Emerson Wave Knives

F

FlyingCanOpener

Joined
Aug 21, 2004
Messages
14
Has anyone recently bought a Emerson knife with a wave feature.

Looking at past threads makes it seem as if they are overrated.

I am just wondering if they changed their ways or if they still are crap.

Thanks

FCO
 
Who says they are (or ever have been) crap?

They use materials and constuction comperable to Benchmade at a compareable price point. Plus, some models offer the Wave, which is a feaure you can't find anywhere else. What is wrong with that?
 
I read some of the earlier 2000 to 2003 forum posts.

The reviews were mixed, the technology was relatively new, and it had its flaws.

I am just concerned because i am considering buying one of Emersons models.

Earlier complaints were bladeplay, weak liners, and weak locking.

Btw, what is blade play?

Thanks

FCO
 
Blade play is when a blade has some looseness, none of my Emersons have it.
Emersons were never crap.
There may have been an occasional QC problem but that can happen in any company that makes alot of knives due to new equipment,new personnel, or human error.
I have never seen an Emerson with weak liners or a weak lock.
Are they for everybody? Probably not, which is why there is an abundance of knife companies out there.
The wave is not over rated. It is what it is, an innovative opening system. Ernie makes plenty of knives without it if you dont like the feature.
 
The (waved) Commander is one of the best folders out there. Its fit and finish won't compare to Microtech or high-end Benchmade folders, but they are rugged, practical and the wave is fast. Get one.
 
Just do a search and you will find more than enough opinions on Emerson folders. Lots of different opinions about their quality also. It is a bit inflammatory to ask a question about a very popular knife brand by referring to them as being (or at one time being) crap.

Emerson is a source of constant discussion on this forum. I own 3 of them (2 are Commanders). They are cool knives and "reasonably" well made. Mine, however, have been very susceptible to blade play (blade side to side looseness) and overall flexing when doing any "twisting" when cutting. Mine also have been sent back to Emerson for rebuilding due to the strain caused by too much wave opening. The liner lock started working all the way across to the opposing liner.

Emerson's customer service is very good and quickly reworked my knife and sent it back.

Before you buy a Commander, check around for the best internet price. You can find them for about $150.00. At that price, the Commander is worth the money. To much above $150.00 and you can find many folders better than a Commander.

Also, check out some of the Spydercos, Microtechs, Benchmades. There are some that, in my opinon, give you better overall quality for the money. However, if the "coolness:" of the wave feature is what you want, then the Commander is for you.
 
One thing to realize about Emerson knives (a lot of them anyway, I don't know the brand well enough to speak difinitively about their line) is that they have chisel ground edges. While this is fine for self defense (or offence, as Emersons are often used by military) as an effective, easy maintainance edge, for common utility purposes, you might find a chisel grind isn't what you want. Personally, I hate them. Trying to make a straight cut in cardboard with a chisel-ground edge is like trying to drive a car with only 3 wheels.

As for the Wave feature, well, you'll have to decide on your own if you like it or not. I suppose you could always grind it off if you don't.
 
The Wave is very cool. And overall, Emerson's designs are great. That said, through the years, I still see more complaints about Emerson liners slipping than I should. I already think liner locks are suspect for hard use knives, and the reports of liners slipping doesn't add confidence.

If I weren't worried about the locks, I'd pick up an Emerson in a second. Solid design, solid materials.
 
Emerson's fall more into the category of sharpened prybars imho. They are well made and strong by reputation, but Chisel Grind + Linerlock? I'll pass.

I MIGHT get a CQC 7 one day but it would be a true impulse buy.
 
Hi, I dont post here very often, but I have an emerson commander with the wave feature and I love it. I have had it for over a year and I beat it up all the time, never a single problem, infact I like the wave so much I dotn want to buy a non waved knife. The only thing I dont like about the commander is that because of its recurve blade I cant sharpen it on a standard stone. But it is truely a one hand opening knife.
 
I've carried a waved CQC-7 for around two and a half years. Unlike my first CQC-7 which had no problems this one was a little tight but after using it a while it improved and now has no problems.
 
The wave feature is great, the thin liner lock is not great. I do like the chisel grind but I am in the minority on that point for sure. I own a waved Commander and the wave design is brilliant. That being said, I would not buy another Emerson. Too much money for what you get.....
 
Ok...
ON these weak liners? I don't get it. My mini cqc-7b has been put through a metal door very hard and very fast, adn the liners are still just right. MY knife is not abused like a redheaded step-child, but it gets its workout. The Emerson's all out strength is only superceded by the uniqueness, reliability, and quality of its wave feature...

but that's just my opinion.
 
It's always fun getting into discussions with people who haven't handled the equipment but know it's "crap". Ultimately it comes down to: The Internet, where anybody can say anything, but you have to listen first to people who actually use what they're talking about, like jayharley and Plumber576.

Knives generally fall into three categories:

1) Bomb-proof. There aren't many. Busse, Strider, Reeve.
2) Ordinary. Everyone else with a name on it. Emerson, Benchmade, Spyderco.
3) Worth less. Not necessarily worthless, but unreliable. No-name clones, China cheapies.

It's not real good form to denounce what you don't know. For a user to explain the actual problems he's had is fine, that's how we all learn, and the manufacturer himself can improve the product.
 
Im only stating what has been said on this forum long ago.

I am merely asking if they had fixed their earlier flaws, and the general consensus is Yes, they have.

Thanks

FCO
 
I own a cqc-7 wave. the wave feature is brilliant and is the coolest thing to happen to folders since g10. the knife has ZERO bladeplay and is built like a tank. this is my experience.
 
I own several Emersons and like the designs, esp. the CQC7 (I own two A's and two B's). Also own a Mini-Commander, Commander and a La Griffe.

Yes, overall the fit and finish are better on a comparably-priced Benchmade or Spyderco, and I find the edges on the Emersons take a lot (for me) of getting used to. I personally don't use the Emersons for much EDC use (most of which falls on my Benchmade, Chris Reeve, or Spydie knives).

I've only had one Emerson knife where the liner lock slips off (or begins to slip off) the blade tang mating surface, and that's on a Black-Ti CQC7-A. I suspect it may be because the blade tang mating surface is ground at a very steep angle; moreso than any other liner lock I own. So after some wear, when the back of the blade is pressed, the liner will start to slip off.
That particular knife is a '99 version, and I think the lock/mating surface geometry has since been improved. My '02 CQC7-B shows no signs of wear after much opening practices.

Many people have gotten a lot of use out of their Emersons, therefore it's always whatever you feel most comfortable with and prefer. One of the things I really like is I hear Emerson has great customer service. I always respect companies that respect their customers and support their own products after sale. I've never used their service, but it's nice to know it's there. I also am aware that Chris Reeve and know personally that Benchmade has great CS as well.
Jim
 
Well, I've been using/collecting Emerson knives for over 10 years. In fact it's hard to believe that it's been 16 years since I first saw an Emerson in the hands of another Marine and my love for custom knives was born.

I have used EKI folders to pry open car windows, cut open boxes, cut wet fouled anchor line, jimmy a door, cut/clean fish, you name it.

I have never, ever had a lock on an Emerson knife fail on me. My personal thought on this so-called controversy is that it was started by people who saw poorly constructed linerlocks made of substandard material fail or it was started by folks with an axe to grind against against Mr Emerson. Probably the same loudmouths that complain when a throng of several hundred people crowd the Emerson booth at a show lottery while only a handful might stop by their booth and say, "Isn't that a lockback...my dad used to have one like it...oooh look a bowie, wow."

I own over 40 Emersons now...some productions, some custom, some both. Over the years it's been well over 100 and have donated many to Marines and Soldiers going into harm's way as well as a few cops and firefighters over the years. I would not give anything to one of my friends if I felt it was substandard.

The lock is titanium, for Christ's sake! Your hand will fail before it will!

I still don't understand what this has to do with the Wave, which is perhaps the most innovative feature I've ever seen on a folding knife and has nothing to do with the strength of an Emerson lock. I'll say this though...the Wave guarantees that the knife in my front right pocket will always be an Emerson and why other knives stay in the display case. Some knives wave better than others and some trousers allow it better...either way, if it's not waved it doesn't go in the pocket.

Your question comes off as borderline retarded. Kind of like..."Hey those corvettes can go pretty fast, but I hear they use alot of gas and some people have to change the oil and tires...are they really that crappy?"

If you see me at a show, just walk away. :rolleyes:
 
Damn...and here I thought all the Emerson totin-' pitchfork and torch carryin' heretic accusin' types had moved on or found different hobbies or somethin'...


Emersons are okay for the money. The Wave is really and truly a no BS kick butt method of opening, and the designs are spectacular. I've had four of them with liner locks that wore out over a years time or so, but I don't think that's cause the liner locks are crap, I think it's because the Wave is gonna be pretty tough on ANY liner lock. I've had three Emersons that never had a problem with a liner lock, and all three were incidentally not waved, one (a cqc-7) is still my favorite knife for construction and shop work. Oh,and Emerson was good about repairing the knives and returning them in a timely manner.

Emersons are not and never have been "crap", and 154CM, G-10 and Liner locks will never necessarily be a bad way to go, but theres alot of other options in the same price range with different steels, handle materials and locking systems that are definitely worth a look.
 
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