- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
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- 2,846
So the story on the website was that while cleaning they found a couple of boxes of old Specwar blades from way back when, and decided to make a limited run of knives using these blades. This was maybe two years ago? I just checked the Website, and they are no longer listed.
So about 8 months ago I found this one sitting in the Emerson display case at my local shop. Noticing that it was different from your average Emerson, I checked it out. Upon realizing what I had in my hand, I jumped on it.
Notice the Year stamp 2001, the hard chrome plating on the blade, and no serial number. Old school Emerson Indeed.
Notice also the 4 standoffs, instead of a back spacer. New school Emerson.
First let me deal with the only negative issue. The knife right out of the box was not so sharp. The serrations were fine, but the plain edge bevel was ground at about 45*. The only Emerson I have ever seen that was not razor sharp out of box. I re-profiled it to 30*, and it is now much sharper, though it is a little thick behind the edge, I guess this is because it is a rather narrow saber ground blade.
Specs:
3.5 inch combo blade
Nylatron washers
154 CM blade steel with hard chrome plating
Titanium liner lock
No wave feature
Thumb disk opening
Clip point point
G10 handle scales
Open pillar construction
I dont have a scale, so Im not sure of the weight, but it's on the light side for an Emerson, about the same as my large Sebenza, or my A-100, so I'm guessing around 4.5 ish ounces.
Ergonomics:
The Knife overall is sleek, and narrow. It rides in the pocket extremely well, and takes up very little pocket space. In hand it feels very comfortable, and molds itself to my grip. the edges of the scales are smoothly beveled, and it feels equally good in the forward (hammer grip), saber, or reverse (ice pick) grip, and in the inverted forward grip. Not as good in the inverted reverse grip, but I've found very few knives that work well in this grip.
The handle has no hot spots, and the placement of the pocket clip is unobtrusive. The G10 is the typical very grippy Emerson texture.
The only jimping on the knife is on the liners and slightly recessed in the scales. Much like a CQC-7. If you rally dig your thumb in, it grabs pretty wel, yet it is onobtrusive in a hammer grip.
Here's the jimping:
Fit & Finish:
As good as it gets with Emerson. All Parts are well fit, lockup is early and very solid with no blade play in any direction.
Liners and scale edges are not perfectly flush, but are smooth and even all the way around with absolutely no sharp edges, Like all of my other Emersons.
Blade centering is good, maybe not perfect, but very good.
Other than my Sheepdog and Iron Dragon which run on ball bearings, this is the smoothest Emerson I have ever felt out of box. As a mater of fact, it was smoother out of box than all of my already broken in Emersons, and has only gotten better.
There was also no lock stick or wear in of the lock at all. The lock started early and solid, and has not moved at all. This is the only Emerson i've ever had that had no break in period at all. I am guessing that the smoothness of the action and the lock is due to the hard chrome plating on the blade, but I have no other knives with this type of blade treatment with which to compare.
Here's The lockup:
Here's the blade centering: Note the robust tip:
The handle uses 4 standoffs, and they are straight, tight, and solid. I think with 4 standoffs on a knife this size, there will be no problems with strength.
Performance:
For a general EDC it's good. It cuts things, and has a very robust pointy tip. It is a very tough knife, and feels like it could take some punishment, but if your looking for a Light Saber that can cut paper thin tomato slices, this aint the knife. If your looking for a knife that can cut, scrape, open sacks of concrete, cut rope, rubber hose, plastic, cardboard etc, and laugh it off, this is a good one.
As far as a tactical blade, It's 3.5 inches, sharp, pointy, has a strong tip, a very solid purchase in the hand, and I believe the nub that protrudes from the top of the handle can be used as a glass breaker. One handed opening is easy, and there is enough room around the thumb disk for easy left handed opening as well. So I feel it would do well in an emergency defense situation. Just Keep in mind It's not waved.
The blade finish is also extremely tough, scratch, and corrosion resistant. Mine still looks brand new after 8 months of carry and moderate use.
In conclusion:
If you want a tough folder that is reasonably light and compact, carries well, and cuts things; the Specwar is a good choice.
It aint pocket jewelry, it aint refined, and it aint "over built", but it's like the ugly girl at the dance; she aint real pretty, but she'll go all night long.
So about 8 months ago I found this one sitting in the Emerson display case at my local shop. Noticing that it was different from your average Emerson, I checked it out. Upon realizing what I had in my hand, I jumped on it.
Notice the Year stamp 2001, the hard chrome plating on the blade, and no serial number. Old school Emerson Indeed.
Notice also the 4 standoffs, instead of a back spacer. New school Emerson.
First let me deal with the only negative issue. The knife right out of the box was not so sharp. The serrations were fine, but the plain edge bevel was ground at about 45*. The only Emerson I have ever seen that was not razor sharp out of box. I re-profiled it to 30*, and it is now much sharper, though it is a little thick behind the edge, I guess this is because it is a rather narrow saber ground blade.
Specs:
3.5 inch combo blade
Nylatron washers
154 CM blade steel with hard chrome plating
Titanium liner lock
No wave feature
Thumb disk opening
Clip point point
G10 handle scales
Open pillar construction
I dont have a scale, so Im not sure of the weight, but it's on the light side for an Emerson, about the same as my large Sebenza, or my A-100, so I'm guessing around 4.5 ish ounces.
Ergonomics:
The Knife overall is sleek, and narrow. It rides in the pocket extremely well, and takes up very little pocket space. In hand it feels very comfortable, and molds itself to my grip. the edges of the scales are smoothly beveled, and it feels equally good in the forward (hammer grip), saber, or reverse (ice pick) grip, and in the inverted forward grip. Not as good in the inverted reverse grip, but I've found very few knives that work well in this grip.
The handle has no hot spots, and the placement of the pocket clip is unobtrusive. The G10 is the typical very grippy Emerson texture.
The only jimping on the knife is on the liners and slightly recessed in the scales. Much like a CQC-7. If you rally dig your thumb in, it grabs pretty wel, yet it is onobtrusive in a hammer grip.
Here's the jimping:
Fit & Finish:
As good as it gets with Emerson. All Parts are well fit, lockup is early and very solid with no blade play in any direction.
Liners and scale edges are not perfectly flush, but are smooth and even all the way around with absolutely no sharp edges, Like all of my other Emersons.
Blade centering is good, maybe not perfect, but very good.
Other than my Sheepdog and Iron Dragon which run on ball bearings, this is the smoothest Emerson I have ever felt out of box. As a mater of fact, it was smoother out of box than all of my already broken in Emersons, and has only gotten better.
There was also no lock stick or wear in of the lock at all. The lock started early and solid, and has not moved at all. This is the only Emerson i've ever had that had no break in period at all. I am guessing that the smoothness of the action and the lock is due to the hard chrome plating on the blade, but I have no other knives with this type of blade treatment with which to compare.
Here's The lockup:
Here's the blade centering: Note the robust tip:
The handle uses 4 standoffs, and they are straight, tight, and solid. I think with 4 standoffs on a knife this size, there will be no problems with strength.
Performance:
For a general EDC it's good. It cuts things, and has a very robust pointy tip. It is a very tough knife, and feels like it could take some punishment, but if your looking for a Light Saber that can cut paper thin tomato slices, this aint the knife. If your looking for a knife that can cut, scrape, open sacks of concrete, cut rope, rubber hose, plastic, cardboard etc, and laugh it off, this is a good one.
As far as a tactical blade, It's 3.5 inches, sharp, pointy, has a strong tip, a very solid purchase in the hand, and I believe the nub that protrudes from the top of the handle can be used as a glass breaker. One handed opening is easy, and there is enough room around the thumb disk for easy left handed opening as well. So I feel it would do well in an emergency defense situation. Just Keep in mind It's not waved.
The blade finish is also extremely tough, scratch, and corrosion resistant. Mine still looks brand new after 8 months of carry and moderate use.
In conclusion:
If you want a tough folder that is reasonably light and compact, carries well, and cuts things; the Specwar is a good choice.
It aint pocket jewelry, it aint refined, and it aint "over built", but it's like the ugly girl at the dance; she aint real pretty, but she'll go all night long.
