New Emerson Addict (Let's hear your story!)

Voodew

Voodew

Joined
Jun 16, 2013
Messages
199
It feels like I've owned them ALL. All makes, it seems like I've had multiple that I have owned, and then gotten rid of. I've owned every single Chris Reeve folder they make, tons of Benchmades, tons of Spydercos, ZT's, Cold Steel, CRKT, and the list goes on and on and on.

Don't get me wrong, those companies make fantastics knives (for the most part), if you do the research before committing to a purchase. I actually owned the complete lineup of Chris Reeve folders and thought to myself, Ok, the knife search is done. I own THE BEST OF THE BEST. But after purchasing an Emerson CQC-15 and CQC-7, I was quick in selling off my CRK collection to purchase more Emerson knives. Like I said before, CRK makes PRISTINE knives, but after owning an Emerson, I can say that I finally understand it.

I found myself unwilling to really beat on a CRK, even though they CAN handle it. I was always worried about snail trails, nicks, scratches, and chips that would "decrease" the value and appeal of my precious CRK. Trust me, I know, I was "that guy".

After carrying Emerson knives, I can say that this company and the knives they produce, fit my interests and personality perfectly. When I have an Emerson in my pocket, it's like I can hear it begging me to abuse it, beat the living hell out of it, because that is exactly what it was made for. Emerson knives are like your overly horny girlfriend from college that couldn't seem to get enough rough sex. Not gentle, but just mean, angry and violent :cool:. Always ready for the next "round".

Instead of worrying about scratches, I look forward to using my Emerson for any job I can think of, no matter how "abusive" it may be. They have switched my train of thought of my knife from being my precious "crown jewel", to it being the tool that it is supposed to be.
Because it's ok, she likes it rough :D.

Hopefully some of you guys can back me up on this. I guess it's just something you don't understand until you own and actually use your Emerson.

I want to hear your input and experiences with your Emerson knives. What is your favorite model? Craziest job you have used it for? Some pictures of your used and abused Emerson, ol' faithful.

Let's hear it gentlemen, I look forward to reading your responses.
 
You've pretty much nailed it imo.

I like Emersons because they are the knife that just works. It's a tool. I carry Emerson exclusively these days.

As for my favorite model...does all of them count? Craziest job? Well I'm a journeyman roofer so I've used my Emersons for a lot of things on the job.

I do love my Emersons though. I used to echo the hate for them. But the more and more I use and carry my Emersons the more I love them. People say they are overpriced for what you get. I say these people have never used a knife as a tool. Emersons are worth every penny if you're a working man or soldier imo.
 
I can't say that I have a crazy story or crazy job I've used my Emerson for. I'm pretty new to the whole knife hobby. I can say that the Commander model is my favorite though.

To associate my Emerson's with a horny chick from back in the day that loves to be abused...I don't know man, I guess I can see the comparison.

You seem as though you may have a story or two to relay. Get the ball rolling.
 
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Yep, Voodew nailed it.
I was EDCing a Spyderco at work and I did not want to mess up this nice folder. So, I found that Smoky Mt. Knifeworks had a special on CQC-7's and I thought what the heck, for this price this folder will be my work knife. When that CQC-7 arrived, I was floored. I just stared at this folder. I knew that this was the folder for me.
And... here I stay.
rolf
 
Maybe it is a personality thing... A certain temperament... We use them, get them dirty, clean them up, get them sharp as hell, and do it again! Emersons have become my favorites--for me, it's either one of my Emersons or a fixed blade. Or my Wetterlings hatchet... They're fun too.
 
And a traditional, tucked away in some pocket--because they remind me of grandpa. And a SAK... Because everyone should have one.
 
No amazing stories but I do agree with the OP. In mid 90's, I purchade a Buck titanium knife and loved it. One day spring 2000, I gave the Buck to my friend Gabriel and decided it was time for a new knife. I did some research and came across this Emerson brand I never heard of but the Specwar-A had a handle that made too much sense to me after looking at all the brands so I picked one up and was my first linerlock and tactical knife. That was my only knife for 3-4years till I bought another Emerson, the CQC-8. Since then I have owned most Emerson models, other production brands and my fair share of customs (Pirela, Carillo, Strider, Marfione, Elishewitz and more) to only realise that the customes are worthless to me as a tool and have sold all of them. I also have had many automatic knives too only to have soild them due to the Wave feature being more functional to me. I use to carry Benchmades, Spydercos and other production brands for work but Emersons have always worked best for me with minimal issues/breakage. I also have become so used to the safe-detent putting extra pressure/friction on the blade making closing the knife safer compared to others which just swing shut like they have loose pivots. Really don't like the other lock styles weither it's a sliding thing or some compression thing. Also not a fan of spring assist. Emerson have become the only knife brand I use, carry and swear by. As the OP also posted that the knives are users, I have also learned to make replacement scales and back spacers to make the knives more comfortable for my personal preferences being that the knife needs to be great inhand as a tool and not inpocket as a piece of jewelry. I use thicker 3/16" scales and deep finger grooves like how some customs are to really extend the ergos that already are awesome on the 3.5"+ knives, smaller ones get 1/8" scales. Did up a Mini A-100 with red G10 for a SAK look. I understand the love some have for the stock knife due to profile inpocket or grippyness inhand but I love the way Canvas Micarta looks and feel like how some custom knives are like so I have replaced most of mine, even on my holy grail CQC-45 Custom (ti bolsters removed for 1 piece scales).
 
rayster357, I'd love to see a pic or two of those mods if at all possible. Don't sweat it if you can't. It just sounded interesting.
 
I echo Newknif. I would love to see it also. I've yet to own an Emerson with the new standoffs but I already know that I'm "not much on it". That would be a handy thing to be able to do.....putting in a custom backspacer -I'm getting my first Dremmel (sp?) this Wed.

I have a story that happened last Monday. I saw a SUV off on the side of the road with a trailer attached to it. On top of the trailer was an older model Pontiac. The fella and gal said they were scrapping it. After gabbing with them for a bit I asked them if they had emptied their fuel tank. They both gave me the stare that let me know that they now have a problem other than the one that caused them to pull over. Ha!

I explained to them that the scrapyard won't allow them to roll across and hence no monies. Of course they didn't have a way to puncture their fuel tank. I told them " I think I have you covered." Now to paint the picture since I have had either of my 7's I have yet to actually wave it in the presence of anyone other than my wife and Dad<- which later led to seeing my 76 yr. old Dad waving my CQC-7BW out of his front pocket. Love That Man!

I had the Standard7 in my left pocket with The Super7 in my right. I had absolutely no doubt my smaller7 would handle the job but there would be no cool factor of waving it out of my left pocket with it not being a lefty 7. I grabbed a hold of The Super7 and proceeded to wave it out of my pocket and then bury it in the fuel tank in
pretty close to one motion. Not bad for an old man.

My wife said she had wished she had videoed it but she didn't know what was going on and she was watching from the Jeep. She told me that she could have sworn she saw someone's brake light tap a couple times while they drove by. Ha! The couple learned at least two things that day.

To get paid when scrapping a car that the fuel tank must be empty and that the Super7 plain edge tanto from Emerson Knives has no problem incapacitating a fuel tank. Having said that, I really wanted the hole to be a tad bigger so as they drove it would empty quicker - but I didn't want to stick my edge back in there and possibly shred it.

I went back to the Jeep and grabbed my five and a quarter inch pry bar and made it big enough. I had no qualms of using my Emerson for something like that. Needless to say, as we were driving down the road Kimberly was cracking up as she told me what that looked like from her vantage point and the reaction from those two as the scene unfolded. Thanks to Ernie someone got paid that day.
 
I had always thought that Emersons were just ok, and up until about 4 years ago I had mostly Kershaws, ZTs, Spydercos, and a few customs. During a NYCKS, I picked up a custom from a popular knifemaker and we got to chatting about which knives he'd like to have. He mentioned several high-end names and said that if won their lotto, he'd sell those knives so quick and buy a CQC-7. He asked if I had met Ernie, to which i replied that i hadn't. He explained that Ernie was one hell of a guy and makes a really great no-BS knife. That comment intrigued me because here was a guy who could pretty much make any folder he wanted, but would carry an Emerson like other midtechs and customs.

I went over to the Emerson booth and decided to see for myself what made these knives develop the following that they do. Mr. Emerson wasn't there (I've missed meeting him at 4 different NYCKS' s now, although they didn't go one year because of Hurricane Sandy), but I had a few really good conversations with the guys and girls at their table. I handled and fondled all the knives I could, and it was a tough decision but I chose a 10 to be my first Emerson because of how well it fit my hand. Even though, they are all markedly different in design and size, every single knife felt great in-hand, and for me, the 10 was the best out of the selection. It was just the first of many, and Emersons in short order, have become the dominant brand among the knives I own.

Here's my entry pic into the "We don't need no stinkin' warranties" club:
20140625_133521.jpg
 
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Vocoder, you nailed it perfectly. I own just about every CRK folder there is (picked up a micarta 25 Saturday even) and although they are hellacious knives, my Emersons are my favorite.

I have a CQC8 that I ground the spine off to look like a Super Journeyman, and I've said several times if the house were on fire I'd run into that room even if burning to try to get it. Well, depends on how bad the flames were of course! But I would certainly try.

I just got a Super Commander and it is stellar. I want a regular Commander, and as a lefty have gotten on the list for one of the next batch produced.

So you were correct; rather than worry about snail trails, which I do too on my CRKs, with my Emersons I simply use them. Period.

And that piece of mind, to me, makes them just as valuable as a CRK with its higher price of admission, if not more.

Well said, Voodoo. Again, you absolutely nailed it.

And yes, if you ever had a girlfriend like that (I was) you will never forget her!
 
newknif said:
rayster357, I'd love to see a pic or two of those mods if at all possible. Don't sweat it if you can't. It just sounded interesting.
Click to expand...

Here are a few that I have. Patriot, CQC-45, CQC-7AW, Regiment ECA 2014, ETAK-A and Persian. The CQC-7 has a extended handle.
Mycollectionjune20142_zps5a96ff25.jpg
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Those all look great! So you went back to the backspacer on the 7? Did you do the work yourself?
 
^ You need to tell us who did all the work on those! Those are great. Maybe post in the modified Emersons thread and tell a little more detail abt each one and more pics!
 
Thanks for the kind comments. I did the work myself. I do like having the backspacer on my knives though the full length might interfere with pivot slop adjustment as the Nylatron washers wears down. You guys might have also noticed the thumbdisc being ground down on it's right side. I did so to make waving the knife out of pocket a smoother draw being that I only keep them on my right side pockets (front and back). I will do my best to take more pictures and post them. Still learning but have carved up about 16 sets by now. Mostly for myself but did a GJ, Commander and Traveler for friends in canvas Micarta. have posted some pictures of what I have in the gallery.
 
MrPocketsOfSteel said:
I grabbed a hold of The Super7 and proceeded to wave it out of my pocket and then bury it in the fuel tank in
pretty close to one motion. Not bad for an old man.
Click to expand...

Yesss, that is the kind of story I'm looking for. That is so awesome.

Nice freakin' pictures, guys. I guess I need to step my game up in the "customization" department.

Here are a few lame pictures I just took with my cell phone of my current lineup.

20140630_211103.jpg
CQC-7

20140630_211039.jpg
CQC-15

20140630_210746.jpg
Commander

20140630_210811.jpg
CQC-13

I still need to get my hands on a CQC-8 and a combat karambit. I can't get enough of these knives. And believe it or not, I like that they have a "break-in" period. Maybe because I am a baseball player and I relate it to buying a new baseball glove, you have to work it and break it in to your liking. It just adds to really making the knife mine, in my opinion.

I'm glad so many of you share my love of these knives. Let's keep this thread going!

As far as my "craziest" story, so far, with my new Emerson knives. A coworker of mine (a middle aged woman), needed her pencil sharpened. We work in an office for a trucking company, and her pencil sharpener broke. None of us had any back-ups because we all use pens, but for some reason she really likes writing with a pencil. I then told her, "Yeah, here, I can sharpen it for you." *WAVING the CQC-15 out of my pocket*
I received a pretty confused stare as I sharpened her pencil, and after I handed it back to her she says, "How the hell did you do that so fast? And why the hell do you have THAT big of a knife on you?". After that, EVERYONE in the office wanted to see how I could deploy my knife so fast, and I was happy to show them.

Later that day I hear our dispatch guy talking to a coworker loudly so everyone could hear him, "Damn, it's a good thing Mitch has the closest cubicle to the door. If anything went down, the poor guy wouldn't even know what hit him."
 
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