I've been lusting after Emerson knives!

TheseusTheDestroyer

TheseusTheDestroyer

Joined
Nov 4, 2012
Messages
175
I'm really into (about) 4in black tanto point knives,

I've been eye-balling the Emerson CQC 15, Roadhouse, and Super CQC 7.

All are around 4in, black, tanto, plain edge knives.

What do you like/dislike about these knives?

Which is better in your opinion and why?

Is there anyone that owns all three?

Thanks for stopping by guys!
 
I think the 15 is sweet. I have a SOCFK non tanto and a CQC 7 tanto. Good knives and I recommend them highly.
 
Last edited:
I have both the mini and regular cqc15. I never have owned the roadhouse or super 7.

I love both my 15's.. I carry the mini a lot Monday-Friday.. The 15 gets carried on the weekends.

I don't know anyone who doesn't love the 15. You rarely see them for sale in the exchange.
 
I'd suggest handling one or more Emersons before you buy one. For what they cost, I've found their fit and finish terrible, and their QC questionable as well (my CQC-7 closed from locked about as easily as a SAK does, for example).

Some people love them though. Either way, you'll know for sure if you get your hands on one or two before you buy.
 
I was not overall impressed with Emerson knives for the price. I would honestly just wait and get the ZT versions, as they will have better materials and construction.

What seems silly to me is all of the tricks and rules and mods people have just to make the knives worthwhile. There's a "break-in" period where the pivot action is absolute garbage, there's a centering trick because apparently they can't put together a knife the right way reliably, and the G10 is too aggressive and is often sanded down or replaced with a different material (and there goes your warranty!).

There are better knives out there for less. Just like with Strider knives, they have a reputation for hard-use knives with unacceptably poor quality control. Also just like Strider, they have apparently stepped up their game in the last year or so. Also just like Strider, I have handled some of their newer models and was just as unimpressed. They had pivot action that was too stiff, lockup that stuck, centering that took far too much fine tuning to get dead center, and the materials and quality did not match the price.

I will say this, however: The blade was exceptionally sharp and the stonewashed finish was gorgeous on the mini CQC-15 I had briefly.
 
Get an Emerson or a Strider folder. I now prefer the Strider.
I have learned never to sell these two knife brands. I always come back, for obvious reasons.
rolf
 
Love the 15 fits your hand like a glove. Second favorite is the HD7 if you can find one. Handle them if you can, if not have a dealer hand select one for you. I've had my 15 since they came out and have had one issue, even bought a second for my after who has been just as happy with his. IMO there's always something better, faster or stronger; so I say if you like it buy it.
 
Lycosa said:
Get an Emerson or a Strider folder. I now prefer the Strider.
I have learned never to sell these two knife brands. I always come back, for obvious reasons.
rolf
Click to expand...

I agree with you on the strider part.
 
I had a mini a-100 that i traded off a while ago and im suddenly feeling the need for it again. Im not really that attracted to most of their designs but the a-100 is just an awesome knife. If they just weren't so darn expensive :o.
 
I do enjoy carrying my Mini-Commander every few days or so. I've been wanting to try out a CQC 7 for a while now. The handle just says "ergonomic" to me. I had a chance to get one but pulled the trigger on a ZT instead.

Anyways, this thread needs pics so I'll go first. Here's a pic from this past Sunday. The M-Com at the beach :thumbup:

 
While I love the designs of Emersons and the opening, I have really come to hate (HATE) their fit and finish. The rough G10 edges and unfinished liners don't bother me, but all of my Emersons have developed significant horizontal blade play, and one developed a serious and dangerous case of lock rock. I will probably never buy another Emerson again, but I like the ones I have enough to hang onto them. The only suggestion I can offer is that you buy them on the exchange; they are worth (to me) slightly less than half of their dealer pricing. On the exchange you can routinely find lightly used Emersons for under $150, which is relatively reasonable.
 
Last edited:
I've had my CQC-15 for 8 months or so. I've used it a lot and there is no blade play that I can feel. I found that rotating the stop pin will adjust the lockup to fix it if needed. I've found the same to be true on other folders ( military, BM890, etc). The fit and finish on my CQC-15 isn't as bad as others, but does not coincide with the MSRP. If all Emerson's were $125-$150 depending on model, I would have a lot more. As they are, they are great knives but not able to compete in price with competitors.
 
Last edited:
I've had most of their models and my favorite's are the Roadhouse (love it's version of the tanto and it's ergo's), the CQC-11 (long out of production) and the Horseman/CQC-8.
 
These are mine. Definitely the fastest opening knife, period. The fit and finish is pretty good and ergos are very good. Blades centered and they lock up early and tight. No blade wobble and smooth opening. I don't spine whack my knives but my SOCFK is my work knife and I trust the lock. I would hardly call 154cm shit steel either. It gets sharp and hold a good working edge. To the OP, get one and you probably will get another.
ry%3D400
 
There are a few I've been wanting to get, like a 7, an 8, a 14, a 15 and a Jungle Commander. I do hope they can step up their game at least in a special knife like the Jungle Commander, because I think it's one of the most attractive knife they offer.
 
mmarkh said:
These are mine. Definitely the fastest opening knife, period. The fit and finish is pretty good and ergos are very good. Blades centered and they lock up early and tight. No blade wobble and smooth opening. I don't spine whack my knives but my SOCFK is my work knife and I trust the lock. I would hardly call 154cm shit steel either. It gets sharp and hold a good working edge. To the OP, get one and you probably will get another."

Normally I wouldn't call 154cm shit steel either, but with how soft they run it, it can't have good edge retention for the price. But if ease of sharpening is your thing, then you're right.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top