Emerson chisel grind observation

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XSanguin8

Joined
Mar 31, 2007
Messages
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My first brush with Emerson knives was back in '98 or '99. At the time, I wasn't making much money, but I really wanted one. I couldn't afford a custom, and the production knives were expensive and hard to come by as well.

At a gun show, I found a vendor who happened to have a left handed version of the Benchmade Emerson design CQC7. He gave me a good deal on it because evidently he didn't have too many left handed customers, so it sat in his inventory a long time.

If you aren't familiar with the left handed versions, they are more than just having the clip on the "other" side. The liners are cut for left handed use as well. Try thumb opening one of your right handed CQC7's with your left hand, and you'll see what I mean.

One thing I noticed about the chisel grind on my lefty cqc7 was that I could hold it and make very precise cuts because the bevel is on the left side of the blade (edge downward). I thought this was just because the knife was made for lefties.

A few years later, the wave became available, and I had to have one! The only ambidextrous knife Emerson offered was the Combat Karambit. I found a good deal on an EKI K-bit, and was pleasantly surprised that the bevel on the chisel grind was the same as my CQC7. The K-bit obviously isn't made for precision cutting, but it was nice anyway.

Then, when I had serious money coming in, I decided to run amok and buy a slew of knives (among other things). I found several Emersons I wanted and ordered them. Turns out that all the Emersons with the chisel grind (even right handed versions) are made this way. It seemed odd to me, but they really seemed better for left handed use. Grab one of your chisel grind EKI knives and hold it in your left hand, forward grip edge down. Imagine holding something with your right hand, and cutting with your left. Notice how you can make a precise cut?

Personally, I think it's great. But, I do find it odd, that a right handed knife maker would make knives that are actually more suitable for lefties.

Ain't gonna complain though! ;)

So, Ernie, don't change a thing! (except maybe drill out both sides for ambi carry) Which reminds me. Why don't they drill out both sides? Lot's of people (lefties and righties) sometimes like to draw into a reverse grip!
 
I agree that the chisels should be the other way round. A friend of mine suggested they are ground they way they are because the knife photographs better that way. THAT gave me pause for thought. Its one of the reasons why I dont own any of the chisel ground Emersons. Also I just prefer a knife that is ground on both sides. I'm wierd that way. ;)
 
I just got my first chisel ground knife CQC-7BW and i dont really mind the chisel grind, but i can see what your saying about it being more suited for lefties...but like buffalohump pointed out, it looks better being ground on the left side of the blade:D
 
My Emerson is for serious work. I don't give a hoot what side the grind is on.
 
Buffalohump said:
8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16 all have regular double grinds. Not so sure about the 15.... I think its a regular grind.
Click to expand...

Only the primary grind is a V the edge itself is still sharpened on one side only so that is not different.

STR
 
Chisel grinds are great for some kinds of precision cutting, such as slicing food, if the bevel is on the right side (for righties) or left (for lefties). The chisel grind is also excellent for carving serious deep arcs through flesh in combat; the lack of precision cutting there is intentional. I believe this is why some custom sword makers also put a chisel edge on their blades. For all-round use, though, utility cutting tape, string, etc., it probably doesn't make much difference.
 
I owned a few Emersons as well, but couldn't get used to them due only to the "lefty" chisel grind. I too have heard that it is for better picture taking (so the knife doesn't appear edgeless in sales photos because most knife pictures are taken with the blade on the left with the edge facing down). I cannot for the life of me think of why else the edge would be ground on that side and it did affect my every day use. I don't carry a knife to "carve people", I carry a knife to cut stuff and a lot of that cutting is done with the edge riding along the object I am cutting (similar to sharpening a stick) and I find Emersons like to skip or dig in if you don't hold the angle right. It's fine by me if they want to design a knife solely for cutting people or digging out of helicopter cockpits, but I won't carry it around...
 
Bro--- Yer on to it; V grind for utility work.
Chisel grind for the "other" stuff.
 
The chisel grind doesn't bother me at all. I think it cuts just fine. My peanut butter and jelly sandwitch never knew what hit it.:D
 
I wish they'd make a "lefty-grind" blade with a "righty-grind" lock... but hey. I'll take what I can get. ;)
 
michaelmcgo said:
I owned a few Emersons as well, but couldn't get used to them due only to the "lefty" chisel grind. I too have heard that it is for better picture taking (so the knife doesn't appear edgeless in sales photos because most knife pictures are taken with the blade on the left with the edge facing down). I cannot for the life of me think of why else the edge would be ground on that side and it did affect my every day use. I don't carry a knife to "carve people", I carry a knife to cut stuff and a lot of that cutting is done with the edge riding along the object I am cutting (similar to sharpening a stick) and I find Emersons like to skip or dig in if you don't hold the angle right. It's fine by me if they want to design a knife solely for cutting people or digging out of helicopter cockpits, but I won't carry it around...
Click to expand...

Emerson himself has stated- either on the website or in some other literature, I can't recall- that he is aware that traditionally and throughout history, most chisel-ground blades have the grind on the right-hand side, so as to be most useful for righties. He did specifically say that he chose to grind on the left side to be "visually distinctive" or something like that, which is basically to say that it looks better that way. This is the only major gripe I have with Emersons- for knives that are otherwise purely functional with few aesthetic concessions, it's a cardinal sin to grind the knives in a way that negatively affects most users, simply for a better look.

That being said, I still have two- a Mini 7B and a Mini Com. There are enough good things going for those particular designs that I can live with a backwards grind.
 
I agree. The V grind is better at making straight cuts and is preferred for utility work. This is why I ordered my Nease JS Katana with a V grind. :)
 
I don't mind at all. I carry a LaGriffe as a back up to my rifle and Glock at work. However...I also use it as a utilty blade everyday and it does excel in that roll for a little knife. To each his own. Use what works for YOU.
 
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