Emerson factory knives quality?

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shipwreck

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How does Emerson compare with the big two, Spyderco and Benchmade?
I have my eye on an Emerson 10 drop point, was wondering if anyone here has had problems with Emerson in terms of quality. Just seems to be less and less said about Emerson nowadays, and Im hoping it isn't due to quality.

Would my money be better spent on a Manix?
 
The 10 and the 11 are my favorite Emersons! There is no way you could go wrong with the 10, its definitely a great knife...and no, I haven't heard/seen of any recent problems with Emerson Knives...
 
I have a CQC7 made by benchmade, and one made by Emerson. I like the benchmade version better. It's been my EDC from 1998 till 2005.
 
Ooooohhhhh. . . An "Emerson vs. a Manix which-to-get". This oughtta be interesting (then goes to get the popcorn and Pepsi Max :D :D :D )
 
I don't know of the last few years, but I handled a few in a shop that all had mismatched fit between the scales and liners, and there were multiple complaints about thin linerlocks and rapid wear.

But again, this was not recent.
 
Never really got Emerson. Don't like linerlocks, don't like tantos, don't like chisel grinds, don't like black coated blades, and I'm sure as hell not paying way over what you would pay for a knife of similar quality and materials from another brand for all that.
 
J85909266 said:
Never really got Emerson. Don't like linerlocks, don't like tantos, don't like chisel grinds, don't like black coated blades, and I'm sure as hell not paying way over what you would pay for a knife of similar quality and materials from another brand for all that.
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My thoughts, exactly. And the chisel grind is on the wrong side for right handed folks, if that matters to anyone except me...
 
i love the grinds, finishes, and scales on all my emersons. i have several.

i also agree that the benchmade cqc7 is very nice, i have three of those as well.

i will admit that much of my appreciation of emerson knives is a direct result of having met ernie emerson at a show. he is awesome, talked with me for at least 30 minutes. ive posted this before so bear with me.

but if you are looking to buy one, dont pay retail, they are pricey, although i wont say overpriced. they can be had for around 60% of retail, sometimes less.

i have seen eki's and bm's with quality control issues, but overall benchmade qc is probably more consistent.
 
I have 'average large' hands and have never found the Emerson Commander to fit me - it's too small. I recently bought a Emerson Mach 1 - quite an old model apparently - as part of a small batch of other knives. The blade/lock fit was loose and I didn't like the chisel grind - it's ok for SD but if you cut anything else the blade slides away to one side - disconcerting and possibly dangerous. That Emerson didn't last a week in my hands. I have a mini Manix which I enjoy using and in which I have full confidence carrying for SD etc.
 
I carry an EKI or MOD or a 710 daily. Which I choose is well whichever one I happen to grab on the dresser. Never had a problem with liner lock/Axis lock failure on any. Never noticed a cutting difference in the chizel grind vs the flat grind on folders. Quality of EKI's I own is par excellance. I own 2 CQC7's. one from 2k and one from 99. One a A model and one a B model. Now get this the liner locks have never moved one iota since break in. I am the original owner of both.

If a blade starts to loosen up you can tighten the pivot screw until it firms back up. You don't void the warranty either by doing so. You can take them apart and clean them and lube them with no worries. There warranty rate is first rate also. I have big hands and the EKI's have the BEST ergo's of just about any folder commercially made I have owned. keepem sharp
 
the CG is possibly dangerous, lol, well i suppose i've heard it all now.

i have had several CQC7s both BM and EKI versions, just for the record ya wonder which one had liner lock probs?? the BM.

EKI is as good (or bad) as any of the makers as far as F&F go, i have seen pics of bad ones but i have around 12 EKIs and all of mine have been 100% in that regard, so i'm not sure the bad ones arent the exception to the rule not vice versa.

the CG takes some getting used to, and its not the best edge for utility, but then again EKIs arent made for utility, they are made for SD, i carry a SAK or a spyderco delica SE for utility irregardless if i am carrying a EKI or a spydie, BM, etc. but they arent hard to sharpen and they do cut just fine, even for utility in a pinch. as far as being ground for lefties i say BS i have had several RH ground CGs made by BM (BM stryker CG) and they dont cut any better or worse than a LH CG, i assure ya.

some of the old commanders supposedly had lock probs (i never saw one that did, only pics) but none of the designs after say '99 did,

i recently got a CQC12 and the F&F and lock up on that knife are as good as any i have seen and i've seen a few.

imho EKI has some of the very best designs around, i like almost all of them to one degree or another, which is a lot more than i can say for BM and spydie, sure i like the Ti ATR (SS too) and the millie and police, and the BM AFCK, and 710, and the rukus, but i can name a dozen i dont like for every one i do. the BM skirmish was the biggest disappointment i've had with a knife FWIW.

if ya like the design of the '10 (or any other EKI) get it theres nothing at all wrong with them, if ya are one of the small percentage of folks with probs EKI has the best customer service around, and the fastest too. they are also 100% USA made FWIW.

no knife brands inspire the utter devotion or scorning hate that EKI and strider do, they must be doing something right imho lol.,
 
Well, I don't think I've ever met anyone that hates EK (although undoubtedly such a person exists, but point is, I don't think that's a common opinion).

I've only handled a few Emersons. They were all solid, but they lacked that certain finish a proper Benchmade has. That said, the tiny imperfections would not be a deterrent in me buying the knife as a user. There certainly were no obvious flaws

The lockup on the three I most recently played with was very solid, but it was worn by my standards...the lockbar didn't have much travel left to the side. But better too much than too little, some people like it that way in the frst place anyway.

I did like the two models I played with, the CQC7 and commander, but I have only two real concerns for Emerson knives.

1: Their price is steep for the knife. It's a good knife, but for 80 dollars you can get a G10/S30V/AO Avalanche, or for a 100 you can get a beefy Gravitator with titanium liners and 154CM steel. Most Emerson productions cost about 150 and on up. If you really like the design and/or need the wave, probably worth it, otherwise, probably not.

2: The ball detent just wasn't strong enough for a tip up knife in my opinion. There was essentially no detent at all in any of the three knives I had. I would be very careful carrying it.

But otherwise, good knives.
 
I own three EKI's a Blackbird ( similar to CQC7), a SOCFK and a Mini Commander ( the newest). I own quite a few Benchmade knives, and the closest to an Emerson design that I have is probably the Stryker. Basically the same materials and lock. I like the Benchmade but the Emerson's have a slight edge in ergos , IMO.

Quality wise they are both exceptional liner locks, the Stryker has the edge in price about $20-$30 less than any Emerson and is smoother without the break-in necessary with the EKI. The "wave" is a non-issue to me,I don't use it....

The Mini Commander I just bought was produced in 2006 , it appears to have a thicker liner and a noticeably better fit/finish than my two older models. The screws holding the scales are countersunk neater and the finish on all the hardware is better. If you're considering this model go for the full sized version..

My two favorite brands are Benchmade and Emerson but some people have gotten lemons from those companies too, luckily for me I haven't. I've been considering a Chinook or a Manix for about 6 months now and have hesitated because I've read a few negative things about those knives as well. Probably just a few defective ones... the point is all three companies make good products and have good warranties so either way you win...

About the Ball Detents.. they have two , an upper and a lower, they're quite secure closed.....
 
Emerson knives are well made knives just as any other top brand. You will have defective knives come out of any production facility, but I have seen less form Emerson than many others. I believe it is because Emerson stays with a proven design instead of going with the latest fad or complicated lock. And as far as liner locks go Emerson's will give you a raw thumb quick since they take a manly thumb to disengage.
 
My -7a, -10, -11 and Spec War are all flawless. I have reprofiled the first three to get rid of the chisel, but all three open smooth, lock like a vault, and rest at center. If there ever is a QC issue, Emerson would take care of it pronto like.

I sent one in for sharpening once, and it came back sharpened and refurbished with new washers, new screws and a new clip.
 
That is a nice feature of the Emersons, extremely smooth liner locks with no play on the ones I toyed with. The blade opened smooth enough to convince me that it's an axis lock.
 
I have two Emersons a cQC 7 by benchmade carried for four years and a persian (gift). I hate the persian, great ergos, great look but for all intent it will never be a good all arounder. Blade at the tip is too thin and it is really hard to open. Same size but better all around for me is the Spydie Military, great knife, tough, ambi, S30V is great. I also EDC'ed a Skirmish for awhile, great knife its up on ebay though to pay for the military.
 
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