My %$#@*!^ Commander...

Kampfjaeger

Kampfjaeger

Joined
May 21, 2001
Messages
1,668
<B>...Is so cool! What a great knife!</B> Even in the face of the better prices I could have paid, I am still very pleased with my purchase. I ordered it directly from EKI; so it came in the official crushed box and everything. I picked up a second one for my Best Man too. I can't wait to see his face when I give him <i>his</i> Commander! I've been telling him over the phone about what a great gift I picked up for him - but that he's just going to have to wait. When he pressed me for info, I simply told him that it was "girlfriend-repellant." When he heard that, he <i>knew</i> I had gotten him something <b>good</b>. I'm having a great time baiting him *L*

If anyone out there is waffling about or wondering if they should drop the cash on a Commander... Do it! I mean it. I carried a Benchmade/Emerson CQC7 for at least 4 or 5 yrs and loved it. But when I got the Commander, the difference in quality was easy to feel. It is a safer knife to handle, the linerlock is sturdy, and the blade is sharp as a razor. The wave... well, just use it and you'll see. It isn't just made to "John Wayne" your knife open in a threatening manner. It is flat out useful if you have your hands full and need to be able to cut something quickly. In short, the knife is worth every penny. When you get it, count on it being a little rough (kind of like the 1911 Colt .45 - a little rough, but reliable under the worst of conditions and a tackdriver in practiced hands.) Your blade may rub the liner a little at first or be really tight. But instead of getting all worked up, fiddle about with it until it is the way YOU like it and then carry it to use it.

Ok, I'm done. Hi guys!:D
 
Yeah... I wrote this after reading a gripe session in GB&A on Emersons. They weren't just trolling either. The people there did express some valid points, but I think that there are an awful lot of them who are getting so caught up in the details that they fail to appreciate what a solid, well engineered, reliable knife Emerson makes. If you buy a "user" and carry it around, the knife will show wear after a while. It isn't something to be overly worried about!
 
My Commander is a user, and the black coating on the blade is mostly scratched off from cutting things like Big O tile when it has wet sand and mud on it. But the funny thing is the box it came in is absolutely perfect. Cest la vie.
 
Best man huh?
Congrats on getting the shackles put on. Is she a Suspect yet, or are you still working on the conversion?
Anyway congrats, a Suspect wedding complete with Emersons in the tux pockets:D
Reed
 
Mr K:

Congrats on the upcoming wedding!

When I got hitched, my wife picked up a 2000 Commander for me as an exchange wedding present :D Now that's LOVE! Thank goodness she's a convert knife nut, otherwise everytime I pick up a new blade, I'd get my a$$ kicked. Now she just rolls her eyes and takes it in stride :rolleyes:

I just lost my newly purchased mini CQC-7A to her so she could carry it at work. Another reason to buy a new knife!
 
Wow... Now that's a special kind of lady! Thanks for the kind wishes, guys. No, she's not a U.S. Yet. However, she is tolerant of my predilection for knives. When I retired my BM/E CQC7 I gave it to her and she was actually pleased!:D We'll do alright.
 
I like Emerson Knives, otherwise I wouldn't hang here. Well, then again, even if I didn't you guys are too much fun to be with anyways, but back to the business at hand.

EKI has, as I have posted in the past, great designs. Their execution however does leave something to be desired. Their past is noteworthy and their knives have been places with real operators that most will never know. With that said, what does it have to do with not so finished finishes, less than substantial liner locks, less than centered blades, blades that wiggle, stripped screws, screws that get loose and premium pricing? How much does one have to sacrifice for the Wave?

I carry my CQC-7 and Commander more often, but see the comparably or lesser priced SERE2K and Buck-Strider in BG-42 (especially the latter) as serious hard use folders. This is not a Chevy vs. Ford statement or "my daddy can beat up your daddy" statement, put an EKI and those two knives together and compare them!

Lest I be called a troll, or have my loyalty, patriatism, masculinity, nationality, politics, fortitude, marksmanship, field skills, security clearance, morals or anything else attacked or questioned, I will remind you that I am one of the faithful; but my faith is not blind.

The pride of ownership and pleasure of use in my Emersons is still there; I just have to work a little harder at it, that's all. EKI should step up to the plate so that their products catch up with their pricing.
 
I think I stepped in something over in the GB&U forum and tracked it into the house. Sorry guys.:rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Nimrod
EKI has, as I have posted in the past, great designs. Their execution however does leave something to be desired. Their past is noteworthy and their knives have been places with real operators that most will never know. With that said, what does it have to do with not so finished finishes, less than substantial liner locks, less than centered blades, blades that wiggle, stripped screws, screws that get loose and premium pricing? How much does one have to sacrifice for the Wave?
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And as I have stated, EKI is not the only Manufacturer that has had some of these problems. But no one seems to pile on Benchmade when they get a turd in a blue box, only a black one.

I carry my CQC-7 and Commander more often, but see the comparably or lesser priced SERE2K and Buck-Strider in BG-42 (especially the latter) as serious hard use folders. This is not a Chevy vs. Ford statement or "my daddy can beat up your daddy" statement, put an EKI and those two knives together and compare them!
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I have not tried the AMK SERE2K, nor have I tried the Buck Strider, both look interesting. I had some feedback on the Strider from a guy who liked it but said it was more like a prybar as far as sharpness goes. And, he also said that BG42 was only available in the first run of 500, after that, it is ATS34/154CM. So, corners get cut by others as well. In my opinion, going from BG42 to ATS34/154CM is a cut. Is that piece of information true?

As far as "Hard Use" to me personally, I don't use my Emersons to cut much, they are reserved for more than mundane cutting chores. So, they're as "Hard Use" as they're going to have to be...

I might eventually get one of the two knives you mentioned, or both, but for entirely different reasons than I carry Emersons. I might get them for cutting mundane things. Who knows?

I'm not blind either, which is why I wish EKI would take the Commander and take a step back in time and use the "1998 Formula" once again. Not blind at all. A 1998 Commander will smoke the later Commanders.

The SOCFK is the equal of the two knives you mentioned and it is not as expensive as the Commander is. As far as construction is concerned, the SOCFK is better than the later Commanders in my opinion as well.

But the Commanders are good as they are. Taking nothing away from them. If someone tries to knife me in the street or choke me out to stomp me, I doubt they will be able to tell the difference between a 1998, 1999 or 2000 Commander.
 
Originally posted by Don Rearic


And as I have stated, EKI is not the only Manufacturer that has had some of these problems. But no one seems to pile on Benchmade when they get a turd in a blue box, only a black one.


Now now now Don, you haven't benn paying attention if you think that is true. Ask any Benchmadeaholic how much of an issue I have made about QC and bad service!:)
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You don't see multiple crappy threads about BM.

And if Ernie starts making RealTree™ Camouflaged Knives, I'M OUTTA HERE!

Can't have that damn whitetail deer seeing your pocketknife you are gutting them with. :rolleyes:
 
Originally posted by Don Rearic


And as I have stated, EKI is not the only Manufacturer that has had some of these problems. But no one seems to pile on Benchmade when they get a turd in a blue box, only a black one.
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Don, might I respectfully suggest you search my user name and "Benchmade." You will find that I have been far from bashful and even coined the notion that BM uses its ELUs as "unsalaried QC inspectors."


Originally posted by Don Rearic
In my opinion, going from BG42 to ATS34/154CM is a cut. Is that piece of information true?[/i]
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Don, as with much of what you say, it is absolutely true. BTW, what does EKI make its blades out of? :rolleyes:

Originally posted by Don Rearic
If someone tries to knife me in the street or choke me out to stomp me, I doubt they will be able to tell the difference between a 1998, 1999 or 2000 Commander.
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Very well said, indeed.:D

To the extent that any of my comments could be perceived as picking on EKI, allow me to remind everyone, and most around here know this better than I, that EKI absolutely has the capability of doing much better in their production items than they are currently performing. They've done it before and thay could do it again. Most knife makers (production or custom) want to make a profit and want to turn out the best they can as their name is on it. Let's be real, these are competing virtues and compromises have to be made. I hope Ernie's products don't sway any further than they have before the inevitable pendulum reverses course.
 
Originally posted by Don Rearic
You don't see multiple crappy threads about BM.

As I am sure Nimrod will be able to confirm, when ever I mention BM I get jumped on from a great hight... I even had a thread closed by David for telling everyone about the dumb decision by Bum-made to scrap the 750. I won't tolerate crapy QC, heck do they have QC? Or as Nimrod and I believe (as well as others) it is the ELU or the shop that sends the bad ones back to be put right. At our own expense I might add. So thats good service?:rolleyes:

BTW, what is the difference between a 1998 Commander and the new ones? People seem to be very exited about the older ones and not at all about the new ones. What changed?
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Don,I'm with you on camo knives.See a lot of guys leave things behind after gutting their deer.Knives being one of them.The first thing I do when I find a gut pile is check around them for knives, watches ect.So camo knives would not be as easy to spot ;) , hey but maybe more guys would leave them behind:D ,got to think about this one.
 
Originally posted by Nimrod
Don, as with much of what you say, it is absolutely true. BTW, what does EKI make its blades out of?
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That is very Clintonesque of you. That's a nice twist, you have a place writing Policy I think.

You made the reference to the Strider being BG42. Correct? OK...

There was a comparison made and that specific steel was listed because quite frankly, it is a better steel.

But the problem is, they cut the corner and do not use it anymore, right? OK...

We're talking about materials, after all, you brought up BG42 in the Strider, but what you did not say was, "BG42/ATS34/154CM" which is the reality of things, correct? The knife's blade does not feature BG42 as standard, does it?

Therefore, you were hyping a product using misleading information, were you not?

BG42 is a selling point. It certainly is to me.

Why else would you bring up BG42 in that particular situation if you did not want to leave the impression that the Strider has better steel in the blade, eh?

My comment was not that ATS34/154Cm was crappy, just that using BG42 in the Strider as an indicator of quality when that was a Limited Run is a bit of a stretch.

Wasn't it?
 
Don, I only mentioned the BG-42 Buck-Strider (along with the SERE2K) because I own and use them; giving me a valid reference point. My failure to mention the ATS-34 version of the Buck-Strider in no way was intended to speak to its exclusion as a hard use knife.

Dollar for dollar, ATS-34 to ATS-34, I feel as though the Buck-Strider could handle more use/abuse. Does that make it a better knife, a better value or its owners more savvy than EKI owners? Of course not! It just means that it does (IMO) excel in one of the qualities self-attributed to EKI knives.

Don, It's fun having a gentlemanly exchange about our passion for things sharp; and I really enjoy lively, meaningful and intelligent dialogue with those (yourself most certainly included) whose opinions I respect, but P L E A S E do not reference me in any way with Bill Clinton.:mad: :barf: :(
 
Originally posted by Don Rearic


That's a nice twist, you have a place writing Policy I think.
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Don, I think not. But it's good to know that a background in law enforcement, the intelligence community and experience as a trial lawyer wasn't all wasted. ;)
 
How sharp is the Strider? I like it, need more input though. One guy does not a good critique make.
 
Mine, admittedly in BG-42 was very sharp out of the box. After a few minutes on a strop charged with Flitz and then a clean leather strop it was somewhere between shaving and scary sharp. Keep in mind that I am not a sharpening guru. I am a knife user and maintainer.

I do not know about the ATS-34 versions, but assume that with minor touch up it can be made keen. A fellow Forumite sometime ago stated that he cared how sharp a new knife was about how much as he cared how much gas was in the tank of a new car. It would be nice, but not so critical as to control the purchase decision.

I think that is the proper approach. So long as the basic grind is there and the metalurgy and heat treat are right, mere sharpening to taste is all that is required.

I'm tellin' ya', for a hard use beater that fills a man's hand, the Buck-Strider is real hard to beat for the money. It has full sized G10 slabs and a liner lock that is to be envied.
 
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