- Joined
- Dec 29, 2006
- Messages
- 2
Hi all, New to the forum. Whats your thoughts on EDC of the Mini 7 vs the standard 7. I would like to purchase one, but not sure which.
Thanks.
Thanks.
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Mini cqc 7 vs cqc 7
- Thread starter cristopher
- Start date
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 19
It depends if you want full size or compact.As far as construction goes there built the the exact same way width, strength,durability etc.
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2009
- Messages
- 121
I've got a Mini in BTS, and as I tend to wear more suits and tailored clothing, it is a little thick to be my EDC knife. However, on weekends or casual days, it is a spectacular carry piece. The Mini is not a proportional shrink of the full-size CQC-7B; that is, the blade and handle have been shortened but all other dimensions are the same. The blade and liner are just as thick as the ones on the full-size, the screws/clip/thumb disc are all the exact same size. This is important, because this means the Mini retains all the strength of its big brother. In fact, due to its thickness and short length, the Mini's blade is actually stronger than that of the full-size.
Other than that, I consider the CQC-7 series to be an eminently carryable and effective knife, as long as you are aware of its shortcomings. The Americanized tanto blade is not a good slicer, and not good for slashing attacks if you intend to use your knife for defense. You will need a smoothly curved blade with more belly to fit those purposes. If you do a lot of food prep with your EDC blade, this Emerson is not for you. Also, the blade is much too thick to do any delicate cutting, and the chisel grind makes long cuts difficult- the asymmetrical cross-section of the blade will push your cut off to one side.
Those are the CQC-7's weaknesses, and if that's what you use your EDC to do, then you won't like this knife. How about its strengths? Well, strength itself is the story of the CQC-7, and the Mini as well. This knife is built solid as a rock, and you won't appreciate that unless you use your knife hard. This is not a gentleman's folder, to be appreciated for its beauty and used for light precision cutting. This is a tank. The thick titanium lock bar means the linerlock is very unlikely to fail. In addition, the lock bar tends to "stick" to the blade tang (I'll explain more if you're interested), so the lock is difficult to release accidentally, regardless of your grip. The blade thickness, tanto profile and chisel grind, which I described as weaknesses above, are also great benefits, because they contribute to the CQC-7's enormous tip strength. This knife is fantastic at penetrating hard materials- thick cardboard, plastic, tough fabric, even metal. If there's any one knife I'd trust to punch through a car door, this would be it.
In conclusion, the CQC-7 is not a subtle knife, and it's not designed to do subtle things. If you're looking for something cool, buy an auto like the Microtech Troodon. If you want an elegant show-off blade, get a Sebenza. If you're the kind of person who needs a blade that can take an enormous amount of abuse, hold a sharp edge, and never fail, then buy this Emerson immediately. And yes, get the Mini, because the smaller size does make it easier to carry, and the shorter blade doesn't seem to prevent me from doing anything I'd do with a larger one.
Other than that, I consider the CQC-7 series to be an eminently carryable and effective knife, as long as you are aware of its shortcomings. The Americanized tanto blade is not a good slicer, and not good for slashing attacks if you intend to use your knife for defense. You will need a smoothly curved blade with more belly to fit those purposes. If you do a lot of food prep with your EDC blade, this Emerson is not for you. Also, the blade is much too thick to do any delicate cutting, and the chisel grind makes long cuts difficult- the asymmetrical cross-section of the blade will push your cut off to one side.
Those are the CQC-7's weaknesses, and if that's what you use your EDC to do, then you won't like this knife. How about its strengths? Well, strength itself is the story of the CQC-7, and the Mini as well. This knife is built solid as a rock, and you won't appreciate that unless you use your knife hard. This is not a gentleman's folder, to be appreciated for its beauty and used for light precision cutting. This is a tank. The thick titanium lock bar means the linerlock is very unlikely to fail. In addition, the lock bar tends to "stick" to the blade tang (I'll explain more if you're interested), so the lock is difficult to release accidentally, regardless of your grip. The blade thickness, tanto profile and chisel grind, which I described as weaknesses above, are also great benefits, because they contribute to the CQC-7's enormous tip strength. This knife is fantastic at penetrating hard materials- thick cardboard, plastic, tough fabric, even metal. If there's any one knife I'd trust to punch through a car door, this would be it.
In conclusion, the CQC-7 is not a subtle knife, and it's not designed to do subtle things. If you're looking for something cool, buy an auto like the Microtech Troodon. If you want an elegant show-off blade, get a Sebenza. If you're the kind of person who needs a blade that can take an enormous amount of abuse, hold a sharp edge, and never fail, then buy this Emerson immediately. And yes, get the Mini, because the smaller size does make it easier to carry, and the shorter blade doesn't seem to prevent me from doing anything I'd do with a larger one.