The Mini CQC-7A

pmek5 · Aug 18, 2014

Been waiting a long time for this knife to come back in stock at EKI. I was glad to see this come back into production. I had to try it, and compare it to my Mini A100. They both have that same very utilitarian blade shape that makes a great all around EDC. But I prefer the handle ergo's of the 7A much more (easier to open as well). They call it a Mini, but it does not seem all that Mini to me (perfect EDC size). Like the stand offs, and the way the G10 scales just slightly overlap the liners. Fit & finish is great. Breaking in nicely already, and I know will become super smooth with time. I don't see a lot of write ups on this knife, but I know this will serve me a long time. Thanks for looking, & thanks EKI for bringing this gem back.

grownstar · Aug 18, 2014

Congrats on a very useful and good looking blade! I need to try one of those, eventually.

Lycosa · Aug 18, 2014

Very nice.
Nice Glock, too.

ASBOB · Aug 18, 2014

Uhhh...that's a Kimber.

The Mini CQC-7a is a very interesting knife. I'd like to get one, but the A model is as rare as hen's teeth. If anyone has any ideas, please pm or email me.

My thanks.

pmek5 · Aug 18, 2014

ASBOB said:
Uhhh...that's a Kimber.

The Mini CQC-7a is a very interesting knife. I'd like to get one, but the A model is as rare as hen's teeth. If anyone has any ideas, please pm or email me.

My thanks.

Sent you an email.

Steely Dorn · Aug 20, 2014

Thanks for the pics. I got one of those on the way now. Looking forward to seeing how it compares to the regular 7A.

pmek5 · Aug 27, 2014

FYI - The Mini CQC-7A with the "Wave" is now up on Emerson's website. Three color choices too.

I'm not a big wave fan, and I'm still really happy with the non-wave version.

cut it out · Aug 28, 2014

I carry a full size 7-a with wave. I like it a lot. Also carry a commander mini and a Lagriffe. Wanna get a full size commander next.

MrPocketsOfSteel · Aug 31, 2014

cut it out said:
I carry a full size 7-a with wave. I like it a lot. Also carry a commander mini and a Lagriffe. Wanna get a full size commander next.

Ditto here if by Full Size you mean The Super7. The plain edge tanto Super7 in the right pocket and the 7BW with serrations in the left and I have all cutting chores covered. I love the serrations that RYP does over at DPx - never found any other serrations as fine. Till Ernies. Not saying ones is any better than the other. They both are fantastic and a joy to sharpen. Yes I said joy.

Akapennypincher · Sep 1, 2014

I assume you are limited to a Mini because of some weird California Laws on blade length. But I think the only people complying with al these anti freedom laws are honest,law abiding people. Who are the victims of the people who don't give a rats about being lawful or complying with any restrictive firearms, or knife laws.

Nice thing about living in Arizona is seeing people in places like Wal-mart, or the gas station carrying firearm on their hip in public, and those criminal types wonder who else is carrying concealed, as in our state you can carry if you are legal to own & carry without prmit even concealed.

A.P.F. · Sep 2, 2014

Good taste in hardware on both counts.

StuntDouble · Sep 9, 2014

Akapennypincher said:
I assume you are limited to a Mini because of some weird California Laws on blade length. But I think the only people complying with al these anti freedom laws are honest,law abiding people. Who are the victims of the people who don't give a rats about being lawful or complying with any restrictive firearms, or knife laws.

Nice thing about living in Arizona is seeing people in places like Wal-mart, or the gas station carrying firearm on their hip in public, and those criminal types wonder who else is carrying concealed, as in our state you can carry if you are legal to own & carry without prmit even concealed.

Or he just prefers a smaller knife.

pmek5,

Thanks for the pics. I've been tempted to get another "first" Emerson, and the Mini CQC-7A was at the top of my list. Good to see that they're back in production.

pmek5 · Sep 9, 2014

Your welcome.
Lots of choices with the wave now & colored handles.

rpnp · Sep 10, 2014

Akapennypincher said:
I assume you are limited to a Mini because of some weird California Laws on blade length. But I think the only people complying with al these anti freedom laws are honest,law abiding people. Who are the victims of the people who don't give a rats about being lawful or complying with any restrictive firearms, or knife laws.

Nice thing about living in Arizona is seeing people in places like Wal-mart, or the gas station carrying firearm on their hip in public, and those criminal types wonder who else is carrying concealed, as in our state you can carry if you are legal to own & carry without prmit even concealed.

Maybe you are confusing a state with a county...

Akapennypincher · Sep 10, 2014

rpnp said:
Maybe you are confusing a state with a county...

Seems like everything is against the law in Kalifornia, except paying taxes. Kalifornia is not a place I would live by choice, it is anti most thing that make sense.

Gun Ownership, Concealed Carry, and the ability to protect yourself when the over worked Police, and Law Enforcemet take a very long time to responde to 911 Calls.

MatthewSB · Sep 10, 2014

OP, thanks for the post. I need to get one of these while I can.

Or he just prefers a smaller knife.

Exactly. A Super Commander or Super CQC-8 would be cool, but sometimes it's just not called for and a mini A-100 or '7A are perfect.

Some people live where it's illegal to carry a blade longer than 3". Others travel. Many would agree that a misdemeanor (worth several months in jail, thousands in legal fees, and loss of a job and maybe a marriage) isn't worth a quarter or half inch of blade length. I always dedicate a portion of my collection to "legal everywhere, er almost everywhere, but still great tools" knives like the Mini A-100, Spyderco Lava, Benchmade 755 MPR, and Mini CQC-7A.

Akapennypincher said:
Seems like everything is against the law in Kalifornia, except paying taxes. Kalifornia is not a place I would live by choice, it is anti most thing that make sense.

It's not just California. Most states have at least some sort of stupid law that messes with decent people unnecessarily, even in supposedly Conservative places.

StuntDouble · Sep 10, 2014

Akapennypincher said:
Seems like everything is against the law in Kalifornia, except paying taxes. Kalifornia is not a place I would live by choice, it is anti most thing that make sense.

Gun Ownership, Concealed Carry, and the ability to protect yourself when the over worked Police, and Law Enforcemet take a very long time to responde to 911 Calls.

What does this even have to do with the original post? Btw, California has no blade length limit on folding knives. So, the OP decided to buy and carry a smaller knife because...he wanted to.

pmek5,

Is EKI the only place to get these right now, or are there other avenues?

grownstar · Sep 10, 2014

I keep getting 7Bs...one day I'll have to pull the trigger on an A.

Steely Dorn · Sep 10, 2014

I ended up getting one of these with a wave and one without. These don't seem much smaller than the regular 7A and have a great handle for such a small knife. I travel a lot for work and also dedicate a portion of my collection to 3" or smaller blades. Next time I travel to one of those places I will the waved mini 7A along with a micro commander and a 14. All great knives for their small blade size.

pmek5 · Sep 10, 2014

StuntDouble pmek5 said:
StuntDouble - Yes EKI is apparently the only place to get the Mini 7A's according to one of the nice ladies there I talked to recently.

In response to the blade length / Kalif posts; It's just my preference at my age to carry something with a 3" and under blade length. That size is more than enough for my daily EDC. I will say IMHO that EKI's Mini's really don't seem all that mini to me.