Giving EKI a new try

I was in the same boat - had many Emerson knives in the past (2005-2012) but most of them had some issue or another. Stripped liners and poor blade centering were my most common issues.

But recently picked up a new CQC8 with the standoffs - which I replaced with beefier ones from MXgear because they just look better - and the improvements in lock up, detente, blade centering (!!!) and overall operation were there. Cleaned out lube and replaced with a Gunslick Graphite grease.

Yes the scales did not fit the liners as close as I like for a $230 knife... but I can fix that.
I also replaced the clip with a deep carry clip and cerakoted the liners. I know it seems like a lot to put into a factory knife, but I dig the Emerson designs and ergos.

NOW I love it :)
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Actually I was going to buy the ZT 0630 which has the quality of finish Emerson's should have - but I wasn't too keen on a 6oz brick in my pocket. It's all relative but I prefer knives in the 4oz-50z range.

My next Emerson will be a Gentleman Jim... had an old one with issues so a new production one will be sweet.
 
I like the 0630 a lot.
I is a great knife and I don’t mind the weight

However as time goes I am not sure if I like the detent on the 0630 so much
In fact it is a great detent but it doesn’t feel like “Emerson/ish”
I like the 0640 a lot too but I feel the same again with the detent

But am not sure I will keep those....
I am fine with the CQC7 I just got
It is not as good as the ZT but it has its own personality
 
Therom said:
After almost 1 week my knife to break in smoothly.
I has required some cleaning and lubrification but it has now a nice action. Nothing like CRK or ZT but different and in his own style.
I like it.
Click to expand...

You’re the man!

Just out of curiosity are you saying your new Emerson does infact have a double detent?

Putting that new lube in still helped right?

Not sure if ph washers will help or not but my Emersons become very smooth after some time and a good quality lube plus tuning the pivot just to the point it does not have blade play.
 
Yes it has the double detent but on this model it works fine

After almost a couple of weeks the knife has smoothly broken in and I can flip it open using the thumb disk

I think I will keep the nylon washers to keep it as original as possible

The cleaning has been the most important part of the process.
I have removed all the grease from the washers, liners and blade.
Then I washed these prices to have them completely clean
For the lubrification I have Noticed that nano-oil I usually use was not the best for the Teflon washers so I have used a WD40 specific for plastics and metals
It is quite dry and it works fine with this knife
And finally I have put some permanent marker on the tang of the blade where the liner lock engage

I did that after playing with the knife one week. Open and closing the blade as much as possible to be sure to have already a good break in.

Just some basic maintenance but it has changed the knife a lot

It doesn’t have the kind of strong and crisp detent a ZT have but the knife make sense to himself.

I have tested the blade on different cutting tasks and I like the spear point in it

With my previous Horseman the chisel grind was a pain for me.
I think the recurve+chisel have confused me.

The spear point +chisel seems to make sense
I have even done some basic food prep (an this knife is not made for that) without spreading tomatoes and appels shrapnels everywhere in the kitchen :)

Good knife with its own touch
Great ergonomics
Strong blade
Grippy G10
Great pocket clip
Meaningful design

That is what I expected to get from Emerson and after a bad first experience I am happy I had this knife
 
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