Emerson (Commander) maintenance

A

augostos

Joined
Sep 15, 2011
Messages
378
Hello!

Couple days ago I got my hand on a user Commander. But the knife looks new to me. Everything is good -- blade centering and etc.

So, my questions are:

  1. should I disassemble the knife and somehow clean the parts;
  2. the lock gets stuck after "wave" opening or after opening with wrist movement--is this normal? Do I need break-in period?
  3. what is your suggestion on sharpening tools? Right now I'm considering fine (600 grit) diamond stone... Maybe I should get a rod instead (because of recurved blade)? Diamond or ceramic? Your favourite model suggestions would be appreciated.
  4. should I put the pivot screw on locktite?

Thank you for your opinions.
 
Dude- Just enjoy your knife and use common sense. Your knife needs to break in.
If I were you, I'd ask EKI these questions.
 
augostos said:
Couple days ago I got my hand on a user Commander. But the knife looks new to me. Everything is good -- blade centering and etc.

So, my questions are:

  1. the lock gets stuck after "wave" opening or after opening with wrist movement--is this normal? Do I need break-in period?
Click to expand...
A few weeks ago I got a new Commander from EKI and had this same issue...not a sticky lock-up but literally getting stuck. I was in contact with EKI and they suggested the same tricks that our fellow Emerson knife nuts suggested -- the pencil and sharpie on the back tang. However, these did not help the issue, I sent the knife back and spoke to the woman on the phone as she wave-opened my knife. She completely agreed with me that it was more than a sticky lock-up and sent me a new one.

So, the thing you need to be able to ascertain is: are you experiencing a sticky lock-up or an unreasonable stuck lock?
 
Like Lycosa and A.P.F. said... just use the knife and enjoy it. I've carried my mini-15 for a couple of months now and it still doesn't need d/a for anything. It should get better the more you use it. My liner lock engages pretty securely after a wave opening, but I do that so rarely that I don't care. 99% of the time I just use the thumb disk and open it like any other disk / stud / hole opener. Canned air and some Tuff-Glide is all mine has ever had done to it for cleaning and lubing. No d/a or even adjustments needed so far.

I use a Sharpmaker on mine. Usually the corners of the fine rods do all I need to do to the edge. I can touch up the sharpened side and straighten the back side pretty easily that way. Your recurve is a little more serious than the recurve on my mini-15, but I suspect the SM would work fine. It did a good job on my ZT 0350 when I had it.
 
Hello everybody,

Thank you for your inputs.

A Lansky ceramic sharp rod is on the way.

The lock is sticky but not that much.
 
You can definitely take the knife down, clean it out, etc... but it has been my experience that it will just break in fine on its own over a short period of use.
 
Being a few weeks into emersons.. I can tell you I have never had any knife that requires the length of time to break in like an Emerson.. I have now have 3 of them. 2 of the 3 are now smoother than any knife I have ever owned. The 3rd one (CQC-7V) just needs some more pocket time.

I have cleaned all of them and done the sharpie thing on all of them.. it is a joy to carry these knives.. They are super easy to take apart. I use CRK flourinated grease on mine and it's great.

I would clean it, loc tite( blue) the pivot and enjoy it.. I ended up putting a 40 degree inclusive edge on my mini commander. The other 2 have the factory edge.

The thing about these Emerson's ( to me) is the handles. They are so comfortable, they make my other knives feel un natural.. I plan on getting ONE full size Emerson, and the whole mini line up.

Of the 3 I have the mini-15 is my favorite folder... EVER!!
 
I saw give it time to break in. Take it apart and fully clean any lube that might be on the blade tang and lock stop. Apply a good amount of sharpie to both and reassemble. It should get smooth pretty quick.
 
If it's not super sticky, I'd leave it alone. A couple of tips:

1. The small Philips flat head screws take a #1 Philips. Use a quality screw driver and make sure you have it nice and straight. It's easy to mess those screws up with a cheap screwdriver or less than perfect technique.

2. If the knife is working OK, don't take it apart. If the pivot starts to get rough, then do the cleaning. I clean out the original grease and put a couple drops of light oil on the washers.

3. Enjoy your bad ass knife :D. I've had several Emerson's. I've grown most partial to my Commander. Love that blade shape.
 
hondahirny said:
If it's not super sticky, I'd leave it alone. A couple of tips:

1. The small Philips flat head screws take a #1 Philips. Use a quality screw driver and make sure you have it nice and straight. It's easy to mess those screws up with a cheap screwdriver or less than perfect technique.

2. If the knife is working OK, don't take it apart. If the pivot starts to get rough, then do the cleaning. I clean out the original grease and put a couple drops of light oil on the washers.

3. Enjoy your bad ass knife :D. I've had several Emerson's. I've grown most partial to my Commander. Love that blade shape.
Click to expand...

Iv been a mechanic for 10 years and have also worked in a few lumber yards, as well as lots of millwork and house work and have never heard anyone refer to a screw as a phillips flat head. I googled it and it turns out your right lol. Iv only ever heard phillips or flat head, one or the other. Learn something new every day!
 
I work with a bunch of mechanical engineers. It's amazing the fastener types that are out there. Once you go beyond overall shape, there are various metals, hardnesses, surface finishes. Can make your head explode :D
 
Yea I learned a lot in aviation tech school but forgot them all after I graduated and did nothing with aviation. Learned a lot about rivets and sheet metal too!
 
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