Emerson was on the short list - WAS

I know I'm flogging a dead horse, but the funny thing about liner locks is that while the thinness is a factor, it's not much of a factor where people think of it -- at the thickness of the liner.

The biggest issue is that the tang/lockbar mating face surface gets worn down quickly, and that it can slip with miniscule changes in the geometry.

Slippage of the lock is a more critical issue than thickness -- ask Greg Lighfoot, Brian Tighe, Allen Elishewitz, Ernie Emerson... the list goes on of custom makers of hard-use knives that use 0.050" liners.

It doesn't look as nice, certainly... but when it holds, it HOLDS. It's just when it slips, it's scary.

I'd love to see Spyderco license out use of the Compression Lock. That's a situation where the thin liner isn't as much of a factor.

-j
 
I have an Emerson mini commander that has what you guys have been describing(lock slipping but not failing). It scares me so i don't carry it at all anymore. I also have a MOD tempest that fails a spine whack test. Of all the liner locking knives i have i was unpleasantly surprised that this was the one that failed.
I then went to their websight to check out their warrenty info. Well they now say that their warrenty is void if you flip open your knife with one hand. What the crap is that. I think i saw on one of these forums a while back that Mr. Janich (spell check) actually teaches you how to flip open knives with one hand. He designed the tempest. OH well i no longer buy liner locks, just axis and fixed blades. But seriously what company says you viod the warrenty with a flick of the wrist. I know all you guys do that. oh well sorry for the ranting and raving. haha
 
I had a Commander with the lock slipping problem. I sent it in to be fixed, then sold it. The lock-up on the Buck/Strider folder seems very solid.
 
Well for my $.02, save your money and get a $300+ knife. A framelock Obenauf or one from John Smith will float your boat. Yeah I may be flamed for my opinion, but if you are serious about knives and want good quality, you will save money and aggravation in the long run if you go high end production or basic custom.:) ;) :cool: :p
 
I have one of the earlier Emerson CQC7's when he was making them for BM and really liked it. IMHO, the quality seemed better then than it is now. Plus the prices were a hell of a lot lower (accounting for inflation of course). I purchased another Emerson CQC7 after he opened his own company and was not impressed. I think I paid around $77-80 for it and these days I see the knives going for $150 (I believe that's the right price - don't keep up anymore). Plus I've had the Emerson close on me once. I think my fingers closed the liner when I torqued it. Suppose it can happen to any liner lock. I now carry some type of BM autoknife (one of the newer ones with the lock on it) for my EDC but for real work I carry the Maddog LabRat. Go fixed blade if you can.
 
You tell it Scott Dog!!:D :D The large Evolution framelock I have is the best fitting framelock folder I've had. The fit of lock to blade is perfect and John cuts a shorter spring than most which makes the spring stiffer. Once locked you aren't going to accidently unlock. A tight grip just serves to reinforce the lock bar,although you cannot push it over any further than where it presently locks up at. I think a big consideration in liner locks and framelocks is whether the liner that acts as the lock is hardened or not. Hardened titanium will serve a lot longer than unhardened titanium.
 
Allen Elishewitz also states the warranty will void if it has been opened thusly on his handmades.

It's the way of the future for most knives you will buy. Someone had to start it and others have to follow.

Brownie
 
Hey Art!
I have a large Evolution incoming from John. I ordered it last April at the Solvang Custom Knife Show. John e-mailed me last week and said he would be starting on it this week and he wanted to know if he had the specs right. I'm not exactly sure of the price but I think it's about $425-450. I think that's a bargain. John has a reputation for high quality work. It will be a welcome addition to my collection.:D :cool: ;)
 
Bet you'll love it Scott. The handle grip is fantastic! The finger grooves along with the additional width provided by the cf overlays make for a solid hold on the knife. Blade shape is good for all around use also. The long false edge gives you a pointy point,, yet the extra thickness of the blade stock ensures that it is a strong point.

You getting a framelock?;)


btw; you said "getting the specs right" Are you doing something different from the standard model?
 
A liner-lock is a liner-lock is a liner-lock...no matter what the price. And the frame-lock is only a variation of the liner-lock.

What makes those two locks effective is the "blade-tang to locking-bar geometry". It has to be just right or when force is applied to the spine of the blade, the knife will fold.
The real disadvantage of the liner-lock and the frame-lock is wear from usage. If you use the knife long enough the lock geometry will change, so that a once rock solid reliable lock can become a useless false security.

My liner-lock days are long gone.

I would recommend a Lock-back, Axis-lock, or Compression-lock knife.

Happy hunting,
Allen.
 
Hey Art!:D

Yep, framelock it be. I wanted a blade smaller than the standard 3 3/4 inch but larger than the small at 3 inches. So John agreed to make me one with a 3 1/2" blade of S30V. Also I'm getting a drop point instead of the recurve. And of course it will be left handed. Since I ordered the knife in April and he promised it in November and he forgot about it so he agreed to do the 3 1/2 inch one and keep the price at $425. That's a real deal in my book. Did I tell you about the Scott Cook Lochsa I got? I got the first left hand one he made. I had to do summersaults to get it. Got to the Plaza Cutlery in store knife show (my local B and M) real early and I was the first in line to get the knife. At $460 it's great deal. I wouldn't take $1,000.00 for it now. Life is good and getting better!:D :cool: :eek: ;) :p
 
That is a great deal Scott, be sure to post a picture when it arrives. Yep I read about your little adventure to "capture" that Cook folder!!:eek: :) :cool:
 
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