Is the Emerson Commander too tactical?

lorise

lorise

Joined
Mar 30, 2007
Messages
205
I haven't held one yet but I have the CQC 7B.
I'm going for an allround knife to take on short and long trips, hiking, hunting especially but not self defence.

I aim to buy 3 pcs. of the Commander for me and 2 friends.
I find Emerson has a hefty feel, super solid, no ifs or buts knife and it goes way beyond the rigors of trekking or hunting AND I like the possibilty to impress the mates.

My question is for owners of this blade, is the Commander too tactical? Does it not feel good as a hunting knife or in forest food preps?

By the way I have a few Benchmades and Spydercos and want something different.
COMMANDER_BTS.jpg
 
I have Mini-Com and find it less than suited for every day chores. It doesn't pierce well, and it doesn't prepare food well. It would be great for cutting saplings, rope, etc as the re-curve holds on to whatever your cutting. For all-around utility I'd look elsewhere though. Maybe a CQC-8? I don't own one but it looks like a great design and if they made a mini I'd have two. Until then, I'm in love with the CQC-7A (spear point) but I don't advise trying to scare up 3 of them on short notice as they are too hard to find.
 
I love my Commander. It's very sharp and cuts aggressively. But it does have a thick blade which hinders it a bit for making fine delicate cuts. It's a rugged, heavy-duty, hard-use knife, not a razor.
 
EKI's are really designed for SD, not utility, if ya want something strictly for utility i would get something with a std "V" grind . of course an EKI will work for utility, i used my SOCFK for all kinds of utility stuff, BUT there are better knives for utility use.

imho a better EKI for what ya want it for would be a CQC12 or CQC13, imho the grind would be better for food prep/etc.

but a commander would work.

of all the EKI's, the commander is way down onm my list of favorites, i just like others a lot better, not that a commander isnt a good knife, & i am in the minority it seems, but i like several others better (ie CQC12, 13, 8, SOCFK)
 
I carry the CQC-12 as my outdoor knife. In the past it was the CQC-10, and the 7 before that. I have avoided the Commander because of the recurved "saber" blade. It is probably very well suited for SD, but not so much for utility.

I would suggest the 12, or the 13 if you want something less expensive.
 
As much as I love recurves, it's a horrible choice for your stated uses. The Commander shines on tough slicing jobs and looking cool, but not much else.
I've owned three of them, but it's always been a love/hate relationship. The handles and overall appearance really do it for me, but it doesn't have what I'd call a general purpose blade.
Same for the CQC-7B, another love/hate knife for me. I still want a HD-7 really bad, though:D
 
I HATE the word tactical as it is used today. What makes a knife tactical, can you have a strategic knife???? The word has permeated everthing from firearms, to flashlights, knives, clothing, underwear, clothes hangers, toilets, you name it. It is marketing. A knife may have particular attributes which you either need, or want. Judge a knife on its merits and what it can do for you. Good Luck.
 
I have a Commander exactly like the one in your first post. I find the blade to be very useful, the re-curve for slicing stays in contact with the table or cutting board from a vertical position to a degree or two from horizontal. There is a lot of edge length in the design. I have large hands (while not a circus freak) and find the handle comfortable; my index finger rests in the handles choil and is nowhere near the blade. The G10 is light and grippy. For a large knife or full size anyway it’s relatively light and solid. The edge comes shaving sharp and seams to last. Good steel. Good grip and weight for carrying all day plus the wave feature for one handed opening from jeans. Having the G10 keeps the grip cool in summer and your hand won't freeze to it in winter. The tip is not super pointy (wont break off) so piercing isn't the best but I am sure if you forgot your SAK you could cut a can open no problem. (Why would you forget your SAK anyways??) You already have the Spyderco and BM so you are covered no mater what.
 
There is no such thing as "too tactical". That is like saying "too awesome" or "beyond radical". Anyone who tells you otherwise is a Tango that must be de-animated.
 
OwenM said:
As much as I love recurves, it's a horrible choice for your stated uses. The Commander shines on tough slicing jobs and looking cool, but not much else.
I've owned three of them, but it's always been a love/hate relationship. The handles and overall appearance really do it for me, but it doesn't have what I'd call a general purpose blade.
Same for the CQC-7B, another love/hate knife for me. I still want a HD-7 really bad, though:D
Click to expand...

Well said, Me and my commander have a love/hate relationship as well. I WANT to carry it around because it is cool and has my favorite ergonomics, but I can't use the blade for much more than hacking into things or slicing duties. Works great for chopping up small branches with the big rounded front end, but I can't whittle or WORK the blade as I could a traditional drop point blade. It is my fastest drawing knife, but it is only really good at self defense.
 
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