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What is your opinion on what would be a great large Emerson for hard use? I'd be cool with any design that isn't a tanto.
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hard use folder
- Thread starter william lee
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What is your opinion on what would be a great large Emerson for hard use? I'd be cool with any design that isn't a tanto.
All Emersons have the same blade thickness. As far as other aspects of heavy dutiness, I haven't owned enough of them to say that one is more heavy duty than the next. I think its all just a matter of preference in styling and size. I guess if I had to recommend one it would actually be the CQC-15. It is a beautiful blade shape and it gives you the benefits of a tanto without truly being a tanto. It is also a V grind instead of a chisel. The handle also hugs your hand at the front AND back, which makes it very hard for the knife to slip out of your hands.
(Side note: I just bought a CQC-14 snubby off the bay about an hour ago!).
Sonnydaze
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I have not owned any of the ZT 030X series, although they have a great rep. I've had 0350's, 0550's, 0560 and 0561 and they are great, tough folders. The Strider SMF is a very tough folder. I've had several. So is the BM Adamas, from all accounts that I've read. There are many good choices, although you should look at the weight also. If it's so heavy that you leave it at home...
Emersons as said above, are cool, but not the best IMO. I dont like the locks when comparing them to triad or Axis. but the emerson commander would be the knife of my choice from their line. for heavy duty use,
I would agree with the Adamas as being a great choice. the blade is THICK and very hard. almost never needs resharpening. I have had mine for a few years. the lock, as shown in the video posted previously will not fail. the steel liners will fail before the lock does.
I also own a coldsteel recon 1. It is a hard use knife as well, but... I like my Adamas far more. and it is a superior knife, obviously, when doing a side by side comparison. much more steel in the blade, thicker, and a thicker grind, the coldsteel gets very thin very fast, toward the edge. the adamas has zero blade play, my coldsteel has a lot of side to side play, I attribute this to the lack of steel liners, it is just g10. the coldsteel locking mechanism, while strong, is unwieldy in my opinion, and really makes the knife less user friendly. the axis lock is, I would wager stronger, and much easier to use. the coating on the recon is horrible as well. mine all chipped up, so i just took it off. The benchmade coating wears through, but doesn't chip, and doesn't look like hell when worn. Adamas also comes with a molle sheath if you would need to use that.
that being said, I have a few coldsteel, a few benchmade, and a few others. the fit and finish of benchmade is great, and coldsteel doesn't compare.
good luck with your search! an adamas would not disappoint. others have suggested zero tolerance, I dont own one so i cannot comment on longevity, but they are rock solid with beefy pivot points and perfect blade shapes. IMO
I would agree with the Adamas as being a great choice. the blade is THICK and very hard. almost never needs resharpening. I have had mine for a few years. the lock, as shown in the video posted previously will not fail. the steel liners will fail before the lock does.
I also own a coldsteel recon 1. It is a hard use knife as well, but... I like my Adamas far more. and it is a superior knife, obviously, when doing a side by side comparison. much more steel in the blade, thicker, and a thicker grind, the coldsteel gets very thin very fast, toward the edge. the adamas has zero blade play, my coldsteel has a lot of side to side play, I attribute this to the lack of steel liners, it is just g10. the coldsteel locking mechanism, while strong, is unwieldy in my opinion, and really makes the knife less user friendly. the axis lock is, I would wager stronger, and much easier to use. the coating on the recon is horrible as well. mine all chipped up, so i just took it off. The benchmade coating wears through, but doesn't chip, and doesn't look like hell when worn. Adamas also comes with a molle sheath if you would need to use that.
that being said, I have a few coldsteel, a few benchmade, and a few others. the fit and finish of benchmade is great, and coldsteel doesn't compare.
good luck with your search! an adamas would not disappoint. others have suggested zero tolerance, I dont own one so i cannot comment on longevity, but they are rock solid with beefy pivot points and perfect blade shapes. IMO
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The thing about the Recon 1 is that it's a knife and not a sharp pry bar, hence the hollow grind. If I need a stronger knife I'll pick up a fixed blade.
I have 9 or 10 Cold Steel folders. The only one that has any play is the $6 Kudu. You need to tighten the pivot on yours.
The Tri-Ad lock is the strongest locking mechanism for any folding knife, bar Cold Steel's own Ram Safe lock, which is only available on the Pocket Bushman. Even Vinull confirms this with his testing. The Adamas' Axis lock is definitely very strong, but not as strong, and to top it off, users of the Tri-Ad lock need not worry about worn out Omega springs down the road.
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I'm sort of curious. What are you doing that you need to worry about lock strength that much?
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I may have missed it, but what was the OP's stated use for this folder? My SNG is likely my toughest folder, but my ZT 0561 and my Recon 1 (3" mini/ clip point) will get some work done too. However, there are limits to what folders can do... we all know this. Depending on the tasks to be done, a small fixed blade may be the better option (for example, a BK 14/24 Eskabar or an Izula 2, or even an Esee 3). The dramatic difference in price between a solid small fixed blade and a hard use monster folder is amazing too. There were a lot of great folders mentioned in this thread, so there is no shortage of choices regarding size, materials, and price--but the intended tasks may call for another type of tool. In any case, it's all good because you're buying a new knife!
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If I'm carrying a super sharp knife, I want a strong a lock as possible, because that lock is the only thing between that edge and my irreplaceable fingers.
As you may have guessed, I am not a fan of slipjoints or friction folders.
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I've done plenty of rough stuff with my knives the only failure I've had was with a lockback knife, and that was because I had managed to get a small rock stuck where the lock goes into the blade. Didn't notice it because of how muddy everything was. While I'll admit there are limits to a slipjoint or a friction folder (especially when cutting stuff starts making you think a slipjoint is about to close), I'm sort of scratching my head as to what you would need beyond a the strength of, say, a well made liner lock along the lines of a Spyderco Military or a frame lock like a Sebenza.
I'll ask again, though, what are you doing that you fear the knife closing on your fingers that much? I've stabbed my Sebenza through cans and sheet metal and haven't had a problem--locks up solidly with no play. I've even - rather stupidly - used the spine of my open Umnumzaan as a hammer with some pretty hard swings. For me I'm pretty happy if the knife can lift my desk up (probably ~150 pounds) with no lock movement. Outside of a slipjoint I've yet to own a quality knife that couldn't easily pass that test. Since I don't go around lifting desks on a regular basis with the spine of my knife, I feel like this is sufficient.
On the subject of super sharp, hair whittling!
x2 on a small fixed blade, or even a mid size. nothing to worry about and less expensive. I use an SRK.
when my recon has the pivot tightened to the point of zero blade play its too much of a burden to open, literally. and its a good knife, i was just trying to emphasize the points where I really think a different knife would be better for hard use.
when my recon has the pivot tightened to the point of zero blade play its too much of a burden to open, literally. and its a good knife, i was just trying to emphasize the points where I really think a different knife would be better for hard use.
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Top 3: Dalibor, Grayman, and Adamas.
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I don't care for tantos either. If you are looking for a utility blade from Emerson then you may want to consider the Journeyman. For a large Emerson folder, I also like the Super Commander. I have both of these hard-use folders and they are great. Although I prefer the look and feel of the SC, the Journeyman is much more utilitarian.
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+1 on the Adamas.
Extremely tough folder.
Although not as tough as a fixed blade, if you want a "hard use folder" at a decent price, this is at the top of my list.
I use a Buck 110 with a $4 one hand opener. This knife has been used by more USA LEOs, bikers & soldiers then any other. It's American made, solid and cheap. It's not sexy or trendy, but is very practical, which is what I want on the rare occasions I need a hard use knife. 
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I got into Striders and thought they were the bees knees they are tough folders, BUT after doing some research on the owner and found out he was falsely claiming to be something I was , I sold or traded off all my striders, I would say get yourself a benchmade 275, benchmade 810 , or a zt 030x series , your gonna save a lot of money, and even though Strider helped design the zt 030x series , and gets a kick back from every knife sold it is still a heck of a knife for the money at least youll only be putting a little bit of money in his pocket rather than going out and buying a strider and him getting all your money...
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Not true all emersons have a Chisel grind, as in sharpened on one side only, some have a double grind, which looks like the knife is sharpened on both sides , BUT every emerson knife only has one bevel....
rsw sound
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Emerson's, Medford, and ZT will all make you happy in all aspects. ZTs will have you giggling for the quality and price tag. Emerson's will have you belly laughing from the grip and deployment. Medford will have you rolling on the ground from the quality, pocket feel, and just straight SICK design. As you can tell, I'm a fan of all. Strider's breakdown like a VW bug. Cold steel are definately great for the coin. My opinion. Be blessed!