For a while I had an Emerson Commander. Nice knife, but for my purposes it felt a little heavy and wide on blade. But mostly weight mattered.
So I decided to sell my Commander. For EDC I use either Spyderco Military or Benchmade mini-Griptalian with a whole. From my day-to-day experience I realized that compact folder were better for my EDC. And I love mini-grop; great slicer, fast and light.
But it seemed that two folders were not enough. I have a couple of fixeds -- ColdSteel Recon Tanto and some Finnish blade but folders were much more convenient (as EDC tool). Although last month I showed up with my Recon Tanto at my neighbor's garden works and it made a great impression as a chopper.
Recently I decided to try another Emerson. Because they are essentially designed similarly, their weight should be proportional to the size. Something mini was attractive, and on exchange I got a mini CQC7. Received it a couple of days ago.
Fit and finish was decent for a work knife. Most shocking for me were rough G10 handles. They are still gritty. Even compared to Commander's handle, they are still ripping treads on my pants. Also, its weight was similar to my Military's. Quite handful and solid feeling. But with low-carry clip, it is easy on my pants compared to Commander.
As mentioned, very hard blade opening and closing. I couldn't open with thumb disc, so a little bit lightened pivot screw.
On food chores, mini-grip is much agile and faster that mini CQC7. Basically, CQC7 is like sharpened pry bar, though mini. It doesn't cut apples, it splits them in half. And chisel grind is noticeable while cutting. As to actual sharpness, it is exceptional and hair-popping.
Anyhow, compared to mini-grip, it is a different beast. Heavier, much stout; gritty opening and closing (will time might get smoother). I was afraid that handle will feel on smaller side, but it is quite comfortable (if we forget grippiness of G10). I had to get rid of Becker BK-11 and a custom Zander fixeds because their handles were rather short for me.
My only concern is the lock. On following picture you can see that liner lock is engaged to the blade only for a half of thickness. Is this normal/usual? If it is, probably it will get better with constant fondling.
My Commander was better and smoother at opening and lock engagement. Let's wait and see.
Together with my CQC7 I purchased and received Microtech Socom Delta. But for experiment's purity, to keep impressions fair, I put my Socom Delta aside for a while.
So, mini CQC7 is strange and unconventional; I have mixed feelings about it. And there is a truck of emotions attached. But I think those emotions and stories are most important. In this hobby or another. It is like I got half finished folder, and I need to 'customize' it in one way or another.
Thanks for reading and for your opinions.
So I decided to sell my Commander. For EDC I use either Spyderco Military or Benchmade mini-Griptalian with a whole. From my day-to-day experience I realized that compact folder were better for my EDC. And I love mini-grop; great slicer, fast and light.
But it seemed that two folders were not enough. I have a couple of fixeds -- ColdSteel Recon Tanto and some Finnish blade but folders were much more convenient (as EDC tool). Although last month I showed up with my Recon Tanto at my neighbor's garden works and it made a great impression as a chopper.
Recently I decided to try another Emerson. Because they are essentially designed similarly, their weight should be proportional to the size. Something mini was attractive, and on exchange I got a mini CQC7. Received it a couple of days ago.
Fit and finish was decent for a work knife. Most shocking for me were rough G10 handles. They are still gritty. Even compared to Commander's handle, they are still ripping treads on my pants. Also, its weight was similar to my Military's. Quite handful and solid feeling. But with low-carry clip, it is easy on my pants compared to Commander.
As mentioned, very hard blade opening and closing. I couldn't open with thumb disc, so a little bit lightened pivot screw.
On food chores, mini-grip is much agile and faster that mini CQC7. Basically, CQC7 is like sharpened pry bar, though mini. It doesn't cut apples, it splits them in half. And chisel grind is noticeable while cutting. As to actual sharpness, it is exceptional and hair-popping.
Anyhow, compared to mini-grip, it is a different beast. Heavier, much stout; gritty opening and closing (will time might get smoother). I was afraid that handle will feel on smaller side, but it is quite comfortable (if we forget grippiness of G10). I had to get rid of Becker BK-11 and a custom Zander fixeds because their handles were rather short for me.
My only concern is the lock. On following picture you can see that liner lock is engaged to the blade only for a half of thickness. Is this normal/usual? If it is, probably it will get better with constant fondling.
My Commander was better and smoother at opening and lock engagement. Let's wait and see.
Together with my CQC7 I purchased and received Microtech Socom Delta. But for experiment's purity, to keep impressions fair, I put my Socom Delta aside for a while.
So, mini CQC7 is strange and unconventional; I have mixed feelings about it. And there is a truck of emotions attached. But I think those emotions and stories are most important. In this hobby or another. It is like I got half finished folder, and I need to 'customize' it in one way or another.
Thanks for reading and for your opinions.
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. I was intrigued by this, and went over there and handled all their knives. I was surprised at how they were ALL comfortable to hold, despite having different designs. I got a CQC-10, my very first Emerson, and liked it so much that I had it modified (the modification cost more than a a popular high-value knife, but it was so worth it). Later on, I got a 7, then a 7V, then a Journeyman, 2 Persians, another 7 that I sent out to get customized, and most recently, a Nova. There are a couple of others that I have my eye on, and am on the lookout for.