Tell me about Emersons

colubrid

colubrid

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I have never owned one so talk me into buying on. Or talk me out of it.

Always steered away from Emerson knives because i never really knew much except they don't have a great quality yet cost more of the same as BM and spydercos.

Tell me something good about them besides the advert i read on the Emerson sub forum by the owner (I read it and know what he says)

BTW, I didn't want to post there because i wanted objective opinions.

So lets compare a CQC-7 which i am interested in. How would that compare to a Spyderco para Military or a Griptilian in the same price range? Whats good or better about the Emersons?
 
Can't help ya with a 7. I have a mini-15 and a micro-Commander. I gotta say that I have no problem at all with the quality of either knife. Both the materials and workmanship are fine on mine. They aren't "pretty" like some knives that are highly finished, polished, slicked up, and ready to go to town, but I don't like that kind of finish anyway. My mini-15 is my work knife that goes to the warehouse, the garden, and my woods out back as well as getting carried on any hiking trips. Mine is a PE coated blade. I handled several at a local B&M before I decided on this one. Blade centering and lockup are two things that I'm really obsessive about with a new knife. I wanted a centered blade and a liner that started life as a very early lockup. I found those in the black blade mini-15 that I bought. It's only a few weeks old but so far it's still the way it came out of the box. Very solid lockup, everything about the knife is still tight, and I'm even getting a little better accustomed to the V grind with only one sharpened edge.

The thing I like about the mini-15 is that it feels like a knife to me. I grew up totin' a Buck 110 or 112 everywhere, and they ain't lightweights. This Emerson feels like I could pound with it like I used to do with those Bucks. I have not been reluctant to pull it out and use it for whatever dirty job I've run across at work or at home, and I just can't bring myself to do that with some of my other knives, even less expensive ones.

Time will tell how well the mini-15 holds up, but I have no issues and no complaints so far. Just be aware that all Emerson's, even the V ground ones, are only sharpened on one side and the recommended sharpening techniques are somewhat "different" than many of us are used to.
 
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I stand behind my Emersons. I went from a pretty diverse collection with Spydercos (Military, Karambit, Endura, Matriarchs), Benchmade (Infidel), and others to mostly Emersons if that means anything. I say get one off the exchange and see how you like it.
 
I've been playing the knife game for a long time but never owned an Emerson until this month, when I bought a CQC-7 and CQC-8.

In my subjective opinion, there is nothing wrong with these knives, but nothing spectacular about them either. Sorta thick in the handle, and a little on the heavy side. Solid folders that give the impression you could dig and pry with them. I adjusted the pivot on the CQC-8, but can't reach that magic spot where you can flick it open but it still has no blade play. Both are just a little stiff to open. Not a fan of the wave nor the thumb disk, but thats just me.

The CQC-8 at $180 - $200 is overpriced IMO. The QCQ-7 seems to have a small blade to handle ratio.

Ernest Emerson telling us what a tough guy he is, and how his knives supposedly were carried by the guys who whacked Bin Laden - well, thats almost enough reason right there not to buy one.

Again, there is nothing objectively wrong with these knives, though I prefer a thumb stud or Spydie hole. But there is also nothing that makes me think they are great knives, either. Bottom line for me is that they are good quality folders with beefy construction, but too spendy for what you get. I'll probably sell the QCQ-7, and I almost never sell knives.

For defensive purposes, I much prefer the Military for its lightning fast flickability and excellent ergos. And being thinner, it carries easier. I could see carrying an Emerson if you were humping it across Iraq and needed a blade to pry, dig and so forth.

Get yourself an Emerson if you are into it, and see for yourself. You could always unload it without losing too much.

IMG_2192.jpg

CQC-8.
 
colubrid said:
I have never owned one so talk me into buying on. Or talk me out of it.

Always steered away from Emerson knives because i never really knew much except they don't have a great quality yet cost more of the same as BM and spydercos.

Tell me something good about them besides the advert i read on the Emerson sub forum by the owner (I read it and know what he says)

BTW, I didn't want to post there because i wanted objective opinions.

So lets compare a CQC-7 which i am interested in. How would that compare to a Spyderco para Military or a Griptilian in the same price range? Whats good or better about the Emersons?
Click to expand...

No matter where you post, it's still the same site. The same people that post there can find this thread. The brand has its fans and its detractors. The easiest way to get to the bottom of it is pick one up off the exchange and see for yourself (if you don't wnt to pay full price). There are also a bunch of threads on this very topic, one in particular you might find helpful is this one.
 
I just fixed up the Super CQC-7w I gave to my brother a year ago. He says he rarely cuts with it, though I see massive chips along the tanto tip(not micro-chipping, but clearly visible to the naked eye). Quite disappointing for a steel that's heat treated so soft. Another thing that's troubling is the up and down blade play, which seems to be related to the liner, as I see and hear the thing move left as I wiggle the blade, almost enough to disengage the lock. Though a spine tap doesn't close it, it doesn't inspire confidence. Actually, I've never seen a liner be so loose before that. Other than that, nothing major. The pivot screw backs out easily, though it's nothing that can't be fixed with loctite.
 
colubrid said:
So lets compare a CQC-7 which i am interested in. How would that compare to a Spyderco para Military or a Griptilian in the same price range? Whats good or better about the Emersons?
Click to expand...

If you like the Emerson's design, that would definitely be an advantage. That's one of those YMMV things. Otherwise, there's nothing I can see about the Emerson that makes it a decidedly better knife than either of the others. Both have identical or superior blade steels, both locks (compression and axis) have advantages over the Emerson's liner lock (they are exceptionally strong and you don't have to put your fingers in the way of the blade to close them, for example), neither company has the well-recorded fit and finish deficiencies of Emerson knives, and both knives are a fair bit cheaper than the CQC-7.

So, if you like the Emerson better than the other two, by all means buy it - there's nothing wrong with that. It's not a 'better' knife than the other two, IMHO, and I don't think it's worth the money for what you're getting (again, unless you're really a fan of the design.)

colubrid said:
BTW, I didn't want to post there because i wanted objective/opinions.
Click to expand...

Objectivity and Opinions don't go together. Anyone's opinion is going to reflect their personal feelings and prejudices, and are by their very nature not going to be objective.
 
Dorito Monk said:
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Objectivity and Opinions don't go together. Anyone's opinion is going to reflect their personal feelings and prejudices, and are by their very nature not going to be objective.
Click to expand...


I guess what i meant is I didn't want responses from a forum where Emerson people go. On and Emerson Forum..I never visited that place bfore until now. So I wanted the pros and cons.
 
powernoodle said:
I've been playing the knife game for a long time but never owned an Emerson until this month, when I bought a CQC-7 and CQC-8.

In my subjective opinion, there is nothing wrong with these knives, but nothing spectacular about them either. Sorta thick in the handle, and a little on the heavy side. Solid folders that give the impression you could dig and pry with them. I adjusted the pivot on the CQC-8, but can't reach that magic spot where you can flick it open but it still has no blade play. Both are just a little stiff to open. Not a fan of the wave nor the thumb disk, but thats just me.

The CQC-8 at $180 - $200 is overpriced IMO. The QCQ-7 seems to have a small blade to handle ratio.

Ernest Emerson telling us what a tough guy he is, and how his knives supposedly were carried by the guys who whacked Bin Laden - well, thats almost enough reason right there not to buy one.

Again, there is nothing objectively wrong with these knives, though I prefer a thumb stud or Spydie hole. But there is also nothing that makes me think they are great knives, either. Bottom line for me is that they are good quality folders with beefy construction, but too spendy for what you get. I'll probably sell the QCQ-7, and I almost never sell knives.

For defensive purposes, I much prefer the Military for its lightning fast flickability and excellent ergos. And being thinner, it carries easier. I could see carrying an Emerson if you were humping it across Iraq and needed a blade to pry, dig and so forth.

Get yourself an Emerson if you are into it, and see for yourself. You could always unload it without losing too much.

IMG_2192.jpg





CQC-8.
Click to expand...


Thanks Poernoodle. As always you are very helpful and not afraid to speak your mind!
 
I gotta be honest. The emerson seems like a cheap heavy duty $15. knife. I was hoping to understand the pricepoint and why people buy them. but now this just confirms what i have read thus far.

Wiggley loose blades.
Unadjustable
lockbar slipping.
marred machining
ect

How much worse can it get? If I want to throw money away i can just feed the homeless.
 
colubrid said:
I gotta be honest. The emerson seems like a cheap heavy duty $15. knife. I was hoping to understand the pricepoint and why people buy them. but now this just confirms what i have read thus far.

Wiggley loose blades.
Unadjustable
lockbar slipping.
marred machining
ect

How much worse can it get? If I want to throw money away i can just feed the homeless.
Click to expand...

I really like my CQC-10. It's one of my fav knives, along with my AFCK, M4 Military, and Para2.
The pivot *is* adjustable. Mine is V grind, but with the chisel edge. Cuts like crazy. I like the Wave opening.
This is my one and only Emerson. This is my honest opinion based on one knife only...and I'm not a kool-aid drinker.
I'd get one to see for yourself.
 
I have used many Benchmades (including the Emerson models), Spydercos and Emerson Knives models.

It all comes down to what works the best for you. Emerson knives have some of the best ergonomics I have come across in a folder. I continue to use several Commanders I have picked up over the years and they feel like an natural extension of my hand. If you often use gloves, for example, the opening disk is superior (IMHO) to most other manual mechanisms since it sits on the top of the blade and is a much bigger target for your gloved thumb. That is, if you haven't Waved it open already ;).

Try it. I bet you like it.

Good luck,
Mark
 
Never had one personally that had any of the normal issues people talk about. Had a CQC10 that was perfect. Super CQC7 that was perfect. Commander that was perfect. Still have an Emerson Prestige Traveler that the GF carries everyday that had some blade alignment issues at first but after breaking in is perfect now.

YMMV but I love the ergonomics and the quality I received for money spent. I can also say I've never had a perfect Spyderco since they are being used as a comparison. Always blade play, uneven grinder and such.
 
Personally, I love the wave feature and feel that Emerson has some of the best ergonomics in the business. On the other hand they develop blade play more easily than other folders I've owned, the linerlock travels across noticeably more quickly than others and I feel they tend to be between $40-$80 overpriced. If they were more affordable I would own most of the lineup, at current prices I only own one currently.
 
Well the consensus among pro and con is the knife is overpriced by about $50/ for what it is.
 
I paid 158 shipped last year for the CQC10 and 175 for a Commander. Seemed pretty fairly priced to me brand new.
 
I've been around the block with knives too. The CQC-10 is in my top 5.

Ergos, toughness, slicing, 154CM, it's the total package.

You won't beat the ergos on this knife. It's comparable to an XM-18 in ergos

CQC-10-2.jpg
 
My honest opinion based on ownership.

Should be priced at about 50% off for what I've gotten.

FAIRLY decent fit and finish. Rough tooling marks here and there, not a big deal to me but may be to some. DECENT materials, but not for the $$. The wave is very nice, but doesn't warrant the price tag. My CQC 15 came DULL NIB. I hate chisel ground knives and single bevels but I've given them a try a couple times and have been disappointed by them each time. I don't see what's so "tough" them, nor do a favor a liner lock for self defense but as I said, the wave feature is nice. I think you either love them or hate them, I wouldn't own another one. I greatly favor spyderco.
 
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