I live in VA, but work in DC. A large knife would be inappropriate for the job I have and too conspicuous for EDC on the streets of DC. The "Snubby" appears to fit the bill. I've never had a knife blade under 3.5 inches, so I wouldn't even know what to expect from this knife. I assume, being an Emerson, it should still be an excellent cutting tool. It's not a cheap blade. The lowest price I've seen to date is around $129.00. Does anyone have any knowledge or opinions about this knife. Many thanks.
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Emerson CQC-14 "Snubby"
- Thread starter PSB
- Start date
It does its job well.
I have been able to get it into several Federal Government facilities in VA and DC now purely on the basis of its quite short blade.
It is a fairly good cutting tool, given its thick final edge thickness and low saber grind. It will not cut like your typical full flat ground knife, though. But it is more capable of prying than those.
I would also be sure to test the linerlock on it rigorously and frequently.
It is extremely comfortable to hold and use.
-j
I have been able to get it into several Federal Government facilities in VA and DC now purely on the basis of its quite short blade.
It is a fairly good cutting tool, given its thick final edge thickness and low saber grind. It will not cut like your typical full flat ground knife, though. But it is more capable of prying than those.
I would also be sure to test the linerlock on it rigorously and frequently.
It is extremely comfortable to hold and use.
-j
thebladerunr
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I own 5 of them if thats any indication of how good they are. I've had the handle shortened on 2 of them.
They are perfect having the full size handle with a blade length that does not attract un wanted attention.
They are perfect having the full size handle with a blade length that does not attract un wanted attention.
Ach.......you guys are the best! I've been wondering about this knife for quite a while. I had to buy my CQC 7A this year, but the moment I did I knew it would be a short lived love affair. Like it or not, my workplace and DC are not the locations for a knife over 3". It sounds ridiculous to me, but perhaps the experts know something I don't about the additional 1/2" 
. Take care.
. Take care.
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- Mar 19, 2007
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- 557
where can i get one? ive been looking for sometime now
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most places are sold out, drop a few bills if you really want one and see if the factory has some
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meh... What if i took a waved delica blade and put it in the endura handles?
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why not just keep the waved delica the way it is
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I bought my first CQC14 from the EKI web site at full price the day they came out. My first impressions of that model were not good when it first arrived. First of all they sold me what was supposed to be number 047 which was worked out on the phone as I recall and it was the box for that number when the knife arrived but the knife was actually #147. That made me a bit unhappy and very disappointed because by the time I found this out all the lower than #100 models which is where they stop numbering the boxes according to EKI, were gone. Second the blade on both of my models is off center and to the non lock side. I don't know if that is characteristic of all models or if I just got two that way. I've seen a few others this way since though.
I felt Ernie rushed the production on it before all the kinks were worked out because it was obvious he missed a few areas that should have been caught before it went to the end line users. I still feel that way actually. On both of my models that were bought early I had to take off a very sharp area on the blade lock contact area that stuck out when the blade is closed. Normally this should not be visible and in my opinion the body of the folder should have been extended just a little bit to cover that up better when the blade is closed. I have contemplated buying another myself just to correct this the way it should have been done at least for myself.
Not that it matters as far as use. It is still very useable and strong. I love the blade but have never been a big fan of Ernie's grinds. I usually change that right off before using them and stay away from his chisel grinds only using the V grinds. I only buy the old ones in that chisel grind and solely to collect and hang on to. Even his V grinds often times need thinned down for my tastes and uses to be honest but for the tasks the knives were designed for they do perform quite well. EKIs blades are certainly strong that way.
Back to the 14. One of my best friends of my entire life, Harry, Friz here to you all on the forums, worked with Ernie to create this model. Because of this I wanted at least one of them. After getting it, I found mine failed miserably in my lock test. I didn't spine whack it, all I did was push on the tip of the blade with it opened and the lock slid right off the interface surprisingly easy. I immidiately turned my own carry model into a massive frame lock after this in .160 thickness. I also took the Wave off the blade because personally I feel it didn't work all that well and just ripped perfectly good pockets worse than any of Ernie's other models to date.
In the end I fixed it up quite nicely for myself. Its a knife I still carry and use a lot and in fact it is one of my favorite users of all my carry knives. Mostly because I just find the blade incredibly useful, the lock on my frame lock is so strong, and the overall fit of the extra large handle sits well with my larger basketball palming hands. I agree with the observation to know the lock on any of these knives.
What I'd like to see from EKI with this one is at least a .125 thick frame lock version offered. On this model an increase in the Wave hook length more akin to the M Wave would really help it I think. Some of the interface angles for the lock contacts seem incredibly steep to me also on a lot of the EKI production models. I'd also hope that EKI fixed those little missed areas on the blade the way it sticks out of the handle when its closed on any future models. That is a flaw in design in my opinion. I also don't like seeeing the line the detent ball makes on the blade when the blade opens and try to avoid these little things in my own knives when I make them but its not a fault at all by most I don't think but personally its a bit unsightly over time seeing that line. If it were a normal model by any other maker it would have the detent hole visible to the user also which I also don't care for. Its just something I personally would rather see the body of the folder cover up like it does on the majority of folders made in this style.
Call me picky if you like but personally on any knife this expensive the end line user has every right to be picky in my opinion and to expect a flawlessly perfect knife.
Other than these things I saw in the models I own the knife is a good user. The 50 state legal blade length does not hurt a thing either.
STR
I felt Ernie rushed the production on it before all the kinks were worked out because it was obvious he missed a few areas that should have been caught before it went to the end line users. I still feel that way actually. On both of my models that were bought early I had to take off a very sharp area on the blade lock contact area that stuck out when the blade is closed. Normally this should not be visible and in my opinion the body of the folder should have been extended just a little bit to cover that up better when the blade is closed. I have contemplated buying another myself just to correct this the way it should have been done at least for myself.
Not that it matters as far as use. It is still very useable and strong. I love the blade but have never been a big fan of Ernie's grinds. I usually change that right off before using them and stay away from his chisel grinds only using the V grinds. I only buy the old ones in that chisel grind and solely to collect and hang on to. Even his V grinds often times need thinned down for my tastes and uses to be honest but for the tasks the knives were designed for they do perform quite well. EKIs blades are certainly strong that way.
Back to the 14. One of my best friends of my entire life, Harry, Friz here to you all on the forums, worked with Ernie to create this model. Because of this I wanted at least one of them. After getting it, I found mine failed miserably in my lock test. I didn't spine whack it, all I did was push on the tip of the blade with it opened and the lock slid right off the interface surprisingly easy. I immidiately turned my own carry model into a massive frame lock after this in .160 thickness. I also took the Wave off the blade because personally I feel it didn't work all that well and just ripped perfectly good pockets worse than any of Ernie's other models to date.
In the end I fixed it up quite nicely for myself. Its a knife I still carry and use a lot and in fact it is one of my favorite users of all my carry knives. Mostly because I just find the blade incredibly useful, the lock on my frame lock is so strong, and the overall fit of the extra large handle sits well with my larger basketball palming hands. I agree with the observation to know the lock on any of these knives.
What I'd like to see from EKI with this one is at least a .125 thick frame lock version offered. On this model an increase in the Wave hook length more akin to the M Wave would really help it I think. Some of the interface angles for the lock contacts seem incredibly steep to me also on a lot of the EKI production models. I'd also hope that EKI fixed those little missed areas on the blade the way it sticks out of the handle when its closed on any future models. That is a flaw in design in my opinion. I also don't like seeeing the line the detent ball makes on the blade when the blade opens and try to avoid these little things in my own knives when I make them but its not a fault at all by most I don't think but personally its a bit unsightly over time seeing that line. If it were a normal model by any other maker it would have the detent hole visible to the user also which I also don't care for. Its just something I personally would rather see the body of the folder cover up like it does on the majority of folders made in this style.
Call me picky if you like but personally on any knife this expensive the end line user has every right to be picky in my opinion and to expect a flawlessly perfect knife.
Other than these things I saw in the models I own the knife is a good user. The 50 state legal blade length does not hurt a thing either.
STR
Great knife, the full size handle makes the knife feel much bigger than it is.
My example came with a kydex sheath and is a very cool accessorie/option to have. (thebladerunr knows this knife well).
I may part with it though as i've got the hankering for a '11' or something else hmmmmmmmmmmm.
My example came with a kydex sheath and is a very cool accessorie/option to have. (thebladerunr knows this knife well).
I may part with it though as i've got the hankering for a '11' or something else hmmmmmmmmmmm
.
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Well the handle is a bit small for my hands. I figure put a waved delica blade in an endura handle and you have similar to what the snubby is
Although I don't doubt that you can get past security, a 2.7 inch blade is not technically legal in Federal building.
Hm.
Do you mean that it's easy to sneak one by, or that the guards do not necessarily know the regulations?
-j
It probably depends on the building or agency. Even something 2.5 inches or shorter, which is legal, might result in a hassle some places.
It's odd since I openly brought my '14 into both the VA and USGS buildings in DC and VA, and guards there measured the blade and let it go through.
Of course, YMMV.
-j
Yep... guards at both places actually got out a ruler and measured that it was under 3".
At USGS, one (younger) guard tried the "no longer than your palm" rule to measure it and the other (older) guard laughed at him and told him to fetch a ruler.
I recently got a Delica (2.9" blade) into CFTC in downtown DC -- I'd forgotten I had it with me, was called into a meeting there, and was unpleasantly surprised as I'd Metro'd in and had nowhere to store it. I showed it to the guard, who gave me a, "Why should I care" look and waved me through.
Admittedly, I'm not positive that the CFTC is a Federal agency.
-j
At USGS, one (younger) guard tried the "no longer than your palm" rule to measure it and the other (older) guard laughed at him and told him to fetch a ruler.
I recently got a Delica (2.9" blade) into CFTC in downtown DC -- I'd forgotten I had it with me, was called into a meeting there, and was unpleasantly surprised as I'd Metro'd in and had nowhere to store it. I showed it to the guard, who gave me a, "Why should I care" look and waved me through.
Admittedly, I'm not positive that the CFTC is a Federal agency.
-j