Emerson La Griffe 1st impression

T

TW-Knife

Joined
Aug 31, 2001
Messages
144
Well, to start, this is my personal opinion on this knife. I bought the knife for my wife after her seeing one and liking it a lot.

I'm not impressed with the quality, but the design is sweet and that thanks goes to Mr. Perrin. It is easy to draw, hold, and use minus the dull edge. It is also very light.

On to the quality...
The tip is rounded almost (no it isn't the white water version ;) ) and the chisel grind is so dull I would be embarrased to put the 'Caution blade is extremely sharp' warning piece of paper with it. I'll try to sharpen it better or convert to another edge altogether one day soon.

All in all not a bad deal for the price I paid and my wife still likes it, but won't carry it until I do something with the tip and edge.

If you can get one at a good price ($40 or less) I could recommend one knowing it will probably need work. Otherwise I would pass and look into a Szabo design!
 
I recently bought a Perrin La Griffe, and I am so fond of it that I bought a second hand Emmy LG too. I have to say that I like Fred P's straight edge better for utility, and the knife isn't as stable in your grip without handle scales. I am planning an pinning and glueing some scales on my Emmer LG in the near future, soon as I can score some G-10 or micarta for the job.
 
I was thinking the same thing on the handle, even slim ones would be nice I think, although she wants to carry it and weight is a factor. If you get yours done and don't mind posting it I would like to see it and mabye others too?

I know the chisel grind is fine for self defense, but shouldn't this at least slice through a sheet of paper without ripping it and leaving a ragged edge? Never owned anything with a chisel grind (outside of chisels :) ) before?

**Update** I now am the proud owner of a Snody Overlord and a chisel grind can be wicked sharp, as his are!
 
I'm with Steve on the use aspect of the Perrin La Griffe. I've seen two (Steve's and a smaller one in ivory micarta) and both have a great grip.

In my hand they say "use me for utility", whereas the EKI La Griffe says "tactical". Generally, I'd like 154CM La Griffe to be thick like the 1/4" G-10 flyer version which I feel is more conducive (sp) to reverse grip. Well, the only La Griffe I haven't touched yet is the Whitewater. :P
 
I do get frustrated that Emerson won't make sure they have a decent edge before they ship them. I've gotten two, one for my and one for my wife. One came with an adequate edge, although the tip was a bit rounded. The other was just plain dull.

--Bob Q
 
Threads like this keep making me wonder that if there were truth in advertising, whether the placement of the word "to" into EKI's slogan wouldn't solve that problem: #1 Hard TO Use Knives.

Sorry, but my father is a life-long punster, and person who plays upon words. I can't get over it. It must be genetic.
 
My EKI LG was pretty blunt when I received mine too- sharp tip tho. I have sharpened and tried to change the bevel, and have improved it - but I don't think it will be as "sharp" as the CRKT Bear Claw version.

Overall, the LG's design is for self defence, and I didn't have any probs using it to slash cardboard. So it fits its purpose.
 
Though my La Griffe didn't come extremely sharp, I find that the downward-curving point combined with the excellent leverage afforded by the short blade allows it to perform wicked slashing cuts, out of all proportion to what one would think could be achieved with this knife. I'd be interested to see what something like this with a 2.5" hawksbill blade in A-2 (tough yet sharpenable) with a more acute edge bevel would be like...I'm guessing it would be pretty much the ultimate in low-profile, bad-a## life preservation tools.
 
I must be a lucky one because I recieved an Emerson La Griffe today and it's got a nice point and it is razor sharp.tom.
 
I bought a CRK&T Bear Claw for my wife about a year ago and it came pretty sharp. Less expensive than the Emerson too.
For its intended purpose, it's more than adequate. Wish it had a smaller, Kydex sheath for neck carry though.

Leo
 
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