- Joined
- Sep 11, 2002
- Messages
- 98
I just recieved a brand new 2002 Emerson CQC7-B tanto point plain edged satin finish model with black handle scales. I thought I'd share my opinions since I love it so much.
Handle
The handle slabs are nice and thin, not having huge paws I prefer and enjoy slender handles. The titanium liners are thick enough to hold the blade firmly in place during normal use and has passed some heavy "spine whacking". I'm no SEAL or Recon Marine so I think it'll hold just fine for what I will use it for.
Holding the handle tightly the blade remains very comfortable, I atribute this to the smooth G10 scales, well shaped ergronomics(sp), and just an all around excellent design. No matter how I hold the knife I'm confident it's not going to slip out of my grasp.
The large rear spacer(G10) adds great levels of support preventing a strong gripping action from squeezing the liners together possably deminishing the lock strength.
Blade
The Tanto shaped chisel ground blade is a great idea. While as I've read the chisel grind is not universal in it's appeal. I for one love it. It gets crazy sharp with my Razor Edge sharpening system and stays sharp with use. Some have explained difficulty sharpening these grinds, it's not hard it's different. If your used to driving a car with a steering wheel and some company starts using a control stick some people will adapt better to the control stick than others. Same goes for the chisel grind. I guess I adapted to it well because it's awsome!
The blade shape is notorious for being poor for utility. In my eyes again this is a misconception. In my 3 days of using the blade shape I have yet to have it let my down. But then again I don't have any animals to gut and I have kitchen knives to use on food so I guess my idea of utility use varies from others.
Emerson's Hardchrome blade coating is well.....intersting. Mine shows fingerprints easily, but I like the look and it seems more durable than those BT black coatings. I still would prefer a genuine satin finish.
The Lock
I've read many times on Bladeforums.com that people think Emerson Knives Inc. uses liners that are too thin. They apear to be just as thick as benchmade and other large companies liners. I have seen a Strider AR and all that liner adds alot of unneeded weight. I have tried very hard but not "stupid hard" to disengage the lock by means other than how you nowmally would and it has held wonerfully. The liner on my example rests about 20% of the way across the blade. I have no doubts about it's ability as a safty device. If you want a LOCKING fool proof folder you need a fixed blade.
Fit and Finish
I'm no expert so this will be brief and to the point.
The liners and handle scales line up perfectly around the entire handle. The blade grinds are clean and and the original edge was semetrical and well done. After taking the knife apart, the liners have a rough satin finish but is smooth to the touch. They had a slight patina that was easily cleaned off with a small dab of Flitz and a piece of felt cloth.
Action
This is the only gripe about the CQC7 that I have. no matter how well lubed the action hasn't smoothed out much. It's not bad but it's not as glassy smooth as the Almar SERE2000 I traded to get the CQC7. If I tighten the pivot to take out all blade play it's action is hard to open, If I loosen it just a tad and put up with .5mm blade play the action is acceptable. this isn't magor by any means and I contribute the not so smooth action to the plastic? washers and blade coating. This could be wrong though.
Conclusion
The Emerson 2002 CQC7B is a great knife with alot of promise. The Company and Namesake of the company are both strong. You get a great knife and a world class company behind it for a meager price. Emerson has from what I've heard had Quality Control problems in the past but all is clear from my point of view. If you can't afford a handmade CQC5/6/7 the production model is a great fill in. If I had to I would without a doubt put my life in the hands of my CQC7. There seems to be a large group of people who love and admire Emerson knives and Now I understand why.
Only one question. Why aren't they suggested more around here when people ask for advice on what to get?
Handle
The handle slabs are nice and thin, not having huge paws I prefer and enjoy slender handles. The titanium liners are thick enough to hold the blade firmly in place during normal use and has passed some heavy "spine whacking". I'm no SEAL or Recon Marine so I think it'll hold just fine for what I will use it for.
Holding the handle tightly the blade remains very comfortable, I atribute this to the smooth G10 scales, well shaped ergronomics(sp), and just an all around excellent design. No matter how I hold the knife I'm confident it's not going to slip out of my grasp.
The large rear spacer(G10) adds great levels of support preventing a strong gripping action from squeezing the liners together possably deminishing the lock strength.
Blade
The Tanto shaped chisel ground blade is a great idea. While as I've read the chisel grind is not universal in it's appeal. I for one love it. It gets crazy sharp with my Razor Edge sharpening system and stays sharp with use. Some have explained difficulty sharpening these grinds, it's not hard it's different. If your used to driving a car with a steering wheel and some company starts using a control stick some people will adapt better to the control stick than others. Same goes for the chisel grind. I guess I adapted to it well because it's awsome!
The blade shape is notorious for being poor for utility. In my eyes again this is a misconception. In my 3 days of using the blade shape I have yet to have it let my down. But then again I don't have any animals to gut and I have kitchen knives to use on food so I guess my idea of utility use varies from others.
Emerson's Hardchrome blade coating is well.....intersting. Mine shows fingerprints easily, but I like the look and it seems more durable than those BT black coatings. I still would prefer a genuine satin finish.
The Lock
I've read many times on Bladeforums.com that people think Emerson Knives Inc. uses liners that are too thin. They apear to be just as thick as benchmade and other large companies liners. I have seen a Strider AR and all that liner adds alot of unneeded weight. I have tried very hard but not "stupid hard" to disengage the lock by means other than how you nowmally would and it has held wonerfully. The liner on my example rests about 20% of the way across the blade. I have no doubts about it's ability as a safty device. If you want a LOCKING fool proof folder you need a fixed blade.
Fit and Finish
I'm no expert so this will be brief and to the point.
The liners and handle scales line up perfectly around the entire handle. The blade grinds are clean and and the original edge was semetrical and well done. After taking the knife apart, the liners have a rough satin finish but is smooth to the touch. They had a slight patina that was easily cleaned off with a small dab of Flitz and a piece of felt cloth.
Action
This is the only gripe about the CQC7 that I have. no matter how well lubed the action hasn't smoothed out much. It's not bad but it's not as glassy smooth as the Almar SERE2000 I traded to get the CQC7. If I tighten the pivot to take out all blade play it's action is hard to open, If I loosen it just a tad and put up with .5mm blade play the action is acceptable. this isn't magor by any means and I contribute the not so smooth action to the plastic? washers and blade coating. This could be wrong though.
Conclusion
The Emerson 2002 CQC7B is a great knife with alot of promise. The Company and Namesake of the company are both strong. You get a great knife and a world class company behind it for a meager price. Emerson has from what I've heard had Quality Control problems in the past but all is clear from my point of view. If you can't afford a handmade CQC5/6/7 the production model is a great fill in. If I had to I would without a doubt put my life in the hands of my CQC7. There seems to be a large group of people who love and admire Emerson knives and Now I understand why.
Only one question. Why aren't they suggested more around here when people ask for advice on what to get?
