Emerson Knife - Real or Fake?

3

30-30remchester

Joined
Nov 22, 2009
Messages
72
Bought this knife at a yard sale. I know nothing about Emerson Knives, but I do know there are many fakes. Can I get members opinion?

KnifeI.jpg
[/URL]

KnifeII.jpg
[/URL]

KnifeIII.jpg
[/URL]

KnifeIV.jpg
[/URL]

KnifeVIII.jpg


BoxI.jpg
[/URL]

BoxII.jpg
[/URL]

KnifeVII.jpg


KnifeX.jpg


BoxIII.jpg
 
Last edited:
I believe it is real. The fakes are usually commanders, one easy way to make sure is to test the liners. Take a magnet and press it to the liners, the are Titanium so they should not magnetize. Here is an in depth article on emerson fakes:
http://pcknives.com/fake.htm
 
It looks like a real Specwar to me... I have a few Emerson knives and the fit and finish is consistent with my knives.

It's a very nice knife....
 
Here's picture of a custom ground, tanto version I found on the Web.

picture.php
 
There are two things that bother me on this knife that make me think it is a fake. One is the serrations. It does not look like the Emerson serrations, but it might be before the new ones were introduced or sharpened away? And then the screw on the thumb disc. It is usually phillips screw as far as I know. Other then that it looks good. I hope I am wrong. I am playing devils advocate here.
 
Thanks for all the help so far. I tested the liners and they wont attract a magnet so at least this is a good sign? I hope more will give their opinions.
 
There are a few things that just look wrong on that knife. The blade finish and logo look odd to me, a true satin would usually be on a custom knife but that is a production knife logo. The lack of cut out at the lock release looks off to me as well. Some EKIs do have flat head screws so thats not a dead give away. It's also a pretty early knife being a 98 so I suppose it's possible it's just a funky early piece but there is just something not right with it IMO.

Does the knife have a double detent ? (one on either side of the blade).
 
I'm stuck between the two camps. Marthinus has a good point. If I had to put money down on it, I would say it's real. The thing that bothers me too is I don't recall ever seeing a flat screw on the thumb disc. I can say the box looks real. The boxes on the fakes are different.
 
Not sure how the real emersons are, but the liners don't line up with the scales.
Also, the screws don't look right. I just looked the big auction site, and the smaller screws are on the edge, presumable to hold the spacer(s) in place.
 
30-30remchester said:
Thanks for all the help so far. I tested the liners and they wont attract a magnet so at least this is a good sign? I hope more will give their opinions.
Click to expand...

Then there's a good chance the liners are titanium and that is good. I did a little research and some early Emerson knives used slotted screws throughout.

As Haze suggested, look for a double ball detent.

Here's a picture of my mini commander, the 2nd ball detent is right above the screw driver blade.

DSC_0014CC.jpg
 
Last edited:
Haze, I am not sure what you mean by double detent. Ben when I tell you the price you have to remember it was obtained at a yard sale. I paid $20 for it. I didnt know this could be this fun. I looked at the above link about fake compared to real and the box is real having bolder letters, the faded red lettering and the inside of the box is bright white like an original. Other comparisons on this link favor it being real but is not clear. As for me, my need to know is not financially motivated. However I need to know either good or bad, just because it will help me sleep better. So please continue I am getting a good education. I have always collected antique knives and hadnt even heard of Emerson knives before I bought it. I saw "made in the usa" on it and thought any American built knife should be worth $20. It wasnt till I checked their website that I learned they are favorable thought of and worth counterfieting.
 
I will get my wife to do other close-up photos in a hour or two if anyone will request any specific photos just ask and she will be glad to do so.
 
Either way dude, that looks like got your moneys worth in that one, best thing i've gotten from a yardsale is some frost cutlery stuff and a little metal disk that changes colors when you spin it :p.
 
30-30remchester said:
I will get my wife to do other close-up photos in a hour or two if anyone will request any specific photos just ask and she will be glad to do so.
Click to expand...

Just compare my close-up to your knife , the screw driver blade is pointing to the 2nd detent on my Emerson.
 
I'm not an Emerson expert by any means but after reading this thread I grabbed my 2008 CQC-7A and did a little comparing. What is the backspacer made of G10 or plastic? How about a closeup of the pivot screw and the lockup(double detent). I think the main thing is that it must have a double detent. If you open the knife and hold it in front of you vertically with the sharpened edge facing you, you should see a little steel arm coming from the liner and touching the side of the blade right next in front of the pivot. Or look at where the lockbar contacts the tang and if you're holding it in the position described above the double detent should be on the right side of the blade a couple millimeters up from the lockbar. I think if it has that then my vote goes for it being real.
 
is it just me or does it look as if in the 8th pic that the original satin (grayish paint) finish is still present, making the blade finish a steel wool job.

The back spacer on this one is definitely G10 by the looks of it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top