Sent My CQC6 to Emerson to be refurbished...

David T

David T

Joined
Nov 30, 1999
Messages
411
Well, after a letter and an e-mail with Ernie Emerson, I sent my CQC6 in to be refurbished. I wanted the micarta handles replaced with new ones. The old ones had worn down to a beige, almost smooth finish. Screws & pocket clip replaced and other minor things. Ernie Emerson said two weeks, not bad considering that he's busy with his company. Any one else ever sent a knife in to be refurbished?
Regards,
David
 
I haven't sent my CQC6 for refurbishing, but it was recommeded by a few that I send it to John Smith instead. He apparently can do a better job and charges around $25 for the whole job.

But I am sure Emerson does a fine job as well...they are his knives!

How much does the refurbishing cost?
 
I've heard of John Smith doing refurbishing on Emersons. I've also heard that he does an excellent job. I've personally never dealt with him. Emerson is charging me $20.00. I'm not too concerned with the price but rather with the turn around time. I can live with 2 weeks. How long does John Smith take.
David
 
I purchased a 6 aftermarket that had been refurbished by John Smith and it was nicer than a new one. He does a great job!

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Al
 
I've had two knives redone by Ernie. One was a 1980's one-of-a-kind gent's knife, and one was a prototype of recent vintage. Both times he turned them around in days, and charged 20-25 bucks. But, I'd have to agree that John W. Smith will make your knife look better than new for the same $25 and you have no time concerns. Either way you can't lose.
 
Hey jbravo,
how recently did you send your knives to Emerson. The reason why I ask is I want to get an idea of the time frame of how busy he is or was. Thanks
David
 
What exactly does John Smith do to the knife when he refurbishes it. How is it different than Emerson's technique. Better finish? better fit? Thanks
David
 
I sent the last one to him just after the March knife show in NYC, which was a reasonably busy time for him. I got the knife back - with the blade resharpened and re-beadblasted - in less than seven days. I don't know if that's representative of now, but it was pretty impressive to me. What John Smith seems to do (I don't know for sure) is take the knife apart, refinish it with a better edge than new, and refit it with smoother joins,etc. As we all know, Ernie makes a tactical knife, not a pretty one, and his attention to detail is not all it could be. (Even on the damascus and pearl knives, the fit and finish is tactical quality) So a John Smith version is what it should have been like straight out of the box. Probably the biggest concern I'd have, in sending an older 6 to ERE, is whether it would come back with a secondary bevel on the edge, since I think that is the kiss of death in terms of the value of his 6's. If it doesn't have a single bevel to the edge, there is some question about the sole authorship. At least, that's my considered opinion, and I've owned/own over a dozen of them.
 
are you guys saying that the maker John W. Smith from Kentucky works on other maker's knives?
If this is true, wonder if I can get him to put a pocket clip on my Terzuola ATCF? Bob will only put them on tip up and I dont like it that way.
BTW, John W.Smith makes really great knives himself. I have one of his model 1's, it's great. From what I heard from Les R., he's more into making art knives now than users,though.
Thanks for any help

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lifter
Phil. 4:13

Dave
Wharton,NJ


 
Hey Ronald,
I don't have his phone number but I have his web site:http://members.tripod.com/~smithknives/index.html

BTW, my CQC"67" has the secondary bevel on the edge. It looks machine sharpened, while my 6 has the single bevel. Mary Emerson said that my 6 is old & was sharpened by hand.

[This message has been edited by David T (edited 01-10-2000).]
 
I sent a CQC-6 back to Ernie in October for blade refinishing. It was a particularly busy time for him, and it took 2 months to get the knife back. When it came back, it looked better than when it was new, and he didn't charge me a cent, not even for shipping.
 
On the subject of John W. Smith.

First, do not send your knives to John. He cleaned up some knives for me more out of friendship than anything else. He is not in the business of refurbishing knives from other makers.

John is one of the best folder makers in the world. I feel that one day, he will be recognized as the "best" folder maker in the world.

What John has done for me is primarily re-bead blasting, buffing and some sharpening. Most of this work is cosmetic.

I am in a different situation as most of you. One, Im friends with John. Second, to put it mildly Emerson and I do not see "eye to eye".
Consequently, I will not send his knives to him to be refinished.

This should not stop you from doing this. Especially, if you received the knife directly from him.

Les
 
Hey Pigsticker,
What exactly did Emerson do to your knife, how did it look when you got it back. How long did he originally quote you. Thanks
David
 
I had accidently dropped the knife, which put some scratches on the flat side of the blade. When I got the blade back, it had a more even satin finish to it. He originally quoted 3 - 4 weeks for refinishing. The extra wait didn't bother me. Things came up for him which caused a delay. No big deal.
 
I've seen some refurbished Emersons out in the secondary market & well......they look refurbished. Bead blasting looks new & uneven. Logo on blade almost gone. I don't know who did the refurbishing, but I would feel better if Emerson did the work himself. After all, he made the knife. Besides, as Les said, John Smith is not in the business of refurbishing other makers knives so therefore I wouldn't even know who else to send it to.
 
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