Not super impressed by Emerson Knives

Aias said:
Really!? Wow, learn something new every day! Thanks Stabman.
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No problem. :)
The more info we have, the better choices we can make.

Plus, it's all part of the hobby, I think (or the obsession, depending on who you ask :D).
 
OBSESSION, stabby.^ :D
btw, EKI needs to do a run of the CQC13 with the RIL, aka Framelock.
Sorry for the hijakk.
 
Lycosa said:
OBSESSION, stabby.^ :D
btw, EKI needs to do a run of the CQC13 with the RIL, aka Framelock.
Sorry for the hijakk.
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Don't apologize...because that's a great idea!
I like my CQC-12, and a frame-lock CQC-13 would go along with it really well. :thumbup:
 
Thanks, man.
I'm tellin ya... a run of Emerson Bowie framelocks would sell out in record time.
 
Mike-Mike said:
Here is whats strange. Most of us had dozens of knifes that we didn't necessarily love. Emersons for some reason become popular to complain about. I don't really get it. You don't like the knife. Get something different. I didn't like the spyerco endura. I sold it. I didn't post a thread about what I didn't like about it.
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You also probably paid 25% as much, and it wasn't marketed as a ninja killing super tough knife.
 
I know that, for some, Emersons are a love/hate brand. I have also read reams and reams about poor fit and finish, etc., especially for knives in this price range. And I a sure that, in many instances, this is true. However, I have a CQC 7V, my only Emerson, and I have absolutely no complaints with it, other than it was dull out of the box. It certainly is not the prettiest or the slickest knife I own, but the fit and finish are fine, everything lines up, good centering and lockup. It is what I expected from Emerson in a very positive way. Maybe I just got lucky, but I doubt I will ever part with it.
 
Splitt65 said:
I know that, for some, Emersons are a love/hate brand. I have also read reams and reams about poor fit and finish, etc., especially for knives in this price range. And I a sure that, in many instances, this is true. However, I have a CQC 7V, my only Emerson, and I have absolutely no complaints with it, other than it was dull out of the box. It certainly is not the prettiest or the slickest knife I own, but the fit and finish are fine, everything lines up, good centering and lockup. It is what I expected from Emerson in a very positive way. Maybe I just got lucky, but I doubt I will ever part with it.
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That is one you don't hear too often. Unexpected, but an easy fix. Glad you like it!

For NIB sharpness I would generally put them up there with the best. Maybe just behind Spyderco, around Kershaw, and ahead of Benchmade.

Our miles do vary.
 
Personally I buy Emerson knives because of the ergo's. To me it does not matter if it's super steel with ball bearings if it's not comfortable to use. Many of my knives will do just the same as my Emerson, but they will not be nearly as comfortable if using for ample amount of time.
 
I always assumed the reason Emerson knifes were pricey, is because all the materials down to the screws, are made in the USA.
 
Maybe mine is an anomaly.
2006 Commander is my go to of the 13 Emersons in my collection.

No weak liner.
No lock rock.
Holds an edge.
Blade is centered.
Extremely early lock up.
Solid.
Worth every penny and then some.






Working in a machine / tool n die shop, this thing has seen a fair bit of abuse and has served me well for years.
 
cncpro11 said:
Maybe mine is an anomaly.
2006 Commander is my go to of the 13 Emersons in my collection.

No weak liner.
No lock rock.
Holds an edge.
Blade is centered.
Extremely early lock up.
Solid.
Worth every penny and then some.






Working in a machine / tool n die shop, this thing has seen a fair bit of abuse and has served me well for years.
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That is excellent. A well used and maintained knife is always a beautiful thing to see.
 
JCB0802 said:
If you're an operator, and you're reduced to using a folding knife in a situation like that, you're not doing your job right and your team has let you down.
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I have to disagree with this. Just because an operator is forced to use a tool that is not ideal for the situation does not mean that he or his unit has somehow failed. These guys frequently find themselves in tough situations that they might not have been able to plan or prepare for, and being able to use what they have, however inadequate it might be, to get the job done is one of the many things that separates them from everyone else.
 
I am on the strongly disagree side of this one. I own quite a few, Spyderco's, CRK's, Benchmades and others and the 2 Emerson knives I own (CQC7B & Mini CQC15) are really well built, well thought out, solid knives. I like the work Emerson does on the blades & the stonewash. The ergonomics are phenomenal, for me anyway, F&F lock up, centering etc. great no issues. I just bought a 2013 Mini CQC15 and to me it is really close to a perfect knife for EDC. Anyway, we all have different experiences and opinions .. but I like them.

 
More or less, Emersons are not for everyone. They tend to be a knife that people either really like or really dislike. As you noted, the fit and finish is not really comparable to the other knives you have mentioned. Emersons really are not known for this and they aren't a good candidate for a buyer who looks at the fit and finish and tolerances as a huge selling point in the knife they want.

While comparing knives is difficult, a few of the features that many Emerson owners really like include:
-the use of a chisel grind (which is unusual and many people like how it performs)
-steel that is substantially softer than most other makers using the same steel (this favors toughness and the ease of reviving an edge once the knife is used hard and sustains edge damage)
-blade designs and grinds that tend to be very nice
-a liner lock that tends to perform very well as far as liner locks go, and hold up to usage over time

One downside to the Emerson (and many Benchmades among other brands) is that Emersons and many Benchmades are now so expensive they compete with knives like the ZT0300 or ZT0560. This is problematic because the ZT0560 is a very difficult knife to compete with at its price. The ZT is often using more premium materials and design characteristics that overbuild the knife to be super, super tough, plus they tend to do a fantastic job on the cosmetic finishes. The newer ZT0566 makes this even more problematic given that it is almost half the price of many Emersons and Benchmades, yet it is still in the same performance category and it sports a very nice fit and finish (basic mind you, but still well-done).
 
I think Emersons are a bit pricey but fit their intended purpose well.

The only area I think they could readily improve is fit and finish and maybe some other lock types.

Blade steel is ideal IMO. M390/s110v etc. is not an upgrade for these knives, it's a downgrade. 154cm has good edge retention, takes a good beating, isn't too expensive, and is really easy to maintain. Super steels only do the same with the right equipment and training/practice and while I would expect most soldiers to have knife care training they aren't going to be hauling along an edge pro.

I also think that basic steel and G10 is also pretty much ideal. I don't see titanium as an upgrade for these knives. Neither is carbon fiber in my opinion.

Basically, improve fit and finish and drop the price a bit and they'd be perfect.

All this is also opinion.
 
Styg said:
I think Emersons are a bit pricey but fit their intended purpose well.

The only area I think they could readily improve is fit and finish and maybe some other lock types.

Blade steel is ideal IMO. M390/s110v etc. is not an upgrade for these knives, it's a downgrade. 154cm has good edge retention, takes a good beating, isn't too expensive, and is really easy to maintain. Super steels only do the same with the right equipment and training/practice and while I would expect most soldiers to have knife care training they aren't going to be hauling along an edge pro.

I also think that basic steel and G10 is also pretty much ideal. I don't see titanium as an upgrade for these knives. Neither is carbon fiber in my opinion.

Basically, improve fit and finish and drop the price a bit and they'd be perfect.

All this is also opinion.
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I would take that downgrade any time they want to give it to me. ;)
 
stevekolt said:
Why is this acceptable from ANY knife maker, especially at this price point?!?!?
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I hear you, but at the same time, if something is going to be wrong with a new knife, I'd rather it be that than anything else. It's like getting a new car with an empty gas tank, annoying, but I'll have to fill it eventually anyway.
 
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