Emerson Commander for frame lock conversion

STR

STR

Knifemaker/Moderator
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Next up is an older Waveless Commander sent to me from Greece to be converted to a tank built frame lock. This one has developed some blade play and the lock slides toward closing with just spine pressure so the owner decided he wanted it upgraded to a chunky frame lock that will be both stronger and more reliable for him. At his request the non lock side will remain G10.

These models are always a bit of a redesign also since the lock is cut out with a laser. Unlike some others though this one can still be pulled off but the handle will change slightly. You can see from this shot here scanning the inside view how the lock cut is U shaped toward the pivot and also the big sweep the lock cut takes to loop it around the thumb access. Neither of these things can be duplicated with a mill cut off disc so I will have to bring the area for depressing the lock up just a bit to make up for the straight line loop line difference when I fix that. I will also have to cut my short cut without the option of the U cut so the handle will change there also.

Long story short, its very similar to the view of the CQC8 on the insides and a couple of other models I have converted to date. Stay tuned I will be tackling this one and its followed up by a CQC13 after that. Both of which have been here for a good while already. One, this one, from Greece, and the 13 from Italy. Go figure I'm international!:D

STR
 
STR said:
Long story short, its very similar to the view of the CQC8 on the insides
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Interesting that you mention this, since the '8 is the conceptual and developmental grandfather to the Commander.

;)

-j
 
Thanks for that tid bit. I did not know that. Makes sense that they would be similar then.

STR
 
This one is well underway at this point. All my holes are drilled and threaded, and the shot I've scanned here is still rough needing final shaping but the lock has yet to be milled out before I get to that point.

So far so good. All is moving along well and I expect to make more headway on this tomorrow.

First Commander I've done so this is new territory for me. I believe once finished out its going to be quite nice though. I've always loved this model a lot and this one was in much need of some attention. If you look close at the original lock contact area you can the indenting from use and wear that has developed over time.

Stay tuned.

STR
 

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Man, I didn't notice the first time around... that one is an old-school Commander... what year is stamped on the blade? Between the centerline screws and the swedge, it looks like a 98-99?

Nice to see them well-loved.

Thanks for the post. Love to read and see your WIP updates.

-j
 
I'm glad someone does. I wonder sometimes if I'm just wasting time trying by posting them since they don't usually draw much in the way of responses you know? I do the thread primarily for the owners of the knives so they can see with a few clicks of the mouse where I'm at with their knives but I see a lot of folks drift in but they don't seem to be drawn to comment. Not sure what I'm doing wrong or if I could pick things up a bit doing things differently or what. Anyway, point is I'm glad you like the updates because sometimes I wondered.

Here is one more of the folder opened where I left of.

By the way, this one says 2000 on the blade.

STR
 
It is admirable that you spend the time on WIP status. I've had any number of full custom realization pieces worked on by wonderful knifemakers -- who, bless their souls, are really otherwise blameless people -- but somehow just can't provide status updates or answer the phone for 1 1/2 years... and magically appear one day with a finished knife. Which I really can't complain about, but I like to know what's going on! A vested interest in my "child", as it were.

You may be getting more lurkers than posters? I would have thought a lot of knifeknuts would be intrigued by what you do.

I think it's because have a, well, unhealthy interest in "fixing" stuff, but since I'm godawful terrible at doing anything with my hands correctly (I break more stuff than fix them, I fear), that interest gets translated into learning about it (which means I am in the wonderful position of telling other people what I want with exquisitely painful detail.)

I suppose this is the time you can be glad that I have more opinions than disposable money. ;)

-j

PS: Yeah, the EKIs really take a beating at the lock mate face between the Wave and the thinner lock liner. 2000, huh? I forgot that they were still using centerline body screws that late. Still, 8 years of service as a folder is nothing to sneeze at.
 
can't provide status updates or answer the phone for 1 1/2 years... and magically appear one day with a finished knife. Which I really can't complain about, but I like to know what's going on!
Click to expand...

I've found most people want to know the status and appreciate knowing that info without having to track it down on their own. Its one of the number one complaints about dealing with a lot of custom knife makers actually and something many of us have talked about. Some see it as needless time spent. I guess my days as a professional representative for a dental retailer selling high dollar dental equipment that we also serviced gives me a view that is one of keeping the customer informed and up to date.

That on top of the fact that being from a dental background my wife and I both are experts at the micro management of time so we fit a lot in and I have no trouble at all finding time to provide status reports and in fact usually consider it part of the job anymore.

STR
 
Couple more progress pics. Lock up is looking great so far. Its a difficult one to map out though. This being my first one of these Commanders I really had to study it to see which might be the best way to cut this one out since I cannot duplicate that precise "U" cut that the laser can like the original liner lock shows. In the end I think this is going to be as comfortable to use as the original side and so far what I have done didn't really sacrifice the great ergos to do the conversion.

Still a long way from the finish line but we are making progress and it is mostly down hill from here I think on this one. Some of these laser cut ones are very challenging to try to convert to a good looking function milled out frame side. I think this one is going to be ok though this locks short cut could not be designed any closer to the inside washer than this one is. I really don't understand the need to make it so close to the pivot in the design stages myself. Still lots of meat in there under the barrel head non screw side but still I would loved to have had the contact of the lock back a bit further toward the lanyard you know. Still though part of the challenge of converting these is learning to work with what you have. So far its not stopped me from turning it into a frame locker. Stay tuned.

STR
 
Well I was going to do more tonight but the wife made me promise to sit still and watch the entire first season of Weeds with her tonight. Guess my evening is spoken for so thats it for today.

I'll be checking in if she lets me get up. If you knew me sitting still for any length of time is a chore so wish me luck. :D

STR
 
It's really great to see the evolution of a good folder to a REALLY HARD USE one!!!I CAN'T WAIT to see it complete!!By the way,is it possible to do a framelock conversion for my spyderco C46 LUM tanto folder?
 
nickrandall48 said:
It's really great to see the evolution of a good folder to a REALLY HARD USE one!!!I CAN'T WAIT to see it complete!!By the way,is it possible to do a framelock conversion for my spyderco C46 LUM tanto folder?
Click to expand...

Need pics. If you have a flat bed scanner or a digital snap some pics of it all sides and show me. Or find a link or something to show me the knife.
We'll go from there.

STR
 
The Commander frame lock conversion is all done.

This one will be shipping home in the morning.

Thanks for watching. Turned out pretty sweet even if I do say so myself.

Won't be long until the lock side wears some to blend better with the well used opposing side. I personally would bead blast all the parts ie, screw heads, pivot, clip, blade and thumb disc but I never do this without permission and it was not in the work order to do this so I have not changed that. Also, even though I did modify the non lock side a bit to fit the new lock cut this folder can still go back together as it came from EKI so nothing as to the build has changed other than the one mod I had to do to make the handle change to allow for the new lock side.

STR
 

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Wow! Nice job STR, I've liked Emerson's for awhile but never bit b/c of the liner lock. It's nice to know you've solved that problem.
 
STR said:
I've found most people want to know the status and appreciate knowing that info without having to track it down on their own. Its one of the number one complaints about dealing with a lot of custom knife makers actually and something many of us have talked about. Some see it as needless time spent. I guess my days as a professional representative for a dental retailer selling high dollar dental equipment that we also serviced gives me a view that is one of keeping the customer informed and up to date.

That on top of the fact that being from a dental background my wife and I both are experts at the micro management of time so we fit a lot in and I have no trouble at all finding time to provide status reports and in fact usually consider it part of the job anymore.

STR
Click to expand...


Keeping the customer smiling and interested is the key :)
And you do that Steve. Keep posting these types of updates.
 
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