Massaad Ayoob vs CQC-13

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May 22, 2011
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Like it says in the title, Ive had my eye on both of these but i cant get both.

So which one would you pick?

The legendary Ayoob, one of the best self defense knives ever made, not to mention a highly prized collection piece.

or

the emerson combat bowie folder?

the emerson will stand up to abuse that the ayoob wont.
the ayoob really speaks for itself.

whichever one is chosen will definitely be used. possibly carried for years if i like it enough. both knife choices are new to me, i love spyderco and want to try to ayoob but at the same time want to try an emerson. even if i dont like it either one will be a cool piece for my collection i play with.

i dont think i can hold out much longer, the addiction is calling me to buy a new blade
 
i went with the ayoob. got the last one from NG. haha sorry. i read a review on the spyderco website of a review by some1 who carried it for 3 years, it was very convincing. the cqc13 is just going to be put on the wish list with the spyderco warrior,almar sere 2000, and minicqc7
 
i went with the ayoob. got the last one from NG. haha sorry. i read a review on the spyderco website of a review by some1 who carried it for 3 years, it was very convincing. the cqc13 is just going to be put on the wish list with the spyderco warrior,almar sere 2000, and minicqc7

The warrior seems like it would be a monster of a slasher.
 
I would trust it over a lockback any day all day. Its not a very thin lockbar in person.

I owned a 2005 CQC 13 and the liner was so thin, I could flex the liner
(open blade) with very little force. In fact, the liner would slip toward opening(never did slip off though)
Not very confidence inspiring. I have a Kershaw Tremor(Chinese) that has a better lock than any Emerson I've ever seen.
It's a $30 knife.

Maybe Emerson has thickened the liners recently?
 
I owned a 2005 CQC 13 and the liner was so thin, I could flex the liner
(open blade) with very little force. In fact, the liner would slip toward opening(never did slip off though)
Not very confidence inspiring. I have a Kershaw Tremor(Chinese) that has a better lock than any Emerson I've ever seen.
It's a $30 knife.

Maybe Emerson has thickened the liners recently?

Sounds like they have on the 13 at least. On the one I handled the locking liner was noticeably thicker than the liner on my a100 that I had with me. Liners thicknesses have definitely changed through out the years though from thinner to thicker to medium and maybe now back to thicker liners. I will say that under heavy prying the liner on my a100 flexes but does not move off the lock face at all, definitely a love it or leave it sort of thing.
 
I own the CQC-13 and the ergos are excellent, very comfortable, and the shape of the handle locks it in your hand, the lock seems strong enough, but I don't think for it's intended use a liner lock is not well equipped. I never owned the Massad, but I love my CQC-13

P6200047.jpg
 
ive never really liked liner locks in the first place. for an open frame construction knife i understand your options are limited but i think the compression or even a framelock is a better choice. i had a $10 s&w swat framelock that survived being thrown, dropped on the road at 60mph and the general destruction that is deep down in all young boys. i dont think a liner lock could take that. ive never owned an emerson but i think the best bet is to hold out and try and pick up an hd version, or perhaps have one converted aftermarket

i love everything else about the cqc13 barring the lock and blade steel.
 
ive never really liked liner locks in the first place. for an open frame construction knife i understand your options are limited but i think the compression or even a framelock is a better choice. i had a $10 s&w swat framelock that survived being thrown, dropped on the road at 60mph and the general destruction that is deep down in all young boys. i dont think a liner lock could take that. ive never owned an emerson but i think the best bet is to hold out and try and pick up an hd version, or perhaps have one converted aftermarket

i love everything else about the cqc13 barring the lock and blade steel.

Considering the only production framelocks were the HD7 and CQC12 (and now selling at 300+ in good condition, and hard to find), the aftermarket option is more viable.
 
I have always loved liner locks. It is my favorite lock type. The Liner locks on every Emerson I have ever owned (3 total) were definitely strong enough for me. That is my experience.

I wouldn't let the liner lock trouble you too much. If you just don't like the liner lock design in general (like many others), then don't bother getting one.

As for blade steel... What is in the alternative? VG-10? I wouldn't worry about it.

FYI- I am an Emerson knife fan, so there is some obvious bias. The 13 just looks better too IMO.
 
ive never had any trouble with 154cm and as i understand ernie is mr 154cm but i just tend to use it less. since your a emerson fan do you find your self wishing your other knives where chisel ground or are you impartial?
 
ive never had any trouble with 154cm and as i understand ernie is mr 154cm but i just tend to use it less. since your a emerson fan do you find your self wishing your other knives where chisel ground or are you impartial?

All of my Emerson knives have a traditional V-grind; it is only the edge that has a "chisel grind." They are the same as the #13 you are thinking about.

That said, I really like the chisel edge. I think it works great and I even re-profile the edge so that it is more acute (thin). It cuts differently than other types of edges/ grinds would. It is something you have to get used to. It works great on wood, but not so great on food. Easy things like rope/ letters/ etc are no problem.

You might just have to try it out for yourselfe to get a real feel for how it cuts. It is subtle, but noticeable.

Would I want all my knives chisel ground? -No. Just about every type of blade grind has a unique purpose, and therefore they all have their place in the cutting world. That is a good reason to carry multiple knives with multiple types of grinds (which I do).
 
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