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MOD vs Emerson..which one to choose?
- Thread starter viking252200
- Start date
yerscattergun
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- Jan 3, 2007
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- 917
If you carry it on hikes, you will be concerned about weight. I have found that if it's warm outside and you are wearing loose clothing, the weight of the
ZT's is way over the top. I like to jog to stay in shape and I find anything over 5 ounces is very uncomfortable. The weight of these knives makes
them "swing" with your body movements which is distracting. They are
quality knives but way overbuilt, kind of like a 747 made out of
steel. The weight to blade length ratio is bad compared to most other knives
too. Another suggestion would be a Cold steel 5 in. Voyager. They are
super light, inexpensive and decent quality with good locks.
People say Emersons are over priced but MOD is VERY overpriced. Emerson
is putting thick locking side liners in all of their 2008 and newer models,
I'd recommend an 8(or Super 8), 11, or 12. :thumbup:
ZT's is way over the top. I like to jog to stay in shape and I find anything over 5 ounces is very uncomfortable. The weight of these knives makes
them "swing" with your body movements which is distracting. They are
quality knives but way overbuilt, kind of like a 747 made out of
steel. The weight to blade length ratio is bad compared to most other knives
too. Another suggestion would be a Cold steel 5 in. Voyager. They are
super light, inexpensive and decent quality with good locks.
People say Emersons are over priced but MOD is VERY overpriced. Emerson
is putting thick locking side liners in all of their 2008 and newer models,
I'd recommend an 8(or Super 8), 11, or 12. :thumbup:
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Normally I'd say CQC12 Comrade or HD7 but since both are discontinued now I'd have to say Emerson's best knife offering currently is the thicker lined CQC13 models that are still quite beefy. If you can still find one get a CQC12 and be done with your search. The one stop knife shop still had a few in stock last I checked.
I've had several of the MOD knives mailed to me over time for various things like pocket clip mods and stuff like that and can't say I saw anything that would make me want one. Maybe I didn't see the best examples and granted they were used but I really didn't care for them. I was traded one for work once and saw when I looked it up that it was $185 and was surprised by that for how it was built. I don't recall a lot about it now and didn't keep it long but I suppose if you like nested liners and a Gerber type build to how it appeared to be built for that much $ that its a fine knife. Seems a few are quite happy with them. I currently own a BlackHawk Garra. Not the Garra II but the first one, which if I'm not mistaken is the same company as MOD right guys? Sorry if thats not right. I seem to recall they are affiliated now with MOD only before or maybe it was after a change or when they merged or something.
Anyway, the write up said for my Garra that the blade is S30V steel. It does not say S30V stamped anywhere on the blade though and sorry as I am to say this, if thats S30V its the worst S30V I've ever owned! It simply will not get sharp! I think it ran me $160. I hate to say that but it sure doesn't seem to take an edge or behave like any S30V I've ever used or owned. Don't get me wrong. The rest of the knife seems on par with that price. The liners are beefy and the design is solid. In fact its still highly useful but seriously if it were not partially serrated it would not cut much at all! I do like the Janich design though.
I like the clip, the feel and the build just fine and it seems quality to look at it. I like the clip a lot too but the blade steel and edge keeping problem is the draw back for me. I could not get the edge to my level of satisfaction even using the Edge Pro followed by the Sharpmaker. Based on this Garra folder and the last one I got in trade I'd say get the Emerson.
STR
I've had several of the MOD knives mailed to me over time for various things like pocket clip mods and stuff like that and can't say I saw anything that would make me want one. Maybe I didn't see the best examples and granted they were used but I really didn't care for them. I was traded one for work once and saw when I looked it up that it was $185 and was surprised by that for how it was built. I don't recall a lot about it now and didn't keep it long but I suppose if you like nested liners and a Gerber type build to how it appeared to be built for that much $ that its a fine knife. Seems a few are quite happy with them. I currently own a BlackHawk Garra. Not the Garra II but the first one, which if I'm not mistaken is the same company as MOD right guys? Sorry if thats not right. I seem to recall they are affiliated now with MOD only before or maybe it was after a change or when they merged or something.
Anyway, the write up said for my Garra that the blade is S30V steel. It does not say S30V stamped anywhere on the blade though and sorry as I am to say this, if thats S30V its the worst S30V I've ever owned! It simply will not get sharp! I think it ran me $160. I hate to say that but it sure doesn't seem to take an edge or behave like any S30V I've ever used or owned. Don't get me wrong. The rest of the knife seems on par with that price. The liners are beefy and the design is solid. In fact its still highly useful but seriously if it were not partially serrated it would not cut much at all! I do like the Janich design though.
I like the clip, the feel and the build just fine and it seems quality to look at it. I like the clip a lot too but the blade steel and edge keeping problem is the draw back for me. I could not get the edge to my level of satisfaction even using the Edge Pro followed by the Sharpmaker. Based on this Garra folder and the last one I got in trade I'd say get the Emerson.
STR
I recently picked up an MOD CQC Mk1 and it is a damned fine knife. Light for how huge it is, and it is a LARGE knife - longer both closed and open than my Strider GB!
Is a fixed blade out of the question? I'd prefer a fixed blade over a folder for my primary hiking knife.
I highly recommend Strider, and I don't see why you couldn't buy one from a US company and have them ship it to you.
MOD's are ok but arent one of my favorites, not folders anyway, i like the razorback fixed blade and have 2 of them, ZT is a good one too but again not one of my big favorites, the larger ones i do kinda like are a little big for pocket carry imho, though they arent bad really, i suppose all in all they just never grabbed me like some others have, i certainly dont like any ZT as well as a EKI CQC12 thats for sure, i suppose the best production EKI right now is probably the '13, imho anyway, probably like any of the above mentioned over a MT SOCOM unless its an auto, and then would still prefer the SOCOM elite in manual or auto, but they are both really pretty old designs which while i at one time collected them and still have a few i havent carried one for about 5 yrs now.
asd far as strider for almost the same $$, a little more, ya can get a hinderer '18 which is imho a lot better in the F&F department while being the same kind of knife.
asd far as strider for almost the same $$, a little more, ya can get a hinderer '18 which is imho a lot better in the F&F department while being the same kind of knife.
+1 on the MOD
If your open to other suggestions than just MOD or Emerson look at the benchmade 710. Its a nice robust knife 4" blade G10 handles, AXIS lock and runs ~$170USD. I Have Strider (SMF), Emerson (CQC-15, HD-7), Spyderco (Military, Para Military, Delica 4, Endura), CRK (sebenza, SR&LR), Have had MOD (Mk1), BM (710,9050,5000,943), SOG (Twitch II, Spec Elite I), Kershaw (Leek, Blur, OD-1) Buck (110,112,110A (4) 112A (2)).
Out of all of those MY choice would be the BM 710, then the SOG SE I. Both are in the same price range are extremely smooth and offer a great blade to weight ratio, have some of the best locks in the industry and your not paying for the name.
The 710 has great ergos, and is about as solid as it gets, w/o becoming a useless chuck of metal. Its just over 4oz so it light enough to carry on a hike w/o weighing you down and still is quite capable.
My choice for extreme hard use would be strider, closely followed by Emerson. IMO the MOD is not even the same class as the others, its an over priced boat anchor of marketing hype!-glass breaker, seat belt cutter, and the new versions are junk plastic.
Any one that says Emerson is hype has never handled one, the same thing goes for bashing their ergo's every one I've ever handled has had spot-on ergos and was natural extension of my hand.- I'm not alone in this line of thinking either.
Out of all of those MY choice would be the BM 710, then the SOG SE I. Both are in the same price range are extremely smooth and offer a great blade to weight ratio, have some of the best locks in the industry and your not paying for the name.
The 710 has great ergos, and is about as solid as it gets, w/o becoming a useless chuck of metal. Its just over 4oz so it light enough to carry on a hike w/o weighing you down and still is quite capable.
My choice for extreme hard use would be strider, closely followed by Emerson. IMO the MOD is not even the same class as the others, its an over priced boat anchor of marketing hype!-glass breaker, seat belt cutter, and the new versions are junk plastic.
Any one that says Emerson is hype has never handled one, the same thing goes for bashing their ergo's every one I've ever handled has had spot-on ergos and was natural extension of my hand.- I'm not alone in this line of thinking either.
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- Jan 16, 2005
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Get an emerson. When i go to afghanistan this fall ill have an emerson (probably the commander model) riding in my pocket :thumbup:
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2004
- Messages
- 12,957
Actually if you want to save a few bucks and still get a super duty folder just get you one of the BenchMade HK14205 models with the Axis Lock and you'll never regret it. New Graham still has these in a satin finish plain edge 154CM blade models for $112.50 and thats a lot less for a knife that can stand with anything mentioned in this thread and perform side by side with it and even out perform them in many ways. I sure like mine but I like my CQC12 too.
Speaking of the 12 again though, I'll mention this about them that I forgot to bring up earlier. I don't know about the rest of the guys and their experiences buying these new but I've bought two of the 12s new from dealers at different times and both of them had locks that stuck terribly and when I say terribly I mean bad! Keep in mind my thumb is pretty stout so for me to say its bad its gotta be bad and mine were that for sure. This one I've decided to carry off and on although not a lot I'm sure because its way bigger than I need, but I may end up adjusting it in my shop before its over if this doesn't work out. We'll see how it goes. There have been a few times after Waving this one open where it was all I could do to shut the thing! And all I can say is that if thats how a lot of them come they really need to consider an overtravel block mounted on the lock side similar to what A.G. Russel has used on his little SeaMaster folder.
I may end up installing one of those overtravel devices on mine just to keep from accidentally hyper extending the lock out the wrong way if it continues to stick. If I have to push on the thing too hard to close the blade once the lock may just move out where it loses spring tension for proper connection if I'm not careful. Good thing the clip is there to partially block that over travel, otherwise it would already have lost spring closing the darn thing. Other than these things I really like them and know when they do finally break in there is no real comparison for me. These are nicer to me than the ZT for how light and thin they are. Just have to work the lock in and smooth out the washers with a break in and once all that is done they get really sweet.
http://newgraham.com/store/product/4055/HK-Axis-PE-BM14205/
EDIT: Here you can see a pic of my old SeaMaster that I added a clip to and the neat little overtravel idea A.G. designed. This is a great idea and simple in that its just a small end cut of what could be scrap G10 laying around most makers shops otherwise not usable. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101698&d=1214779979
STR
Speaking of the 12 again though, I'll mention this about them that I forgot to bring up earlier. I don't know about the rest of the guys and their experiences buying these new but I've bought two of the 12s new from dealers at different times and both of them had locks that stuck terribly and when I say terribly I mean bad! Keep in mind my thumb is pretty stout so for me to say its bad its gotta be bad and mine were that for sure. This one I've decided to carry off and on although not a lot I'm sure because its way bigger than I need, but I may end up adjusting it in my shop before its over if this doesn't work out. We'll see how it goes. There have been a few times after Waving this one open where it was all I could do to shut the thing! And all I can say is that if thats how a lot of them come they really need to consider an overtravel block mounted on the lock side similar to what A.G. Russel has used on his little SeaMaster folder.
I may end up installing one of those overtravel devices on mine just to keep from accidentally hyper extending the lock out the wrong way if it continues to stick. If I have to push on the thing too hard to close the blade once the lock may just move out where it loses spring tension for proper connection if I'm not careful. Good thing the clip is there to partially block that over travel, otherwise it would already have lost spring closing the darn thing. Other than these things I really like them and know when they do finally break in there is no real comparison for me. These are nicer to me than the ZT for how light and thin they are. Just have to work the lock in and smooth out the washers with a break in and once all that is done they get really sweet.
http://newgraham.com/store/product/4055/HK-Axis-PE-BM14205/
EDIT: Here you can see a pic of my old SeaMaster that I added a clip to and the neat little overtravel idea A.G. designed. This is a great idea and simple in that its just a small end cut of what could be scrap G10 laying around most makers shops otherwise not usable. http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=101698&d=1214779979
STR
Neither of them is really my top picks, but if only given those two maker's to choose from, I would go with Emerson.
As someone else stated before, MOD's fit and finish of late has been quite POOR for the amount of money you are paying. Every MOD I had bought in the past had terribly uneven primary and secondary edges grinded on them. Oddly, their black coatings are nicely even though. Also their fixed blade sheaths are terrible as well (very loose, and rattle is obvious).
On the other hand, every single emerson (except 1) fixed blades and folder I bought had good to great fit and finish (not the best, but what I expected for that price point). EXTREMELY SHARP on all types of grinds and blade geo I bought from them (chisel and v). Tight kydex sheaths too on the fixed.
As someone else stated before, MOD's fit and finish of late has been quite POOR for the amount of money you are paying. Every MOD I had bought in the past had terribly uneven primary and secondary edges grinded on them. Oddly, their black coatings are nicely even though. Also their fixed blade sheaths are terrible as well (very loose, and rattle is obvious).
On the other hand, every single emerson (except 1) fixed blades and folder I bought had good to great fit and finish (not the best, but what I expected for that price point). EXTREMELY SHARP on all types of grinds and blade geo I bought from them (chisel and v). Tight kydex sheaths too on the fixed.