Commander blade grind question.

R

Ranger

Joined
Nov 19, 1998
Messages
38


I've always been a fan of the Commander (even when it was the ES-1 and there was no talk of Emerson production knives) but thought it was a standard grind blade (sharpened on both sides, don't know the proper term for it). Now I hear the new ones will be a V-grind and the previous models were chisel grind a la CQC-7. Is this true? I'd prefer to get one with the V-grind. I'm also told the new v-grind models will only be available in part serrated and I'm more interested in a plain edge model. Are there any truth to these rumors? I've never gotten to hold one of the Commanders (pain of living in a small town) so I'm not intimately familiar with them, but I know what I like, and I like the design of this knife. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance all.

- Kim.
 
I do not know if the new commanders are all going to be part serrated, but I do know that the one I used to own, #138 was somewhat of a modified chisel grind. It was v ground, but at the sharp edge, it was sharpened on only one side. It is kind of hard to explain. I would have to say that it is not a true chisel grind though.
 
I just ordered a plain blade with a v-grind and am supposed to have it in two weeks.
 


Where did you order from? I've been dealing with Jeff over at Confederate Cutlery. He has the best prices I've seen on the Commanders so I was holding out un til he got some in. I'd really like to get one in v-grind/plain edge/blak-ti. Just a REALLY cool looking knife. Guess I'll have to hit him up with some e-mail about that!! Thanks for the responses!!

- Kim.
 
The original, the ESM-1 was actually a a real chisel grind, completely flat on one side and is one huge nasty knife.

Jason
 
I just received my commander today. The blade is only sharp on one side, I guess this is a chisel/v-grid combination, it is awesome. This is the sharpest knife that I've ever owned. I bought it from www.knifecenter.com for $149.00 they made a mistake and lived up to it. They bumped the price up to $169.00 but it is still a great deal. How does the wave feature work?
 
When you pull the knife from your pocket the hook of the wave catches on the back edge of your pocket opening the blade.

Jason
 
Just got mine from the Knifecenter also yesterday. A birthday present to myself.

I couldn't decide for plain or serrated, so I got both. I'm glad I put it on backorder as I saved 20 bucks on each.

They are great! The wave is probably going to be the next Spyder hole or serration as it could possibly end up on many, many new tactical blades in future.

Just seeing it open once into the hand from the pocket in a blink of an eye prompted a friend of mine to start an immediate hunt for one. Either saber grip in the right hand or reverse grip in the left, these are the greatest thing to hit the folder market. Sure beats an auto and any other folder for quicknes into action. As fast as a fixed blade, but far more legal in most jurisdictions.

Both are Black Teflon coated, but would definately like to get my hands on a couple of satin bladed models. Bead blast is OK too.

By the way, anyone know what an ESM-1 is going for. I know the wait is outrageous, but it doesn't hurt to ask. Thanx.

Ed
AKTI member A000360
 
The ESM-1 I believe is in the $600 range from Emerson. If you manage to get one from a dealer or collector, they have gone for as high as $1800.

On another post in this Forum, someone said a Commander with a true chisel grind would be made on a limited run. I'll bet that one will be a little on the pricey side as well.
 
The wave feature works really well I'm impressed that it opens so fast. My only problem so far is breaking in the liner lock. It is really hard to close, my CQC-7 was the same way but it was easier to break in. The titanium liner is really tough.
 
Well, it seems an ESM-1 is out of the question for a while. Now that I have had my Comanders for 24 hours now, there have been some interesting developments.

There is now a rattle in both blades. After a little looking and listening, it seems that the stop pins are not tightly fit into the liner. They are both rattling when the blade is in the closed position and no problem open and locked as the blade touching it holds it firm. Any others having the same Prob?

Also, upon removing from my pocket at work, I inadvertantly opened it (still getting used to that) and it struck the metal console of our monitoring station. The very tip of the blade (less than a 1/4mm broke off and the mm section of blade that hit the metal counter was dulled. Shouldn't the blade have been hard enough to at least have survived that? My Benchmades haved fared better with worse accidents.

But enough of that. Every "blade guy" that has seen it so far has been very impressed by the wave feature. One guy immediately, upon getting home from work (0300 hrs), got on the net and started hunting for one of his own. Another convert to a great design feature. Now if it can manage to find it's way into some other great blade designs...

Hope to see the wave appearing on a knife near you.

Ed
AKTI member A000360
 
I got mine about a month ago, directly from Emerson Knives. So, I paid full list. I really like the knife in terms of its looks and its construction. No complaints (except for paying full retail!).

 
In my last post I did forget to add that my blade rattled also, all I did was adjust the tension the way that I liked it, counted the turns as I took out the screw , added some lock tite,and the problem is now solved. As for the tip breaking send it back to Emerson they will replace it
 
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