Emerson Break In

M

MatthewSB

Gold Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2013
Messages
1,631
I got an Emerson A-100 recently. Out of the box, the action was sticky, rough, and the centering was way off. I was very close to sending it back for a refund, but I figured I could hang onto it and see if the knife would be better after wearing in.

I put a drop of CLP on each side of the blade at the pivot, and opened and closed it a million or so times. Now, the blade opens very smoothly and even the detent feels very strong when opening and closing. The blade is also perfectly centered.

I'm not sure if the rough opening was due to the black coating, some kind of grease from the factory or what.

I suspect that the centering issue was due to the liner detent and the one on the other side not working properly together. It's bizarre for a blade to be touching the liner on one side to being perfectly centered in a few hours without modification...Wierd.

I'm sharing this because I've read a lot of complaints about Emerson knives out of the box. It seems to me that there is a breakin period, and the difference before and after is dramatic. This is a really nice knife now.
 
If I may ask ,where was the lockup percentage wise? After the break in period I mean.
 
I cherry pick the Emerson's I buy from B&M stores, but once I find one and get it, they never fail me. The blades stay centered, the locks haven't moved from where they started out, the G10 smooths out just enough to be comfortable as well as secure... just don't have any issues at all. But, as I say, I handle them first to make sure I like the way they look and work.
 
I believe thebrain is asking about how far over the liner lock tab was when the knife was opened and locked? The tab moves left-to-right looking at the lock as you open the knife. The percentage most folks are interested in is how far toward the opposite scale the lock bar moves before it stops and the knife is fully opened and locked. This helps determine both how secure the lockup is and how much room for wear there is under normal use conditions.
 
dalefuller said:
I believe thebrain is asking about how far over the liner lock tab was when the knife was opened and locked? The tab moves left-to-right looking at the lock as you open the knife. The percentage most folks are interested in is how far toward the opposite scale the lock bar moves before it stops and the knife is fully opened and locked. This helps determine both how secure the lockup is and how much room for wear there is under normal use conditions.
Click to expand...

The outside corner of the liner lock is perfectly even with the outside corner of the blade, LOTS of room for wear.

Really liking this knife...
 
That's pretty much perfect lockup for a liner lock.

As for the blade being THAT off center and then just righting itself without adjustment is def weird.

It's very rare that I've seen such a drastic movement without adjusting the pivot or taking the knife apart and putting it back together.

But yea Emerson's are sort of like Boker's Plus line, their 50/50 and a crap shoot out of the box.

I actually don't own a Emerson yet and a lot has to do with the stories I've heard.

Now I've gotten very lucky with Boker's, as all of the models I own have been pretty much perfect.

One of these days ill just take the chance and pick up a CQC-15.
 
TacOpsEDC said:
As for the blade being THAT off center and then just righting itself without adjustment is def weird.

It's very rare that I've seen such a drastic movement without adjusting the pivot or taking the knife apart and putting it back together.
Click to expand...

Most liner lock knives have had a ball detent on the liner lock.

This knife has that, as well as a seperate detent on the other side.

When both engage properly, the blade is perfectly centered. I believe that one was getting hung up somehow, and wasn't pushing against the blade like its supposed to....Or something.
 
MatthewSB said:
Most liner lock knives have had a ball detent on the liner lock.

This knife has that, as well as a seperate detent on the other side.

When both engage properly, the blade is perfectly centered. I believe that one was getting hung up somehow, and wasn't pushing against the blade like its supposed to....Or something.
Click to expand...

Could have been some junk in one side or the other that you cleaned out with the Break-Free and the movement. I do clean my new Emerson's... a lot. Canned air, some kind of cleaner, and a lot of cycling will work wonders on them.
 
There is definitely a break in period. My cqc7b came well off center also. It did not rub the liner, but it was darn close. The lock face was also not entirely engaged with the blade, however it was still solid. After a couple days it was perfectly centered and fully engaged.
 
I recently bought a CQC7, and the action was horrible, like there was rubber cement in the pivot. I took it apart, and noticed that the factory lube was some sort of sticky grease with what appeared to be copper particles in it. The substance reminded me of anti-seize compound. I stripped it, and lubed it. Overall it's much better. I'm not sure what kind of lube the factory used, it didn't seem right.
 
My CQC-7B started out kind of crappy, and stayed solidly crappy after some use. It was my first, and so far last, Emerson.

Though admittedly, the A100 is very attractive . . .
 
Every Emerson knife I've bought, gets taken down completely, washed, dried, and reassembled. Grittiness is gone instantly.
 
I, as an above poster said, hand pick my Emersons from a local shop. It is worth the extra cost to ensure you get a good one. I still always take them apart, clean the pivot, carbonize the lockface, and lube them up before using them.
 
Okay, a brand new Emerson...MicroCommander with 3" black blade; a gift for a grandson. Very tight blade to deploy. Centered just fine and great lockup. Some folks suggest to loosen the pivot until it deploys nicely. Others suggest to work it in a lot, cycling the blade until the washers are smoothed out. If I do that, the black blade will be marked up and I can't gift it. What is the method YOU suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Sonnydaze
 
Sonnydaze said:
Okay, a brand new Emerson...MicroCommander with 3" black blade; a gift for a grandson. Very tight blade to deploy. Centered just fine and great lockup. Some folks suggest to loosen the pivot until it deploys nicely. Others suggest to work it in a lot, cycling the blade until the washers are smoothed out. If I do that, the black blade will be marked up and I can't gift it. What is the method YOU suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Sonnydaze
Click to expand...

Take it apart, wash everything in soapy water. Rinse and dry everything thoroughly. Reassemble carefully. It will be perfect, no lube is required with the Nylatron washers, they are infact self lubricating. If he doesn't like it, I am available and don't own one of those. :D
 
RevDevil said:
Take it apart, wash everything in soapy water. Rinse and dry everything thoroughly. Reassemble carefully. It will be perfect, no lube is required with the Nylatron washers, they are infact self lubricating. If he doesn't like it, I am available and don't own one of those. :D
Click to expand...

Thanks, friend. I will do as you suggest. I'm sure he'll love it; he will likely call it "awesome" or something like that. :)
 
Awesome is always a good reaction. It works. You are one heck of a generous soul SD.
 
Wow, now I feel dumb. When I first saw this thread, I thought it mean someone had broken into Emerson's home or something...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top