The knife does not have a backspacer, used stand-offs. The knife has been good so far. Waves out of pocket very well. It's built like the ECA Regiment which is a usual linerlock format. It does not have the Safe-D-Tent feature like a standard production Emerson knife. Uses 2 of the smaller 1/2" O.D. Nylatron washers. Pretty smooth action without the Safe-D-Tent. Same size blade stop pin as all others. Handle feels like a CQC-13 or the Journeyman. Finger Choil on the blade works quite well, no marks on my index finger. The gap between the 2 finger choils are fine for my size hands, comfortable. Both have centered blades. Cuts like a droppoint blade though that is obvious why. The grind work on both blades are a little different but so are most Emersons I have had the opportunity of compare side by side of the same model/variation. Liner/G10 is the usual though the liners seem to have been through the stonewash/deburr process a little more so. Linerlock stick bad on both knives. Keys or screwdriver needed to disengage the linerlock, OUCH! Will see haw that breaks in with a bit more use. Good thing I have a carbidizer! Any other ???'s, ask!
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Or a Japanese styled tanto blade vs an American tanto?