Not pleased with Emerson

I picked up another Mini-Commander today. It's got the combo edge, whereas I prefer a plain edge, but the price was right, and I can always use spares. This one is no different than any of the others; it's not perfectly fit, not perfectly finished. The lockup is right, everything is tight. It's sharp. No complaints.
 
Just stumbled across this thread and I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

My $25 Kershaw Blitz locks up real tight, is centered, stays put when I run, has opened up boxes and cut wire without chipping, and no screws or parts have flown anywhere.
I don't think the OP is wrong to expect at least the same from a $200 give or take knife.

By the way, if the Kerambit tip snaps on tin seals, what happens when it hits bone? or a belt buckle? or a watch? "hard use' indeed.
 
diamdave said:
Just stumbled across this thread and I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

My $25 Kershaw Blitz locks up real tight, is centered, stays put when I run, has opened up boxes and cut wire without chipping, and no screws or parts have flown anywhere.
I don't think the OP is wrong to expect at least the same from a $200 give or take knife.

By the way, if the Kerambit tip snaps on tin seals, what happens when it hits bone? or a belt buckle? or a watch? "hard use' indeed.
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What happens if you use a knife on someone :rolleyes:.........

Well, the knife will no doubt be taken off you to be used as evidence and finaly destoyed weather you are found guilty or not. Or, you can take it home, sharpen it and reflect on how lucky you were to get away with cuting someone open, and hope the police or his friends don't want to discuss things further with you.

Either way a mm or 2 lost from the point is going to be the least of your problems. :)
 
My $25 Kershaw Blitz locks up real tight, is centered, stays put when I run, has opened up boxes and cut wire without chipping, and no screws or parts have flown anywhere.

I don't think the OP is wrong to expect at least the same from a $200 give or take knife.
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I've got several Kershaw knives that are dandy daily use, light-duty knives, and you're absolutely right. They work great for cutting open a box. I even have one for which I paid triple, as it had the Snap-On name, and I got it off the truck. Very handy.

I'm guessing you've never actually needed to defend your life with your pocket knife, or that you've never been put in the position where it's a distinct possibility...and where reliance on your knife is a little more than merely concerning yourself with cutting open a cardboard box.

I've no illusions that my Kershaw cutters will stay in my hand when it's slick with blood. They won't. I've no illusions about the fine motor skills needed to snick off the little plastic safety before flicking open the knife. Fine for cutting boxes, not fine for use understress and theat of one's life.

My emersons are knives that I do depend on, and which I have depended on in some rather unsavory places (the kind of places where there is no question of the nature of the threat). I took my Kershaw knives, or at least one of them, as well...and it made a handy box cutter.

My knives aren't pretty, and aren't collector items. They're called hard-use,and they get used hard. I've had no items fall off, no screws fail, nothing of the kind, in any way, shape, or form. The only failures of any kind, if they can be called that, were a couple of pocket clips which caught on an object and got bent, when I pulled away. I still have the knives. My knives have been in and out of combat zones, bad neighborhoods, and have seen service in shops, on the street, in the woods, in the rainforest, in the desert, and even in freezing arctic places. I've cut into wood, rope, metal, and flesh. Even cardboard here and there. My knives have been sharpened, oiled, bled-on, and used. Some are worn, some are pristine-new and waiting to be worn. And they will be.

I'm far more interested in a knife that will take me where I need to go and return with me, than whether the knife is pretty. It's a tool. I use it accordingly.

I'd rather see a nice fit and finish, and I'm quite sure this is possible. It is, however, a production knife, and it's one made in the US, and it's one with a respectable reputation that I proved for myself. I'm not concerned about "cool aid drinking." I made the knives prove themselves for me, and they have, such that I have no doubts or concerns when I carry them. When I put an Emerson knife in my pocket or sleeve or belt, it's not there for the name, or the looks, or for the reputation. It's there because it earned the right to be there, and because I trust it.

You have experience with your Emerson knives that says differently?

If so, then go with that experience. If not, gain some experience, then report back.
 
If you want attention to detail, buy a custom. If you want to cut, EKI's work great.
 
With these kinds of issues, I'm surprised Emerson doesn't at least respond to this. I rarely seen him on this forum, unless he's has an announcement, He doesn't interact with this forum.
 
In my experience Emerson knives are excellent, they are one of the few companies I will buy from still. This is coming from someone who owns:
CQC-13
CQC-8
Super CQC-8
Combat Karambit
CQC-7
Auto Commander

That's 5.5 Emersons (the Auto Commander isn't a whole one ;)) and I've never had an issue. Don't like them? Good, makes my job of finding and buying them easier.
 
Haze and SNS... I think you miss my point. It doesn't matter if I've sliced someone open or not. The bottom line is that an 'expensive' knife shouldn't have tips breaking on relatively unhard objects.

You guys are all so in love with the cliches and romance of knife marketing... 'hard use, tactical, when your life depends on it', etc. Listen to yourselves. I'd bet 99% of you use your 'hard use' knives to cut apples and open boxes, just like I do. It's as if everybody has been so successfully brainwashed by these companies marketing departments to believe their magic, superheattreated designer-profiled knife is the $h!t.

I guarantee you most Buck knives wouldn't break on a tin seal. There is no reason for a $200+ Emerson to do so. And that is true whether I've sliced and diced Commies and Islamofascists, or used my knife for nothing more rigorous then trimming tulips in my garden.
 
Just one more thought... the only knife I had a tip break off was a $17 Smith and Wesson tanto neck knife, it broke off the first two hours I had it. Also, an ATS-55 Delica I was using at work. THAT one I was dissappointed in, but I also saw that shortly afterwards they upgraded from ATS-55 to VG10. That knife cost around $45 at the time.
 
The kerambits do have a pretty fine point so I can see where folks have trouble, that said, they are not designed as an EDC knife. If you're using a kerambit as an EDC you could make a better choice IMO, but that is up to you.

I have carried and used Persians for a number of years and so far I still have the points on all the knives I use. They have an even finer point than the kerambits. As long as you respect your knife and its "features" there will be no problems. I matters not a jot what the knife costs or what it's made of or who it's made by, you need to be careful when using knives with thinly ground points.
 
It's probably not a good idea to cut through a .040 steel band with any folder.
 
Haze said:
The kerambits do have a pretty fine point so I can see where folks have trouble, that said, they are not designed as an EDC knife. If you're using a kerambit as an EDC you could make a better choice IMO, but that is up to you.

I have carried and used Persians for a number of years and so far I still have the points on all the knives I use. They have an even finer point than the kerambits. As long as you respect your knife and its "features" there will be no problems. I matters not a jot what the knife costs or what it's made of or who it's made by, you need to be careful when using knives with thinly ground points.
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Actually I thought karambits originally started off as a utility knife?

Now there's going to need to be some comparison with the originals in terms of tip thickness and type of steel, but I'm starting to get worried about the Super Karambit I ordered. My first CQC Super-7w had the tip break off when I accidentally dropped it, but I suppose that's to be expected. As for the second one, it broke off yesterday, and I still can't remember how it happened though I suspect it might have happened when I stabbed an empty 1 liter plastic bottle, which I assume was too much trauma for the tanto tip.

Granted, it's tough to find a more well constructed folding karambit than Emerson's, but I feel like I might want to look into having a custom maker replace the blade with something a tad bit thicker at the tip. The tip is the life of the karambit, it's the first point of contact of the knife, and it makes little sense to have to be so fragile.
 
Noctis3880 said:
Actually I thought karambits originally started off as a utility knife?

Now there's going to need to be some comparison with the originals in terms of tip thickness and type of steel, but I'm starting to get worried about the Super Karambit I ordered. My first CQC Super-7w had the tip break off when I accidentally dropped it, but I suppose that's to be expected. As for the second one, it broke off yesterday, and I still can't remember how it happened though I suspect it might have happened when I stabbed an empty 1 liter plastic bottle, which I assume was too much trauma for the tanto tip.

Granted, it's tough to find a more well constructed folding karambit than Emerson's, but I feel like I might want to look into having a custom maker replace the blade with something a tad bit thicker at the tip. The tip is the life of the karambit, it's the first point of contact of the knife, and it makes little sense to have to be so fragile.
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The exact origins of the kerambit are not totally clear, there have been "hooked blades" in large and small sizes used for farming as well as combat through out the SEA islands for a very long time (as well as many other countries). Pointy tips are generally not found on hooked blades used for agricultural use as the blade is used for cutting not penetrating. (I have actually spent a good portion of the afternoon here sitting out the front watching my neighbour havesting rice with a kerambit looking knife).

Those points aside the Emerson combat kerambit was not designed as an EDC or utility knife. It's touted as a self defence blade and goes along with a set of videos showing you how to use it as such. (That pretty much means you keep it untill you need it).
The EKI kerambit is a nice piece and IMO is as good a production kerambit as you can get, custom kerambits will give you the specs you want but will also cost more and may take some time to be made.
 
I don't think it's too much to expect a "close to $200" folder to be able to both cut and have excellent fit and finish at the same time. There are many folders from different companies that has a significantly lower price tag, but can perform as well as EKI folders, only with much better F&F.

What I've seen in this thread is a reasonable buyer who is looking for justification in spending close to $200 for a single folder (which I respect), and the tipical fanboys attitude in defending the brand they believe in (Which I also respect).

However, I must say this (and I offer you my sincerest apology if I insult any parties). Excuses like "it's meant to do hard work, so we don't really care for F&F" or "it's meant to be a self defense folder rather than an utilitarioan one, so F&F is not so important" sound like a bunch of poor excuses for defending a company that does not even bother to improve their QC.

In other words, what kind of feats that EKI folders can do but cheaper folders from different companies can't ? What constitue hard-use ?

I remember that there was a review about Ontario Rat folder that has gone to Afghanistan (or Iraq ?), was used the heck out of it, and come back in excellent condition. Would that constitue hard-use ? I bet the Rat folder has better F&F than EKI folders.
 
beluga said:
I don't think it's too much to expect a "close to $200" folder to be able to both cut and have excellent fit and finish at the same time. There are many folders from different companies that has a significantly lower price tag, but can perform as well as EKI folders, only with much better F&F.

What I've seen in this thread is a reasonable buyer who is looking for justification in spending close to $200 for a single folder (which I respect), and the tipical fanboys attitude in defending the brand they believe in (Which I also respect).

However, I must say this (and I offer you my sincerest apology if I insult any parties). Excuses like "it's meant to do hard work, so we don't really care for F&F" or "it's meant to be a self defense folder rather than an utilitarioan one, so F&F is not so important" sound like a bunch of poor excuses for defending a company that does not even bother to improve their QC.

In other words, what kind of feats that EKI folders can do but cheaper folders from different companies can't ? What constitue hard-use ?

I remember that there was a review about Ontario Rat folder that has gone to Afghanistan (or Iraq ?), was used the heck out of it, and come back in excellent condition. Would that constitue hard-use ? I bet the Rat folder has better F&F than EKI folders.
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I seriously do not understand where the poor F&F comes from? I have a 2007 and 2010 CQC7 and both seem very very well made.

Go ahead call some of us fan boys or mall-ninjas whatever, but the fact remains, this is a pointless thread started by 1 dissatisfied user out of thousands of satisfied user who don't bother posting about their positive experience. AND The OP also probably couldn't afford, and shouldn't have bought a $200 knife. Psychology plays a big role on your judgment. Sorry.
 
I have the tips on all of my Emersons. Only one I've had a tip damaged was my CQC-13 when I drove it through an ammo can.
 
beluga said:
However, I must say this (and I offer you my sincerest apology if I insult any parties). Excuses like "it's meant to do hard work, so we don't really care for F&F" or "it's meant to be a self defense folder rather than an utilitarioan one, so F&F is not so important" sound like a bunch of poor excuses for defending a company that does not even bother to improve their QC.
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Interesting, it seems to me most, if not all, people in this thread have agreed the F&F could be better. Can you quote all these fan boys who said differently ?
 
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