Getting an Emerson Commander: Opinions, comments?

Spark

Spark

HPIC - Hatas gonna Hate
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Well, I'm taking the plunge and I'm getting an Emerson Commander. Anyone have experience with them?

Should I wait for a left handed version, or just go to town with this one? I do just fine with my MT SOCOM...

Just looking for some user opinions, if possible.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Wait for the lefty version. The Commander is a robust knife. If I had to cut my way out of a tank I bet it would do it. Plus the Wave feature is very cool. The only problem I had with it is the chisel grind. I'd rather have a regular grind myself. But these are just my ramblings, pay me no mind.
Blades
 
Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong:

I think that the commander is regular grind (two sides) but the edge is only ground on one side...

That's what it look like, but again, forgive me if I'm wrong...

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Joel Pirela
Graphic & Knife Designer



 
So it's only chisel ground? Tell me this isn't so....

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Hey Spark, let me know if you'd like a picture of both sides. It is double ground, but the edge is only on one side. Sounds strange I know, but that's the best way I can describe it.

Great knife! Can't compare to the SPECWARs at all, feels like nearly like an Emerson custom to me. I don't own any, but fondled a few, and my Commander feels a lot like them.

One gripe, the blade isn't centered at the blackT towards the front of the tip has been worned off. Tightening the pivot does not alevaite this. Smooth action, and can be loosened, tighened with a dime.
smile.gif
Beats having to carry torque wrenches around.

Ahh, fits my hand like no ther knife I own, except a MD ATAK. Great folder, cuts like crazy, came a little dull, but sharpened up nicely. Seems to lock up tight, but the liner never nears the far side of the blade.

Lets see, point up carry, pretty thick blade, I always know I am carrying it in my waist band. If you are pushing the weight envelope and prefer ITWB carry not the knife for you. Take up running 10k's.
smile.gif


You won't be disappointed, Spark, let me know if you want some pics. Take care


 
Well crap.

I guess I'll have to sharpen it into a V grind then.... I hate chisel grinds.

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
Whoops!! I guess I'm wrong. I thought it was chisel ground. Thats what it looked like to me. Sorry about that, but if the edge is only on one side, but its is ground on both sides, whats that called?? Man I'm confused. I try to keep up, but my working gets in the way. Hehehe
Blades
 
Spark,

I found the edge on my Commander to be very easy to sharpen with my Sharpmaker. I just work the ground side for several strokes and occasionally knock the burr on the other side down by taking the opposite side a few degrees above flat on the other stick.

Harry Humphries carries a "right handed" Commander and he is left handed. He is VERY fast with it. The knife comes into play in a reverse grip. I have found that I sometimes carry my Commander in my left pocket(being a righty) when I choose to carry another knife as my primary.

Good luck,
Derek
 
I agree I hate chisel grinds too. Unless of course you will use the knife as a chisel.

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Best Regards,
Mike Turber
BladeForums Site Owner and Administrator
Do it! Do it right! Do it right NOW!
www.wowinc.com





 
Ok, I just went to the Emerson Knives site, and it says there that the Commander is Double V ground. So, is it chisel ground, or does it indeed have a v grind on the edge?

Spark

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Kevin Jon Schlossberg
SysOp and Administrator for BladeForums.com

Insert witty quip here
 
The blade has a V grind (not chisel like other Emersons)and the edge (which you would eventually have to sharpen) has a chisel grind (- you can always sharpen your own edge to it) which I find to work well.

[This message has been edited by Deon (edited 22 January 1999).]
 
So every one is happy with it? I'm also a lefty and have been thinking on this one. Spark, let me know if you get one?

Oh, and Spark, I guess we both had the thought on optimum knife size at the same time, lol.
 
It is definitely NOT a chisel grind. I have owned two E1B's and and E2B. They are chisel ground, the Commander is not. It is very easy to sharpen with either the Spyderco Sharpmaker or DMT serrated sharpening rod. The Commander must be a custom Emerson, because the other three I've owned were nothing near this one in fit and finish. I can highly recommend the Commander.

Later,
Chris Raymond
 
It's symmetrically groung, but sharpened on one side. This should make a sharper edge (smaller included angle) and perhaps easier to sharpen. A recurve edge like that is more difficult to sharpen anyway.

chrisjohn
When you say your blade isn't centered, do you mean the tip points at an angle, or it's not centered in the frame? Either way I don't think tightening the pivot will fix it.

Jeez Spark $200 is getting up there for a prod piece, close to a used custom, do you really think it's worth it? I know, it does look great.

[This message has been edited by RKnight (edited 22 January 1999).]
 
Spark,

The Commander is a double V grind, sharpened on one side, not chisel ground. It is very easy to sharpen with the Spyderco Sharpmaker or most sharpeners. Even sharpening the old fashion way with a stone becomes easier because you only need to do one side.

Before I bought all of my Commanders I researched it throughly. I don't like chisel grinds either and when I found out they were not, then I took the plunge.

Very sharp edge to it. Stays sharp for a long time. As far as a left hand version goes, I carry mine in my left pocket and use my left hand to operate it. I am right handed, but with larger knives I prefer using my left hand because I have a bad right thumb. To me, this knife works just as well with either hand and the sharpened side really dosen't matter much either because of the blade itself. The shape of the handle allows for comfortable carry in either pocket.

Hope this helps some! You can't loose....

Mark


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I think the wave feature, if used, makes the left-handed issue not too big of a deal.

Call me whacky, but I don't care for the chisel ground edge. I have a Raven too and used it in the office to cut stuff up. When it came to sharpen it (this is the raven with the same double-ground chisel) I can never get the thing nearly as sharp as when it was new.

Any ideas? This would be using the Sharpmaker. I've been holding off really using the Commander for fear of never being able to sharpen it. Hilton on the "other" forums posted recently that he too can't seem to get the thing sharp.

--Doug
 
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