emerson horseman or spyderco paramilitary

I don't think you can go wrong with either.

I dont have a Horseman, but I have a CQC-8 and its a fantastic knife. The new stonewash finish is even more appealing.

The Para is a legend and rightfully so. I have two.

The main difference is Para is tip up and the Emerson tip down (or is it the other way round, I get confused). Also compression lock versus liner lock.

It is a tough choice.... in a pinch I would say Horseman because I feel it is a more robust blade design.
 
I'd say ParaMil, and here's why- 1) I like S30V over 154CM for better edge retention, 2) I like the flat grind of the para better, 3) I don't like the chisel edge on the horseman 4) I like the stronger compression lock of the paramil 5) I prefer the opening whole over the disc
 
Para Military hands down. Its the better knife comparing them side by side. Better lock, better blade steel, more useful true V grind edge and a more versatile blade shape. Only thing the Horseman has over the Para Military is that Wave feature and if you don't need that its a hands down choice.

STR
 
I have a Horseman, Military, and a Para.
I like the Horseman but not the wave feature. You might like it.
I like the Military but it takes up more real estate in your pocket. It's a big knife.
I like the Para but one thing keeps me from carrying it and that's the top sharp
part of the blade that sticks out when it's in pocket. I really have to try and
get that rounded it's very annoying. I have one of the old D2 units.
Either one of your suggested choices (as one already pointed out) you should be
happy with any of them.
 
Ive had a cqc-8 before, and although i loved the design of the knife, i would say go with the para...i like the paras comp lock, better steel, better grind ect...you cant go wrong with either but i would say go for the para for sure:D
 
STR said:
Para Military hands down. Its the better knife comparing them side by side. Better lock, better blade steel, more useful true V grind edge and a more versatile blade shape. Only thing the Horseman has over the Para Military is that Wave feature and if you don't need that its a hands down choice.

STR
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100% agree with everything u said.
 
personally I would go for the horseman if I could only have one because I feel it carries better and I like the ergos better.

but honestly, buy both :)
 
Is there anything a chisel grind is better at that would make it desirable over a V ground edge? I don't get it.
 
Reeek said:
Is there anything a chisel grind is better at that would make it desirable over a V ground edge? I don't get it.
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ok well I cant read. no one said the knife was chisel ground, my bad

chisel grinds are very good for kitchen knives where you want to make a very flat cut, you put the unground side down and as you cut material is pushed over the top of the blade (think the opposite effect of an airplane wing). I know that some, but not all, sushi knives knives are ground this way.
 
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Between the Two...



CIMG2497.jpg
 
First, the Horseman is not chisel ground but V-ground. The cutting edge however, is only ground on one side. Second, it really depends on what you will be using the knife for, but you cannot go wrong with either.

For more general EDC tasks, I feel the Para is probably a better knife, and does have better steel in a full flat ground blade. The tip may be a bit delicate, but the overall package is a really good one.

For a heavier duty folder where blade strength and thickness trumps pure slicing ability, the Horseman wins. It is a great knife and I have mine riding in my RBP right now with my orange Millie in my RFP. I do think that as far as Emersons go, the Horseman is one of the best for EDC.
 
There is a difference between the blade grinds and the edge bevels.

The Paramilitary is flat ground with a conventional double bevel edge (about 20 degrees per side).

The Horseman has a saber grind with a single bevel edge (about 30 degrees on one side).

The only difference is how you sharpen them - you sharpen both sides of the microbevel on the Paramilitary, while you only sharpen one side on the Horseman and knock the burr off on the unbeveled side.

Both qualify as hard users and it comes down to personal preference, in regards to ergonomics and whatnot.
 
The Horseman and Para2 are very different knives.

I've had a Horseman and a half dozen Para2s of various steels and colors. The Para2s had uniformly awful edges, with terribly inconsistent edge angles. I've seen one Emerson, ever, with a poorly ground blade, the rest have been perfect. I also found the tips to be weak on the Military or Para2 because of the way it tapers all the way to the point.

The Para2 has a Compression lock which is a great design, the Emerson has a liner lock that is good enough.

The Para2 has phosphor bronze washers which are very smooth. The Horseman has nylatron washers which seem to last forever and are smooth, but a very different kind of smooth that requires a lot of wearing in.

They're pretty much the same size in the hand, but the Horseman is extremely secure thanks to the deep handguard. The Horseman has the wave, which I dislike but others love it.

I would choose the Horseman because they feel so stout in the hand and they take up very little space in the pocket because the blade shape is similar to the handle so it has a smaller footprint.

Edited to add:

I forgot to say that the steel difference is different. I extensively tested Spyderco S30V Vs. Emerson 154CM when removing carpet from my house. The Emerson stayed razor sharp for a long time then became unuseable while the Spyderco lost it's razor edge almost immediately but then stayed 'working sharp' for the rest of the project. I prefer the Emerson for EDC use where I have weekly access to a sharpening system. I guess I also prefer it for woods use, because I bring a pocket sharpener. I guess that if I used a knife all day long, instead of just every once in a while, I'd probably prefer S30V.
 
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The horseman is a more robust knife in my book. The Para is a great knife and will carry thinner than the horseman.
The Para is more of a slicer, where the horseman is more of a heavy duty cutter.
The Para can do heavier tasks, but the blade is so thin till about 3/4 the way up, and the tip is super thin.
Depends on your needs.
 
The spyderco. I liked Emerson but their fit and finish seems to be hit or miss. The designs are good just the final execution isn't what I personally care for. I am partial to spydercos and KAI knives though
 
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