Tell me about Emerson...

ginshun

ginshun

Joined
Apr 6, 2004
Messages
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I know they are high quality knives, but are they really worth the extra money you pay over a BM or a Spyderco? I see all the Emersons, and while I am sure they are nice, I just don't know if its worth the extra $50 or so to get a knife made with the same (or sometimes not as good) materials.

What do you guys think?
 
All three are good manufactures, you wont go very wrong with either three.
Have a look at the knives and pick one that suits your purpose, that looks decent to you and fits your hand.

You can research what others have thought of the knives as well, according the above criteria.

Really depends what you're using it for and what you like.
 
The way *I* see it:

(people that go to Emerson's page will understand the humor).

Much of the reason Emerson knives cost more is that the company is smaller. BM and Spyderco can afford to charge less and make less profit per sale because they make more sales (volume).

Does that mean Emersons are rip-offs? Not in my opinion. But I would say they aren't as good of a value as comperable Spydercos and Benchmades. However, that also doesn't mean that a BM or Spyderco is the right choice for you.

They way I see it (again) is that you should buy the knives you want, as long as you can afford it and feel it is worth it. If an Emerson Commander appeals to you more than a Manix, get the Commander. The Manix might be the better deal, but it isn't the knife you want. Or maybe you will want both. Or neither.

Some of the knives I want cost 10 bucks. Some cost 800. As long as the knife is worth the price, I will try to get it (if I can afford it). Some of them are great values, some aren't so much. But they are all worth the money, IMO.

Also, a knife goes beyond the materials to cost ratio. Yeah, if you look at two knives with the same materials and one costs more, it may seem like not a good deal. But what about the looks? The ergonomics? The unexplainable factors such as "gotta have it" factor and "wow" factor.

The knife that isn't such a good value might be the one you want. That is why, despite the inferior "on-paper" value of Emersons, they continue to sell. Emerson buyers see something or feel something in the Emerson that they don't in the BM or Spyderco and are willing to pay extra for it.

Is there some hidden thing about Emersons that make them worth the extra money? No. They don't grant wishes and they aren't blessed by virgin blood (unless Emerson owners are keeping a secret). But a knife is more than how good of a bargain it is in terms of materials versus price. There are many subjective things that can make a knife "worth it" in reality even though it looks like a bad buy on paper.

BTW, I own 3 Spydies, 3 BMs and no Emersons, so I am not just trying to stick up for a brand because I am biased.
 
In a way, Emerson was part of was transformed the "tactical" trend to supernova phenom. The stage was set by many, including Emerson's CQC6, and the joint release of the AFCK and CQC7 by Benchmade really lit the fuse.

There's no doubt that with an Emerson, you're paying a premium just for the name on the blade. That's not a terrible thing; arguably the guy deserves it. His designs are top shelf, functionality above aesthetics, and the wave is a great invention.

On the downside, and you'll hear both sides of this argument, there are those who don't trust liner locks, and EKI's liner locks in particular. I'm with that group, and it keeps my from ever picking up an Emerson regardless of how much I love his designs. For others, it's a don't-care, and they do buy Emersons.
 
In the vein of the Spyderco-Emerson cooperation, I'm waiting for a Benchmade-Emerson combination product. Maybe then I can get a beefy tactical folder with the wave opening and the Axis Lock that's so much better than an EKI liner lock it's scary. At least without adding zip ties to my Benchmade Grip and AFCK's, anyway. :)

I could be waiting a long, long time. :p
 
Hair said:
The way *I* see it:

(people that go to Emerson's page will understand the humor).

Much of the reason Emerson knives cost more is that the company is smaller. BM and Spyderco can afford to charge less and make less profit per sale because they make more sales (volume).

Does that mean Emersons are rip-offs? Not in my opinion. But I would say they aren't as good of a value as comperable Spydercos and Benchmades. However, that also doesn't mean that a BM or Spyderco is the right choice for you.

They way I see it (again) is that you should buy the knives you want, as long as you can afford it and feel it is worth it. If an Emerson Commander appeals to you more than a Manix, get the Commander. The Manix might be the better deal, but it isn't the knife you want. Or maybe you will want both. Or neither.

Some of the knives I want cost 10 bucks. Some cost 800. As long as the knife is worth the price, I will try to get it (if I can afford it). Some of them are great values, some aren't so much. But they are all worth the money, IMO.

Also, a knife goes beyond the materials to cost ratio. Yeah, if you look at two knives with the same materials and one costs more, it may seem like not a good deal. But what about the looks? The ergonomics? The unexplainable factors such as "gotta have it" factor and "wow" factor.

The knife that isn't such a good value might be the one you want. That is why, despite the inferior "on-paper" value of Emersons, they continue to sell. Emerson buyers see something or feel something in the Emerson that they don't in the BM or Spyderco and are willing to pay extra for it.

Is there some hidden thing about Emersons that make them worth the extra money? No. They don't grant wishes and they aren't blessed by virgin blood (unless Emerson owners are keeping a secret). But a knife is more than how good of a bargain it is in terms of materials versus price. There are many subjective things that can make a knife "worth it" in reality even though it looks like a bad buy on paper.

BTW, I own 3 Spydies, 3 BMs and no Emersons, so I am not just trying to stick up for a brand because I am biased.
Click to expand...

well i think this is a very ballanced explanation.so 2 thumbs up:thumbup: :thumbup: for hair
 
HornsKeith said:
In the vein of the Spyderco-Emerson cooperation, I'm waiting for a Benchmade-Emerson combination product. Maybe then I can get a beefy tactical folder with the wave opening and the Axis Lock that's so much better than an EKI liner lock it's scary. At least without adding zip ties to my Benchmade Grip and AFCK's, anyway. :)

I could be waiting a long, long time. :p
Click to expand...

took the words rite outta my mouth.how about a commander with an axis lock?
 
Here is my take on the knives. They are all good. I really like my para mili and it is about a good of cutter as one could ask for. I like older BM products specifically the AFCK and CQC series. The 910 ain't bad either. As for EKI I like the CQC7 series an edc a b model pretty much all the time over and above my other knives. I just picked up a frame lock Comm. done by Matt Cucharra, the first one he ever did. I have had some customs and alot of higher end folders and always seem to go back to the 7b. So for it its worth take everything with a grain of salt. Find you like and stick with it. keepem sharp
 
I love the Emerson designs. I mean I really really love them but I won't spend that much on a knife with a liner lock. I like my fingers too much.
 
I started a thread about the his newest design (CQC-15) since I too like the designs of his knives as well. The aggressive "form factor", the ergos and the "Wave" innovation are proof of this. That being said, I've read WAAAAYYY too mamy quality control issues over the years to feel comfortable investing money on the knives.
 
Tons of people love Ernie's knives, and here are some reasons why.

They're built like tanks. Big, thick pivots, beefy G-10 scales (really, a better term might be slabs, or boulders :D ), thick blades with a strong chisel ground secondary bevel.

They're adjustable using normal tools (flathead and philips screws, not those silly torx screws that strip so easily and require special drivers. Chances are, you already own all the tools you'll need to adjust your Emerson, especially if you own a SAK).

The ergonomics are superb. Once you hold an EKI knife in your hand, you'll be hard-pressed to find another whose handle is so well-suited to the contours of the hand.

The liner lock is well-engineered. As with any company, there is the occasional lemon. However, if this happens with an Emerson, you can fix it yourself! Should you not wish to do so, Ernie will make it right. Also, to ensure that the liner lock is as strong as it needs to be, the locking liner is now made thicker than the opposing liner. Some people might say "i don't want my fingers to get cut" or "I hate liner locks, especially Emersons," but I'd like to know how many of those people have actually had an EKI knife fail and cause injury (especially if they were to make sure the lock was correctly operating beforehand).

The Wave feature is awesome. I don't use it every time I open mine, but sometimes I find it extremely convenient. And, should you need to access your knife quickly in an emergency/accident situation, you have it instantly available. Knives equipped with the Wave are pretty much the ideal rescue knives.

The GRIND. Emersons have a chisel-ground secondary bevel. Some are fully chisel-ground, meaning one side of the blade is completely flat. Some have a standard V-grind all the way down to the secondary bevel, which is chisel-ground. I have a CQC-10 that is ground this way (modified V-grind). They handle slightly differently from a traditional V-grind, especially if you're trying to whittle a stick, but it's easy to get used to it. They're simple to sharpen since you've only got to worry about one side, and the edge is very durable. For utility purposes, they work just as well as any other grind.

I know this may sound biased, but I don't intend it to be. I like many knife companies, from modern tactical makers to traditional styles, and I enjoy them all because of their differences. This post is not meant to say that EKI knives are superior to any others, nor is it my intention to put anyone down. I only wanted to illuminate a little bit why some of us are die-hard Emerson fans. :)
Hope this helps.

Peace.
Alex.
 
puukkoman said:
The Wave feature is awesome. I don't use it every time I open mine, but sometimes I find it extremely convenient. And, should you need to access your knife quickly in an emergency/accident situation, you have it instantly available. Knives equipped with the Wave are pretty much the ideal rescue knives.
Click to expand...

Honestly, I love the wave too, but there were too many negatives about the rest of the knife with too many other companies offering big positives in those areas. So, doing the best I can, I have two Benchmade knives with zip ties on their thumb holes (mini-Grip and AFCK), which is sort of the best compromise I can come up with.

I'd love to have either a solid Benchmade with the wave (710, 806D2, or even a 960) or an Emerson with the Axis Lock. I know Emerson has frame locks, but I still have a strong preference to not put any part of my finger across where the blade is closing if I don't have to. And with the Axis Lock (and its clones), I don't have to.

All that to say that I'd love to have an Emerson if they had a different lock.
 
I've sort of drifted away from the zip ties ... I've decided that they're reliable enough for utility opening, but not reliable enough for under-stress defensive opening. I'm sticking with either real waves (which as a practical matter means Spydercos, since I won't buy Emersons due to their locks) or will use a dremel to carve my own wave into knives with opening holes.
 
I personally like emersons. I only have one (socfk-a) but have held most of em. I like thier designs overall probably more than any other co. Thier liners are on the thin side, and some people say they've had lock problems. My lock is solid though, and I wont hesitate to buy another (comm. or 13) in the near future. Some lock problems may be to excessive waving- and that not an excuss, just a possiblity. All in all, I'd say thier neck and neck with bm and spyderco.
Also, I think my 806 zip tied opens better than most emersons I've tried, depending on the pants. I cant bring myself to grind it.
 
HornsKeith said:
I'd love to have either a solid Benchmade with the wave (710, 806D2, or even a 960) or an Emerson with the Axis Lock.
All that to say that I'd love to have an Emerson if they had a different lock.
Click to expand...

Whoa! Somebody read my mind! :D
 
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