to my arm chair observations :
First off . . . the chisel grind this CAN make a negative difference or not matter depending on what you are trying to cut.
For instance I have to cut rubber hose (softer = more difficult to cut) soft and up around an inch and a half OD. The end has to be square with crisp edges. If there is any wave or ragged edge I have to take it to a power grinder and square and clean it up. A single bevel (chisel grind) with the flat on the left (I'm right handed) would make the job go better. See Japanese Chef knives. THE OPOSIT IS TRUE. Guess where the bevel is on the Emerson ? So for slicing square for a right hander the single bevel (chisel) grind is a sinister foe.

Next the slotted screw head for the main pivot. I have changed my mind on this one. When I first saw it and even to this day that "old time" slot screams cheep crap / artless cost cutting.
BUT I have finally come to appreciate that one can turn that screw with about anything from a washer or chunk of scrap metal to the most common screw driver. It is what is in many of my Apple wireless products that take rechargeable batteries such as my key board and track pad. All I have to do is use a penny or nickel to unscrew the battery chamber cover. SO THE SLOTTED SCREWS ARE HIGHLY PRACTICAL. Though I'm still a Torx guy all the way and when I don't have a set of Torx near me I am in serious do do and probably won't be worrying about my knife pivot.

The knife, with the reverse bevel egros for a right handed person, is good for cutting through thick rope with a hammer when you don't care about the shape of the end. I'm being serious the edge is straight like a sailor's marlin spike knife. Good for all manner of high energy demolition. Good for shaving curls off stuff; the edge shape kind of lends it's self to that. If you like Tanto blades then by all means this is your knife.

Good if you need a knife that will open super easy one handed even if your thumb is torn up (the wave).

This is an interesting thread and I am learning more than I can contribute. I might one day own an Emerson so I'm learning.

PS:

The 7 has a neutral, accommodating handle; the Horseman encourages a more specific grip.

I'm all about handles that are more neutral and plain. Think Cold Steel Ti Lite or Sod Buster RATHER THAN Spyderco Manix.

 

[Lapedog]

Emersons seem to be kind of like Harley Davidsons and muscle cars. By that I mean you either love them or just don't get them.

The CQC7 or Horseman are not the ideal edc knives, they are abit thick. They also aren't the best self defense folders ever. What they are is awesome because they do both adequately. So you have an edc blade with defensive capability.

Another great knife like this is the Spyderco Endura waved.

 

[palonej]

Not up there, but I’d vote for an Adamas. One of the toughest folders out there. It’s really nice looking and has a monstrous AXIS Lock.
Joe

 

[michaelm466]

I have a CQC-13 (2014), had one before and sold it (2006 version), wasn't great fit and finish, lots of factory gunk in it, and very rough action. The new one is much better finish, and I prefer the new stone wash to the old bead blast. I don't see my self selling it, but I probably won't be buy another model either.

 

[mt666tm]

Hold them both in your hand before you decide.

CQC7 fits my hand perfectly. I love it, and I have 8 of them if I'm counting correctly. There are a few blade options available to suit your preference.

The tanto B blades are my favorite and are also relatively easy to sharpen freehand with Lansky stones.

I EDC'd a Horseman for a few years and it served me well and took a lot of punishment, but it never fit my hand well at all. Neither does the CQC8.

I have a CQC15 as well. It's on the bigger side, but I love it and it is also a great fit in my hand.

See which one fits your hand best and go for it. Granted some are overpriced at retail. Keep your eyes on the Exchange forum and you can get a good deal.

 

[Valyrian steel]

I have a Kershaw Emerson that's ok. But that's it just ok. I wouldn't spend over 40 bucks for one of those.

 

[Wowbagger]

the chisel grind this CAN make a negative difference or not matter depending on what you are trying to cut.

Now I'm quoting myself can the embarrassment never end ? !

Charlie Mike informed me that the asymmetrical cutting action of the chisel edge makes a positive difference which is a negative thing in a positive way; negatively speaking :

Wounds are less inclined to heal off a chisel grind.
Chisel grinds are scarier.
More BA.

 

[Wowbagger]

The CQC7 or Horseman are not the ideal edc knives, they are abit thick.

See that is just how bent I am. I literally was just admiring the Horseman because I liked the thickness of the handle (and it isn't as tall and slab sided; more rounded). For using this is good. I would probably prefer the Horseman and carry it in a pouch as I do my Griptillian.

 

[mt666tm]

The chisel edge cuts just fine. I can't think of anything it cuts poorly.

If you are in the kitchen and demand performance then use a proper kitchen knife.

The only thing with the chisel is if you use it to cut something on top of a hard surface odds are you may cut through and hit the surface and this will damage the second tip where the blade transitions from the tip edge to main edge. So watch out for that.

I just did it to my V blade the other day chopping an apple in for my kid. Easy to fix, just annoying when it goes 'bang' on the counter and you know exactly what you just did.

 

[Mo2]

 

[Wowbagger]

Emersons seem to be kind of like Harley Davidsons and muscle cars. By that I mean you either love them or just don't get them.

I grew up around both. Next door was Rocky with his choppers (also had a show quality "55 Chevy totally Rodded) ; member of the Satan's Irons they used to party in his yard. Gave me rides on the peanut tank when I was like five or six. GREAT GUY ! ! !

To the other side of my parent's house the neighbors had wrinkle wall tires sitting in the kitchen; Mustang Shelby's and '65 fastback with shackles and headers I spent my 12, 13, 14 years riding shot gun, sliding side ways in that car half the time.

I couldn't read enough Hot Rod magazine and the first thing I could draw that looked right was a show car.

Now ?
I prefer super low to the ground sports cars, small displacement, super light (bikes and cars) . . . not so much wrump, wrump, wrump . . . wrump, wrump
as whernrnrnrnrnrererereeeeeee ! ! ! !
If it can't go around a corner I don't want to hear about it.

 

[Wowbagger]

The only thing with the chisel is if you use it to cut something on top of a hard surface odds are you may cut through

ha, ha I thought you were going to say it keeps cutting clear through the hard surface.

just annoying when it goes 'bang' on the counter and you know exactly what you just did.

And then your significant other gives you a dope slap for messing up her counter.

Knife guys don't let knife guys cut apples without a good cutting board.
PS: and I never go into the kitchen without my Holdout I, anything less is just too iffy.

 

[PirateSeulb]

I don't cut with a cutting good cutting board, I was gifted a glass cutting board its not bad but not really good for the edge as I understand, I do have some plastic flimsy cutting sheets I typically place down and atm I don't cut much in the kitchen with my good knives. I have cut an apple at the office or from the couch w/o any cutting surface but that just takes being extra cautious and a nice sharp edge.

 

[Wowbagger]

. . . cut . . . at the office

I have to incorporate the word Emerson here so we stay on topic . . .
and that reminds me . . . what is the largest folder that is traditional Emerson ?
I would like to see those !

. . . anyway the best argument i read here for carrying a good size folder, even at the office, is : what are you going to do if there is an impromptu birthday party and nobody remembered to bring a knife ? ? ?
Yup . . . better to lean toward the four incher if you want to be able to survive in this modern world.


PS: I keep forgetting to take a little cutting board to work for all my hose cutting. I hate using the dirty plywood work bench top. Often I use hard cardboard out of the trash.

 

[stabman]

Good point, we can't forget that Zemerson > Kemerson > Emerson, at least as far as quality goes.

If people want to say the Zero Tolerance collaborations are better built than the Emerson offerings, I can dig it. Zero Tolerance makes a damn fine knife.

The Kershaw collaborations are not nearly as good as the actual Emerson knives.
Smaller pivots, smaller stop pins, lower quality materials, softer screws, and I don't really like the G-10 either.
They are far cheaper though, and are okay as far as knives go.

But they are most definitely not better...not by a long shot.

They are about as good as you'd expect a knife in their price range to be.

 

[Lapedog]

I grew up around both. Next door was Rocky with his choppers (also had a show quality "55 Chevy totally Rodded) ; member of the Satan's Irons they used to party in his yard. Gave me rides on the peanut tank when I was like five or six. GREAT GUY ! ! !

To the other side of my parent's house the neighbors had wrinkle wall tires sitting in the kitchen; Mustang Shelby's and '65 fastback with shackles and headers I spent my 12, 13, 14 years riding shot gun, sliding side ways in that car half the time.

I couldn't read enough Hot Rod magazine and the first thing I could draw that looked right was a show car.

Now ?
I prefer super low to the ground sports cars, small displacement, super light (bikes and cars) . . . not so much wrump, wrump, wrump . . . wrump, wrump
as whernrnrnrnrnrererereeeeeee ! ! ! !
If it can't go around a corner I don't want to hear about it.

I can appreciate many types of cars. That said Lotus has always been some of my favourites. That super lightweight car body doesn't even needs a powerful engine to run laps around higher horse power cars.

I don't know if it is true or not, (I am just repeating something I think I remember reading as a kid) but I heard the Lotus Super 7 was actually banned from competing on the Nurburgring race track because its light weight gave it unfair cornering and acceleration.

(Even if it's not true it adds to the legend for me )