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- Feb 3, 1999
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Let's start off by asking "Exactly what is an SOCFK'?"
SOCFK is an anachronism for "Special Operations Combat Folding Knife". What is it? Well, it's basically a combination of three very popular EKI folders. They took the blade of the CQC7A & B, added the "wave" from the Commander and the body of the Specwar and created one awesome carry knife with a great price point.
Extreme Outfitters, a specialty chain with an eye towards the needs of Military Special Operations personnel, assisted in the design and obtained a one year exclusive on what has become an extremely popular carry piece.
In talking to Steve from EO's Jacksonville NC shop, the Specwar body was used to provide the user with the protection the partial guarded body provides. The blade from the CQC7 series provides a slightly beefier profile and the "wave" from the Commander added speed to the deployment of the knife. Literally, the best of all worlds.
The first time I was able to lay my hands on these knives was at the 2000 Blade Show in Atlanta. The very first of the production models were on hand, as were "Test & Evaluation" samples. Production model orders were taken at the show for the SOCFKs initial run of two hundred Tanto bladed models and one hundred Spearpoints. At the time all production models were to be Black-T coated and 50/50 serrated.
During the knife lottery at the Blade Show, a few of the production models with extremely low serial numbers (#010 and lower) were made available for purchase. The price? $600 each. Soon afterwards a Custom Knife Dealer was selling the remainder of these low numbered knives in the $800 range.
The T&E models were, as listed on the blade, "Not for Sale". The T&E models were (uncoated) Satin finished, handground, non serialized and marked "Prototype". This is interesting as it's the first time I've seen Emerson prototypes actually marked "Prototype".
In addition to the "T&E" models, there were also eight handground, (uncoated) Satin finish, (chisel ground) Tanto bladed, serialized prototypes made. These were uncataloged customs and sold for $3000 a piece.
Another interesting note. All SOCFKs know to exist, hand ground or production are EKI logo marked. The hand ground models are all (uncoated) Satin finished and marked "Prototype". In addition, the hand grounds are either marked with "Test & Evaluation Only Not for Sale" or a serial number (001 through 008).
On the production side, a limited number (50) serialized Green-T bladed Tantos were added to the line and it's rumored that there may be additional, non-serialized Black-T models coming soon due to overwhelming demand for the knives.
It should be noted that there have been reports of slightly overrun numbers. An example would be, say a Black-T Spearpoint with a serial number of #102. As I understand it, there were a few blades that did not make the Quality Control cut and new blades were manufactured to replace these rejected ones. These overruns were numbered above rather then going back and filling in the missing numbers.
Enter the Ultimate SOCFK collection. We've had an advanced collector/lurker among us for quit sometime and he's recently made his existence know to all. Oliver (aka Chindit) has a knife collection that anyone would love to have just a portion of. Included in his collection is the largest single collection of SOCFKs known to exist. Oliver has graciously allowed me to tell you a little about the knives in his collection.
He says that the reason he chose to collect SOCFKs was that he entered the custom Emerson scene later then most and really saw the SOCFK as a departure from the norm, with a far reaching production potential, not unlike the Commander.
Oliver was lucky enough to obtain the SOCFK prototype number 004 and it all started from there. Next he obtained both the Tanto and the Spearpoint production models numbered 004. Picture
In addition to several production models, Oliver added Prototype number 006 to his growing collection, giving him a full 25% of the numbered protos.
Picture Picture
The "T&E" models were mentioned above. I don't have an exact number on how many of these there are, but the number was estimated at (three to four) when the SOCFK was introduced. Oliver managed to parlay two Tantos and one Spearpoint. I'm sure if he doesn't have all of them, he owns a large portion. Picture
In a recent string, someone asked what the difference is between the SOCFK and the Waved CQC7. Basically, the body style. The CQC7 has a sleeker body, but doesn't afford the user the protection of the guard that the SOCFK does. I wasn't real hot on the body style of the Specwar until I really started working with the Commander. The Commander offers the same protections, with a pointed butt (as opposed to the SOCFKs squared off butt).
Looking for a smaller alternative to a Commander or a working knife with a wave? Check out the SOCFK.
John
Thanks go out to Oliver for allowing me access to his collection
[This message has been edited by John Hollister (edited 12-06-2000).]
Let's start off by asking "Exactly what is an SOCFK'?"
SOCFK is an anachronism for "Special Operations Combat Folding Knife". What is it? Well, it's basically a combination of three very popular EKI folders. They took the blade of the CQC7A & B, added the "wave" from the Commander and the body of the Specwar and created one awesome carry knife with a great price point.
Extreme Outfitters, a specialty chain with an eye towards the needs of Military Special Operations personnel, assisted in the design and obtained a one year exclusive on what has become an extremely popular carry piece.
In talking to Steve from EO's Jacksonville NC shop, the Specwar body was used to provide the user with the protection the partial guarded body provides. The blade from the CQC7 series provides a slightly beefier profile and the "wave" from the Commander added speed to the deployment of the knife. Literally, the best of all worlds.
The first time I was able to lay my hands on these knives was at the 2000 Blade Show in Atlanta. The very first of the production models were on hand, as were "Test & Evaluation" samples. Production model orders were taken at the show for the SOCFKs initial run of two hundred Tanto bladed models and one hundred Spearpoints. At the time all production models were to be Black-T coated and 50/50 serrated.
During the knife lottery at the Blade Show, a few of the production models with extremely low serial numbers (#010 and lower) were made available for purchase. The price? $600 each. Soon afterwards a Custom Knife Dealer was selling the remainder of these low numbered knives in the $800 range.
The T&E models were, as listed on the blade, "Not for Sale". The T&E models were (uncoated) Satin finished, handground, non serialized and marked "Prototype". This is interesting as it's the first time I've seen Emerson prototypes actually marked "Prototype".
In addition to the "T&E" models, there were also eight handground, (uncoated) Satin finish, (chisel ground) Tanto bladed, serialized prototypes made. These were uncataloged customs and sold for $3000 a piece.
Another interesting note. All SOCFKs know to exist, hand ground or production are EKI logo marked. The hand ground models are all (uncoated) Satin finished and marked "Prototype". In addition, the hand grounds are either marked with "Test & Evaluation Only Not for Sale" or a serial number (001 through 008).
On the production side, a limited number (50) serialized Green-T bladed Tantos were added to the line and it's rumored that there may be additional, non-serialized Black-T models coming soon due to overwhelming demand for the knives.
It should be noted that there have been reports of slightly overrun numbers. An example would be, say a Black-T Spearpoint with a serial number of #102. As I understand it, there were a few blades that did not make the Quality Control cut and new blades were manufactured to replace these rejected ones. These overruns were numbered above rather then going back and filling in the missing numbers.
Enter the Ultimate SOCFK collection. We've had an advanced collector/lurker among us for quit sometime and he's recently made his existence know to all. Oliver (aka Chindit) has a knife collection that anyone would love to have just a portion of. Included in his collection is the largest single collection of SOCFKs known to exist. Oliver has graciously allowed me to tell you a little about the knives in his collection.
He says that the reason he chose to collect SOCFKs was that he entered the custom Emerson scene later then most and really saw the SOCFK as a departure from the norm, with a far reaching production potential, not unlike the Commander.
Oliver was lucky enough to obtain the SOCFK prototype number 004 and it all started from there. Next he obtained both the Tanto and the Spearpoint production models numbered 004. Picture
In addition to several production models, Oliver added Prototype number 006 to his growing collection, giving him a full 25% of the numbered protos.
The "T&E" models were mentioned above. I don't have an exact number on how many of these there are, but the number was estimated at (three to four) when the SOCFK was introduced. Oliver managed to parlay two Tantos and one Spearpoint. I'm sure if he doesn't have all of them, he owns a large portion. Picture
In a recent string, someone asked what the difference is between the SOCFK and the Waved CQC7. Basically, the body style. The CQC7 has a sleeker body, but doesn't afford the user the protection of the guard that the SOCFK does. I wasn't real hot on the body style of the Specwar until I really started working with the Commander. The Commander offers the same protections, with a pointed butt (as opposed to the SOCFKs squared off butt).
Looking for a smaller alternative to a Commander or a working knife with a wave? Check out the SOCFK.
John
Thanks go out to Oliver for allowing me access to his collection
[This message has been edited by John Hollister (edited 12-06-2000).]
