Blackbird

GronK · Sep 19, 2006

I recieved an Emerson Blackbird in trade last week (see attached pic). Never owned or even handled an Emerson before and I am impressed! Fit, finish and ergos are superb. The problem is, I don't really care for black, tanto, chisel ground, partially serrated blades! Of course, I never owned one, either. Soooo, do I keep it pristine and trade it for something similar (but with plain edge, v-grind and drop point) or carry and use it to see if I get used to the blade? I understand they are discontinued and may gain collector value.

In anticipating a trade or maybe just buying a v-grind plain edged one I picked up a Delica 4 Waved yesterday to check out the wave function. It only took a couple of hours to be sold on it. Very fast to deploy!

SIFU1A · Sep 20, 2006

just depends on what ya want it for, in my experience blackbirds arent one of the more collectible EKIs, a good knife though.

ya arent gonna find any plain edge drop point "V" grind EKIs if thats what ya want look at spydie or BM.

Nukemkb · Sep 22, 2006

hmmm. Blackbird's are users to me. I found that mine felt a little "thin" when I first got it - but now I find myself carrying it more frequently, especially on weekends. I had a lowrider clip installed BTW...

GronK · Oct 6, 2006

Well, I picked up a mini commander and miniCQC7 a few weeks ago and handled a CQC 13 (?) clip point recently. Guess I'll try them for a bit, decide what to keep and sell the rest.

Nukemkb · Oct 22, 2006

Let us know how they feel and what ya decide...

GronK · Oct 22, 2006

Nukemkb said:
Let us know how they feel and what ya decide...

The first thing I wanted to do was try them on typical cutting tasks. I started by making one cut through some fairly heavy corrugated cardboard wtih the Blackbird. This was the result:

I was totally shocked. I am not excessively careful with my knives. I consider them all users, but these were acquired with the idea of re-selling two if not all three of them. Actually using them with this easily marred coating would cost me a hundred bucks or so!! My opinions are therefor based on gently handling them, openning and closing them a few times. :barf:

They are all solid, with good lock up and no play. The handles are different from each other, but equally ergonomic. Very comfortable and secure in the hand. The Commander would be a very good EDC, with a blade made for normal cutting chores. The Blackbird is slim in the pocket and well balanced for SD (Not really a factor to me. That's what guns are for!). The mini CQC7 is <3" which makes it legal in most places, but gives it a handle-heavy, almost Spyderco look. I put them all up for sale (along with a mini SERE I had also taken in trade), figuring to keep the last one left. After a week, with some price reductions, :grumpy: all but the Blackbird have been spoken for. Not surprising, since I pointed out the scarred blade so no one will think I'm trying to put one over on them.

The bottom line: Last weekend I traded for a Spyderco Military CF S30V. IMHO it comes closer than any of the Emersons to competing with my large Classic Sebenza for "big knife" EDC carry. The Emersons are really good knives, but the Mili is truly special.

SIFU1A · Oct 23, 2006

every coating i have ever seen will scuff exactly like that, if ya dont like it scuffing dont get coated blades. BM, microtech, spyderco, kershaw, strider, MOD, and yes EKI will alll scuff with any use even cutting cardboard, the coating will still protect the blade, but they will scuff. looks terrible too doesnt it?

i prefer satin finish myself for just that reason.

Nukemkb · Oct 23, 2006

Interesting on the blackbird...the thin feel in the hand does feel good in the pocket. When not carrying the blackbird, I usually carry the Endura wave. I've never handled the Mil...will have to try it. I must not be using my coated CQC hard enuff. I have no scuffing yet, though (BTW) the blade screw is totally brown now.
I liked your analysis...Thanks!

GronK · Oct 23, 2006

SIFU1A said:
every coating i have ever seen will scuff exactly like that, if ya dont like it scuffing dont get coated blades. BM, microtech, spyderco, kershaw, strider, MOD, and yes EKI will alll scuff with any use even cutting cardboard, the coating will still protect the blade, but they will scuff. looks terrible too doesnt it?

i prefer satin finish myself for just that reason.

I have tended to avoid black coating, but have used BM and TOPS blades pretty heavily without scuffing. The Emerson didn't just scuff, but wore clear through at the grind line. Anyway, I wanted to check the Emersons out and it's hard to find one without the black blade. I've done some looking on line and handled the satin 13 and it appears even the non-black blades use a "clear" coating that scuffs just as bad! Just draws a finer line between collectors and users. Kind of leaves us "using accummulators" out in the cold.

GronK · Oct 23, 2006

Nukemkb said:
Interesting on the blackbird...the thin feel in the hand does feel good in the pocket. When not carrying the blackbird, I usually carry the Endura wave. I've never handled the Mil...will have to try it. I must not be using my coated CQC hard enuff. I have no scuffing yet, though (BTW) the blade screw is totally brown now.
I liked your analysis...Thanks!

The Military is quite a bit bigger (longer, wider in pocket) but is lighter than the Blackbird and has ergos and a blade to die for. I have both Delica and Endura waves and like them a lot. Just gotta wait for the "new knife smell" to leave them to decide which I'll keep long term. Only ones in that category right now are large and small Sebenzas, a Li'l T and a Para Military.

SIFU1A · Oct 24, 2006

if ya are a "user" then use it the coating still protects the blade from corrosion and the scuffs dont matter on a user.

again thats why i dont care for coated blades.

GronK · Oct 24, 2006

Since the other Emersons are gone to new homes now and the Blackbird is no longer a virgin, I guess I'll ignore the coating and carry it for a while to see if I can get around the other concepts I don't usually care for, ie:Tanto, Chisel Ground and Partially Serrated.