EMERSON SUPER COMMANDER - any thoughts?

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punisher_nbi45

Joined
Dec 18, 2005
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I've been seriously thinking about getting a 2008 production Emerson super commander. I'm a federal agent here in the Philippines. I've had a Strider GB and a ZT 0300, both great knives. I'm kinda drawn towards the Super Commander because of the way it looks, as well as the reputation of the knife itself and the maker.

However, doing some research, there have been some issues raised with the commander (as well as other EKI knives) - usually fit and finish, qc issues, etc.

To all you super commander users, what have been your experiences, both positive and negative, with your knives? Do you think that it would stand up to hard use, especially some prying and/or being hit, as can be the case for some LEO work?

All inputs appreciated.
 
The Super Commander I own is fantastic and the size and look to it just stand out like the ZT 301 or a larger knife of it's type, I personally love my new Super Commander for many various reasons.

There are various issues with EKI but generally they are easy to solve, one problem is fittings with the teflon washers and the bolsters on the pivot of the blade but some tinkering can solve most problems and! EKI knives are the easiest to take apart and put back together.

I got a buddy who owns a shop and told me of one of his friends using a normal commander to throw around a construction site at dry wall and such and his knife has held up which shows quality. Plus my buddy who owns a shop would huck his own Emerson Commander at the floor and let it stick in and it opens and closes like it was brand new still. (I don't know if you would really want to do that.)

The size and speed which you can draw the blade depends on the user but for me it just flips open like an auto-assist, The Super Commander is very light for me and I use the ZT-301 and a EDC back up knife, they feel close to the same weight but the Super Commander has a longer handle so if you have large hands it will fit really well. Most knives if you used them for prying would break depending on how much weight is being used and longer length blades wouldn't be a good idea, you might want to take a look at the CQC-12 ti/G-10 combo since it uses a heavier duty lock which is 3.5mm the same width of the blade itself.

All I can say is if you already own a Emerson you will love the Super Commander but it's a heck of a knife and I got a LOT of folders.
 
I don't have a super Commander but do have a mini Comm. and have owned a few regular Comms.

To be honest there is EKI knives i would choose over the Commander like the CQC-12 or 13. I don't like recurve blades much any way but the Commander is one of only 2 recurve blades i own, the other is the ZT3 which i would also choose over the Commander, i notice you have/had that ZT as well.
Both the 12 and the ZT3 have frame locks that are some what superior to a liner lock and would be another reason to chose them over a Commander.

Fit and finish can sometimes be a bit spotty. I wouldn't say its something to worry about, iv never had a knife i would call bad or didnt work from Emerson, but... I do have multiples of some EKIs that are just not as well fitted as the others, to differing degrees. Its just small things like the scales or the back spacer not fitting the liners evenly.

At the end of the day im sure a Super Comm. will handle anything you can throw at it, I would just prefer the Commander to have a frame lock before i took it over any other knife.:thumbup:
 
silent line, haze,

thanks for the replies.

I usually only cut with my knives, but i have been in situations where i had to pry some locks. Not really heavy-duty ones, but not what you would call small. I've also pried some floorboards and ceilings whenever I had to, and all I had during those times were my folding knives.

i've been won over by the wave, and I really like how the knife looks. I'm getting it, I just want to be sure that it can stand up to reasonable abuse. How would you define reasonable abuse?
 
Get the Emerson for Knife work and then get yourself a prySTR, a titanium mini pry bar, for prying.
 
punisher_nbi45 said:
How would you define reasonable abuse?
Click to expand...

Abuse that is not beyond reasonable :D ;)

Prying with a knife is never a good idea but as long as your not doing anything over the top im sure it will be fine.
The only properly snapped Emersons iv seen were ones used in destuctive tests. snapped tips don't count:thumbup:
 
I just bit the bullet. I got my emerson yesterday. Damn. All I could say is that it's great. I was having second thoughts and leaning towards a regular commander, but seeing and holding the super, I have to say that sealed the deal for me.

By the way, I'm not giving this one up. Why? Cause I just got nicked by it last night. I was closing it while driving and the blade caught my pinky. Damn, emersons are scary sharp. It was just light pressure, but the blade bit deep and I really didn't feel the cut until it started to bleed.

This is going to be my edc for a while. If you guys have any more suggestions / comments about the knife, please let me know. Thanks.
 
Congrats. on the new blade :thumbup::)

You might want to think about getting it converted to a frame lock ? that will only make it even sweeter ;)
 
Haze said:
Congrats. on the new blade :thumbup::)

You might want to think about getting it converted to a frame lock ? that will only make it even sweeter ;)
Click to expand...

In other words: (Wel)Come to the Dark Side... :cool:

EKIs have a Bad Guy charisma, but as a GOOD:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Bad Guy.
 
Haze said:
Congrats. on the new blade :thumbup::)

You might want to think about getting it converted to a frame lock ? that will only make it even sweeter ;)
Click to expand...


That would be great. Could you make any recommendations as to who would do such work (other than Emerson himself)?

Can't wait to cut some stuff up. This knife is really cool!
 
You have a Rock of a knife. The Frame-lock will be unbelievable. Congratulations!
 
punisher_nbi45 said:
I just bit the bullet. I got my emerson yesterday. Damn. All I could say is that it's great. I was having second thoughts and leaning towards a regular commander, but seeing and holding the super, I have to say that sealed the deal for me.

By the way, I'm not giving this one up. Why? Cause I just got nicked by it last night. I was closing it while driving and the blade caught my pinky. Damn, emersons are scary sharp. It was just light pressure, but the blade bit deep and I really didn't feel the cut until it started to bleed.

This is going to be my edc for a while. If you guys have any more suggestions / comments about the knife, please let me know. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Congrats! :D Glad to hear you like the Super Commander!

The cut pinky finger reminds me of how I cut my middle finger with my CQC-11 UTCOM, I reached into my pocket to get my phone out and all I felt was a slight sting on my middle finger, I'm so glad I didn't jerk my hand out or I'd have a fillet of my finger dangling off the top but yeah... scary sharp is a way to put it ahahaha!
 
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