Convince me to buy an Emerson!

I have about 12 Emersons now, sold off the ones that just didn't feel good to me. I've been using Emerson knives for about 4 years now, I think.

Most things have been covered, but I'd like to cover the service part of the question. I've sent a few knives back for warranty issues, probably 3 out of 20 or so that I've owned. Of those 3, 2 of them were used well by others and developed some lock slip, while the other one was new and the lock slipped. EKI fixed all of the knives I sent in without question, even one that the previous owner had sanded and polished which could have been considered as something that would have voided the warranty. Including shipping time from MI to CA and back, the longest it took to get them fixed was two weeks.

While some will argue the locks shouldn't slip at all, I believe things wear out and need to be fixed, and sometimes shit happens. In my experience EKI has stood behind their products completely and taken great care to make me happy with their knives.

I carry 1 or 2 (sometimes 3) Emersons daily. It's a rare day when I carry another brand of knife.
 
jonthamo said:
Will I be happy buying one being someone who is gonna use the blade as well as someone who appreciates great value to performance ratio?
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Only if you find one that works for you.

Emerson knives are all very different from one model to the next.

I'd recommend starting with a less expensive model, you can get a Horseman (mini CQC-8) for $150, or a CQC-7B for $125. Then a CQC-8, Commander, CQC-10, or whatever for $190-225. If you don't like them, sell them and try another.

The grips and blades are all extremely different and it can take a while to find what's right for you. I used a Commander for a long time before holding other models and realizing that the Commander didn't fit me nearly as well.

It was worth every penny spent finding out what works for me, my Emerson knives are among my most valued tools.
 
Just got a Micro Commander, loving it. I am now looking for a Horseman, CQC 7AW/Mini CQC 7AW or a Mini Commander.
 
I don't believe you would be disappointed in the least with an emerson. I still consider 154cm a premium steel. Every six months a new super steel will come out and be all the rage. EKI doesn't get caught up in that which has shown me not to get caught up in the steel debate.
EKI uses 154 because they are loyal to the people who were there and helped them get
started. The more I watch Mr emerson interviews the more I find myself being loyal to the brand. Yes I own other brands, and trade and sell quite often. Not so much with Emerson's. They stay around.
They are users and tools not status symbols. They are made to take what you see fit with to do with a knife.
If I leave the house with out my cqc7 I feel unprepared for the day. It could potentially protect me, help me fix my old s10 that I refuse to let go of or simply open a package. It fills a lot of rolls. As I continue to accumulate the different models I realize there is a model for: every hand, every task, every pocket etc etc.
As far as fit n finish mine have been flawless. I take them apart out of the box and clean the internals, then use my favorite grease.....and presto....the knife is as buttery as any other knife on the market.
So after all that rambling......pick yourself up one, you'll be glad that you did.
 
They're a little overpriced, a lot of the price goes into their marketing and convention schedule, and overhyped, I've had F&F issues with a couple of them - non existent detente, brand new scales that looked like a lawnmower ran over it, really sticky lockbar, but their service is good and fast. But still they're strong, durable knives. The 154CM is great. They're a bit on the heavy side, even the cqc7 is over 5 oz, cause of the full liners which really could be weight relieved without sacrificing anything. Are they "the best hard use knives in the world", no. But get one and make up your own mind. Buy a used one and if it's not for you sell it and get your money back.
 
Make that +2
I don't understand how you can say we pay for marketing and hype.
EKI doesn't even advertise. I've never: seen a tv commercial, heard a radio ad, nor have I seen a billboard while traveling the high way. They don't even hype themselves in their own forum.
Emerson's sell themselves imho. If they were all hype then I wouldn't be seeing sold out on various models I'm looking for through out the web.
 
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I want to love Emerson's. I love the wave feature and their selection of blade styles. Unfortunately I've had a lot of problems with the liners wearing after a matter of weeks and the pocket clip on my George Washington patriot fell out the very first time I carried it. If they leaned a little more towards overbuilt I would be inclined to buy more. But for the price you are better off sticking with spyderco or zt
 
Salo, I want to believe you but having owned many Emersons and I use mine daily, with lots of waving in the process as well, I'm calling bull.
 
Salo, the liner wearing out issue is baloney...you say "a lot of problems with the liners", as in plural; two at minimum. I've collected and used liner locks of various quality and materials for many years. I have NEVER had a liner lock wear to the point of being an issue or even being noticeable to the naked eye within "weeks". I can appreciate feedback on Emerson knives from a negative standpoint but let's keep it realistic please. Unless you are grossly abusing your folder, that just isn't feasible.
 
My earliest Emerson is an '06 model, A Commander, IIRC. It locks up just the width of the lockbar, like all my others. Every one of them has been carried and used and none have had any parts replaced or adjusted by EKI. I've also never had a problem with Emerson's pocket clips, other than them being so snug that I have to work to get them clipped to my pocket. Since I don't use pocket clips, that's not a concern to me.

I know that things slip through QC sometimes, but in Emerson's case I've gotta believe that it's extremely rare. I've been buying them for 3 or 4 years now and not one has had any functional issue, or anything that I'd consider a F&F issue. I've seen one mini-CQC15 in a B&M store that locked up new at about 50%. Every other one has been right at the width of the lockbar. That's the only new Emerson I've seen with any variance at all from the early lockup that I'm used to.

*Back to the OP*: Buy one and try it. Start with one of the models that has a "fitted" handle (Horseman, Roadhouse, Commander, CQC15, etc.) because they seem to be the most ergonomic for the largest number of people. The 7s are iconic Emersons, but at least a couple of us here don't like the feel of the handles. They seem too "blocky" to be comfortable for me. The mini-15 is my personal favorite. I think of it as Emerson's version of the PM 2. For a smaller, more crowd-friendly carry, I favor the micro-Commander. The Endeavor is just a good, solid, all-round performer with a nice straight edge and plenty of belly. Any one of these will give you a good idea of how Emersons perform day-to-day and will tell you whether these knives are for you. It'll be an easy sell here on BF if you don't like it.
 
Don't. Brothers we need to do this individual a favor. You need to run away and never look back. All of us have a sickness, an addiction from which there truly is no escape. But there is still hope for you. Don't buy Emerson, it will change your life. You will no longer see knives as a mere tool but an extension of your soul. Are they in fact different from other knives, yes they are. When I carry an Emerson, I feel it says something about me. The design, the feel, the confidence, and it has a message to those with bad intent. It says, I will not go gently into that good night.
Yes we are sick, twisted, and dimented. Save yourself (and your wallet).
You would have to show the Gypsie & Jim. So unfair.
 
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I've had a love/hate relationship with this Emerson for 9 years, during which time it's never lost its spot as my main EDC. I've been shopping since 2005 for something more exotic, flashy and fun to knock it out of my pocket, but all others (including $1k+ customs) have failed. I've stopped buying knives all together for the last couple years because I'm tired of wasting money on inferior or redundant tools.

Now, I'm no EKI fanboy though. I've had fit/finish issues with one or two of my Emersons in the past, and am irritated with Ernies lack of concern on the topic, but an imperfect Emerson can be trusted to do the job better and longer than many more expensive knives. And their customer service is without equal in my experience.
 

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That's very good to hear. He'd said publicly in the past on YouTube that whiners could suck it (I paraphrased) and he didn't care about F&F.
 
All the 2014's I've received have been outstanding in FF&F (FUNCTION, of course). That said, I've been rocking a 2005 Commander SFS since unboxing it Friday (as posted elsewhere).
 
There's a video by vininull on YT testing a ZT350 and a CQC-7 side by side. It takes quite a bit of abuse.
 
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