How good is Emerson's 154cm and some other questions?

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rookie4real

Joined
Aug 15, 2007
Messages
546
I never had or handled Emersons, I like the wave function, thumb discs, Ti and G-10.
However, I feel a little skeptical about their choice of steel that has not changed for a long time. At 57 hrc isn't it a little soft? How well it holds the edge?
How is fit and finish? Can I expect a centered blade and smooth action right out of the box? How good is a liner lock, so far I only had a positive experience with liners of other brands, hope it's the case here too.
 
Being softer, it will be tougher, though edge holding will suffer, mine was very stiff out of the box, both the opening action and the lock. I had to take mine apart clean it and then break in the lock for about 2 weeks before it was satisfactory. It took two hands to disengage the lock the first week, it's still not the smoothest liner lock I have but it's much better than it was before. I really like the design (blade shape and ergonomics) I would be after another one if it had a higher degree of F&F and upgraded steel or at least a higher HRC, however I can't see spending the $200 plus on a CQC8 (the other design I really like) when there are options that are IMO better in both the steel dept and F&F such as BM 275, Manix 2 XL, ZT 200, etc.
Pictured below is my CQC 13 with what I consider its competition from other brands
IMG_2353.jpg
 
Doesn't sound very good. Would the custom Emersons be way better than the regular? They are like Benchmade gold class, correct?
 
I used to have a micro-commander and absolutely loved it. It was very stiff out of the box but after about three or four days of opening and closing it constantly, it wore in just fine and was buttery smooth (They use nylatron washers methinks) Mine did have a bit of tooling marks on the liners but i got used to it after a day or so and didn't notice it very much after that. Their g10 is some of the roughest i have encountered which will give you amazing grip on the knife but destroys pockets. An easy remedy is to take off the pocket clip and go at the area of g10 that rubs on the pocket and take a file or sandpaper to it. Whenever dealing with g10 make sure you use a respirator, g10 is not fun to get in your lungs (I know that for a fact:o)

Overall i think they are great knives that may need a bit of TLC out of the box but i like working on knives anyway so that's a plus for me:)
EDITED TO ADD: I traded that micro commander to forum member and good friend droppoint1110. Perhaps he will let you know if he liked it.
 
rookie4real said:
Doesn't sound very good. Would the custom Emersons be way better than the regular? They are like Benchmade gold class, correct?
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I don't have experience with the customs, I would expect much better F&F, however I'm not sure if there would be a difference in HT or steel
 
rookie4real said:
Doesn't sound very good. Would the custom Emersons be way better than the regular? They are like Benchmade gold class, correct?
Click to expand...

Good luck getting one if you don't want to pay the inflated secondary market price. Start hitting those lotteries.

They're still 154CM btw. Only a few Emerson designs made by other companies have been done in other alloys/steels, such as the Kershaw auto-Commander (S30V) and Benchmade CQC7 (some were done in Ti).
 
djjonny said:
as per ZT's catalog http://www.kershawknives.com/pdfs/zt_catalog.pdf , their 154 CM is treated to 59 - 61 RC, much harder than Emerson's

Emerson's imo look cool but are badly over priced
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I believe Emersons are heat-treated to 57-59 for toughness, but can be easily sharpened in the field by any variety of materials...i.e. a brick.
As far as price...you can buy a new CQC-7 for $150. How cheap do you want to go for a knife you will never break?
Sonny
 
I think sharpening in the field is overrated...especially for a tactical knife. I mean it's a close quarters combat knife, how many people are you going to cut?
 
Sonnydaze said:
I believe Emersons are heat-treated to 57-59 for toughness, but can be easily sharpened in the field by any variety of materials...i.e. a brick.
As far as price...you can buy a new CQC-7 for $150. How cheap do you want to go for a knife you will never break?
Sonny
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It's not how cheap I want to go. The fact is for the same price you can get better and for less you can get the same.
Compare the ZT price list also in the catalog I posted above to the Emerson one below
http://www.emersonknives.com/ekTheKnives_Tact.php

singularity35 said:
I think sharpening in the field is overrated...especially for a tactical knife. I mean it's a close quarters combat knife, how many people are you going to cut?
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True, if field sharpening is such a big thing I'd rather use a cheaper Aus 8 knife
 
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Sonnydaze said:
I believe Emersons are heat-treated to 57-59 for toughness, but can be easily sharpened in the field by any variety of materials...i.e. a brick.
As far as price...you can buy a new CQC-7 for $150. How cheap do you want to go for a knife you will never break?
Sonny
Click to expand...
I assure you that I can break a CQC-7 just as easily as I can break a ZT 0350 or 0200. Probably with less effort, while the ZT's are a good 30-50$ below the cost of a 7.

My brother's Super 7 developed a lot of bladeplay from medium duty use. I've never seen that happen to any of my other knives.
 
I love my CQC-8.

Best Emerson IMO, right under 4' blade and weights under 5oz.

I think its my sharpest folder I have, I can get that 154 cm edge stoopid sharp. Also is pretty viscous looking :D
 
My Emerson introduced me to what scary sharp really is. Super sharp, buttery smooth right out of the box. My liner is solid yet easy to disengage. The 154cm held that edge for a good while until I sharpened it wrong. Learned my lesson though, its still pretty sharp but I can't get it back to where it was. As far as F&F, I honestly didn't notice anything until I came on here, then I saw the little imperfections. But they don't bother me any, just makes it more mine.
 
Emerson's aren't really made to be pretty, it has a break in period(generally short), the fit and finish isn't perfect(they are made for fighting and hard use, its a lot like a glock some find beauty in the simplicity others think it's hideous) while the steel is a little soft it's meant to be that way so you can sharpen it in the field against a rock, another knife, a metal pipe and get a working edge, owning two Emerson's, multiple benchmades and spydercos when I leave the house or get in a cruiser in my belt case or pocket is an Emerson,
 
I've had my Commander for a month now. Only concern is the late lock-up. Though as long as it stays solid, I don't care where it sits. Love this knife.
 
Apec said:
I assure you that I can break a CQC-7 just as easily as I can break a ZT 0350 or 0200. Probably with less effort, while the ZT's are a good 30-50$ below the cost of a 7.
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Offering a a lower price point and similar (or better) materials the ZT0350 is a better buy. Unless you like Emerson's style, which is entirely subjective.
 
Sonnydaze said:
I believe Emersons are heat-treated to 57-59 for toughness, but can be easily sharpened in the field by any variety of materials...i.e. a brick.
As far as price...you can buy a new CQC-7 for $150. How cheap do you want to go for a knife you will never break?
Sonny
Click to expand...

The couple points of hardness from 60 to 57 provides exactly ZERO improvement in terms of ease of sharpening. Wear resistance plays much, MUCH bigger role in sharpening than hardness. In other words, 154 at 61 will be the same as 154 at 57 in practice.
 
CrimsonTideShooter said:
The couple points of hardness from 60 to 57 provides exactly ZERO improvement in terms of ease of sharpening. Wear resistance plays much, MUCH bigger role in sharpening than hardness. In other words, 154 at 61 will be the same as 154 at 57 in practice.
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Thanks for the info CTS I was not aware of that:thumbup:
 
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