Emerson s.o.s.!!!

C

Copenhagen55

Joined
Dec 6, 2014
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I just got my first Emerson today, a Super CQC-8. I adore the knife except for one thing... Yhe lock is so sticky that if I wave it or just flick it open I have to pry the locking bar with a screwdriver! Tried graphite and even WD-40 and sat here for an hour opening it hard and prying the lock to try to break it in but that did very little. Short of sending it in for warranty is there anything any of y'all can suggest???
 
I have heard of folks using a sharpie marker on the lock face on the blade tang. Or some pencil lead.

Some are a booger to get broken in.
 
Titanium and steel do that, stick. The lock will break in from use, it just takes time.

Congratulations on the knife, the Super '8 feels like a fixed blade :eek:
 
Yeah, I'm not going to put anything else on there as a lubricant. I am just going to keep going at it with the screwdriver untill the titanium picks up a light layer of steel which should do the trick. Though an hour and a half in my thumb is killing me and the knife is about halfway where I want it, but getting there. And yeah it does! Feels great in my hand though and not bad in the pocket either. Though when my girlfriend holds it her tiny hands make it look like a scimitar, haha
 
Don't flick it, just open and close it.

So here is the thing with Emerson's. Back in the day I was all about "flicking". The faster it opened, the better. I liked Benchmades and Spyderco's b/c I could flick them open. What changed for me was getting a CRK Sebenza, then into friction folders. The difference I found I prefer is a knife that "butters" open. Meaning it's tight but smooth like on glass. You can't flick it open but with a smooth sweeping thumb motion it comes right open. This is how Emerson's work too.

If you loosen the pivot so you can flick it open, and I don't mean wave, then you probably have some play in the blade. This will allow an already new knife that usually come very tight to allow the lockbar to move over further than it should if the pivot was tight.

I'd suggest tightening up the pivot so it's hard, but not impossible to open. Then open/close it with a smooth thumb motion about 200-500 times. Then break it down and clean it, relube with some light grease and put back together. Now tighten it up again but take about 1/8 turn off so it's still a bit stiff but easier than before. You should still have zero blade play. Open close more till it's butter smooth and don't touch it. It will wave open fine this way, but you won't be able to flick it. That is how Emerson's should be.

Best of luck.
 
Give the tang end of the blade a nice hit with graphite/ a pencil, and a small, miniscule drop of lubricant. I use Tuf Glide. I found that method works the best for me.
 
No problem with my shiny new CQC-7A; it glides open smoothly and locks with a quiet click. I don't have any need to flick it. The action is very similar to my Sebbie 21.
 
Ttran, I tried the graphite and lube with no difference at all. This one is just too stubborn for that.
Hawk45, thanks! Your right I had the pivot screw just a kettle loose for a new knife. I just have to work it in like a new engine. Though I have found opening it hard and locking it in tight and then opening the lock with a flathead seems to break it in pretty well. Already have it half way decent. A little more work tonight, then striping and luring tomorrow, then a little more work should have her broke in enough to EDC it without having to close it with both hands.
 
I have a non emerson knife with a titanium liner lock that got sticky and then broke in and now its slick as snot! Coloring in the face of the tang with pencil worked very well. Locks up solid and disengages with ease. My buddy is a big time Emerson fan and he said everyone of his emersons got sticky and then went away as he used them.

I have had many titanium frame locks and liner locks and liquid lubes will make it worse because the lockbar travels farther than it should.
 
Riz2530 said:
I have a non emerson knife with a titanium liner lock that got sticky and then broke in and now its slick as snot! Coloring in the face of the tang with pencil worked very well. Locks up solid and disengages with ease. My buddy is a big time Emerson fan and he said everyone of his emersons got sticky and then went away as he used them.

I have had many titanium frame locks and liner locks and liquid lubes will make it w orse because the lockbar travels farther than it should.[/QUOTE

Yeah the lube did make it travel much further than it does now. Now it locks up perfectly at 50%. Just need the titanium to build up a nice thin layer of the softer steel on it and I think it will be good. Hopefully though it doesn't take so long with the other 2 Emerson's I have coming in the mail, haha
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Use graphite or sharpie and break her in naturally, you'll have a great knife when she does. I also recommend no lube, I even disassemble a new Emerson and get there factory grease out, as a rule of them for me during break in on a knife i don't use lube it can hinder break in and cause sticky lock.If your thumbs get too bad use the medford claw method, i had to use this to break in a SpydErco k2
 
Not sure about other models but using a sharpie on the cqc 7 models causes lock slip.
 
Allen R. said:
Use graphite or sharpie and break her in naturally, you'll have a great knife when she does. I also recommend no lube, I even disassemble a new Emerson and get there factory grease out, as a rule of them for me during break in on a knife i don't use lube it can hinder break in and cause sticky lock.If your thumbs get too bad use the medford claw method, i had to use this to break in a SpydErco k2
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I did take the factory grease out. And elaborate on the Medford claw method please.
 
TekNyc said:
Not sure about other models but using a sharpie on the cqc 7 models causes lock slip.
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Only lock failures I've had on knives have been with new Emersons, I've never had to use sharpie or graphite on an Emerson and if it caused lock slip I would say just use ur index finger to unlock instead of your thumb and let that ti move over a bit, I love Emersons but that lock has got to travel a bit before I really trust them.
 
Copenhagen55 said:
I did take the factory grease out. And elaborate on the Medford claw method please.
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Edge facing down unlock the knife with your index finger instead of flipping it over edge facing you and using your thumb. I've broken in 4 framelocks this way and no thumb damage. Use your right index to unlock blade and left hand to close the blade . yeah its two handed but its easier to unlock a blade with your index finger than your thumb
 
Allen, my rhombic is very appreciative, haha Works great. Think I'll be doing this for the next week or so.
 
I don't know why the hell my iPad put rhombic, hahaha But thanks again! Any more little tips and tricks you can think of let er rip!
 
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