Puzzled by the new CQC8s

J

jbravo

Gold Member
Joined
Sep 16, 1999
Messages
1,449
Both Dirk and Les have brought to our attention newly made CQC8s that are sporting double ground blades. This is a dramatic change after five plus years of chisel grind 8s. I'm puzzled by the change.

I don't care about the never-ending debates about chisel vs. double grind efficiency, effectiveness, and economy, ad nauseum. Let's face it, a CQC8 in either variation is a wonderfully effective weapon. But, why has this design been suddenly and silently revised, by the unabashed exemplar of the chisel grind no less. My admiration of the 8 has always been keenly attached to the blade design in toto. And I always understood there to be real reasons why the chisel was part of it. The next logical question is "what about the other customs' grinds?"

Does anyone have any insight/knowledge on this? Please post or email me if you want to stay offline.

Thanks.
 
I too am puzzled by this development. While I am sure that the new grind will provide a sharp edge I cannot forget that Emerson built a reputation for uncompromising tactical knives based in part on the chisel grind. The bennefit of this grind has been mentioned by Ernie in magazines and at the EKI website so I won't drone on about this topic.
I am open to evolution, just curious as to why. Les indicated that the CQC-8 in question is double ground with single bevels on each side. This pretty much eliminates the possibility of increased ease of edge maintainance as a reason why. Oh well, anything else would just be guessing on my part so I'll shut up for now.
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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
Just my opinion...Ernie is associated with the chisel grind. It is a signature. He is also, among other things, very much an artist. I think in this case the artist was just expressing himself in another direction, experimenting. In my collection I have a Viper 3 and a Viper 4 (old Viper logos) that are both double hollow ground. All the other Viper 3's and 4's that I have seen are chisel grind (including a 2000 Viper 4 that I have been lucky enough to recently acquire that I am particularly fond of). Ernie ground a couple of double ground Vipers. That was it. Only time will tell if these 8s indicate a change in design direction, or the making of a couple of variations that will be special in the coming years because of their rarity.
On another note, how great to intellectually engage here again, to talk about design, about direction, about function. Isn't that why we come here in the first place? I knew that if we were patient, the Suspects would come to the Forum's rescue. Jbravo, thank you for an excellent and provocative post. Be well amigo.

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Once in a while you get shown the light
In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
 
I think the chisel grind behaves REALLY good with straight lines on the profile of the blade (japan influenced tanto shape) but it will put in jeopardy the precise cuts on a curved (upsweep or recurved) blade. And only on the precise cuts, since rapid slashing/stabbing will be unaffected.

The V-gring on the other hand perform in a superios way on those curved profiles (Match 1, Commander and CQC7 spearpoint)

The best of both worlds??
V-grind with a chisel edge!...
...hated by some, loved by the rest!

my 2¢!


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Joel Pirela
Logo.gif

www.pirelabladedesign.com
 
I agree that Ernie is probably expressing his artistic nature. A custom is just that - maybe he decided to try something new as he was grinding the blade. I love the chisel grind, but I've seen pics of the double grind 8s, and the look just fits. I doubt it's a new direction, as he DID make his rep with the chisel grind. I think they're blips on the screen, that'll go for mucho bucks in the future. And Dirk just sold his to Joel... ::sigh::
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And, I'd like to include my thanks to jbravo for helping to get us back on track.
 
I am changing my waved 8 order to a double grind. I personally think that this will be a good "meduim" for the double grind. I have two 8's now, and it is probably my favorite Emerson design. I agree with Joel that the chisel excels on the straight lines of the tanto blades, but considering that the CQC-8 is designed to function equally well in both saber and reverse grips, I think it will be served well in a double grind. I am hoping that with a wave and a double grind, this may end up being my "dream Emerson folder". I'm going to be taking a class from Ernie in mid March, so I'll ask him in person what the reason is. P.S.-I'm glad we are back on track.

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He who advances is sure of heaven-He who retreats of eternal damnation.
 
Joel,
When we are talking "precise", does that mean precise in the combat "Slicing the femoral artery" sense of the word or precise in the utilitarian "shaving ginger root" sense of the word?

Nyeti,
Just a question. Why would a curved V ground blade perform better or more accurately in a reverse grip than the same curved blade with a chisle ground?



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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
Hi Ark!

the precise cuts are mundane chores not really affected in real world scenarios...

The double ground blade always places the "correct side" in any grip configuration...

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Joel Pirela
Logo.gif

www.pirelabladedesign.com
 
Gotcha. BTW no Sento Knife book at the Japanese bookstore. They have not even heard of it yet. I'll keep checking though.

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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
I was looking at the V grind as being a little better for utility chores in sabre grip. I like the Tanto design for penetration, while I prefer the curve or recurve for slashes. It depends on your prefered style and how you utilize the knife. I practice different things with different blades. What I do with a Commander is very different than what I do with a SOFCK, and very different from a La Griffe. The CQC 8 seems to do everything well. I like the idea of the v grind on that particular blade, where I wouldn't go with it on a CQC-7. I really think all of this is based more on personal likes and dislikes rather than any real science.

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He who advances is sure of heaven-He who retreats of eternal damnation.
 
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