How long did it take you to buy an Emerson?

[EDCanAdamas]

I first learned about Emerson knives back in the winter of 2011, when I was just was getting into knives. This was back when I thought that a $55 CRKT was a good deal but a $150 knife was too much. Fast forward a few years, and I was one of those people who put down Emerson as a company, for which I now apologize. I purchased an Emerson Sheepdog a few weeks ago, and I really like the knife. The fit and finish is excellent, and other than a little lock-stick from galling (fixed by graphite), it's a perfect tactical knife.

It took me roughly five years to finally come around to seeing things the Emerson way. How long did it take you?

FYI, now that I have tried an Emerson, I just can't get back into the other big brands.

 

[115Italian]

It took me a while to buy my first, years actually. The price tag was the main reason. It took me a while to understand the value of a quality knife and quality knife company. Like you said, Now it's hard to go back.

 

[netguy1999]

I first learned about Emerson knives back in the winter of 2011, when I was just was getting into knives. This was back when I thought that a $55 CRKT was a good deal but a $150 knife was too much. Fast forward a few years, and I was one of those people who put down Emerson as a company, for which I now apologize. I purchased an Emerson Sheepdog a few weeks ago, and I really like the knife. The fit and finish is excellent, and other than a little lock-stick from galling (fixed by graphite), it's a perfect tactical knife.

It took me roughly five years to finally come around to seeing things the Emerson way. How long did it take you?

FYI, now that I have tried an Emerson, I just can't get back into the other big brands.

For me, I had wanted one for quite a while. It had always been a hard sell, though. There wasn't, and still isn't, a local store near me that sells them so i never was able to hold one in my hand. Other brands like Spyderco and Benchmade are plentiful, but no Emerson. About a year ago, an opportunity came up and I traded one of my benchmades for a CQC-7. Once I received it, everything changed. It just felt right in my hand. From that point on, I kind of lost my desire for other brands. I still have other brands, but I've gotten rid of a lot of them and have replaced them with Emersons. I, too, have the Sheepdog and you are right - the fit and finish are excellent on this knife. It is easily the smoothest flipper I have, or have had. I'm now up to 6 Emersons and the hunt is on for a couple of very special ones.

Welcome to the addiction

 

[CookieRawwr]

Well I got my first Emerson last September, I've been a knife nut since 2010 and my first real folder was a Spyderco Manix. Before that I'd buy the occasional Bud K wall hanger pirate sword or whatever haha. But I still have my boy scout knife received when I was younger. So far I've bought five Emersons, one a month almost, won't be stopping anytime soon.

 

[makariotes]

I like this thread.

I first became aware of Emerson when I was heavily into firearms about 12 or so years ago; I had subscriptions to a bunch of gun magazines, one of them had a section for tactical knives, I remember seeing a tanto folding knife in that mag, I can't remember the model but it must have been a CQC7 because it really made an impression on me; back then the internet was kind of growing but all I had was a local store where I could see knives, I always had a Buck 110 with me when at work because it came with a leather sheath I could hang on my belt, I wore those Bucks down, broke the tips all the time, and went and got a new one (the company I worked for paid for my tools); the Buck company was in San Diego back then; one day I went to buy a gun and I saw a Buck Strider and a Mini Strider, which I bought and still have, I got the mini because it was cheaper, about 90 bucks. I just couldn't spend more than 100 bucks for a knife back then.

Fast forward to full blown internet everywhere in 2012, I started getting into Spyderco knives, and one day I saw a CQC8 in a magazine, and I thought that was the most bad ass knife I had ever seen, but still couldn't bring myself to spend more than 150 bucks for a knife; then I thought, ok, I'll buy the mini 8, the Horseman. I was hooked, then I got a Super Commander in lay away, and that my friends is a monster of a knife, of course I sold it because I needed the money; but then I got addicted when I started knowing more about the company and about Ernie Emerson; I'm not going to lie, I like other brands too, but I always gravitate towards Emerson, they are really my favorite knives.
Now I wished I started buying them earlier, I would have a really nice collection of blades by now, I learned my lesson though, if I need money I won't sell my Emersons anymore, the other brands will have to go first.

 

[Mike157]

I think it was at least ten or more years ago. I had never heard of Emerson knives. I was reading an action novel by one of the more well known action writers (unfortunately my memory fails me as to his name). At one point, the main character pulls out an A 100 to cut his way into (or out of, I don't recall) a corrugated metal building. The narrative describes how tough and reliable the knife was.

Well, I couldn't let that go by without determining whether there was an actual knife company that made such a tough knife. Once I learned that Emerson indeed existed, I ordered my first Emerson - the A 100. Since then, I've aquired a few more Emerson models. I admit, I'm a light user and have not tried to put any of my knives through a corrugated sheet metal building. But they have all served me well. Mike

 

[makariotes]

I think it was at least ten or more years ago. I had never heard of Emerson knives. I was reading an action novel by one of the more well known action writers (unfortunately my memory fails me as to his name). At one point, the main character pulls out an A 100 to cut his way into (or out of, I don't recall) a corrugated metal building. The narrative describes how tough and reliable the knife was.

Well, I couldn't let that go by without determining whether there was an actual knife company that made such a tough knife. Once I learned that Emerson indeed existed, I ordered my first Emerson - the A 100. Since then, I've aquired a few more Emerson models. I admit, I'm a light user and have not tried to put any of my knives through a corrugated sheet metal building. But they have all served me well. Mike

Your story brings to memory a recent post of a member cutting a steel, maybe black iron, pipe with a roadhouse, there's pictures of it. 154CM is pretty tough indeed, at one point in time everybody was using it, if I remember correctly.

 

[Ground0]

It took me less than a month. My first "expensive" knife was a Benchmade and it was so well built and awesome that I researched other names and found Emerson. I got lucky and found a used one on the forums that cost less than my Benchmade and was hooked the moment I got it and pretty much spiraled into a collection shortly thereafter

 

[Lee48]

I had heard of Emersons for years and I had seen various other brands using the Wave feature on license. Stories persisted from one extreme to the other--some loved the knives and some hated them. There was no middle ground. I was kind of neutral on the issue but I didn't like the Wave feature so I never looked at Emersons closely. When the Kershaw collaborations came along, I bought one to try. I was not impressed at first. Hated the Wave and I didn't understand the chisel grind. I put that knife away in an out-building in the back yard to use as a beater. And I beat it pretty good. The more I used it the more I began to like it--I discovered the chisel grind functions fine for most everything I need a knife for and sharpening is quick and easy. I decided to look at "real" Emerson knives more closely and I liked the CQC7 for its narrow profile and reputation. Since I've been carrying smaller knives more often lately, I bought a Mini CQC7BW. I still dislike the Wave feature (I also dislike flippers and assisted openers) so I used a Dremel to remove the Wave and quickly I found I loved the knife due to it's larger grip combined with a shorter blade.

I've since bought a couple of full size CQC7 non-wave models and I'm very happy with the knives. The A-100 is on my list for future purchases.

 

[knifewhore]

To me the easiest way to describe how I feel about Emerson knives is to compare the brand to a watch. I feel like they are the Rolex Submariner of the knives. They are available, they are sharp, they get the job done, and they have a history and a loyal following... they have stood to test of time, they are also dependable, and relatively liquid. They are easily serviceable, they are made to be worn and used daily, designed to be a tool for the user, and when you want to sell it, there is someone who will want to buy it, pretty much no matter the condition.
They are not the fanciest, they are not made out of the highest of the high end materials. They are kinda clunky and thick. They are not one of kind works of art, made out of gold, platinum or M390, they are both made out of a really good steel.
They are certainly not anywhere near as expensive as a lot of knives, and the submariner is a mid range priced watch as well,(as crazy as that sounds) but they get the job done and look good doing it. Relatively few people will give you any shit about wearing or using one. Whenever there is a standout product in an industry there will always be people who like to find an alternative, the alternative is usually less expensive for obvious reasons, and has taken some of its style or features from the product and then compare it to say how much better it is than the real thing. The same can be said for the Emerson knife and the Submariner, and that is how you know they have made their mark on the industry.
By the way, it took me a while to get to this conclusion, as originally I rejected the Emerson brand, but once I did, I could not believe how obvious it was to me...
None of my comments are directed at anyone, and they are not meant to offend anyone either, they are just my opinion, from collecting watches and knives since the early 1970's.

 

[Aias]

I was on the fence for about three years... And since my first purchase, I do not carry other folders except traditionals...

 

[makariotes]

I was on the fence for about three years... And since my first purchase, I do not carry other folders except traditionals...

Nice. I always a carried a traditional since I was a kid; I have to get back into collecting those also, man there are some beautiful ones out there; nothing like the ones I used to carry which were always the cheapest I could find.

 

[SonnyJim]

I started eyeballing a Mini A100 about 4 years ago, then recently, when I finally went to pull the trigger, they were all sold out. I started lurking this sub-forum and learned that Emersons seem to be produced in batches and often disappear from production for long spans, and I guess sometimes never to be produced again. I was (twice ) lucky, after countless hours of searching, to find a BNIB Silencer Co. Mini A 100, and the second bit of luck being that it's the most perfect (in quality anyway) Emerson I have. It's in my pocket right now! The action (after a little break-in) fit & finish seem right on par with my Strider and close to my Sebenza. I definitely could not see what the haters were going on about. My next two Emersons, another Mini A100 and a Traveler, brought me back down to earth a little. The Traveler is a little off center and has super early lock-up, and the second Mini won't get as sharp as the first and the blade is also a little off center. They aren't the perfection of my first Emerson (now with awesome Rayster scales!), but their issues (which may work themselves out) really don't bother me, and I still value them. True story : )

 

[Aias]

Nice. I always a carried a traditional since I was a kid; I have to get back into collecting those also, man there are some beautiful ones out there; nothing like the ones I used to carry which were always the cheapest I could find.

Yeah--I tend toward GEC's (Great Eastern Cutlery), however, I recently acquired a Kabar stockman, and it is excellent... 440c steel, copper bolsters, and a 3" main clip blade. Very useful and not prone to push the panic button when used out and about (as opposed to a Super CQC-7).

BTW--got the sticker... many thanks!

 

[Mister X]

I EDC'd a Benchmade 970 from ~1995 (no reason IMO to carry anything else!) before actually buying a "real" Emerson in 2014.

 

[netguy1999]

I started eyeballing a Mini A100 about 4 years ago, then recently, when I finally went to pull the trigger, they were all sold out. I started lurking this sub-forum and learned that Emersons seem to be produced in batches and often disappear from production for long spans, and I guess sometimes never to be produced again. I was (twice ) lucky, after countless hours of searching, to find a BNIB Silencer Co. Mini A 100, and the second bit of luck being that it's the most perfect (in quality anyway) Emerson I have. It's in my pocket right now! The action (after a little break-in) fit & finish seem right on par with my Strider and close to my Sebenza. I definitely could not see what the haters were going on about. My next two Emersons, another Mini A100 and a Traveler, brought me back down to earth a little. The Traveler is a little off center and has super early lock-up, and the second Mini won't get as sharp as the first and the blade is also a little off center. They aren't the perfection of my first Emerson (now with awesome Rayster scales!), but their issues (which may work themselves out) really don't bother me, and I still value them. True story : )

It's actually a pretty simple process to center the blade. There's lots of good YouTube videos out there that will show you how. All you need is a flathead screwdriver and a small Phillips screwdriver.

 

[AusLoX]

I'm definitely in this category. It's takes holding and using one to really get into it. Now I have several.

There's more...CQC15, Specwar, CQC-8

 

[lai77120]

Knifewhore , I'm not sure I'll go that far equating Emerson to Rolex. Does that mean all my CRKs are Patek Phillips now? 😆
Hey guys just bought my first Emerson, a cqc8 with satin blade
I first saw them a few month back and was really surprised at their poor fits and finishes(I'm in manufacturing, so machining lines and misaligned scale tend to stick out as a bit of an eye sore for me) never thought I would ever spend money on one, but the local dealer is having difficulties moving them so I got a great deal on one (same price as a spidy military)

I understand(and agreed with) some of the complains out there on Emersons, like shoddy workmanship, lower grade steel, poor fits and finishes, pricy... But augment can also be made that because of its many flaws, it actually gave the knife a character of its own, and at least deserve a place in any knife enthusiast's collection.

I went through and checked at least 20 emersons at the shop before I settle on this one, so it's as good as any Emerson can be ( no major issues, except a very sticky lock, tried pencil lead but no improvement, any suggestions?)

So the itch is finally scratched and I'm crossing Emerson off my list( for now) ..until I can get a good deal on a karambit 😂

But seriously guys, I don't mind buying more at full retail price, if Emerson can bring its quality standards up to match his competitor at the same price range (Benchmade, Taichung spydercos, and ZTs)

I'll post some feedbacks in a few weeks time after I put it through its pace. Maybe I'll finally understand what Emerson is all about.

 

[jbmonkey]

It took me a while to buy my first, years actually. The price tag was the main reason. It took me a while to understand the value of a quality knife and quality knife company. Like you said, Now it's hard to go back.

yep. same here. a few years and price point kept me at bay for awhile. once i realized the cost vs. life and use of the tool, it helped me grab on.

 

[lonestar1979]

It took me a while,and when I finally got it ,sold it again.Now I am still thinking of buying another one,new models are just very well built.(whats keeping me off is what my dealer has in stock at the moment as I want to inspect and handle certain models,and price point).Biggest regret is not buying Persian,long time ago at a gun show,and yes it had perfect fit and finish!ps.Emersons knife handle ergonomics can not be beat in my opinion,excellent tactical blades,but nowadays I do not carry knife for SD,just some small ,light knife along the lines of Victorinox and it handles all my cutting needs.