How do you feel about Emerson knives?

Voodew

Voodew

Joined
Jun 16, 2013
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I was curious about what the view of Emerson knives is here at bladeforums.

Do you guys like the knives they produce? Materials they use? Durability?

Let me know what you think because I am considering picking up a new Emerson, but I'd like to get your input before I pull the trigger.
 
Survey says that Emerson knives are quality knives from quality materials. The owner seems a bit over the top to me (as do many of them in that market segment), but he seems like he knows what he is doing both in terms of manufacture and marketing.
 
Love or hate. There isn't too much middle ground with Emersons. This can turn into 5-6 pages of why they are great and why they are garbage.

If you can afford an Emerson pick one up. Only you can decide if you will like it. If you don't trade it or sell it.

Oh and I love Emersons. Go over to the Emerson sub forum and check out the models.
 
Not a fan personally. Cool designs, but I've heard to many fit and finish issues here on the forums, and I've handled one and it just didn't impress me.
 
Love the designs on many of them, dislike the chisel grinds, fit and finish issues. I'm really excited to see the kershaw and Zt colabs come out this year.
 
For what it's worth, I like them. I don't have tons of experience with them, but I do own a Mini-Commander, a Horseman and I used to have a CQC-7. Solid knives with good ergos. You'll find a lot of people crying foul about fit and finish, and for what these knives cost I can see why. But I've picked mine up off the exchange (or that big auction site) and have had good luck paying around $100 for each. I honestly can't justify paying full retail for these knives.

Emerson's 154CM isn't a super steel by today's standards, but he treats it fine and the chisel ground blades can be re-sharpened fairly easily. It's a good working steel, and despite all the hype about being rock solid, tactical terrorist-killing machines, the knives themselves make pretty good users. I don't fight ninjas and infidels as often as I take down boxes, zip ties and packing tape, and for my needs the knives work fine. Oh and like benchwarmer380 said, only you can decide if you will like it.

I have way more Kershaw/ZT products, but that's a story for another thread. I still enjoy my Emersons.

Now for pics before someone puts a meme up!

Mini-Commander lounging at the beach:


CQC-7 at the park:


Horseman (Mini CQC-8) outside of work:
 
Just picked up a cqc-7 in trade a couple days ago and i like mine. The wave is awesome, extremely convenient, and i love liner locks so thats a plus.
 
I slowly warmed up to Emersons, and ended up liking them a lot, to the point of spending quite a bit to make them sort of unique and truly my own. I've done that with other production folders from Spyderco/ZT/Kershaw, but not to the extent that I've gone with my Emersons. I felt they deserved it. The A-100 was bought that way from someone else that had the work done by Nath, but the 10 & PTAC were done according to what I had asked.

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To me, Emersons have always had excellent design put into them. The CQC7 was the first knife I ever really wanted (after I had outgrown all the sub par crap I had as a kid). The next knife I really wanted was a Commander. Excellent design work in ever single blade. Purpose driven, and sexy in a utilitarian way.

The materials - eh, what's not to like really? G10/titanium/154-CM - all great materials. All quality, and treated right.

Fit and finish can be spotty. Some of the tolerances are "off" on some Emersons I have seen, but believe it or not, NONE of the Emersons I have personally owned had any issues at all. They were all just about perfect.

Durability? Sheeeeit... Emersons are tough as hell! They have one of the biggest followings in LE/active military ever. They have a hard-won reputation for being tough as nails and they deserve that reputation.

The only issue I have ever had with Emerson knives is that they are a tooch expensive for what you get. I think if they were more around the $100 price point instead of the $150-$250 range they would be an unbeatable bargain.

The bottom line is: you will never know until you own one. It will bug you and eat away at you until you actually at least handle one... and if you use one, you just might get hooked! If you're looking for a "best of their lineup" type of knife to start with, I would highly recommend a mini-commander. They are not really mini sized. I think they are pretty perfect as an EDC. If you have huuuuuge hands, I'd recommend a full sized commander. Good luck with whatever you choose.
 
Triton said:
Survey says that Emerson knives are quality knives from quality materials. The owner seems a bit over the top to me (as do many of them in that market segment), but he seems like he knows what he is doing both in terms of manufacture and marketing.
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Agree. I have one in my pocket right now, CQC-15. ;)
 
It does not hurt to try one . You may fall in love.
I do not care for them.
However they offer a unique style and feel to the knives they make. They are every bit as different from Spyderco compared to a Kershaw .
No one else makes a knife like it. Go for it. Why Not?
 
Get one and you will know pretty quick which way you'll go.
I love the Emerson folder.
rolf
 
Do you use your knives? If you don't or are looking for a safe queen, then pass on them. Emersons have such a cult following even a well known forum started as a forum for Emerson owners.

I echoed a lot of the sentiments that many people have about Emersons until I bought my first one about a year ago. Ever since then I've bought Emersons exclusively.They just work and I know they will stand up to the everything I throw at them. I have an EOTAC in my pocket right now and a CQC-15 in my Goruck right now.
 
I haven't seen or held one in person, but I've yet to see a picture or
video of one that had me wanting to buy it from it's overall appearance.
 
I feel that Emerson makes a solid knife. I'm more experienced with the Emerson Karambit and Karambit trainer.

I carried them for years and never had any problems with them. FYI: I have since sold my Emerson's and replaced them with other brands for the simple reason there are better knifes being made for less money.

just my 2 cents.

Hope this helps, battle
 
I don't own any emersons (although Im sure I will in the future) and it seems to me that they're excellent but overpriced... But what the heck do I know?
 
AntDog said:
It will bug you and eat away at you until you actually at least handle one...
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Hahaha you nailed it!! Ive never owned one myself because I couldn't live with the price for what you get, but dang does it eat away at me that Ive never tried one :D
 
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