First Emerson - Looking for Suggestions

M

missin_hobo

Joined
Aug 9, 2007
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Despite being piss-poor and unemployed, like everyone else with an English degree, I've decided that the next knife I buy, whenever I can manage it, will have to be an Emerson folder. I haven't splurged on an all-black knife in years, especially one with a wave and a rep for toughness.

I'm a little torn, however. All of them look really neat, but I'm only ever going to bother with one. Too many other knives on my to-buy list. My only real consideration is that I want a waved knife sporting a straight edge with a single curve - recurves and tantos have never much agreed with me.

Now, I'm not asking folks to make my decision for me, but I haven't much experience with Emersons beyond feeling up a few at the local shop. So I could really use some insight, especially from folks who own more than one of these.
The CQC-10 is at the top of my list, having just the right dimensions for my kind of knife, with a simple design and a strong tip to boot.
However, the CQC-8 is a nice mammer-jammer as well, especially with that mini-cutlass blade.
On the other hand, the clip-point Emersons might be more useful, despite a more fragile tip. The CQC-13 and 16 (Bowie and Outdoorsman) both have a certain appeal. I'm partial to Bowies, but usually it's bigger bowies I'm talking about. The 13 doesn't seem like a terribly popular knife, and the 16 just hasn't been around that long, so I don't know what to think about them.

If anybody has a measure of experience they can relate, it might help me out a lot, since I'm unlikely to get another Emerson (or another knife, quite frankly) for quite some time.

I'm also curious about the steel...I've never really used 154CM before and am largely unfamiliar with it. How does it compare to say, VG-10 or S30V? That might be an unfair question, but all the same I'd love some extra perspective on the matter.

Cheers, Mike
 
Mike, the CQC-10 in a stone ground satin finish is one of the finest knives that I own. The ergonomics of the grip are second to none and the blade shape is perfect for me. I think you would love it!

CQC-10.jpg
 
There is a problem here in that pretty much all the EKI knives are going to be a good choice :p

For me personally if I had to choose one (and wasn't allowed the 12 or Persian, both rather hard to find) I would go for the CQC-8 or the CQC-13.

The 8 is IMO the best all round knife EKI offer. It can easily handle everything from kitchen duties to bushcraft to going butcher on bad guys. Arguably they can nearly all do that and they all have the same materials as well. Because of that it pretty much comes down to what you like the look of. I find the combintion of the Commander-esque handle shape, that nice up sweapt balde with a good belly makes the 8 a lovely knife to look at as well as use.:thumbup:

As to the 154cm Emerson use, it's good stuff. It's obviously not the latest and greatest but it's a steel that workes well on the EKI knives. It's pretty easy to sharpen and keep sharp, it has good stain resistance and keeps an edge just fine. If I was to name a steel that it behaves like I would say it's pretty close to VG-10 and better than ATS34. It donsn't hold an edge like S30V does but it's also easier to sharpen, and in my experience S30V is more inclined to rust than the EKI 154cm.

(EKI blades were all coated until the new "satin" finish was introduced not so long ago. I have a good few stripped EKIs so have based my observations on how those knives behave rather than the coated blades. The coated steel clearly has far better corrosion resistance to any other bare steel thats not H1 or something).

:):thumbup:
 
Even thought I only own the mini, I'm throwing my vote in for the 8 as well. Haze pretty much covered everything else very thoroughly.:thumbup:
 
You need to see which Emersons feel the best in your hand. Good luck, you really can't go wrong.
 
Man, when it comes to Emerson's ya just gotta listen to Haze!
If you want the wave feature (which really does work as advertised) you eliminate my favorite, the Persian.
If you don't dig a recurve the lovely Commander is out.
The 8 and 13 would seem to fit your requirements or maybe the 7A.
At any rate, as most Emerson owners would agree, you can't really go wrong.
But don't be so sure you'll only own one Emerson!
Welcome to the addiction!
CP

And let us know what model you chose.
 
I love the cqc-8. I recently got a 2nd hand horseman and I have to say I love the feel of that even better (smaller cqc-8)
 
Great suggestions, guys, I think I'm narrowed down to the 8 or the 10. Might just go for the 8 because I haven't had an all-black knife in awhile, and to me it just stands to reason that such a knife be big and mean-looking.
It's starting to look further and further away as the jobhunt goes on and on, but when I do make my decision and my purchase, I'll do my best to get some pics up for all you Emerphiles :D
 
Start donating plasma, 'cause you aren't gonna be able to stop with one...
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Yeah, that's the fear isn't it? Usually a single knife from a certain brand would suit me fine, and I would move on to try other knives by other makers.

Then I somehow ended up with four CRKTs.

Then I scrimped and saved to buy a Sebenza, and oh, what a slippery slope that became.

Now my sights are set on Emerson. This'll be interesting.

I suppose you only need one knife or two to get by in life, but what sort of way is that to live?
 
Go for the 8.
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We'll see, but that's definately the way I'm leaning.

There's better knife porn of the 10 on Youtube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psTeERN8xWM&feature=related is especially good, makes me wonder if I don't want that spyderhole after all) but the 8 seems like a cooler knife. I like the Commander handle but have never liked the commander blade's extreme recurve. The 8, which is basically a pocket-cutlass, seems a logical alternative.

Now I play the waiting game...
 
Although I edc a Benchmade/Emerson, I did carry a custom Commander for a few years. The Commander was a great knife. However, the CQC-7 will always be my first knife choice.
 
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