- Joined
- Dec 25, 2000
- Messages
- 868
I've gotten numerous e-mails this weekend from guys asking me how exactly the Emerson Lottery works at knife shows. Here's my best shot at an overview, at least in my experience.
While waiting for Blade West to open it's doors, I made certain to review the Blade West Show Program which shows a map of all tables and booths, as well as who those tables and booths belong to. So I made a quick mental note that as soon as the doors opened I'd enter them and head directly to the rear left corner of the floor to the Emerson booth.
Ernie was there smiling and chatting with his friends and admirers. Shaun was moving pieces around inside of the glass case. This case contained very few customs.
I asked Shaun about the lottery, and he said "Just give us a business card with your name on it, or simply write your name on the back of one of our business cards, and we'll toss it into the hat. At 2:00 pm we'll begin pulling names from the hat. If the person whose name is pulled is present, that person gets his choice of a custom from the case. Most are priced at $550."
So my card went into the ball cap. And I spent perhaps 30 minutes studying the pieces in the case. These consisted of the following blades, quantity of ONE each:
Tactical Persian
CQC5
CQC6
CQC8
CQC9
Viper 1
Viper 2
A very unique CQC7 proto
A large fixed blade
My mind began screaming "CQC8!!" at me,.....but at the same time I was indescribably drawn to the beautifully satined massive fixed blade. Adrenalin began pumping through my system and tunnel vision kicked in fiercely. At some point I must have asked Shaun to see the fixed blade because it seemed to magically materialize within my hot sweaty paws. I began turning the piece slowly in my hand, searching for any imperfections. None whatsoever. Perfect balance, flawless zero grinds, radical bevels. Amazing. This....is Specwar at it's finest.
I walked away in a trance, unable to get the fixed blade out of my mind. 2:00 pm seemed years away, when in fact it was only two hours away.
I made my way around the tables in order to visit with Mick, Duane, and Ryan (Knifebomber) from Strider Knives. Great guys to spend time with. I then had the pleasure of meeting Tom Mayo and his knives are much like he is; unique, sharp, and full of splendid personality. I now have him convinced into making an XXL TnT Tanto for me. Finally I visited the guys from TAD and scored one of the new Microtech UT6's. I really like MT OTF's, but had no real intent upon getting a UT6 because the blade style really doesn't do much for me. However, once Josh let me "snick-snack" his a few times, I just had to have one. Quality in every respect, and such fun to manipulate. I chose a black boride over stonewash, partially serrated. In my mind, the serrations substantially add to the utility of this piece. The guys from TAD gave me an irresistable deal on this piece, and I'm now very happy that I obtained one. I'd guesstimate that between Steve Ryan, the Striderguys, and myself, this UT6 has been manipulated perhaps 600 times this weekend, and there are NO manipulation marks on the blade whatsoever. It also seems to be getting much smoother.
At 1:45 pm, my newfound friend Liong (aka AncientSul)and I arrived at the Emerson booth. You could cut the tension with a Specwar. Grown men (and women) hovered around Ernie's display, all with expressions of expectant little excited children on Christmas morning. Mary and the eldest Emerson daughter stood nearby.
Time passes, yet seemingly stood still.
Ernie glances at his watch and says "Well,....it's 2:00. Let's do this."
Ernie begins removing the customs from the glass case, and places them all upon black felt on top of the table. He then describes the event that is about to take place. "When we pull a name, you can come up here and take your pick of any custom on the table. As one knife is removed, I will reach down into my bag and replace it with a like model. If someone chooses a CQC6 from the table, I will replace it with another CQC6, until I run out of 6's. And so on. So if you don't see a particular model being replaced it's because the last of them are gone."
Dead silence.
Shaun passes the hat filled with business cards to an eager buyer standing near him. A name is pulled. The gentleman approaches the black felt and ...chooses a CQC9. Ernie writes "CQC9" on the business card, tells the man to take the knife and card to Mary, shakes the mans hand and conratulates him, and smiles warmly.
The man goes to pay Mary.
Ernie replaces the adopted CQC9 with a fresh one from his bag of magic below the table.
Next to be adopted is a CQC8,...but Ernie does not replace this piece with another of it's ilk...for there is only ONE. <GASP!>
Several CQC9's find instant homes, and then a CQC5, and then the Persian Tactical.
I'm focusing on the large fixed blade. A smiling man approaches the table (aka Mac Attack). He picks up a CQC9, considers it, then places it back upon the table. The crowd begins to taunt him into picking up the pace a bit, and he tells them to shut up. Everyone laughs. He then reaches for.....the gorgeous fixed blade and says "I'll take this one."
My mind begins screaming as my heart plunges into a darkened vortex of despair; "NO!!! NO!!!! That's the one I wanted!!" I begin searching for religion. I begin cutting deals with the devil. I begin wishing and hoping and......Ernie pulls another identical fixed blade from his black bag. YES! Another chance!
The hat passes, and an eager participant pulls a card. Ernie reads the name. The person isn't present. Dead silence. Ernie calls the name again. No reply. HA!! Gooooooood!
Next man up pulls a CQC6.
And another CQC9 goes.
And then another CQC6.
And yet another CQC6.
Something is seriously wrong here. My name isn't being called. This thing is clearly rigged!
Soon there is nothing left but the fixed blade, and a sea of Viper 1's and 2's. Where did all of the Vipers suddenly come from? I don't want a Viper! Vipers are cool,....but I don't want no stinking Viper!
A lady is called to the table, and she chooses....a Viper2. Nice choice, lady. Now run along.
My mouth goes dry, and the sweat upon my palms begins to chill, eventually turning to frost. Yup, feels like hopelessness setting in. This can't be good.
Liong stands beside me. He hasn't scored yet either. He looks like I feel.
The hat passes....to Liong. He pulls a card. Ernie reads the name on the card. And it's mine! MINE!! ALL MINE!!! MUHAHAHAHA!!!!
I snatch up the coveted fixed blade, shake Ernie's hand, and toss cash to Mary. Mary asks me if I'd like a receipt. Uhhh,....no. I doubt that I'll be returning it, but thanks just the same.
Mary gives me a receipt anyway.
I stood for awhile in hopes that Liong would get a crack at the remaining Vipers upon the table, but no such luck. Poor fella. But at the very end, in an incredible act of warmth and kindness, Ernie approaches Liong and gifts him with a large Tanto Specwar Neck Knife. Ernie says "I'm so sorry that your name wasn't drawn. This is a gift from me to you." Liong was stunned. Ernie is an extremely good person. I witnessed his genuine acts of kindness throughout the show. I am proud to own knives that this man makes.
And I am proud to be a Usual Suspect.
Later on during the show, Ernie kindly gave me the full history on my fixed blade. The piece has no name. Perhaps six or so years ago he made 4 blanks for this particular blade, and finished only one of them for the Navy Seals Knife Trials. Recently he discovered the remaining three blanks and finished two of them, which both got adopted at Blade West by Mac Attack and myself, respectively. Ernie declares that the remaining blank is spoken for.
As a sidenote, please don't feel too sorry for Liong. Several hours later Steve Ryan arrived, and he had MANY outrageous pieces for Liong which Liong had ordered quite some time ago. I got to play with these Biohazards, and they are true treasures. Congratulations, Liong. I'm very happy that I had the chance to meet you and spend time with you at the show.
While waiting for Blade West to open it's doors, I made certain to review the Blade West Show Program which shows a map of all tables and booths, as well as who those tables and booths belong to. So I made a quick mental note that as soon as the doors opened I'd enter them and head directly to the rear left corner of the floor to the Emerson booth.
Ernie was there smiling and chatting with his friends and admirers. Shaun was moving pieces around inside of the glass case. This case contained very few customs.
I asked Shaun about the lottery, and he said "Just give us a business card with your name on it, or simply write your name on the back of one of our business cards, and we'll toss it into the hat. At 2:00 pm we'll begin pulling names from the hat. If the person whose name is pulled is present, that person gets his choice of a custom from the case. Most are priced at $550."
So my card went into the ball cap. And I spent perhaps 30 minutes studying the pieces in the case. These consisted of the following blades, quantity of ONE each:
Tactical Persian
CQC5
CQC6
CQC8
CQC9
Viper 1
Viper 2
A very unique CQC7 proto
A large fixed blade
My mind began screaming "CQC8!!" at me,.....but at the same time I was indescribably drawn to the beautifully satined massive fixed blade. Adrenalin began pumping through my system and tunnel vision kicked in fiercely. At some point I must have asked Shaun to see the fixed blade because it seemed to magically materialize within my hot sweaty paws. I began turning the piece slowly in my hand, searching for any imperfections. None whatsoever. Perfect balance, flawless zero grinds, radical bevels. Amazing. This....is Specwar at it's finest.
I walked away in a trance, unable to get the fixed blade out of my mind. 2:00 pm seemed years away, when in fact it was only two hours away.
I made my way around the tables in order to visit with Mick, Duane, and Ryan (Knifebomber) from Strider Knives. Great guys to spend time with. I then had the pleasure of meeting Tom Mayo and his knives are much like he is; unique, sharp, and full of splendid personality. I now have him convinced into making an XXL TnT Tanto for me. Finally I visited the guys from TAD and scored one of the new Microtech UT6's. I really like MT OTF's, but had no real intent upon getting a UT6 because the blade style really doesn't do much for me. However, once Josh let me "snick-snack" his a few times, I just had to have one. Quality in every respect, and such fun to manipulate. I chose a black boride over stonewash, partially serrated. In my mind, the serrations substantially add to the utility of this piece. The guys from TAD gave me an irresistable deal on this piece, and I'm now very happy that I obtained one. I'd guesstimate that between Steve Ryan, the Striderguys, and myself, this UT6 has been manipulated perhaps 600 times this weekend, and there are NO manipulation marks on the blade whatsoever. It also seems to be getting much smoother.
At 1:45 pm, my newfound friend Liong (aka AncientSul)and I arrived at the Emerson booth. You could cut the tension with a Specwar. Grown men (and women) hovered around Ernie's display, all with expressions of expectant little excited children on Christmas morning. Mary and the eldest Emerson daughter stood nearby.
Time passes, yet seemingly stood still.
Ernie glances at his watch and says "Well,....it's 2:00. Let's do this."
Ernie begins removing the customs from the glass case, and places them all upon black felt on top of the table. He then describes the event that is about to take place. "When we pull a name, you can come up here and take your pick of any custom on the table. As one knife is removed, I will reach down into my bag and replace it with a like model. If someone chooses a CQC6 from the table, I will replace it with another CQC6, until I run out of 6's. And so on. So if you don't see a particular model being replaced it's because the last of them are gone."
Dead silence.
Shaun passes the hat filled with business cards to an eager buyer standing near him. A name is pulled. The gentleman approaches the black felt and ...chooses a CQC9. Ernie writes "CQC9" on the business card, tells the man to take the knife and card to Mary, shakes the mans hand and conratulates him, and smiles warmly.
The man goes to pay Mary.
Ernie replaces the adopted CQC9 with a fresh one from his bag of magic below the table.
Next to be adopted is a CQC8,...but Ernie does not replace this piece with another of it's ilk...for there is only ONE. <GASP!>
Several CQC9's find instant homes, and then a CQC5, and then the Persian Tactical.
I'm focusing on the large fixed blade. A smiling man approaches the table (aka Mac Attack). He picks up a CQC9, considers it, then places it back upon the table. The crowd begins to taunt him into picking up the pace a bit, and he tells them to shut up. Everyone laughs. He then reaches for.....the gorgeous fixed blade and says "I'll take this one."
My mind begins screaming as my heart plunges into a darkened vortex of despair; "NO!!! NO!!!! That's the one I wanted!!" I begin searching for religion. I begin cutting deals with the devil. I begin wishing and hoping and......Ernie pulls another identical fixed blade from his black bag. YES! Another chance!
The hat passes, and an eager participant pulls a card. Ernie reads the name. The person isn't present. Dead silence. Ernie calls the name again. No reply. HA!! Gooooooood!
Next man up pulls a CQC6.
And another CQC9 goes.
And then another CQC6.
And yet another CQC6.
Something is seriously wrong here. My name isn't being called. This thing is clearly rigged!
Soon there is nothing left but the fixed blade, and a sea of Viper 1's and 2's. Where did all of the Vipers suddenly come from? I don't want a Viper! Vipers are cool,....but I don't want no stinking Viper!
A lady is called to the table, and she chooses....a Viper2. Nice choice, lady. Now run along.
My mouth goes dry, and the sweat upon my palms begins to chill, eventually turning to frost. Yup, feels like hopelessness setting in. This can't be good.
Liong stands beside me. He hasn't scored yet either. He looks like I feel.
The hat passes....to Liong. He pulls a card. Ernie reads the name on the card. And it's mine! MINE!! ALL MINE!!! MUHAHAHAHA!!!!
I snatch up the coveted fixed blade, shake Ernie's hand, and toss cash to Mary. Mary asks me if I'd like a receipt. Uhhh,....no. I doubt that I'll be returning it, but thanks just the same.
Mary gives me a receipt anyway.
I stood for awhile in hopes that Liong would get a crack at the remaining Vipers upon the table, but no such luck. Poor fella. But at the very end, in an incredible act of warmth and kindness, Ernie approaches Liong and gifts him with a large Tanto Specwar Neck Knife. Ernie says "I'm so sorry that your name wasn't drawn. This is a gift from me to you." Liong was stunned. Ernie is an extremely good person. I witnessed his genuine acts of kindness throughout the show. I am proud to own knives that this man makes.
And I am proud to be a Usual Suspect.
Later on during the show, Ernie kindly gave me the full history on my fixed blade. The piece has no name. Perhaps six or so years ago he made 4 blanks for this particular blade, and finished only one of them for the Navy Seals Knife Trials. Recently he discovered the remaining three blanks and finished two of them, which both got adopted at Blade West by Mac Attack and myself, respectively. Ernie declares that the remaining blank is spoken for.
As a sidenote, please don't feel too sorry for Liong. Several hours later Steve Ryan arrived, and he had MANY outrageous pieces for Liong which Liong had ordered quite some time ago. I got to play with these Biohazards, and they are true treasures. Congratulations, Liong. I'm very happy that I had the chance to meet you and spend time with you at the show.
