I fricken LOVE Emerson haters

[jceckrosh]

Also the whole “America F yea!” Attitude is a bit silly when he makes probably solid six figures off of knives made in Chinese factories with Chinese materials.

Not sure what you think (or know) the economics of the Kershaw knives are, but at their price point, after everyone takes their piece, I would guess the amount from an individual knife is very small. The design was also possibly licensed for a flat fee. We could throw around numbers and guess what was made on the Kershaw knives, but it would just be guessing.

Dunno, but my guess is EE is not getting rich off the KAI stuff. As already said, it let's "budget" knife people get an Emerson design.

 

[John_0917]

Look John, I'm personally asking you to refrain coming into the EMERSON SUBFORUM and questioning Ernest Emerson's patriotism or it's authenticity. Allowing folks that can't or won't pony up for a real Emerson to sample and enjoy his designs (via Kershaw) is not something that gives you legitimacy in challenging Ernie's character.

No one's questioning anyone's patriotism...and no one is questioning the motive behind the collabs, be it to allow access to his designs for people who can't afford them or as a smart capitalistic move (which it is, they are sold all over the internet and at Walmart etc).

What I was being critical of is how we see the loudly espoused Pro-American talk and then the same writer goes and makes a large amount of money using the labor and materials of America's chief economic rival. That's a stark contrast, and it makes it hard to take the talk seriously.

I'm partially complicit, I own 3 of the collabs myself, and I also own two of the genuine article as well. I bought them because they are quality knives that serve my purposes well. I used the collabs often harshly and they do exactly what I want them to do. The genuine articles I have are both gifts from my wife and as such have sentimental value and are used by only caringly due to that.

A post above mentioned ego, that's interesting to hear. There is a pretty impressive knife store not far from me that used to be an EKI dealer. They dropped the brand after a run in with EE himself. From the story I was told there, they had repeated issues with orders & billing being incorrect as well as having to send back several knives for major QC issues. Their owner had a call with EKI one day where they were basically told to go screw themselves by EE, I was told this story when I was in there one day and asked why their (still substantial) stock of EKI products were all marked as clearance. Of course there are 3 sides to every story, and I'm sure there is more to it, but it was interesting none the less.

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Damn. It always devolves into politics and bashing....

Back to the topic, I'm hearing a lot of encouraging news from several people now, with no hints of catastrophic problems. This makes me happy!

I have no problem with having to adjust a new knife, specially one like an Emerson. The simplicity and ruggedness makes it easy and fun. There's also a small bit of self satisfaction after tweaking something to make it "yours."

Thx to you guys sharing the good reports!

 

[Reitwagen]

Emerson knives, like many other brands, sell at a price that is beyond the point where I realize the value. That's my opinion which should mean exactly toss-all to anyone else. I don't hate Emerson (or CRK or Benchmade or...), I just don't buy them. My choices are not intended to influence anyone else.

 

[Officer's Match]

No one's questioning anyone's patriotism... What I was being critical of is how we see the loudly espoused Pro-American talk and then the same writer goes and makes a large amount of money using the labor and materials of America's chief economic rival.

First, you do not have knowledge of Ernest Emerson's income, of that I'd feel pretty certain.

Second, this thread is about Emerson knives, as in "Emerson Knives Incorporated" - you seem intent on interjecting Ernest into it, as you went on to do in the part of this quote I edited out, where you left the store's name out but described purported communications from Mr. Emerson. Again I say that is poor form in this forum (which by the way is NOT about KAI/Kershaw/ZT). I defy you to accurately describe anything at all in Mr. Emerson's running of Emerson Knives Incorporated that is at odds with the "Pro-American talk" as you put it. To a fault he insists on USA sourced materials and labor - for which the brand takes the publicity hit of cost, which I'd say backs up the catalog/literature patriotic talk soundly.

Damn. It always devolves into politics and bashing....

Back to the topic, I'm hearing a lot of encouraging news from several people now, with no hints of catastrophic problems. This makes me happy!

I have no problem with having to adjust a new knife, specially one like an Emerson. The simplicity and ruggedness makes it easy and fun. There's also a small bit of self satisfaction after tweaking something to make it "yours."

Thx to you guys sharing the good reports!

Nicely done sir. No interest in discussing politics or allowing defaming remarks unanswered.

 

[BOSS1]

Greetings,

I'll preface this buy saying I like Emersons...been carrying them for about 15 years. Yeah, I have other knives I carry occasionally, usually for specific reasons, but most of the time, you'll find an Emerson in my pocket.
I had one I carried for about a decade, almost exclusively my EDC on many a dark and stormy night, both professionally and on my own time. Never disappointed. Still have it, semi-retired now, will probably get passed down. Seriously, for a real-world use knife beyond smoothly slicing your tomatoes for your BLT, they're well designed and produced (lemon's not withstanding). G10 and 154 work just fine. Put another way, you can have any handle color you want as long as it's black (mostly), if it aint broke, don't fix it, and KISS is a very good principle. Either you share a similar viewpoint with Emerson and see it in his knives, and they suit your needs, or you don't. Which is fine, lots of other excellent makers/knives out there to choose from.

But to the haters...seriously, I don't think it's just that they're haters...its the level to which their hatred rises...it's like EE went over and kicked their dog or something. And the energy they devote to making sure everyone knows that THEY HATE Emerson knives. 'Pay attention to ME and my rant, because I am important, and here from my mom's basement, I know more about knives than a renowned, highly successful maker who's been in the business for decades.' Must be nice to have the time. What it often boils down to is ALOT of jealously manifesting itself in on-line whining/trash talking.

Yeah, I'm sure ol' EE, who's been making blades used in some of the clandestine operations all over the globe looses a lot of sleep when some self proclaimed expert who's been alive less time than EE's been making knives decides he wants to go off on a video rant. I can see the 3am cold sweats and indecision now..."Hmmm, REAL professionals the world over approve of and use my blades, *but* keyboard commando Kevin made a 'Tube video...so I guess we've had it wrong all these years...I should throw in the towel, offer everyone refunds, and close up shop in disgrace.' Riiiighhhttttt.

It's really simple: If you don't like Emersons, don't buy them. Ernie will be just fine without you.

BOSS

 

[Steely Dorn]

I don't give a F who doesn't like Emersons, it doesn't change my opinion on them at all.

 

[DamascusBowie]

I promise that i did not know what I was starting, and it may be time to lock this down.

Its pointless to argue, put any knife in your hand and ask yourself do you love it for the asking price, end of story. Anything else is just flapping in the wind.

I just find the extreme bashers amusing. A knife is a product, take it or leave it. My cqc13 is a functional masterpiece that i prefer to knives costing twice as much or more. If someone cant see the value in that, tough s**t.

 

[jceckrosh]

I promise that i did not know what I was starting, and it may be time to lock this down.

Its pointless to argue, put any knife in your hand and ask yourself do you love it for the asking price, end of story. Anything else is just flapping in the wind.

I just find the extreme bashers amusing. A knife is a product, take it or leave it. My cqc13 is a functional masterpiece that i prefer to knives costing twice as much or more. If someone cant see the value in that, tough s**t.

I think there was some fun on-topic stuff, and some tangent stuff. Pretty normal.

 

[Officer's Match]

I promise that i did not know what I was starting, and it may be time to lock this down.

Your thread, your call AFAIC, but I didn't see anything overly problematic.

 

[DamascusBowie]

I think there was some fun on-topic stuff, and some tangent stuff. Pretty normal.

Thanks for the info, I was playing it safe because I didntreally know the tone of the forum that well.

Your thread, your call AFAIC, but I didn't see anything overly problematic.

Oh no sweat, thanks for the heads up, Im ok with it. Just dont want to instigate negativity on Emerson's page.

 

[shqxk]

I like Emerson, as well as some others brand with high controversial surrounding like Busse and Strider. And while I'm owning and still buying knife from mentioned brand, I do admit that when it come to value, these brand are way far from perfect...

Emerson while make a good design with very nice ergonomic. His liner lock are weak and will wear very fast than some Chinese counterfeit knife. Their 154cm while considered tough as stainless, the edge holding is not very great compare to what $200 ZT or Spyderco will give you. Fit and finish on my friend Ganzo also seems to be better than most of my Emerson. This is all the truth without any bias sincerely... But I still buying them because owning a geniune Emerson make me happy. But I do understand why there are many people hating them tho.

 

[Goetztalon]

Love the history from the Wisconsin farm to making his first knife. Watched a lot of videos and though Ernie was pretty cool so I bought one of his knives. I have no regrets and love the Cqc-8 that I bought. Keep up the great work Emerson!!!

 

[jceckrosh]

Fit and finish on my friend Ganzo also seems to be better than most of my Emerson. This is all the truth without any bias sincerely...

Again, not directed at the person I am quoting:

The F+F complaint seems common, but I have not bought one with wonky F+F yet. I mean, are people complaining about the simplicity of the knives and lack of bells and whistles? The rough peel ply? THat they are not silky smooth with a milled pocket clip? They are what they are. It's like people buy them and are then disappointed they are not a smooth ball bearing flipper with super steel blade and Ti/Cf scales. I think they are pretty clear about what they are, so when people buy them and feel somehow something was misrepresented, that's just not the case.

If folks think they are a bad value for $200+ they should not buy them. But it's silly buying something that is very honest about what it is and then to complain about said item being only what it claimed to be.

Still the thing I least understand about the knife world. Complaining about what something is when there are so many other choices. It is amusing though. Lots of knives I don't like. I don't spend any time complaining about them.

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Good words.

The other side of that coin is that forums are made for expressing. That includes complaining. And frankly, complaining on the internet is no more or less a waste of time than any other form of communicating on the internet.

In fact, complaining can be potentially more constructive than all those pocket dumps, EDC jewelry, and cult-like threads combined.

Sure, there are many great options out there. But it can be frustrating when all those other options don't cut it, while ONLY the thing you want isn't attainable because of a one easily changeable thing.

Example:
I HATE finger choils. Hate. Hate hate hate. They do have their place, like everything else. Unfortunately they also have also become pathologically trendy just like everything else.

So I dig Spyderco as a top fave. But as of late, good luck getting anything from them without finger coils. They offer several designs that would be a match made in heaven for me. Every feature like it is designed just for me....

Except for that inch of wasted space cut into a blade attached to an already perfectly usable handle. To me, that is a devolution of an otherwise perfect knife.

See, sometimes all those options out there don't really offer any options, while your potential grail could be off limits due to a single factor. That gets really frustrating.

And complaining (in the proper way) on a forum such as this just so happens to be seen by manufacturers, some of which actually listen, interact, and adjust to the market.

I complained about that very thing on the Spyderco forums. I don't want other options. I want Spyderco because I like what makes Spyderco Spyderco! So naturally, I took a lot of flak (Spyderco people REALLY need them choils), including the berating for my "negativity," and the lecture of how I should STFU and pick another brand if I don't like it. Now, THAT is a bad attitude if I do say so myself!

Guess what? Sal emailed me personally to talk about design preferences.

 

[jceckrosh]

Sure, there are many great options out there. But it can be frustrating when all those other options don't cut it, while ONLY the thing you want isn't attainable because of a one easily changeable thing.

See, sometimes all those options out there don't really offer any options, while your potential grail could be off limits due to a single factor. That gets really frustrating.

And complaining (in the proper way) on a forum such as this just so happens to be seen by manufacturers, some of which actually listen, interact, and adjust to the market.

I liked your post, and it made lots of good points. I left a few up there.

You see, the vast majority of Emerson complaining I have seen is not a single issue complaint. It's like everything. Like the very existence of the knives is an affront to these people. They are generally not saying "Hey, EKI, change the rough peel ply to something smoother since my hands are very soft from playing video games all day in the basement. While I would like the peel ply changed, the steel is fantastic and is easily sharpened after I have cut hundreds of Hot Pockets."

It's more like "EMERSON KNIVES - I hate everything about your knives. The pocket clip, the blade steel, the fit and finish, the cost, the handle materials, the lack of flipper tabs, the nylatron washers, the fact I can get a much better knife from Kizer or Real Steel or OHMYGOD from Kershaw even for way less. Please stop making your knives. They are an affront to me and all my ancestors, and I will complain loudly on every available forum, but mostly YouTube, about how much I hate your knives!"

That's more what I am saying - rarely is it a constructive single issue. It's a multi-pronged assault on everything.

But, I am sure there are folks in the situation you describe, patiently waiting for that one fix.

 

[Jamesh Bond]

Agree totally!

 

[colubrid]

I been through all the knives and brands. Both high end mid techs, high end reductions, all brands. Been doing that for 20 years and buying and selling.Spending time researching new knives and watching youtube vids etc.

Guess what I come back to and I am most happiest with..?

That's right, Emersons!

My only complaint is I want a new one very week... I want customs, Po boys ...anything Emerson.
And I should also add the fact that Ernest himself is such a standup guy. His warranty is impeccable and how he remembers so many names and people who's path he crossed. But that just adds to me wanting to spend money on his knives and without regrets! But this reason is not he dominating factor why I like his knives over all brands. It is the knives themselves first and foremost . That is why I like them and want more.. why? because I am a selfish human being.

 

[colubrid]

Good words.

The other side of that coin is that forums are made for expressing. That includes complaining. And frankly, complaining on the internet is no more or less a waste of time than any other form of communicating on the internet.

In fact, complaining can be potentially more constructive than all those pocket dumps, EDC jewelry, and cult-like threads combined.

Sure, there are many great options out there. But it can be frustrating when all those other options don't cut it, while ONLY the thing you want isn't attainable because of a one easily changeable thing.

Example:
I HATE finger choils. Hate. Hate hate hate. They do have their place, like everything else. Unfortunately they also have also become pathologically trendy just like everything else.

So I dig Spyderco as a top fave. But as of late, good luck getting anything from them without finger coils. They offer several designs that would be a match made in heaven for me. Every feature like it is designed just for me....

Except for that inch of wasted space cut into a blade attached to an already perfectly usable handle. To me, that is a devolution of an otherwise perfect knife.

See, sometimes all those options out there don't really offer any options, while your potential grail could be off limits due to a single factor. That gets really frustrating.

And complaining (in the proper way) on a forum such as this just so happens to be seen by manufacturers, some of which actually listen, interact, and adjust to the market.

I complained about that very thing on the Spyderco forums. I don't want other options. I want Spyderco because I like what makes Spyderco Spyderco! So naturally, I took a lot of flak (Spyderco people REALLY need them choils), including the berating for my "negativity," and the lecture of how I should STFU and pick another brand if I don't like it. Now, THAT is a bad attitude if I do say so myself!

Guess what? Sal emailed me personally to talk about design preferences.

My gosh. After reading what you wrote about choils, I thought it was me who wrote this post and had to check the username to see if it me who wrote it.


Any knife with a choil (and wasting cutting edge) I don't give one second of thought or time and just scroll on by.

I think you stole my identity with this post because I really can't stand choils either.

 

[OnceBitten]

Not a fanboi of Emerson, but, not a Hater, either.

First Emerson I bought (to see what all the hate was about) was a Roadhouse SF. Got the knife with poor blade-centering, lock stick, and RIDICULOUS grittiness in actuation.

Disassembled the knife, cleaned it, oiled it, and reassembled. The centering was vastly improved and blade deployment was smoother than some "better" knives that I own/have owned and/or handled. Lock stick eased up over time with the help of my black Sharpie.

The Roadhouse went to...well...another house down the road (I never really liked Tantos) and I admit: I miss it, a little. I thought the handle was great.

I still have a few A-100 variants (PERFECT in their simplicity and somewhat symmetrical shape) that I can't part with. Still have interest in a Persian and a Gentleman Jim (and a couple of others).

They are pretty decent knives.

Have I mentioned my disdain for those pretentious Medford knives? Hinderers?

LOL!

Carry on.