Emerson Mini-Com or Benchmade 710?

Wade's movie is a pretty convincing argument! Any Usual Supects care to step up to support the Mini C? I hear that wave kicks booty, let's see it in action!
 
WOW, I thought this thread was going to get more play than this, seeing how both of these knives are very popular around here.
 
I personally prefer the 710. I love the Emerson designs, but find that the quality of Benchmade seems better. That is just my personal experience. You're mileage may vary.
 
Originally posted by shootist16
Holy $hit! :eek: :eek: :eek:

That is lightning fast. Blade seems scary sharp as well. Good job.
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It would have been faster if I didn't fumble my draw. :) Also I was trying to keep everything in the frame of the camera, so that slowed me down too. I found any of the Axis locks can be this fast. Although I find some of the Axis locks with shorter blades can be a little tricker because you don't have as much blade to swing. :) I like the overal balance and feel of the 710. The Ares is a great flipper, probably the easiest of the Axis locks I own to flick open and close.
 
If you want a fast opening, the Wave will open the Mini-C faster than that. But you cant close it that fast.

What you are looking more at would be the ergonomics of the knife right? The Mini-C handle is contoured for the hand differently than the 710, so in that area I would say to try one of each at a show or shop and see what you like in that area.
 
i'd go for the mini commander for a couple of reasons. first of all, axis locks are disengaged too easily for my liking. you have to handle one to see what i mean.. very questionable stuff, IMO. secondly, the handle of the commander has a very deep choil that acts as a much better guard for preventing finger slippage onto the edge upon thrusting, which is supercritical for me. it's for this reason that i only like the spydie chinook 2 & the persian, out of their entire line - it's the choil baby, the choil.. the liner of the mini-com is thick enough to preclude any real chance of failure. i'd go mini-com easily. benchmades are good, they just gotta improve the axis lock's ease of disengagement. i'm not a fan of (un)lockbars on the handle of knives. keep in mind that i personally think of combat more than casual work when it comes to knives.
 
Originally posted by alan aragon
axis locks are disengaged too easily for my liking. you have to handle one to see what i mean.. very questionable stuff, IMO.
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BS. :rolleyes:
 
No offense Wade, but I would have to agree with Alan on this one. I saw your video and can tell you without question my full size commander with the wave feature can be brought to target quicker. Now I will definately concede the axis is WAY faster to be folded back up and put into your pocket. However with a little practice you can learn to fold the commander up with one hand fairly quick and put it back in your pocket, but what is the purpose of that? If used for tactical purposes you would not even think of putting it away until the threat is eliminated. It's kind of like teaching students to shoot from the draw with a pistol and then speed holstering. That's a big NO NO. Great for show, but NOT practical.
Don't take my word for the speed of the draw though, just watch the video clip on Emerson's website.Emerson Knives Video Vault Bear in mind he is slow compared to what you can do with a little practice.
I really like the BM axis knives, but IMHO as far as a tactical/heavy use knife the Emerson is much more practical and durable. The 154cm steel is super and the liner is made of Titanium. Ernie Emerson is a martial artist and knifemaker. He made the knifes from a practical user standpoint and has gotten a lot of real world operator input in the process. The full size commander can be bought on most knife websites for $150's-$160's even though it retails for $220. So it' a great value as well.
I think Wade and I would both agree that ANY knife is better than no knife at all!
 
Originally posted by ReconSniper
No offense Wade, but I would have to agree with Alan on this one. I saw your video and can tell you without question my full size commander with the wave feature can be brought to target quicker. Now I will definately concede the axis is WAY faster to be folded back up and put into your pocket. However with a little practice you can learn to fold the commander up with one hand fairly quick and put it back in your pocket, but what is the purpose of that? If used for tactical purposes you would not even think of putting it away until the threat is eliminated. It's kind of like teaching students to shoot from the draw with a pistol and then speed holstering. That's a big NO NO. Great for show, but NOT practical.
Don't take my word for the speed of the draw though, just watch the video clip on Emerson's website.Emerson Knives Video Vault Bear in mind he is slow compared to what you can do with a little practice.
I really like the BM axis knives, but IMHO as far as a tactical/heavy use knife the Emerson is much more practical and durable. The 154cm steel is super and the liner is made of Titanium. Ernie Emerson is a martial artist and knifemaker. He made the knifes from a practical user standpoint and has gotten a lot of real world operator input in the process. The full size commander can be bought on most knife websites for $150's-$160's even though it retails for $220. So it' a great value as well.
I think Wade and I would both agree that ANY knife is better than no knife at all!
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Myself...I'd take the BM 710 over a Commander ANYDAY, as I REALLY like the Axis-lock. In a "fight", if I need something more "practical", my 10mm Glock model 20 will be making an appearance from my IWB Blade-Tech holster.
 
Originally posted by ReconSniper
No offense Wade, but I would have to agree with Alan on this one.
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No offense, but I wasn't commenting on speed of draw. I was commenting on the Axis lock being easily released. That's BS. I'll check out the video.

BTW, I don't use my knives for tactical purposes. I'm not in the military, or a police officer, etc. I use my knife as a tool, and the less it slows me down the better.
 
Originally posted by ReconSniper

Don't take my word for the speed of the draw though, just watch the video clip on Emerson's website
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Pretty neat! Can you explain how this feature works? Does the blade catch the pocket and pull itself open as you draw it out?
 
Wade, yup that's how it works. There's a protrusion at the top of the blade that catches your pockets lip on the way out of the back of the front pocket.

I prefer the benchmades as well. They are much more sheeple friendly, and their designs much more creative. It's so easy to open and close them and put them away all with one hand.

Emerson's do what they do really well. I just don't choose or use knives for tactical purposes.

Although, if a box looks at me the wrong way.......
 
Originally posted by Redstripe_808
Wade, yup that's how it works. There's a protrusion at the top of the blade that catches your pockets lip on the way out of the back of the front pocket.
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What are the risks of cutting your leg with a feature like this?
 
Wade,

None -- forward or backward, I've never had a problem with any EKI Waved knife, including the Folding Karambit and the HMMV-K.

:)

Allen
aka DumboRAT
 
i would say very little chance of cutting yourself with an EKI wave, i guess it could happen but.....i mean come on, normally that dont happen.

when the axis lock first came out cris carraci who designed the AFCK for BM posted in this forum he thought that the axis might be easily disengaged in a fight. well, maybe i guess, the axis AFCK is one of my favs though, FWIW,but i guess it could.

i dont really see how anything could be faster from the pocket to open than a waved emerson, though my fav EKI's arent waved (CQC8,I&I tanto,P-Tac). i do have a few waved EKIs though (commander,SOCFK)and do like them, an ingenious idea, why didnt i think of that???

between the 710 and commander it depends on what ya want it for, really the 710 prob is a better edc knife, though the commander is fine too in this role.

greg
 
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