- Joined
- Dec 26, 2013
- Messages
- 130
I treated myself to an Emerson CQC-15 for my birthday, and so far I am very impressed. The knife arrived promptly due to 2 day UPS shipping, and BladeHQ did an outstanding job packaging the knife securely. Inside the box was an Emerson sticker and warranty info pamphlet. I slipped the knife out from the plastic pouch expecting the worst as far as fit and finish. Instead, I found a solidly built knife with only tiny imperfections (the G-10 doesn't match up perfectly flush, oh boo hoo).
As far as the business end of the knife is concerned, the fit and finish is first rate. I imagine the CQC-15's blade geometry keep it from being the easiest knife to manufacture, but the grinds and clean, even, and precise. The stonewashed flats contrast beautifully with the semi-polished satin grinds. Deployment was tight but smooth, and lock up is rock solid. I've only deployed using the wave 2 or 3 times, but it works as advertised. Deploying the knife with force will move the lock up over a tiny bit, so I am confident it will wear in nicely. The lock face can become sticky if opened with a purpose, but generally disengages smoothly. From the little cutting I've done, I find the blade shape offers good versatility. The 15 made quick work of the cardboard packaging, easily tore into and removed wet bark from some firewood, and sliced paper cleanly.
I am glad I opted for the full-size CQC-15, because the handle ergonomics are great. I also don't think the mini-15 would have fit my hand near as well. The wave opener performs double duty as a thumb ramp (and a good one at that). Both the top and bottom choils provide a secure grip, and allow just enough room for the knife to be comfortable with gloves on. As expected, the G-10 is insanely textured.
None of this surprised me too much, since I did a LOT of research before buying this knife; but what did impress me most were the little details. Emerson knives get a bad rap for being poor in the finish department or that they were made without any attention to detail, but I didn't find this to be the whole picture. If anything I found there is an incredible attention to detail in the engineering of these knives. The choice of steel is deliberate, the choice of screws makes maintenance easy, the wave opener functions as a thumb ramp, the sharpening choil functions as a stop when the blade is closed, the pivot screw can be adjusted using proprietary Emerson pocket change driver, and the over all performance of the knife shows that Ernest Emerson is a talented engineer.
I wont go on any longer for fear of sounding like a fanatic, but the CQC-15 has soundly won me over as an Emerson owner.
As far as the business end of the knife is concerned, the fit and finish is first rate. I imagine the CQC-15's blade geometry keep it from being the easiest knife to manufacture, but the grinds and clean, even, and precise. The stonewashed flats contrast beautifully with the semi-polished satin grinds. Deployment was tight but smooth, and lock up is rock solid. I've only deployed using the wave 2 or 3 times, but it works as advertised. Deploying the knife with force will move the lock up over a tiny bit, so I am confident it will wear in nicely. The lock face can become sticky if opened with a purpose, but generally disengages smoothly. From the little cutting I've done, I find the blade shape offers good versatility. The 15 made quick work of the cardboard packaging, easily tore into and removed wet bark from some firewood, and sliced paper cleanly.
I am glad I opted for the full-size CQC-15, because the handle ergonomics are great. I also don't think the mini-15 would have fit my hand near as well. The wave opener performs double duty as a thumb ramp (and a good one at that). Both the top and bottom choils provide a secure grip, and allow just enough room for the knife to be comfortable with gloves on. As expected, the G-10 is insanely textured.
None of this surprised me too much, since I did a LOT of research before buying this knife; but what did impress me most were the little details. Emerson knives get a bad rap for being poor in the finish department or that they were made without any attention to detail, but I didn't find this to be the whole picture. If anything I found there is an incredible attention to detail in the engineering of these knives. The choice of steel is deliberate, the choice of screws makes maintenance easy, the wave opener functions as a thumb ramp, the sharpening choil functions as a stop when the blade is closed, the pivot screw can be adjusted using proprietary Emerson pocket change driver, and the over all performance of the knife shows that Ernest Emerson is a talented engineer.
I wont go on any longer for fear of sounding like a fanatic, but the CQC-15 has soundly won me over as an Emerson owner.
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