Does the Emerson Mini A-100 stand up to edc standards?

T

tahomazz

Joined
May 3, 2012
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I was looking at knives at around the 3in mark, was gonna get a delica cause i miss it ever since i sold it. BUT the mini a-100 popped up and its intriguing me.

Anyone have any experiences or pictures comparing the two?
 
EDC, sure thing. It feels good in the hand, the scale texture is nice, the clip finish is cool, and opening it with a wrist flick is fun.

The Delica carries better in the pocket, cuts better, and the Spyderhole opens better. As a functioning carry knife it's better in every way except for tip puncturing ability.

Also, I've never had the lock fail on the Delica. I had the mini A100 fold in half with a gentle spine tap on the wax top of a wine bottle. After that, I don't really trust Emerson liner locks.
 
Really depends on your application. Lightweight edc slicer, delica all the way. Hard use utility knife, emerson for sure. They both are well respected makers and have great warranties. I love my Emerson's and have never had a lock fail on me. YMMV. I EDC a CQC-7v and it's perfect for me, cuts just fine. Don't be afraid of the chisel edge, it's easy to maintain and works very well.
 
I own probably around 200 knives. I bought an Emerson once and it I just didnt like it. It seemed well made but nothing about it stood out. I got rid of it and have no plans of ever getting another one. IMO Spyderco has a lot more to offer! You cant go wrong with a Benchmade either. If you wanna go a little more heavy duty I highly recommend Grayman knives! Their Dua would fit your 3 inch request!! I would get an Emerson in your hand before just buying one off the web! Happy turkey day!! :D
 
Striderco said:
I own probably around 200 knives. I bought an Emerson once and it I just didnt like it. It seemed well made but nothing about it stood out. I got rid of it and have no plans of ever getting another one. IMO Spyderco has a lot more to offer! You cant go wrong with a Benchmade either. If you wanna go a little more heavy duty I highly recommend Grayman knives! Their Dua would fit your 3 inch request!! I would get an Emerson in your hand before just buying one off the web! Happy turkey day!! :D
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Funny you should say that, the first time I bought a couple of Emerson's to see what they were all about, i got a 10 and a 15. I thought the same thing, meh. It wasn't until later I began to appreciate it, and it was the 7 that did it for me. To each their own, but yes, definitely get one in hand first.
 
thanks so much, ya im seeing that emerson is a brand that you have to hold to see if it really is for you
 
holygoat said:
(...) Also, I've never had the lock fail on the Delica. I had the mini A100 fold in half with a gentle spine tap on the wax top of a wine bottle. After that, I don't really trust Emerson liner locks.
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I don't pretend to be an expert when it comes to Emerson knives, especially since I only have one--the Horseman. I too experienced lock 'slipage' during the break-in phase of the knife. All it took was some light pressure on the thumb-ramp and the ti liner would slip off the tang and close the knife. Just as I was about to write off the Horseman as a 'learning experience', the lock 'settled' and I've had no more problems. Now it's rock-solid. I have a hard time trusting any folder 100% though... ;)
 
timberweasel said:
I too experienced lock 'slipage' during the break-in phase of the knife. All it took was some light pressure on the thumb-ramp and the ti liner would slip off the tang and close the knife. Just as I was about to write off the Horseman as a 'learning experience', the lock 'settled' and I've had no more problems. Now it's rock-solid. I have a hard time trusting any folder 100% though... ;)
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Interesting experience!

Mine wasn't really like that; I'd been carrying it on and off for at least six months, and I couldn't get the lock to budge with normal hand pressure. Some combination of angle and mild impact, I suppose, made that gentle bottle tap different. It came as a surprise.

I couldn't reproduce it, so I don't understand precisely what happened. That means I don't trust the lock in situations where the back of the blade might bang into something; I know it can fail without significant impact, albeit not precisely how it does, so I don't want to find out when it next will!

I've spent lots of time with Spyderco lockbacks, and have never had any issues at all… and even if the Delica closes, unsharpened tang will contact your fingers. I'm pretty happy with that.
 
The A100 is a fine knife. I've owned 3 at one time. The one I used for a few months daily, held up extremely well. I sold it and bought a Horseman. :p
 
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