Buck strider tanto or Emerson CQC-7 for hard use???

Runsalone

Runsalone

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Oct 22, 2003
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I may have posted this befor but Im in the process of finding\buying a hard use EDC. Ive narrowed it down between the Buck-Strider tanto and an Emerson CQC-7. The tip on th Buck strider looks extreemely tough, but I like the looks of the Emerson. Ergos look better to.

Never spent this much on a blade before and dont want to make a wrong pick. I dont think either would be a mistake, but maybe some input could help, and pics would be even better.

What do you guys think?????
 
The Emerson CQC7 is ground on only one side, a chisel grind. If I'm not mistaken, the Buck Strider has a "V" grind, meaning it's ground evenly on both sides of the blade.

The Emerson's advantage is primarily in SD use, the chisel grind lends itself better for slashing and stabbing. The Buck Strider, if it's evenly ground, is better suited for general use, i.e., when you are cutting material, the blade will cut straight and not tend to curve off in a tangent which is what a chisel ground blade will do.
 
I recomment Buck Strider Spear Piont - 880SP.

Buck880SP_01.jpg


Chisel grind good for thin fish slicing in japanies cousine. Don't see any other advantages. Have no idea how it may better slash and stab. American Tanto point does not provide any advantages too - only for manufacturing, I think. Check this article:
http://www.swordforum.com/sfu/japanese/americanized.html

Buck Strider has superior blade - ATS-34 heat treated by Paul Bos! I able scratch glass with it easy. It is almost unbreakable - 0.180" thick, shave sharp from the box. I was pleased by qulity of that knife - for example G10 on it has this delicate surface (much better then other knife G10) - does not heart palm skin and not slippery same time. And even it looks "simple" - belive me it is kind of aristocratic simplisity - it's just look this way. For example handle looks kind of rectangular - but it is very comfortable in hand.

Thanks, Vassili.
 
i would say for very hard use the buck/strider would be the better choice, but if ya get the tanto blade model the front part of the blade is not sharpened (not sharp anyway) and it is a very large thick knife which doesnt carry very well in the pocket, and i carry large knives (ie cammilus cuda maxx, crawford perfigo 4.5" blade, crawford ti kasper, etc). still a great knife, just like the CQC7, which is also a fairly HD knife itself, which will cut just fine imho. maybe not very good at fine work, but neither would the buck/strider either imho. i have both the knifes too by the way.

just depends on how heavy duty ya mean......

greg
 
If you don't mind the size, get the Buck. I had both at one time together, and kept the Buck.

The double ground blade will make EDC cutting easier than a chisel groudn blade. Well, unless you are left handed, in which case the Emerson is on the "correct" side for push cutting. I like the thick (won't cut) tip on the Buck/Strider for utility chores. I have a main edge for cutting and the thick point for poking, scraping, gouging, prying, etc. I find the Buck to be a real good example of a "knife as tool". As far as self defense goes, the Buck is thicker, wider, and longer than the Emerson. I suspect those attributes would be advantageous if things go wrong!

This is not to say that the Emerson is a bad knife; I rather liked the one I had. I just found myself carrying my Buck more for my EDC use, so I sent the Emerson to a good home. You should, however, consider the Buck/Strider spearpoint. It is plenty thick and tough too, while having a good cutting point. If you do go with the tanto, you might want to carry a SAK or similar knife for fine point work.
 
I have a Buck/Strider Tanto, and I used to have a Benchmade/Emerson CQC-7, not an actual Emerson. Actually I still have the Benchmade, I just wore it out.

Both are excellent knives for hard use, the CQC-7 is a little easier to carry all-day, but the chisel grind takes a bit of getting used to. The Buck is built like a tank, and is strong as hell, but you'll definately know that you're carrying it.

Jubei
 
Before you make your decision you might want to take a look at Benchmades 722. It is a V ground tanto thats plenty tough without being to thick and the axis-lock is superior to any liner lock made. An added perk is that it's also a totally ambidextrious knife.
 
I'll go ahead and cast a vote for the Emerson. The CQC-7 is one of the most famous tac knives for a reason. When you combine a tough tanto, great ergos, a stout liner lock, and the wave (optional), you have one heck of a folder. I have carried both and the Emerson has gotten more carry time than my Buck/Strider. The Buck is just too heavy for me and the G-10 way too abrasive (will demolish denim like tissue paper). If you can, heft them both, it's the only true way to pick IMO.
Matt
 
Thanks everybody for all the comments and suggestions!! I have the CQC-7 on order (And a cold steel recon 1 tanto{my wifes going to KILL me!!!}as I found them still offered in AUS-8 on a site{it better be AUS-8}).


Really looking foward to the aquisition of the Emerson! It will be my first "serious knife"(in that it cost more than 60 bucks :rolleyes: )


I kind of suspect that the two knives(emerson....S/B) Have slightly different visions behind thier design. While, from what I understand, both knives could cut you out of a overturned car :eek: it seemd the Buck strider was designed specificly to this end while the Emerson appeares to be more of a better balenced EDC type knife , with serious toughness as an added bonus to an already impressive package.

Im sure one day I will have both :cool: (If my wife lets me live ;) )
 
mrd74 said:
Before you make your decision you might want to take a look at Benchmades 722. It is a V ground tanto thats plenty tough without being to thick and the axis-lock is superior to any liner lock made. An added perk is that it's also a totally ambidextrious knife.
Click to expand...


I second the BM722, it really is a fantastic little knife. However if your choice is only going to be between the Buck and Emerson I have to say I'd go with the Buck every time.
 
Hope ya got the CQC7 with the wave feature. Very handy. The knife opens faster from the pocket than any auto I've seen. Helps to wear jeans though. Takes a little bit to get the hang of it but that wave does work!
 
i'd go for the Buck-Strider. it's a heavy-duty knife built like a tank and it even looks like a tank, what more do you want? the knife is an excellent combination of double-grind tanto knife, prybar and mini-axe, all in one nice little package :cool:

some drawbacks i've found are these:

- the grippy G10 eats your jeans faster than you can buy new ones
- the unsharpened broad point makes for a very poor letter-opener
- the rough scales can be hard on your hands during heavy and prolonged use
- the tanto-blade with its blunted tip isn't very useful in general utility-cutting
- because of the overall thickness and design it doesn't carry very comfy
- sharpening the heat-treated ATS34, or even fully reprofiling the edge to another angle, can be very hard and exhaustive.

other than that, this knife rocks! the knife is also available in spearpoint as well as mini-versions. i think the Emerson loses mainly because of the awkward onesided chisel-grind.......
 
As both an Emerson and Strider (including Buck-Strider) fan, this is a hard call to make.

Both are equal in terms of product Q/C and follow-up C/S.

Both offer excellent value for the product.

Here, I'd have to give the nod to the Buck-Strider as a pure hard-user, for all of the reasons our fellow enthusiasts listed above.

Allen
aka DumboRAT

Note - Although proper liner-to-tang engagement angle is much more the determinant of lock integrity than liner thickness, having the latter is definitely an advantage......
 
I'm about to order a Buck Strider myself but am a little undecided as to which size I should get.

At 4" closed the mini seems a tad to small and at 5 3/8" the regular model seems to big.

Which model do you all carry? For reference sake I am used to carrying either a Chinook 2 or AFCK and have no issues with these size wise. Does the regular version feel significantly bigger and heavier than either of these in the pocket?
 
I have the Benchmade/ Emerson CQC -7 (made prior to Emerson going into business) its pretty much the same as the Emerson CQC although it has a full 4 inch blade.

I've had two limited edition Buck Striders one tanto and one spear point both with BG-42 steel. I sold off the tanto the front of the blade is dull and blunt. I guess it would be fine if you were using the knife to pierce hard objects all day but not good as an EDC. The spear point is a much better blade shape. I can't comment on the production model ATS-34 steel but I would assume that it is very good since it is heat treated like the BG-42 by Paul Boss. The Spear point I have hardly ever gets carried as an EDC knife it is way to wide to carry comfortably in jeans. The Buck Strider has about the most aggressive g-10 handle I've felt, again not my thing for an EDC knife.
The knife goes with me on hunting/ camping tripes when I want an over built knife.

As for the CQC-7 one of the most comfortable handles out there, next to the Emerson Commander I had. Emerson handles are known for ergonomics. The only down side I have with Emersons is the liner locks seem too thin to me for hard use. If I was in your situation I'd look for a Benchmade with an Axis lock if your heart is set on a Tanto blade I belive they make one with the axis lock as well.
 
ABSOLUTELY the Buck-strider.

I'm not really impressed with anything out of the Emerson line...



A lot of you posted some drawbacks to the Buck Strider, like how the G10 kills your pants, uncomfortable handles, single sided thumbstuds...


These issues were resolved in the updated versions of the Buck Strider. It has dual thumbstuds, rounded G10 corners, ambi-clip... If I hadn't sworn myself to fixed-blade carry, the new BS would be my pick.





As for the Emerson... My commander is at the shop right now. Second time in the last 4 months, I'd say. The liners wear out pretty friggin fast, especially if you frequent the "wave."

And chisel grinds suck. I'm sorry. They are stupid. I don't care if they are Emerson's "trademark." If so many people are complaining about the grind (and this seems to be a very common complaint), Emerson should put some thought into catering to the will of the consumer.
 
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