new to Emerson

Well it looks like I have got a a couple of CQC 7A's coming to me soon. I think I got a good deal....... Can't wait to get them!!
 
I think a commander or mini-commander is still one of the best all-around choices. For me the daily carry is either a Commander or CQC-15.
 
jforbush said:
New to Emerson....I am military as well as a outdoors, shooting, hunting freak. What do you all recommend for my frist Emerson?
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If you want the "classic" Emerson knife, you'll need the CQC-7B. It was one of the first successful production "tactical" knives, based on Ernest Emerson's highly sought-after CQC-6 custom piece, which has long been both a mainstay and a status symbol in the military and special operations communities. The production 7B has all the hallmarks of the Emerson line: a chisel-ground Americanized tanto blade, thumb disc, titanium liner, grippy G10 scales, large-diameter pivot screw, and a deceptively comfortable squarish handle shape. And of course, you must get a version with the Wave, which is unquestionably the fastest knife opening system known to man. This knife is instantly recognizable and well-respected by everyone who knows knives, and "sheeple" will immediately identify it as a "tactical" piece- whether that's a benefit or a detriment is up to you.

If you want the best Emerson, though, my vote is on the CQC-15. At first glance, it looks sort of like a Frankenstein monster- with no unifying design principle, it's got features drawn from all across the Emerson catalog and beyond. The recurved edge of the Commander. The tanto tip of the CQC-7B. An odd-looking handle with a hint of the CQC-13, mixed with an Al Mar SERE or some kind of Bowie. This all adds up to one incredibly formidable and versatile knife, with practical benefits in almost every conceivable situation. The blade shape has the strong and explosive piercing tip of the 7B combined with the slicing ability of the Commander's recurve, balancing the strengths and weaknesses of both designs. The handle is the best to ever come from Emerson, jimped in just the right places, with curves and cutouts that virtually lock your hand in place, regardless of what grip you choose. It really is a fantastic design.

Whatever you choose, do also consider the Minis. Emerson does not make proportional scale-downs: the Mini versions retain the same blade and liner thickness as their full-size brothers, so they are equally strong. In fact, since the shorter blades are proportionally thicker, the Minis are actually stronger, especially when prying.

Do let us know what you pick!
 
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So the CQC 7B is the do all tactical knife!! Well crap!! I just got the 7A..... looks like I will be amassing a pretty large collection here guys!

Thanks for the well thought out and detailed post mrpinkbullets
 
jforbush said:
So the CQC 7B is the do all tactical knife!! Well crap!! I just got the 7A..... looks like I will be amassing a pretty large collection here guys!

Thanks for the well thought out and detailed post mrpinkbullets
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You're welcome!

To be honest, the 7A is actually a more useful design for common EDC tasks. See here (http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7580745&postcount=27) for an even more in-depth opinion on Emersons in general and the tanto 7B in particular. What I was saying is that the 7B is the classic or "original" Emerson, and in that specific design, it appears that Ernest Emerson placed ultimate tip strength and piercing ability over all other features. The 7B won't be good at slicing, food prep, or opening mail, but it is the quintessential "tank knife" for driving through a steel drum or 2x4.

The Commander is everything that the CQC-7 is not. Where the 7's handle is boxy and squarish, the Commander is curvy. Where the 7's blade is straight-edged with an angular tip for piercing, the Commander has a recurve just begging for slicing tasks. It all depends on what you need. That's why I like the 15- it's the best of both worlds.

To be honest, I like the fact that Emersons, while not cheap, are affordable and I won't lose sleep over using/abusing/losing them. Nowadays I carry my Small Seb more than any of my Emersons, and on days that I feel like a bigger knife, I prefer my Al Mar Auto SERE. My CQC-7 stays clipped to the side of my SOG PowerAssist multitool pouch (along with a Novatac 120T LED light), and it serves as the ultimate no-nonsense toolkit knife, either for grab-and-go repairs, or a trusty field companion when I'm on set (I work as a film director).
 
An A-100 (below) is a good all around knife, but the 8, 10, 13 and 15 should also do quite nicely.
 
^ I'd have to agree with the above.

Go and handle different models and see what fits your hand. The 8 is a poor fit for my grip, as much as I wanted to love it. The 7 and 15 are perfect. Everyone is different. We can recommend them all but in the end it must work for you.
 
(OOPS...DEAD THREAD...Well he did pick the 7)

Everybody has their favorite. That’s not going to help you much. At first glance, to the uninformed, they might appear simular, but a more careful research will help you find the right one that speaks to you. My recommendation is a combination of going to the Emerson site, and check out the differences, and look at some YouTube videos of the models you like. I also recommend reading some of the threads here as they relate to the models you like.

Once you know the size, blade shape, and handle shape, and purpose(sounds like you already know the purpose), you will figure it out.

I think for an introduction to the Emerson world, there’s a lot to be said for choosing one of the 7s. It’s designed as a good general purpose Knife, and Emerson’s oldest, still produced designs. Pick the 7 style and size you like. I love the 7s and have 5 of them. I also like the scimitars like the Persian P-TAC, the Kwaiken, etc. Then then there’s the Tiger, Gentleman Jim, and so on, and so on, ad infinitude.

That’s the point. Once you get one, you get bitten, and there will always be another that you “must have.” Did I mention the Mini-A?
 
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