First Emerson

shinyedges

shinyedges

Unfaltering Love & Undeviating Will
Gold Member
Joined
Jun 5, 2012
Messages
28,917
Cough..cough As some of you guys know I have voiced dislikes about linerlock Emerson's in the past along with other things but I decided to give an Emerson a go and picked up the iron dragon as my first Emerson.

My only Experience with Emerson knives has been his collaboration with zero tolerance, I have owned the 0620cf and 0630 for most of this year and carried them exclusively. So it feels different holding the iron dragon in hand, some initial thoughts are the pocket clip is placed so quite a bit of handle sticks out the pocket, way more than the zt.. I get why Emerson does this probably for a good amount of knife to grab when you go to wave it.. but its a bit more showing than I'm used too and it feels like its way more obvious I'm carrying a pocket knife. So not making any judgment yet but just something I noticed.

I love the blade shape as well as ergonomics on the iron dragon, it is what initially drew me to it. It is a fair amount lighter or so it feels (I will weigh them later) and it is also a good bit thinner so mostly pluses in my book although I tend to like some thickness for a good hand filling grip.

Hmm.. it does have lock stick but not real severe I can disengage the lock bar with one hand, I should note... its zt cousin never had this issue. The lockbar is engaging pretty far over but not all the way, I'm not really bothered by this but if it goes 100% in the next few months I wont be happy. There is a little side to side wiggle but I think I can tighten it up a little to reduce this. The blade opens VERY smooth.

Blade rattles a little when in the closed position and shaken but not drastically so ...meh.

The chisel edge... well this is one of my gripes but I knew what it was before I got it so I wont talk about it too much, I wonder if I sharpen the other side of the edge if Emerson would really void the warranty? hmm maybe ER can chime in?

I like it overall, time will tell how it grows on me. I tend to be a one knife at a time kind of guy so I'll carry this exclusively and see where it goes.

I figure can't write off a company without giving them an honest try first so here I am giving Emerson an honest go.

Gold membership expired so I cant post pics and I never used photobucket but if someone wants to put a couple up for me that would be cool. I'll renew gold when I go to sell another knife I just don't need to sell anything right now. Just putting that out there, I do support bladeforums.
 
I modded the blade of my CQC-7A so it's now a true V grind -- just didn't care for the chisel edge. Did it freehand with a Ryobi (Japanese Dremel) and DMT hones. Worked out great.
 
I'm thinking I might have to do the same, I use Japanese waterstones. I just want to verify it wont void my warranty before I do it just in case my lock bar wears over quickly or something odd occurs, you know...murphy's law and such.
Alberta Ed said:
I modded the blade of my CQC-7A so it's now a true V grind -- just didn't care for the chisel edge. Did it freehand with a Ryobi (Japanese Dremel) and DMT hones. Worked out great.
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't worry about the lock bar wearing -- I've opened mine probably a couple of thousand times so far and haven't noticed any wear whatsoever. It will probably outlast me. Dunno about the warranty but modding the edge shouldn't affect the lock bar, though Ernie might tsk-tsk the V grind.
 
thank you for the user experience feedback it definitely puts my mind at ease. The more I use and hold the dragon the more I like it.
Alberta Ed said:
I wouldn't worry about the lock bar wearing -- I've opened mine probably a couple of thousand times so far and haven't noticed any wear whatsoever. It will probably outlast me. Dunno about the warranty but modding the edge shouldn't affect the lock bar, though Ernie might tsk-tsk the V grind.
Click to expand...
 
I've had 2 Iron Dragons and my experience has been pretty much the same as yours. Slight rattle closed, sticky lock that went away after a week or so. These have the bearings instead of washers so you can tighten them to get rid of play. As for sharpening I don't believe it will void your warranty but they probably won't sharpen it for you. I put a v grind on a 7A that I own but after using it that way haven't done it to any of my other Emersons. Some people prefer it but it didn't seem to make a difference to me. I wouldn't worry about the lock wearing fast but if it does the insert should be able to be replaced. You picked a good one for your first.
 
Here is a pic of the lockup on my Iron Dragon with a CRK large 21 next to it. Both lock up solid and have not moved since I have had them. How is your lockup compared to mine?


 
Mine is a tiny bit earlier than yours, is that where yours was when you got it? Or did it wear in a little and then quit moving? Thanks for the comparison pic
dr_fosg8 said:
Here is a pic of the lockup on my Iron Dragon with a CRK large 21 next to it. Both lock up solid and have not moved since I have had them. How is your lockup compared to mine?


Click to expand...
 
That is where it was out of the box and it has not moved a bit.

Here are a couple more.




 
I got a BT version but the satin is calling my name. I usually favor uncoated but I hopped on the ID that popped up. Sweet my worries of the lock bar wearing quickly are gone, I had a zt0560 with bearings and that was no where near as smooth as the ID.. Idk what Emerson did different but it works damn good.
 
Well I sharpened the iron dragon last night and for the first time I actually recognized a benefit of the way the chisel edge is done.... I used sand paper on a thin round glass table with the sand paper wrapped around the edge of the table. Only making passes on the left side let me keep the knife in a comfortable position in my right hand.. hmm peculiar. Then just a quick light swipe or two on the other side and shaving hair again. I might tolerate the poor slicing performance just for the ease of sharpening rather than throw a v edge on it...
 
Thanks rolf, I like my iron dragon very much it has grown on me. But I don't think its the stop pin rattling I believe its the blade due to the detent hole being slightly to big. Doesn't bother me though.

My lockbar has moved to where dr_fosg8's lock up is at exactly, and some coating has worn off the blade from use.. Still going strong.
 
Ah!^ ok. If you can live with that, good! It's a tool.
I just got a Mini A100. Like it!
rolf
 
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