My new CQC-8 BTS

C

cuttysark1000

Joined
Nov 5, 2005
Messages
28
I got my first Emerson just over a week ago. My CQC-8 BTS is even better than I expected. This is a big knife, and every time I look at the blade I'm smiling. There are a couple of things about this knife that I didn't see in previous postings: First, the knife scales are perfectly flat. Overall the knife is very thin for its size. I saw others say that their CQC-8 is an EDC, but I was surprised to find that this knife carries comfortably in either jeans or Dockers. Second, the weight is surprisingly light for a big knife. This also helps with the EDC aspect and makes for a comfortable carry. Third, the knife is very smooth on the back side, allowing you to put your hand in your pocket (carried in front right pocket), unlike several other knives I have that scrape your fingers as you reach for anything in the bottom of your pocket. The blade was a little stiff at first, as reported by several others. A few drops of gun oil and careful adjustment of the pivot screw allowed for reasonable blade opening. The blade has loosened up with some working - the wave feature is awesome and drawing the knife from your pocket becomes addictive. I'm very happy with my CQC-8 and recommend it.
 
its not a std "V" grind like on a spyderco delica.

if ya are looking for that the '12 or IIRC the '13 is the closest to that, the others are either chisel grinds or, a kinda semi CG semi "V" grind lol which i can never remember exactly how EKI describes it, but no its not a std "V".
 
The CQC-8 had a V grind blade. I would call it a conventional V grind, but be aware that the actual cutting edge on a serrated blade is slightly off center due to the serrattions being slightly off center. However, the factory edge on my CQC-8 is shaving sharp and the serrated part cuts skin amazingly well. I think the edge will be easy to touch up and keep shaving sharp. This blade is not a chisel grind like you find on some Emerson knives.
 
I just bought this one. Haven't received it yet. Its my first Emerson. Obviously it is waved. Anyone else own this knife? This should have a V grind as opposed to chisel?

EmersonFolder.jpg
 
serrated or not makes no difference they are not a std "V" grind ala a spyderoc delica or others, they have a primary bevel on one side and a much more shallow bevel on the other side, if your '8 is a std "v" someone has modded it they dont come that way, they do not cut nor sharpen like a std "v" grind FWIW, not that they are bad or anything they just are not a std "V" grind knife, EKI doesnt make a std "v" grind though the '12 & '13 are close to one.
 
What special considerations do you have to take into account when sharpening one? I primarily use the Lansky sharpening system for most of my hunting blades, pocket knives, EDCs, etc... Any help would be appreciated! & sorry for the hijack!:)
 
imho the best way is to follow the instructions on emersonknives.com vs using a lansky or a sharpmaker, i dont think the gadgets wortk very well on EKI's but they will work, the sharpmaker anyway i havent ever tried a lansky on one (though i do have a lansky).

on an '8 the best thing to use is a diamond rod to raise a burr and a good leather strop (or some cardbnoard, or a steel) to remove the burr.
 
I got a CQC-8 about a month ago and it's now my favorite knife. New knives usually only last about a week or two in EDC rotation, but this one has gone a solid month- I'm in love with it. I usually hate liner locks. I usually hate blade coatings. The fit & finish is not as good as most high-end Benchmades or Spydercos. But there's just something about the CQC-8 that makes it amazing. It's hard to nail down why. I'm buying more Emersons at the earliest possible opportunity.

I have no problem with the slightly weird grind. To be honest, I sharpen my knives very rarely. In my experience, a knife with a good 154CM blade will stay sharp for months or even years under normal, light EDC use. My 154CM BM710 still has the factory edge and I've had and used it for a couple years. It's still plenty sharp. If you carry an Emerson for SD, you may never need to sharpen it, so who cares about the unconventional grind? It's not like most people are using their Emersons to skin deer on a regular basis. Or cutting rope all day long with it.
 
The non-chisel EKIs is kind of like the new CRKTs.

It is ground on both sides, but the edge itself is beveled only on the presentation side.

It takes a little getting used to.
 
in some ways the non chisel EKIs are harder to sharpen than the CGs, esp a commander or a '8, at least until ya get used to them. also really helps to have a diamond rod. i never could get a very good edge on my specwar spearpoint FWIW, oh it was a usable edge, just not what i was hoping for.
 
OK, so I am not disagreeing with SIFU1A, the overall blade grind is a V, as opposed to a chisel grind, but the cutting edge is way off center. I thought this was a result of the serrated portion of the blade, but I stand corrected. The cutting edge of my CQC-8 is not in the center of the blade. As biogon said, this edge is very much like a couple of CRKT knives that I have. I thought this was poor workmanship on the part of CRKT, and was related to the serrations on my -8. So, what is going on here? I have a serrated BM that puts the remainder of the cutting edge in the center. Why do we have the big grind/little grind off-center approach on EKI knives? The factory edge on my -8 cuts as well as anything I have ever owned - it shaves and cuts like magic. So why grind it off center? Is this a production manufacturing artifact that allows the factory to produce a superior cutting edge - while making it more difficult for the consumer to sharpen? I have a Lansky, but haven't touched my -8 yet (still have some healing spots from practicing my Wave opening, so I don't feel a need for Sharper).
Anybody have a guess why the factory goes off-center???

My CQC-8 is still my EDC - every day since I got it.
 
I've had a lot of Ernie's knives over the years. I still go back to a couple of the old ones from 98 and in recent years the CQC14 I modified to a frame lock and took the Wave off of but after years of looking at the 8 I finally bought me one and have to admit I haven't carried anything else since getting it. Well, I did kind of modify this one right away into a frame lock also and have never carried it in the original liner lock form but its the basic shape and overall smoothness with no aggressive lines in yet what could very easily be an aggressive knife if you wanted it to be that really appeals to me. Its one of the best feeling in the hand. I think the only one I've handled that I liked the Wave on better was the M Wave.

If a knife can be sexy this one has to be Ernie's sexiest creation IMO. Hell, if it were a woman I'd sleep with it! :eek:

STR
 
cuttysark1000 said:
OK, so I am not disagreeing with SIFU1A, the overall blade grind is a V, as opposed to a chisel grind, but the cutting edge is way off center. I thought this was a result of the serrated portion of the blade, but I stand corrected. The cutting edge of my CQC-8 is not in the center of the blade. As biogon said, this edge is very much like a couple of CRKT knives that I have. I thought this was poor workmanship on the part of CRKT, and was related to the serrations on my -8. So, what is going on here? I have a serrated BM that puts the remainder of the cutting edge in the center. Why do we have the big grind/little grind off-center approach on EKI knives? The factory edge on my -8 cuts as well as anything I have ever owned - it shaves and cuts like magic. So why grind it off center? Is this a production manufacturing artifact that allows the factory to produce a superior cutting edge - while making it more difficult for the consumer to sharpen? I have a Lansky, but haven't touched my -8 yet (still have some healing spots from practicing my Wave opening, so I don't feel a need for Sharper).
Anybody have a guess why the factory goes off-center???

My CQC-8 is still my EDC - every day since I got it.
Click to expand...

if ya go to emersonknives.com he explains why they are ground different from other knives.

i dont know that i agree with him 100% but what do i know lol?

i would personally prefer some to be std "V" grinds, the '8 is one of them, the spear point '7s are another.
 
Even Ernie's V grinds have the edge on one side only. Its not only one of his trademarks but done that way because he feels its easier to maintain in the field to only have to sharpen one side of the blade. Since most of his knives are designed to go into combat and other type 'hard use' situations he purposely does this in the event that you or someone else ends up having only a rock to sharpen the blade on. Its debateable as to whether its actually that much easier to sharpen to some.

My point is thought, its not an afteraffect or some throwback that came that way by accident. In dicussing with folks that work with him, and others that have spoken to him about this its just simply easier to sharpen and makes the edge thinner so it slices that much more effectively.

Many people make them traditional centered edges by sharpening both sides in a reprofile after the first or second sharpening.

STR
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top