spyderco millie vs. emerson CQC-7

Those are both nice knives. I have bought both and thought they each had their pluses and minuses. The waved feature of the Emerson is fun, and allows for lightning fast deployment, though may be tough on your pockets. The Tanto blade of the CQQ-7 is strong, a bit more difficult to sharpen, not available in the variety of steel offered with the Military (D2, S30V, S90V,etc ), and generally less versitile.
The Military is a LARGE knife, which may be problematic on a college campus (check your campus, and local policies/laws). Have you considered a Waved Endura or Delica? I generally prefer plain blades, but for opening boxed, stapping material, rope, etc. you may want to consider a serrated blade. I've toyed with the idea of a waved, serrated Spyderco Rescue, or perhaps one of the serrated hawkbills for opening boxes, cutting strapping material, etc.
You may even want to consider TWO knives for the price of the Military or CQC-7. Like a Benchmade Grip, plus a Spyderco or Byrd.
 
I'm a Spydie guy, but I just bought a CQC-7 with the wave and it's awesome. I was disappointed with the edge to start with, but I slightly convexed it and it's like a razor now. At work I slice up boxes with it all night, no problems, also you can't get away from the fact that the Wave feature really makes it fun and useful for SD
 
There's a general bias toward Spyderco over Emerson on these forums on top of a bias against chisel grinds and tantos. So I imagine that many folks will pick the Millie over the CQC-7 because of those biases. I personally have no problem with tantos, chisel grinds and I like both Spyderco and Emerson designs. What I would consider in choosing between these two models:

Military:
-Bigger blade. Can be either a pro or a con depending on your preference
-Pro: Radiused tang designed for extra security for the liner lock design. I don't know if it actually provides more security over "regular liner lock designs, but the concept is interesting.
-Tip down only. Can be pro or con depending on pref.
-Pro: Better ergos in my experience than the 7
-Finger choil: I personally would consider this a "pro". For me it adds to the ergos and adds another feature for security in case the lock fails. All locking folders can fail.
-Open construction for easier cleaning

CQC-7:
-Pro: Wave. I'm guessing you like the wave feature since you're not considering the CQC-7B waveless.
-Pro: Easy sharpening. Both knives are fairly easy to sharpen, but the tanto design is easier
-Con: When I squeeze hard on the grip, the liner begins to disengage. It might just be a problem for me since I don't read much about this complaint. It also happens somewhat on the Millie for me but not as much.
-Tip up carry. Depends on pref.

Both companies have great reputations for excellent customer service. The choice for me might ultimately depend on what I have in my current collection. If I'm looking for variety in my EDC rotation, I'd go with the one that's the most different from my other knives. This is one of the situations where you can't lose whichever way you go. Both of the models can handle any reasonable EDC task you might require from utility to self defense. I doubt you'll ever be in a situation with say the Military and be thinking "if I only bought that CQC-7 I'd be able to do this cutting job..." and vice versa.
 
Kaizen1,
Do you really find the tanto easier to sharpen? I am familiar with sharpening chisel grinds (especially on japanese chisels and planes) but found that if I couldn't flatten the back of the blade without marring the blade terribly I had it engraved with my son's name plus the USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor as a graduation gift from boot camp and was afraid of abrading the finish and the etchings. Also, as I remember, the thumb stud/disk got in the way too. I guess if hadn't been so concerned with the finish, I could have sharpened it correctly.
I find the Millie blade much easier to sharpen, especially with a SharpMaker.
 
You say you are on a campus...college campus? You may want to check the rules on knife carry first. A Spyderco Military is a big knife and not very subtle when you pork it out in front of others. Paramilitary might be a better choice, just my humble .2 cents. I find the Spyderco's to be sharper out of the box than Emerson chisel grinds. Also, would a big pointy blade be a liability working as an EMT? Perhaps a seperate rescue type knife with a rounded point might be better for the EMT stuff.
 
DoctaD said:
Kaizen1,
Do you really find the tanto easier to sharpen? I am familiar with sharpening chisel grinds (especially on japanese chisels and planes) but found that if I couldn't flatten the back of the blade without marring the blade terribly I had it engraved with my son's name plus the USMC Eagle Globe and Anchor as a graduation gift from boot camp and was afraid of abrading the finish and the etchings. Also, as I remember, the thumb stud/disk got in the way too. I guess if hadn't been so concerned with the finish, I could have sharpened it correctly.
I find the Millie blade much easier to sharpen, especially with a SharpMaker.
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I think I understand why you're having issues with chisel grinds. I won't lay the flat side completely down like you've tried. What I do is sharpen the non-flat side until I have a good burr throughout the edge and then I'll take off the burr by swiping the flat side, but I'll do it at an angle as if the flat side was V-ground. I'll keep the angle as acute as possible, generally about as low as I can get without hitting the thumb disk. I'll only sharpen that side to take off the burr. So yes, it will create a slight bevel over time on that flat side, but it's nothing significant. I hope I'm explaining this clearly.

I had an Emerson CQC-7B that I gave to a friend and I sharpen his knife whenever it gets dull. He uses his knives rougher than I use mine because of his work. He always has a chip in the edge when he hands me one of his knives for sharpening. The CQC-7 is a lot easier to sharpen because I don't have to change the angle as I'm swiping the blade on the stone like when I have a knife with a belly.
 
Waved endura 4...best of both worlds :D
you get the wave and opening hole which are my two favourite deployment methods, you get a VG-10 blade which is a hair better than 154CM in terms of holding and edge and ease of sharpening (it's also not a tanto and has a normal V grind which might make life easier for you), the only thing you don't get, is the Emerson ergos and a g-10 handle. The endura is no slouch when it comes to ergonomics and comfort though.

If you have to choose either the Military or the 7, I would probably pick the 7 cause the military is more sheeple unfriendly (since you plan on carrying it at campus).
 
CarlBagget said:
I really like the Benchmade and the Emerson versions I have. I do feel the old Benchmade version is better.
I tried the Military for months. It is too lightweight and feels flimsy.
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The Military is pretty lightweight for its size, but to me thats a plus. In NO WAY does it feel flimsy. Its one of the most popular production folders for a reason.
 
Something I'd like to point out, all of my Emersons (2 CQC-12s; the "best" Emerson out there other than the customs) have flimsy locks. They are frame locks, but the locks feel so weak. Sebenza, Umnumzaan, SNG, SMF, the new Benchmade Lum design frame lock, even my Spyderco Military (again, I'm not a fan of Spyderco) have better lock IMHO. I don't know about Emerson liner locks though, but I'm guessing the same.
 
I have the Millie but not the CQC7. It cuts like a laser out of the box, and the blade shape is very nice and versatile. For campus carry it's not the best. Even in bright, cheerful orange I still get stares.

You may want to pick up something small and cute as well in order to avoid scaring the peasants.

The Emerson wave is pretty awesome. I ghetto-waved my D4, Millie, folding comb and clamshell phone. :D
 
beluga said:
Something I'd like to point out, all of my Emersons (2 CQC-12s; the "best" Emerson out there other than the customs) have flimsy locks. They are frame locks, but the locks feel so weak. Sebenza, Umnumzaan, SNG, SMF, the new Benchmade Lum design frame lock, even my Spyderco Military (again, I'm not a fan of Spyderco) have better lock IMHO. I don't know about Emerson liner locks though, but I'm guessing the same.
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This has been my experience with the production Emerson frame locks (HD-7 & CQC-12). All of the ones that I've handled have had REALLY thin cut outs on the lock bar. However, the liner locks interestingly enough do not feel that way. They feel much sturdier. They feel about the same as the Militaries that I've handled.
 
I had them both and my take would be the millie. Keeping in mind that the millie is huge and may scare people around, I would suggest to look into the paramillie
F
 
Kaizen1 said:
Thanks for the reply. I ended up using a similar method to sharpen the one I got for my son. I could get a pretty good edge on it, but I didn't think that it was as fine as it could have been. But for a rough use knife, the opposite micro bevel was fine.
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Seriously, the waved Endura is about $70 if you look around. The Military is $160 and the CQC-7 is around the same price (I think). The endura is one of those knives that just about any knife collector NEEDS to have. Plus, it won't send everyone running when you pull it out.
 
The Millie simply CUTS better, way better. And last time I checked, that's what we use knives for.
Also, FLIMSY???? Only to the untrained eye/hand.
The Military is one of the toughest folders I've ever had (I've got 9).
Also, I really DO think that the Emerson uses FLIMSY titanium liners. I've had many Emersons mess up on me - Due to EXTRA QUICK wear of the locking liner. Plus, I hate those screws they use, and the grind on the blades is (for me at least) a HALF-a$$ grind.
 
Herr_Noobien said:
They also seem to need extensive breaking in...
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And once broke-in they become broken, if you actually use a emerson they will need service in about 8 months. Some have thicker liners like the CQC-13 but others like my commander and CQC-8 have standard thickness liners and have been disappointing to say the least. My CQC-8 is a safe queen and sees no use, only the occasional opening and closing to admire it. There is not even a mark on the pocket clip and yet the liner is almost wore out, if you grab the blade and move side to side to check for blade play the liner will shift along with it.:(

I love emerson's for ergonomics and design but I just can't trust the lock.
 
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