Emerson's.....I love them but jeez!

[rayster357]

I've handled dozens of production Emersons, and the only one I've kept isn't an Emerson. It's a Zero Tolerance. Titanium framelock, super-steel (M390) blade, carbon fiber, wave opener, ZERO quality issues - it a no-brainer.

I'm the opposite about the ZT's. The blades on my 0620, 0620CF & 0630 chip too much for me. Shouldn't have to sharpen out nicks on the edge after the workday. My EKI's go for a few days before I want to touch them up. The thicker blades don't work for me either. Broke the tip of my M390 0620CF the day I got it within minutes of using it like I would any of my EKI Emersons, disappointing. Broke like the Spyderco's I had. Fit and finish... the scale is still a hair larger than the liner on my ZT's like a real Emerson by design. Detent on my 3 ZT's are radically different from insane #horsepower flipper strength to "opened in my pocket" lame, very consistent.... Actually thinking of selling my ZT/Emersons as I'm not that happy with them and could fund future EKI Emerson knives Coming out. I only bought the ZT/Emersons due to Emerson designing them though built to ZT spec & hardware by ZT. I'm a fan of Emerson knives for 15 years now. Probably bought 100 to date with only 2 having lock issues ('06 HD12 & CSF). All & all, Emersons are my go to work knives though I usually grab a 2nd as back up which might be one of my ZT's on a office day as I like playing with flippers. ZT might be built like a tank but I only use my EKI Emersons for work/hard use cause I KNOW they will handle it. My experience so far.

 

[Jason B.]

Serious question: has anyone actually ever had a liner lock or frame lock wear out? Like, go to 100% and develop vertical blade play? 'Cause I sure haven't heard of it happening. I understand the concern, but I've never seen those concerns manifest themselves in reality. As far as I can see late lockup is to knives what horizontal handle grain is to axes. With axes, if there's no short-grain runout you're good. With knives, if there's no vertical play you're good. But a handle with horizontal grain is more likely to have runout and a knife with with vertical play will also show late lockup (because of the lack of interface to stop the travel of the lock.)

My CQC-8 and Commander both had this issue TWICE!

I still have my commander, it still has vertical play and a Lockbar that is touching the opposing liner. With spine pressure the lock will slip half way across the lock face too. This has been the norm with all Emerson knives I have owned and handled, from customers knives to those I have seen in the store.

 

[EChoil]

My CQC-8 and Commander both had this issue TWICE!

I still have my commander, it still has vertical play and a Lockbar that is touching the opposing liner. With spine pressure the lock will slip half way across the lock face too. This has been the norm with all Emerson knives I have owned and handled, from customers knives to those I have seen in the store.

Gonna call a B.S. here that the norm for ALL Emersons you own or have handled, all your customer's Emersons and all that have come through your store are not only defective with blade play but have locks that are touching the opposite liner.

Baloney. Is your supplier by chance in Pakistan?

 

[DallasSTB]

I'm the opposite about the ZT's. The blades on my 0620, 0620CF & 0630 chip too much for me. Shouldn't have to sharpen out nicks on the edge after the workday. My EKI's go for a few days before I want to touch them up. The thicker blades don't work for me either. Broke the tip of my M390 0620CF the day I got it within minutes of using it like I would any of my EKI Emersons, disappointing. Broke like the Spyderco's I had. Fit and finish... the scale is still a hair larger than the liner on my ZT's like a real Emerson by design. Detent on my 3 ZT's are radically different from insane #horsepower flipper strength to "opened in my pocket" lame, very consistent.... Actually thinking of selling my ZT/Emersons as I'm not that happy with them and could fund future EKI Emerson knives Coming out. I only bought the ZT/Emersons due to Emerson designing them though built to ZT spec & hardware by ZT. I'm a fan of Emerson knives for 15 years now. Probably bought 100 to date with only 2 having lock issues ('06 HD12 & CSF). All & all, Emersons are my go to work knives though I usually grab a 2nd as back up which might be one of my ZT's on a office day as I like playing with flippers. ZT might be built like a tank but I only use my EKI Emersons for work/hard use cause I KNOW they will handle it. My experience so far.

That's a well thought-out and composed aurgument. Much better than some "you don't know what yer talkin' about" posts. Emersons definitely have a solid history of usability and durability, and are the go-to work knife for tons of people. We're fortunate to live in a time when there are many good knife choices out there for a wide spectrum of consumers.

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

Bear in mind that a lock that has become damaged or was poorly fit in the first place will result in vertical play. My challenge is to find a case where a lock has actually worn to the point of developing 100% travel and vertical play. In any knife, too, not just in Emersons. I'm willing to bet that if any do turn up they're a very rare case and started near 100% to start with.

 

[Todd21969]

I actually like late lockup.

Knife on the left isn't an Emerson, but is a knife from another respected company. The lock moved to that spot after 3 months of use at work and hasn't moved since. Going on ten months now.

The knife on the right is a Mini CQC 15. I have only had it for about two weeks and the lock hasn't shifted since it traveled there. I am not worried about in the least as it is a well built (and designed) Walker Liner Lock.

 

[snooka]

@ FortyTwoBlades, I had a Spyderco Tenacious and a Crkt Drifter, both touched the opposite liner and had vertical play within a year.
De lockup on both where early NIB.
Every day use, and flicked the blade open...

 

[Bludgeon]

I have a fairly late lockup on a roadhouse I purchased new several months ago that is getting put through the paces daily. I'll keep an eye on it and post later.

 

[dalefuller]

Maybe I'm doin' something wrong with my liner locks, but in 20+ years of carrying liner locks only one of them has ever developed any kind of an issue. The others have just found a sweet spot and stayed there year after year. I've had Spyderco, Benchmade, Buck, Emerson, Gerber, and Al Mar liner locks. No issues. Some of my Emersons go back as far as 2006 and none of them has ever moved past 50% when locking up. All have been carried and used. I have zero safe queens in my family.

 

[EricV]

I've had a bunch of Emerson knives, and knives from other brands with late lockup with Ti locking bars. Never had an issue with one failing because of it, this includes my A100 that has been my beater knife for years with its lock at around 80%, it started out at about 65% and slightly moved over in 6 years of getting beat on. Claiming the late lockup is a flaw because it doesn't meet your personal aesthetic preference is IMO ridiculous.

 

[bladeboss]

I believe that Chris Reeves now (intentionally) sends out ALL of his Sebbies at 80% lockup. AND, they STAY THERE.
Yup, they do. I've had a bunch of 'em.

Different manufacturers have different ideas.
Not surprising.

My Sebenza is dead at 50%.

 

[flarp]

Lockup on my Mini-Commander moved to 80-90% or so and has stayed there. No blade play / lock rock so far. CQC-7 has moved over a little (40% or so?). It doesn't get as much use as the Mini-Commander though. Horseman is still practically unused, so lockup is still like new. They all started at about where the Horseman still sits.

At any rate, regardless of where the lockbar has moved to, lockup has been solid. Whether it locks up at 20% or 90% is really inconsequential during use. And if the lock does ever travel over completely and the knife develops blade play, Emerson does offer lifetime warranty on his knives. So, should problems actually arise, send it in, and they'll fix it up.

Here are the lockups on my three Emersons (left to right: Mini-Commander, CQC-7AW, Horseman)

 

[Apec]

I'd like to see pics and possibly a video of the knife... When the pivot is loose on any liner lock, the lock up changes. It's no different on Emerson knives,

Don't have that knife with me, so it'll be a long time before I can.

I can however, show you pictures of my 2012 SOCFK-B with the liners peeling inwards away from the scales. It's tiny, but readily obvious against a light source. Not going to raise a fuss about it, though I wish the pivot was smoother.

 

[EChoil]

Which side of the lock liner are you guys using for your lockup 'reading'?

Example:

In Todd's pic above, which I shamelessly copied for use, the knife on the left---are you calling that 50 or 80% lockup?

The knife on the right, is that 40% or 85% lockup?​

Personally, I'd refer to them as 80 and 85% respectively. The force of action is going to be relayed mostly through the lock on the side of the liner that initially contacts the blade. Technically, In each case, taking the usual slight curvature of the blade lockface into account, the line of force should be primarilly on the right side of the liner where it makes the best and tightest contact to the blade.

Both have what I'd call pretty much perfect centered lockup--certainly well within the realm of 'acceptable'.

Just curious to see, for consistency here, if everyone is calling this the same way.......