Commander vs. Socom

ptpalpha

ptpalpha

Joined
Aug 25, 1999
Messages
1,317
I'm wondering what the general opinions are on the Emerson Commander vs. the Microtech manual-action Socom. I've read both rave reviews of the Commander, and had pretty much made up my mind, then started finding some posts about shoddy QC on the Commander, like blade play and liner lock problems. The Socom, on the other hand, gets great reviews, but is not as "hefty" a knife as the Commander, an attribute I like (the heft, I mean). The knife will be used for daily carry, but not utility (I carry a Spydie for general use). I like the wave feature, which is a plus over the Socom, but am worried about the QC issues. Thoughts?

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My Knives: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=194082&a=1423561
 
Commander, no question. Price wise I think the Commander has a slight edge, though I could be wrong... but even with the QC problems, it's a better knife. The Wave makes it way faster, and it sits lower in the pocket as well... I switched from a DA SOCOM to a Commander for my daily carry and haven't looked back.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Hey, Spark! I was hoping you'd reply. I've read the posts you wrote when you first got your Commander, and was hoping that your opinion hadn't changed. If I'm not mistaken, you've got one of those SWEEEET satin finished ones. Well, I doubt I can find one of those (or that cool green mil-spec one, which is my top choice), but I think the black-T will be just fine. Any other opinions?
 
Not to hijack ptpalpha's thread, but, I'd like to hear what you think of the SOCOM as I've just put one on layaway. At $169.00, I thought I'd better jump on it. Don't hold back!

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If it's stupid but works, then it isn't stupid!
 
I've owned two m/a socoms and both were great knives. The only problems I had with them, was the locks failed waaaay to easy. Which obviously makes them not so great. I have sold them both and would never buy one again. The commander I can not speak of as I have never owned one. I have owned a raven and thought it was nice. My choice would be the commander if I was to buy one of the two, however if I were to buy a folder it would be a chris reeve made one. Just my opinion, hope it helps, Jeff
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Thanks, Jeff. All opinions help. I'd love to get the Sebenza, but that would mean saving up for it, which would mean lack of instant gratification, which would mean my immature inner child would whine and cry. Yours is the first negative I've read on the MA Socom, and it's an eye opener. Thanks again.
 
I've got two SOCOMS (one clip one tanto) and a Commander. The QC on my Commander is top-notch, but I have heard a lot of bad stuff too. It is nowhere near the quality of the MTs though. The Commander is definetly the heftier and perhaps the tougher knife. I've never had a problem with my locks on the MT so I can't comment on that. The "wave" feature on the Commander is really cool. If you made me choose just one, I'd go for the MT but both knives are great. It's just a matter of preference.

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"Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n"
John Milton
There are only two types of people; those who understand this, and those who think they do.
 
What is the deal Ptpalpha you are also at 666 posts when I opened this forum!!!!

It happened to me earlie also.....

WHAT IS GOING ON
smile.gif
 
heh heh heh...I've made a deal with ol' Scratch: he's got a mil-spec Commander for sale!
 
MICKEY, 400 posts since November?? You've just qualified for the "Bladeforums 12-step Program". Step One: try to increase the amount of time you spend on Bladeforums. The goal here is to try to DOUBLE the frequency of your posts. It is only by immersing oneself in the problem that one can find a solution.
 
i have owned both. both are first rate knives.

the advantage of the commander is the wave. if you are going to depend on this knife for defence then the commander is the fastest knife in existance. bar none.

the socom is a battleship. a conventional draw that is slower than a commander's wave but still not bad and it is a KICK a$$ knife.

neither will let you down but get the commander first then a socom. so com for everything but the commander ONLY for defence, never anything else.
 
I should probably mention that I've already got a DA-Socom, but I don't like carrying it in certain circumstances. But it is an awesome knife, which is why I was considering the manual version in the first place. This is a tough choice, and the only way out of it (that I can see
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)is to get both, with the Commander being first on the list. Now, regarding the QC issues, I've been reading a few posts that lead me to believe that the latest run of Commanders have a few differences, such as some new machining which solves the liner lock problem. Is there any truth to this?
 
Paul,

I have owned/used two Commanders and sold them both. The pivot constantly needs adjusting (won't stay tight, didn't want to locktite it in case it needed adjusting again) and on the second one the more I used it, the more the liner lock moved to the right. The wave feature is unbeatable for speed, faster than anything except a fixed blade. In fact, it is hard to remove the knife from a tight pocket without it opening enough to cut your finger, trust me on this. Commanders do feel good in the hand. I didn't care for the "chisel" sharpening either, has a tendency to push the knife in one direction when making deep cuts. But the main reason for selling the Commanders is the blade shape. It may be good for self defense but I have never used a knife in self defense and don't plan on it, would run first or use my Kimber if cornered. I use a knife to cut things. I much prefer a thinner (height wise) blade/tip like on an AFCK, much better for real world knife use. If Emerson made an AFCK shaped blade with the wave feature, I would deal with their other problems. I own six SOCOMs and another is due on the brown truck today so that tells you my preference.
 
All socom owmers, try a spine whack test. Be careful not to cut yourself. Im sure some of you will be surprised. Careful....Jeff
 
Well, based on what I've read here and on the Emerson Forum thread, I'm going to start another thread, here in the General Discussion forum. I'm asking for opinions on which knife you'd choose between the following:
1. Commander
2. Manual Socom
3. Sebenza
4. Synergy
The criteria are comfort of carry, fit and finish, and best value for the buck. This will, of course, whip the Senbenza owners into a frenzy, but I'm really after the "why?" of the choice. I'll narrow the specs down with regards to defensive use, but other than that it's no holds barred. Thanks for all the input on this thread, it's really opened my eyes to a lot of issues. I haven't given up on the Commander yet, but I want to make the best choice.
Thanks, everyone.
-Paul
 
paul,
if we talk defence i vote commander any day of the week. it is the fastest has very solid lock and sits in your hand like it was mould in it.and the finger coil is also a great plus.
as general use go for the sebenza good all around knife althogh slower then the commander but probebly cuts better.
synergy i have not
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so i can't have an opinion and the last on my list will be the socom..way too pricy and it does not lock firm enogh and that is the last thing you would like to happen when you have to use it for defence.
get a commander!
scorpio.
 
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