Almost any sharp knife can serve as an emergency self-defense weapon, but Emersons, regardless of their design, are not optimized for knife-fighting. The Karambit/La Griffe are notable exceptions, but they are dramatically different from most other Emersons. A purpose-built fighting knife does not need a strong blade- it needs either a thin, narrow dagger shape with a very fine piercing tip; or a long, smooth single edge with a lot of belly for slashing. Emersons will serve their purpose in knife fighting due to their strength, because they will survive more abuse than most other knives. However, they are not the best fighters- too thick to penetrate easily, and generally not enough belly for slashing. The Al Mar Ultralight series are good defensive folders: scalpel-sharp, fantastic piercing tips, and super thin blades for deep penetration. But my Falcon Ultralight will snap in half at the first sign of twisting or prying, whereas my Emerson will shrug it off and keep on going. Different knives for different purposes.
Yes, my opinions are based on my experience with the Mini 7B, which is what I have. Emersons "will work" for EDC tasks, and I have used my Emerson in just that capacity. It is just not optimized for that sort of thing. Every knife is a compromise, trading some functions for others, and Emersons generally give up "light duty" versatility for "heavy duty" ruggedness and strength.
