Emerson CQC 12 question about different version

A

AfterDark

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Apr 9, 2007
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What's the difference between these two CQC 12s? One seems to have a a shinier titanium side with a black screw. The other has a more dull titanium with a silver screw. Are these two different versions of the same knife? Which one is the newer version? What's the difference between these two?

Shinier with black screw version on titanium side
eki-cqc12-bt.jpg


Duller with silver screw on titanium side
ek-cqc-12-bt.jpg
 
Lighting difference in the picture. There are two different CQC-12's. One has black G-10 on one side and the titanium side with framelock on the other. The other model has titanium on both sides but is very tough to find. Mine has the G-10 with titanium as pictured.
 
I have seen the knife in the first picture in person at a local store. The screw was indeed black and the titanium side was obviously a shinier shade. However, I own the knife in the bottom picture (my EDC) with a duller finish and a silver screw. Both knives picture have g10 on one side and ti on the other. Maybe I should just get one of each. I was shocked to see the version in the first pic at the store since I was not aware there was another version out there. If someone can please clarify, thanks.
 
the very early '12s had bead blasted ti and the llater ones are stonewashed.

in the pic the upper knife has the stonewash FWIW, the lower is BB.

imho the BB looks better but the stonewash doesnt scuff up as bad.

also early on EKI made a ti/ti version which is great but hard to find and expensive when ya do, it was BB by the way.

the ti/G10 is fine for anything really so i wouldnt pay a big premium for a ti/ti vs a ti/G10 especially for a user.

the '12 is the very best EKI production folder imho.
 
Thanks SIFU1A. I was hoping you would clear things up. How early are we talking about? Do you know the actual years for each version? I ordered mine around 1 year ago and I received the BB version. But then again I ordered another knife from the same website and I got the knife with a 2003 catalog inside even though I placed the order in 2007. So I'm guessing knives just sit in inventory for certain vendors. Thanks again.
 
yep it musta sat on the shelf for a while, the HD7 and the '12 came out ~ 'late 04 early '05 IIRC, , i do know for sure i bought my '12 in the spring of '06 and the BB was getting hard to find even then believe me i looked lol(mine is stonewash FWIW marked '06).

whats the date on yours??

dont quote me on this but i think the 1st 300 were BB, then they went to stonewash on the 2nd run 'cuz so many folks complained about the handles scuffing, the stonewash does resist scuffing better mine has VERY few scuffs and i edc'd it for over a year till i got my custom '13.

the great great majority of '12s have the stonewash though so the BB is worth just a little more than the stonewash ones.

hope i answered your 'qs,
 
Where can I find the date? Bought mine in early 07 and got the BB version. Mine does scuff pretty easily by the way. So besides the look, is it fair to say both are manufactured equally in terms of quality? Thanks again.
 
look at the logo on the blade, it'll say emerson knives, USA, 2006 or whatever it is. look in the middle of the logo below "USA".

other than the finish they are exactly the same.

outta curiousity where didja find that thing?? hell i looked at all the usual places & all i found was the stonewash lol and that was '06.
 
20 04 for mine. I think the site where I bought it from doesn't have anymore of the cqc 12s. I stopped buying from them because I bought a fixed blade in 07 but got a knife that was made in 03 since I got a 2003 catalog with the knife in the box. This isn't a bad thing but I guess a lot of their inventory just sits in the warehouse. I have started buying from knifecenter now since they have better prices. I might have to pick up one of those stonewashed cqc 12s. thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it.
 
getting old stock can be good or bad, depending on the situation and the knife, agree i would prefer a fairly new made one vs old stock.

i wish i coulda found some old stock when looking for my '12 lol.

i have thought about getting my '12 BB but since i got my custom '13 i dont really carry the '12 much, and the stonewash looks ok too i suppose.

they are an excellent knife though, BB, SW, ti/G10 or ti/ti, all great imho.

yours was one of the early ones, whats the serial #, look below the thumb disc, mine is 0104 IIRC.
 
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