emerson quality

Feedback: +0 / =0 / -0
Joined
Jan 16, 2001
Messages
156
Well... bought my first emerson and i am completely unimpressed. Here, three days after getting it the clip is already loose so i tighten it to find it wont tighten because all three screws are stripped in the titanium. I also noticed that the black coating on all the screw heads is worn off... Three days! Man, that shouldnt have passed QC. in a 50 dollar knife i wouldnt care, but one costing 130 bucks thats unacceptable..

Very frustrated
 
Both are known issues. The coating wears off very quickly and the clip screws are sometimes stripped. Call them and they'll send you clip screws very quickly. I had the same problem, but with only one screw, I got a package of screws 3 business days after calling them. Replace them and put some loctite on there, no problem. The stripping problem is something common enough to need fixing. Maybe they need to use a better quality screw, or maybe it's an assembly problem. The coating "problem" isn't really much of a problem to me. Black coatings always wear off, it's just a matter of time and use. If you want you can mirror/satin finish the screws and the problem goes away.
 
All black coatings eventually wear off depending on use, but the coating Emerson knives uses on their screws are the only ones I've seen wear off so quickly. This is really lame, especially when you consider that the average working class Joe, Emerson knives are not cheap.
 
On "the number one hard use knives in the world" ???

Of course, I never had that problem on my Emerson ... La Griffe.
 
Amazing. Emerson is just cranking out the volume and they must only spot check in QC and not even look back into production when they find a spot check problem.

If the threads are stripped on handle side, that is just exceptionally lame.

I have a Mach-I that is acceptable after I tuned up the dual detent springs on both sides of the blade (a "feature" I have only seen on Emersons, and what allowed me to center the blade in the handle. I.e., a cheap concession rather than firming up the design end of the pivot).

I like my LaGriffe & Police Utility Knife (PUK, or puke). Except for being ground on the wrong side of the blade for right handers (the LaGriffe doesn't really matter in this regard, and the PUK is in my car for self defense only).

Emerson Production stuff is really amazing. It is a classic example of marketing hype and flashy aesthetics in triumphant dominance over fine tuned construction/design and manufacturing quality. I do like certain elements of Emersons handle designs (very secure index finger guard on some models) and I like the stout tips on folders.

I wonder if Emerson does special QA/QC for military orders so they don't dump his product back into his lap... allowing him to send rejects and lower QA/QC to the broad market?

Really a shame... Ernie had, still has, a chance to really shine in his production line. I dunno. He builds this stuff in Los Angeles (Torrance). Maybe I'm naive about what it costs to find and pay and retain quality workers in the LA basin (seems like there would be enough talented, hard working hispanics you could find, over time, to make this work). It is expensive to live out there. Maybe that was his mistake... doing it in LA.
 
I've been dissapointed with Emerson Knives, to the point that I'm reluctant to buy another. I really love Ernie's designs, but I can't bring myself to spend $150-$200+ for a knife that's going to look like crap just after a few days of carry and mild use. Just imagine what it will look like if you use it hard. For that matter I'd rather spend $35-$40 for a Ka-bar and really use it hard and not have to worry about it. After owning several Emersons: CQC7-A, CQC7-B, Mini-B, Mach-1 and several Commanders, I would rather opt for a Benchmade if I want a G-10 handled folder. I owned a Benchmade CQC-7 which I used for years. After 4 years, it has earned it's battle scars and has been sharpened several times. I've dropped the knife on concrete and have many scuff marks on the handle and clip. The knife is well worn, but after a few years of use, and the finish on the clip and screws are only slightly worn. On my first Emerson CQC7-B, the finish of the pivot screw started to wear off in a few days of just holding the knife and carrying it. I know to some it may sound trivial, but when I buy a new knife, especially a high end production folder, I don't expect the finish to wear of in a few days.
 
It really is a shame manufacturers like Emerson, REKAT, etc. seem unable to get their act together. If they read these forums they would realize, hopefully, shoddy workmanship and lack of quality control send potential buyers to other brands. Great designs and high prices combined with poor execution lead to frustrated and angry consumers.

It is fine to correct a problem a customer has after the fact, but it is far better to provide a product that has no problem in the first place.
 
Never had any problems with any Emersons I've owned. Bought more than a few "blind". However, i DID buy a CRKT, whose blade rusted one day after I got it - just carrying it in my pocket. It sucked, but I figure these things happen, so I fixed it.

You always get bad apples when you pick a lot of 'em. Ernie is a busy guy, trying to produce custom orders, AND run a production shop. But, and its been said here many times before, if you have a problem, TELL HIM, so he knows there is one. If he doesn't know what's broken, he can't fix it, right?

And as for different QC for military vs. civilian, I find that hard to believe - both from a time standpoint as well as a business standpoint.
 
I was thinking about this this morning. It seems the screws are coated with the same black coating on the threaded part as on the head. So maybe the main problem is with the coating.
 
Soft steel screws, hard titanium liners...
Screws are going to strip, and that's exactly the way it should be.
Far better to scrap a couple cheap screws than strip the threads out of the relatively expensive titanium liner.

The first thing you should do with any clip furnished knife when you get it, is to check the clip tension, see if it's too loose or too tight, remove it, bend the clip to the tension you prefer, then re-install the clip and put a dot of Locktite on each screw before you SNUG it down. Do NOT "tighten" it, just snug it down.

Doesn't matter what brand it is, any linerlock with the screws threaded into the liner has VERY little contact area and stripping screws is a VERY easy thing to do.

Call EKI and tell them you need screws, most likely, they'll be here before the week is out.

Install them according to the above instructions and you'll not have any more problems with it, and the clip tension will be set the way YOU want it.
 
the problems reported with emerson, is that for commander etc only or is there any reported problems with the la griffe? if so please tell as im considering buying one =)

thanks!!
 
Just recieved last week a Commander in a trade. I've always had my eye on a Commander or a Spec-War. The knife is not bad, the liner lock is ok. In the local stores this thing goes for $230.00 on the net about $160.00, In my humble opinion way over priced. I am a big fan of REKAT, yes they have also been known to have QC problems, although all of mine have been great. So maybe I shouldn't solely judge my opinion on this knife. But I have to say that I am a little disappointed.
Personally, I think there are alot of other knife manufactures out there who put out a better product and at a lower cost. :(
 
Hello all. I just recently purchased one of the waved CQC7's with the wave feature. I like the wave feature and the handling characteristics of the CQC7, and it is the perfect size to me. However, the blade would not center between the liners after adjusting the pivot without having to just about pry the knife open. What I mean is that if I adjusted the pivot whereas the blade was centered between the liners, the dang thing was so tight that I would have to force the knife open and closed. A person could forget about flicking this baby open. It just aint going to happen. Heck, I was really disappointed in the knife. I sent the knife back to Emerson on 7-5-01, and I do not know if they have received it or not. I sent it insured and confirmation via USPS, but we all know how crappy USPS is about updating their data base of deliveries, so I do not know if they have received it or not. Big D1
 
Install them according to the above instructions and you'll not have any more problems with it, and the clip tension will be set the way YOU want it.

My Benchmade Emerson 975 is a nearly indestructibnle workhorse, but the clip pulled outward slightly and wouldn't grip tight enough after that. I finally got around to removing it, adjusting the tension, and carefully replacing it. It stayed perfect ever since.

I also recommend, besides never overtightening, to screw them all in just deep enough to hold, then tightening them to where you want them, instead of tightening one side hard and ending up stripping the other trying to even them.

Shoknife, don't worry about La Griffe. There isn't enough knife there for anything to go wrong :D except it's too sharp ... but the only moving parts are the beads on the chain!
 
i agree the BM version of the knife is head and shoulders above the emerson version imho - i just traded off my last emerson, and dont plan on getting another for a while - like rekat emerson just has too many QC probs at this time - i was really disappointed in the last emerson i bought - give me a spydie/BM anyday (at least for right now)


sifu
 
I agree with what most of you are saying. I currently own 2 Commanders and 1 CQC7. Their are two major points I like about the Commander: The Wave feature and that it is very light weight for the size of the knife.

I find the overall quality to be only "OK", but not great. The Wave alone makes the Commander worthwhile so long as you can find them at a good low price. That is why I bought my last Comander through BoTach. The Commander is a great knife for $130. It is way way way way overpriced at $200.
 
I think I get it. What you're all saying is that REKAT is now producing Emerson knives...

Sorry, I couldn't resist.:(
 
Admittedly, Emerson knives <i>are</i> a little rough in the production format. I've never had the pleasure of handling a <i>custom</i> model; but I suspect that the quality would reflect the pricetag. I'd like to put my own .02 on the subject of things coming loose, etc.

These knives are designed to be able to be disassembled so the user can perform maintenance on it himself. A byproduct of this is that the pivot screw will loosen over time with use. I would argue, however, that any piece of gear (especially, line-one gear) should be actively maintained. You change the battery in your wristwatch when it runs low, and empty the cr@p out of your wallet from time to time. Checking the condition of your carry knife should be something you do as well. Care for your gear and it will take care of you.

True, sometimes the knives arrive with the blade not centered and in varying degrees of tightness. But you, the user, are able to customize the action of the knife to your tastes and needs. An off-center blade can usually be aligned with a little time and patience. Enjoy adjusting it to your tastes. I agree that having a brand new knife arrive with a misaligned blade is somewhat annoying. But it is no reason to send it back or lose enthusiasm for this product. There is nothing magical that EKI staff does to "fix" this problem when the blades are returned to them for realignment. They simply take some time and do it.

As for the problem of the screws having their finish rub off... well, I can understand your being disgruntled. These knives aren't cheap and one would expect that even the little details would be more durable. My Commander is a "user" and not a display piece. So I'm not all that worried about having the finish wear off. Wear and tear is to be expected. I will fix it though from time to time to keep the knife in good working order (the maintenaince I previously spoke of). It is simple enough to do. Go to a military surplus shop or the uniform store and pick up a bottle of Re-Nu. This is the stuff used to fix the black finish on the subdued military insignia pins when they get scuffed and dinged with use. Literally, ten seconds work and you are back in business. But honestly, it you are getting the knife as a user don't sweat that sort of thing.

The stripped screws would annoy me too. However, they are just screws. You can probably find replacement screws at a hardware store (though I confess I don't know this for a fact). Contact EKI and they'll hook you up with what you need or send it back for repairs if things are that far gone. Their customer service is pretty darned good from the majority of accounts I have heard.

I'm not trying to be a cheerleader. I have no vested interest in the matter. All I know is that I bought a knife based on its reputation and was not disappointed. Don't get so concerned with the little details that you lose sight of the whole picture. They really are great knives that are endorsed by groups of guys who really put their gear through the paces. But hey, if you are dissatisfied beyond repair, there are plenty of other knife-makers out there who make quality products. But in the final measure of things, Emerson knives are one of a select few who stand out as being good enough to be relied on in professional circles.
 
If you check this board you will find an alarming number of posts about bad QC on emerson knives. Emerson needs to realize that there are many great knives made by different manufacturers out on the market. The word is getting out that their QC sucks and their products are overpriced.
 
Back
Top