Getting my first Emerson (CQC7-BT or a Sheepdog Bowie SF)

BrandoSpoke

BrandoSpoke

Joined
Mar 14, 2017
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215
I'm going to get either a CQC7-BT or a Sheepdog Bowie SF (I'll probably end up buying the other one in the future) but I was wondering, from your experience, how do you like either of them if you have one? I want to know what you guys think b/c there are a lot of "paid" reviews on YouTube sometimes and it is hard to get an honest review. Thanks
 
I've had both. Don't have either one now. The one I regret selling is the Sheepdog. I don't care for tanto blades and none of the "7" series handles are as comfortable to me as the handles on the Sheepdog or Commander series. They may fit you better, I just didn't like them in my hands as much as the Sheepdog handles.

I had the spearpoint, PE. I liked the profile of the Sheepdog, but it was a little bigger than I carry as an everyday knife and I had enough folders already that were task-specific. I did like the spearpoint blade. It was very sturdy and well ground. The other turn-offs for me were the flipper and the bearings. I'm old, ornery, and set in my ways. I grew up with slip joints and strong backsprings or lockbacks. I don't want a smooth blade. I want one that doesn't move unless I move it and it stays where I put it until I move it.

But I still regret selling the Sheepdog. If nothing else, I should have kept it and given it to Jerry Lee to carry :D. I think the Sheepdog is an outstanding "first offering" from Emerson in the world of bearings and flippers. Mine worked just like it was supposed to. It opened fully with the flipper and no wrist movement. It locked up every time... no misfires at all. There were no issues of any kind and it probably was the right size to be perfect for most "younger folks" these days.
 
dalefuller said:
I've had both. Don't have either one now. The one I regret selling is the Sheepdog. I don't care for tanto blades and none of the "7" series handles are as comfortable to me as the handles on the Sheepdog or Commander series. They may fit you better, I just didn't like them in my hands as much as the Sheepdog handles.

I had the spearpoint, PE. I liked the profile of the Sheepdog, but it was a little bigger than I carry as an everyday knife and I had enough folders already that were task-specific. I did like the spearpoint blade. It was very sturdy and well ground. The other turn-offs for me were the flipper and the bearings. I'm old, ornery, and set in my ways. I grew up with slip joints and strong backsprings or lockbacks. I don't want a smooth blade. I want one that doesn't move unless I move it and it stays where I put it until I move it.

But I still regret selling the Sheepdog. If nothing else, I should have kept it and given it to Jerry Lee to carry :D. I think the Sheepdog is an outstanding "first offering" from Emerson in the world of bearings and flippers. Mine worked just like it was supposed to. It opened fully with the flipper and no wrist movement. It locked up every time... no misfires at all. There were no issues of any kind and it probably was the right size to be perfect for most "younger folks" these days.
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Ok I just looked into it more and I found out the CQC7 has a chisel grind and I don't like those so I've changed it to the Phalnax. Have you tried that one?
 
Brando, if the chisel grind is a turn off, be aware that Emerson's symmetrical grinds still have a chisel edge.

They still have their quirks. Emersons are not optimal for slicing, woodwork, bushcraft, or anything needing a lot of control. But they are comfortable, pretty in the Glock way, and have a unique character to them.

If you were already aware of this, carry on. But a TON of people are not.

I would recommend the 7A. To me it's the perfect combo of an icon and a useful blade. It's been my primary carry for years now, always kicking others out of my pocket. And when I recently went to buy another Emerson, instead of getting a new design to try, I bought a backup for my 7A. That's how much I like it.

Emersons are really strange. You literally have to own one, and either 'get it' or not. You'll read a thousand reasons for or against them, but in the end, Emerson knives just have to speak to you. Or not.

But I say go for it. The other nice thing about Emersons is they hold their value like crazy.
 
Hi,
I went a long time not trying Emerson due to the Chisel grind. I recently picked up an 8 and a commander, a 7V and a few more. The 7V has been pleasantly surprising and in my pocket straight for the last few weeks. It is a great size, weight and balance for an EDC. I don't care much for the style of the sheepdog and the two you have chosen are drastically different, IMO.
+1 for the 7V from me.
Best of luck.
 
BrandoSpoke said:
Ok I just looked into it more and I found out the CQC7 has a chisel grind and I don't like those so I've changed it to the Phalnax. Have you tried that one?
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Take a look at the CQC-7V, it has a V grind instead of the regular CQC-7 chisel grind.
 
Like JB says, be aware that with any Emerson, chisel or V-ground, you're going to get an edge that has a final or secondary bevel on one side only. I've never had an issue with that... all of my Emersons are V-ground and they work fine for me. But it does bother some folks.

I have no experience with the Phalanx. Never even seen one except in a picture that Emerson sent me a couple of days ago. The Sheepdog you were thinking about originally is a V-ground Emerson, not chisel. The CQC-7B is a chisel grind. If you really want to try a 7, the 7A (spear point) is V-ground and the 7V is V-ground.
 
dalefuller said:
Like JB says, be aware that with any Emerson, chisel or V-ground, you're going to get an edge that has a final or secondary bevel on one side only. I've never had an issue with that... all of my Emersons are V-ground and they work fine for me. But it does bother some folks.

I have no experience with the Phalanx. Never even seen one except in a picture that Emerson sent me a couple of days ago. The Sheepdog you were thinking about originally is a V-ground Emerson, not chisel. The CQC-7B is a chisel grind. If you really want to try a 7, the 7A (spear point) is V-ground and the 7V is V-ground.
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have they ever made the 7V in a black G10? I cant find one
 
BrandoSpoke said:
Ok I just looked into it more and I found out the CQC7 has a chisel grind and I don't like those so I've changed it to the Phalnax. Have you tried that one?
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Before you buy that one, check out the ZT 0620.

Same knife as the Emerson except it's $100 less & has a TI frame lock.

~John
 
jmorton10 said:
Before you buy that one, check out the ZT 0620.

Same knife as the Emerson except it's $100 less & has a TI frame lock.

~John
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620 is the best knife out there for the money.

Having said that my Bowie sheepdog finds its way into my pocket way more often
 
bwall85 said:
620 is the best knife out there for the money.

Having said that my Bowie sheepdog finds its way into my pocket way more often
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I like the sheepdog also, I have a bowie and I really like it. I think the bearings are B.S however, I have three emersons with the bearing setup & they are not one iota smoother than a broken in standard washer emerson, & they go against everything emerson stands for (perfect performance in the worst possible conditions)

I also think the sheepdog blade is ugly, it has way too many icons etc.on it. I will probably sell the sheepdog, I much prefer my bowie blade CQC-13.

~John
 
jmorton10 said:
I like the sheepdog also, I have a bowie and I really like it. I think the bearings are B.S however, I have three emersons with the bearing setup & they are not one iota smoother than a broken in standard washer emerson, & they go against everything emerson stands for (perfect performance in the worst possible conditions)

I also think the sheepdog blade is ugly, it has way too many icons etc.on it. I will probably sell the sheepdog, I much prefer my bowie blade CQC-13.

~John
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You. Sir.

I would like to buy you a beer!
 
My CQC7-BT had served me well. Their stuff is great but just know there's folks out there who whine about the fit and finish. If you like the knife and want it bad enough it's not as bad as most say. The quality is awesome but I'd like to see them use some newer steels on their products. Maybe some CTS-204P and more knifes with S35VN would be great. Ergos are nice and fits a Large hand well. Welcome to the owners club


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