Couldn’t decide between Emerson cqc7 and southern grind bad monkey so I got both. One has to go back. Need help to decide on my first “quality” knife.

My vote is in for returning both and pick up a CRK. :cool: Especially because your preferred blade size is right where mine is too. I second the notion about the Large Inkosi Insingo being just about one of the most useful pocket knives out there. If you really want to upgrade then go Micarta inlay for that added comfort and grip.

Nonetheless given the two options you have before you, I'd definitely keep the Emerson. The Bad Monkey and their other models never appealed to me due to handle shape just being uncomfortable. Their hardware is cool though. By contrast, the CqC-7 is the most popular and best selling Emerson knife of all time and has a very comfortable grip. Even though the Tanto isn't my first choice I bit the bullet and never looked back settling on the Protech collaboration version (auto) and couldn't be happier:
 

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Your Emerson is really crap so return that for sure. If you are ok with the Bad Monkey keep it, if not send that back now bc if you can't stand how it looks you're going to want something else so get your full purchase price back now.

CRK is good quality but a lot more $$ and doesn't have a wave, so if you really want a wave bide your time and keep an eye on the exchange. Or if you can live without a wave, do a search for tanto folders between 3.5 & 4 inch blade and see if anything grabs you. Especially look for those in which there is room to create a wave slot, I have done that to a couple of knives with a Dremel (and didn't ruin them!)


 

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fishface5 said:
Your Emerson is really so return that for sure. If you are ok with the Bad Monkey keep it, if not send that back now bc if you can't stand how it looks you're going to want something else so get your full purchase price back now.

CRK is good quality but a lot more $$ and doesn't have a wave, so if you really want a wave bide your time and keep an eye on the exchange. Or if you can live without a wave, do a search for tanto folders between 3.5 & 4 inch blade and see if anything grabs you. Especially look for those in which there is room to create a wave slot, I have done that to a couple of knives with a Dremel (and didn't ruin them!)


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Sweet mod brotha! :thumbsup:
 
Smiffman said:
That would make sense if they were losing money but they’re not. They receive the knife back in the same exact condition it was sent in. And it’s not buyers remorse, it’s not liking something like you thought you would like. This is only time I’ve done that so relax pal.
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So you pay return shipping, restocking and clerical costs? I don't think you understand how business works. Those are losses to the seller and their profit margins are not even close to what you think.
 
This thread got me browsing, and the Civivi Synergy 3 and 4 tantos would be good candidates for adding a wave notch if those look appealing. You just need a Dremel, a steady hand, and cover the rest of the blade in heavy tape to avoid accidental marring!
 
fishface5 said:
This thread got me browsing, and the Civivi Synergy 3 and 4 tantos would be good candidates for adding a wave notch if those look appealing. You just need a Dremel, a steady hand, and cover the rest of the blade in heavy tape to avoid accidental marring!
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Or just buy an Emerson 😄
 
King of the Cheese said:
I mean, I agree on the HD thing.. and I don’t really need to care about “taste” when we are talking about what makes a good knife. It’s a pocket knife, not a $25,000 motorcycle. The average citizen won’t be staring in awe as you walk by with “EMERSON” on the pocket clip.
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Taste is always part of the product decision process, even to a certain degree with "commodity" items. Emerson's are a good knife, that isn't really debatable. And I don't own my 2003 Softail or my Gentleman Jim for anyone else's pleasure but mine.

There is nothing wrong with pride of ownership, and that can and does take in more criteria that materials and specifications in my mind.
 
Officer's Match said:
Taste is always part of the product decision process, even to a certain degree with "commodity" items. Emerson's are a good knife, that isn't really debatable. And I don't own my 2003 Softail or my Gentleman Jim for anyone else's pleasure but mine.

There is nothing wrong with pride of ownership, and that can and does take in more criteria that materials and specifications in my mind.
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Man, I love my gentleman Jim. Think I’m going to carry that today!

Happy hump day!
 
mitchnola said:
Man, I love my gentleman Jim. Think I’m going to carry that today!

Happy hump day!
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Always a great option, here hanging out at the dog park with my girl Kimber.

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Officer's Match said:
Always a great option, here hanging out at the dog park with my girl Kimber.

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How thick is the handle with that mod, I’ve always liked those and may do one eventually but was also a little worried about it being too fat for the pocket.
 
mitchnola said:
How thick is the handle with that mod, I’ve always liked those and may do one eventually but was also a little worried about it being too fat for the pocket.
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It is thicker which is what I love about it's ergo's - on a knife that is "short" (spine-to-edge & top-to-bottom on handle) I very much like a thicker handle. And that same "shortness" makes it very accommodating in the pocket. But no mod on this one, it was handmade by Ernie.

The little extra width feels great in the hand, with a nice thumb perch right behind the wave.

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Candidly speaking, if you're relying on a liner-lock folding knife for self defense, multiple poor choices will have been made for you to have arrived at that point in time. Also, I would not have purchased either of these knives, so I can't really tell you which one you should keep. If I needed something to fill the roles you mention, I'd have purchased a Cold Steel (pick a model), as S35Vn is a better steel (in my opinion), than both of the steels mentioned here. I'd also feel more reassured by the Triad lock in the event I had to shank someone, over a liner lock anything. Just my take.
 
Officer's Match said:
It is thicker which is what I love about it's ergo's - on a knife that is "short" (spine-to-edge & top-to-bottom on handle) I very much like a thicker handle. And that same "shortness" makes it very accommodating in the pocket. But no mod on this one, it was handmade by Ernie.

The little extra width feels great in the hand, with a nice thumb perch right behind the wave.

Gsa5ZDVh.jpg


qdRIParh.jpg


oBfoYu5h.jpg


h7KPHnMh.jpg


FXiWLj4h.jpg


6vEZdlah.jpg
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Even better. He did either a auction or lottery for his customs at bladeshow. Had maybe 30 of em. They were beautiful, I went in and took a look and then got out of there cause I would have blown my budget!
 
mitchnola said:
Even better. He did either a auction or lottery for his customs at bladeshow. Had maybe 30 of em. They were beautiful, I went in and took a look and then got out of there cause I would have blown my budget!
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Nope, you pay table price and then someone will tempt you with a table+$500 offer. No way I'd let go of my G-Jim.
 
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