Hi... I've heard a lot of things in response to my posting - some that I agree with and some I don't.
<b>Rogue Spear:</b> I agree that there is a significant number of complaints concerning QC at EKI. And yes, there are many great manufacturers of knives out there. (You'll never catch me badmouthing anyone else's work. Their tools may not be to my taste or suit my needs, but they are a d@mn sight better than anything <i>I</i> could ever hope to make.) However, I would have to say that that statistic is broadly applied here. There are two types of knife purchases. The first is one that is intended to be used whereas the second is intended for display or just to collect and enjoy owning the knife. Those who purchase a knife to be used are not going to be overly upset by having the finish wear off the screws with use. It isn't that big of a deal and it is easily remedied. And fixing the alignment of the blade is no big deal either. It took me all of 5 seconds to do mine when I first got it and I haven't had problems with it since. An imperfectly aligned blade is at worst, going to mar the finish on the blade if uncorrected. Otherwise it has no bearing on the performance of the knife. If you bought a knife as a show piece, well, I guess I can understand your less than enthusiastic response to having to tinker with your new toy. You want to keep it in as pristine condition as you can. For a collector, that would make perfect sense.
Having said all that, I too would prefer to not have my blade arrive out of alignment or have the finish wear off the screws so quickly, but they are minor issues to me. The whole product is what counts. And you know that the specwar guys are not worrying about the finish rubbing off their screws either. They like the knife as a whole. Not all of them, but a significant number of them do.
<b>Medusaoblongata:</b> The minor complaints <i>are</i> irrelevant in one circle and relevant to another. It all depends on what you want. If and when you get a Commander, you'll love it. It really is a solid, well designed knife. I've been nothing but pleased with mine. As for prices... Yeah, I'd rather see them lower too. But then the market is what defines price rather than my personal desires (unfortunately
) However, the price can be seen as somewhat of an indicator as well. Basic economics states that as the demand for a non-ubiquitous commodity increases, it drives the price up commensurately. It seems to me that there are a few folks out there that see Mr. Emerson's knives the same way I do. At any rate, EKI is still a relatively small company and still experiencing its growing pains. The more it grows the more consistant the QC will get. That's just the nature of the beast.
<b>David1967:</b> I too owned the BM/E CQC7 and carried it everywhere for a number of years. I think the world of that knife. It is built like a tank! When I retired it and started carrying a Commander, I gave my old BM/E-CQC7 to my girlfriend. I did so because she needed a good knife and I felt confident in her having that one. It had and kept a great edge. It was hardened a little too much for my taste, but it never gave me reason to complain. As for thinking your knife was going to fall apart anytime... grab a screwdriver. Problem solved. Now your knife is ready for use. And why would you want to tune it up in the first place after spending $200? To set the action to the way you prefer it. You are going to have to do it anyway at some point later on. You do take care of your gear don't you?
<b>El Cid:</b> I am not familiar with the Magna or the Outdoor Edge line of knives. Perhaps they are very fine tools. However, in my experience, I have handled a lot of knock offs from Taiwan, Pakistan, and several other places. And while they will cut (They are knives after all) I could not say that they were anywhere close to the quality of an Emerson. If I was going to spend a good chunk of my hard-earned money on a knife, I would much rather drop it all on one great knife than on a bunch of lesser quality ones.
<b>DanEHunter:</b> That's a LOT more work than I ever would have done. I think I would have just called EKI or emailed them a complaint and sent the blade back for repair/replacement or a refund. I'm impressed.
I know, you can get replacement screws, use loctite... but why? Why would you have to tune up a knife you just bought for let´s say 200.00 USD? 
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