thinking about getting my first emerson

D

dbdeath

Joined
Mar 12, 2003
Messages
49
After years of collecting and using knives from pretty much all the other major manufacturers(BM, Spyderco, MT, ect.) i think it is time I picked up an Emerson. I love the idea of having the wave (biggest selling point). After some research I find Emersons have a love them or hate them rap. The hate them crowd ussually brings up things like thin linners, locks failing or not engaging, locks wearing prematurely, funky blade grind and quality control. Help me to sort out the bias or validity of these claims so I can put my mind at ease and justify the price tag for an Emerson.
By the way, If I do get one I was thinking of a mini commander. Yah or Nah??
Thanks in advance for the input.
 
I've owned a lot of Emersons (Commanders, Mini Commander, Mach 1, CQC-7, CQC-8, I&I Tanto, Persian but none now.)

Positives:

I found the ergonomics of all Emersons to be unsurpassed. I found the quality to be uniformly good. I found customer service to be exceptional. I found the 154 CM blades to be adequate, not the best 154 CM I've seen but very good. The knives are dead simple to strip down and assemble and you won't void the warranty. Out of the box they are sharp, the Persian I had may be one of the sharpest I've ever had. The wave is great but make sure you practice!

Negatives:

I personally don't care for the chisel grind or the modified V grind. I find it makes precise cutting more difficult and I (personal problem here) couldn't restore the edge to my satisfaction like I can with common V ground blades from other manufacturers. IMHO the grind on the Emersons is great for self defense and quick field sharpening but not the best choice for a utility EDC.

If I can overcome my personal handicap in regards to keeping them sharp, I would certainly buy another Emerson.

I highly recommend you try out either a Commander or Mini-Commander.
 
I have four Emerson production knives and two hand made custom knives. I have three more EKIs on order at this time.

I haven't had a problem with the lock at all. When you get it, look it over and see how secure the blade feels when locked. Emerson Knives Inc. (EKI) has one of the best warranties out there.

I really love Emerson knives and Strider knives. Both make the best tactical knives out there IMO. EKI and Strider are both my favorite knife companies.

I would like to see thicker liner locks on EKIs... However, I'm not worried about the current lock failing me. I love these knives and want to use them. Quite honestly, you'll probably have someone chime in here with how bad liner locks are blah blah blah. It happens any time someone says, "liner lock" here.


FYI Almost all of Mr. Emerson's current custom knives have a (i think) .090" thick lock side liner. The 2004 Collector's Knife, also has a .090" thick lock side liner. The 2003 Knife, also had thicker liners. So maybe this is the step towards, thicker liners on production knives.



It should be mentioned there is TWO Frame Lock EKIs coming out! The HD-7 (Heavy Duty 7) which is a frame lock version of the classic, CQC-7.

There is also the CQC-12, which is a brand new knife with a 3.9"ish blade. Frame Lock as well.

Off the top of my head, I believe they both have .125" frame locks.


Also I personally, think and enjoy the Commander as the best knife ever designed. Just my opinion of course - I'm entitled to that. I fell in love with the design of the blade and handle the first time I saw it. Just totally love the design. I also REALLY love the CQC-8 (there is No Wave on the production 8 though).

I have started a quest to build a great Commander collection. First knife for this collection, I just got a Commander Prototype!!!!!!!!!!! And boy does this knife rock!!! The action in sooooooo great and has thick liners... True satin blade. All work done by Mr. Emerson himself. There is only about 5 to 10 of these ever made. Paid a heck of a lot of money for it! lol

As stated it, Mr. Emerson really designs a SUPERB handle each and every time. He has a true gift for making a secure and comfortable handle.

So yes, I really really love Emerson Knives. Chisel grind or modified V-grind doesn't bother me at all.


Again, if you are that worried about the liner lock... Go call EKI up and pre-order the HD-7 or CQC-12. Depending on the blade size you want. Or join the Collector's Assocation ($40 one time) and pre-order the 2004 Knife of the year.

Just my opinion of course.
 
I own a P-Sark w/wave and an older Raven Tanto... Love the Sark. Use it all the time. (EDC)... Should be receiving my newly ordered Mini Commander today, waiting for UPS as we speak. I will continue to be an Emerson Fan. He's a cool guy also. Met him at last years Blade and Knife Maker's Guild shows. Enjoy.....
 
Emersons are good knives for what you use them for.

Don't expect them to slice like a kitchen knife or an Opinel.
Don't expect them to have the fit and finish of a Benchmade (or worse, a custom.)

They're rugged, reliable, comfortable in the hand, with a low sabre grind to keep stock thickness all the way to the tip, and while the fit and finish isn't always the best, and the QC can be a little... loose, the customer service from EKI is top notch.

I carry a SOCFK pretty often, not because of the Wave, but because it's comfy and it cuts well.

The liners are 0.050", which are the same in many other production knives (Benchmade to name one) as well as TONS of high-grade customs (older Emersons, Lightfoot, Elishewitz, Tighe, Hammond... etc.)

Test the locks on them, and test them often, just like you would with any other folder. When they start to fail or the locks wear in, send them back with $10 and EKI CS will replace the whole locking liner, screws, and probably clip.

See if you get that with any other company...

-j
 
People often misunderstand Emerson knives. I own and use (hard!) a lot of them. But almost all of them are designed for one purpose- to open a huge wound channel. They are first and formost designed for hard use fighting knives. That is why many people buy, lets' say a CQC7, and get upset when it does'nt open envelopes very easy (they really do, you just have to know how:)). All the while, the 7 is a tactical knife designed to punch through metal and dispatch people, or seriously wound them. Yeah, I know- any knife can cut flesh, but few do it with a knife as well thought out as an Emerson. Buy the Mini-Commander or a CQC8 and you will not be sorry. Just don't be upset if they don't chop veggies like a Henkel. Just my opinion.:)
 
I carry about an equal number of tacticals and traditionals on a daily basis, I can never quite figure out if I'm a modernist or a traditionalist when it comes to knives. One thing I am absolutely sure of; if I were going into harm's way I would have my CQC 7 no question about it.
 
Yester5 said:
People often misunderstand Emerson knives. I own and use (hard!) a lot of them. But almost all of them are designed for one purpose- to open a huge wound channel. They are first and formost designed for hard use fighting knives. That is why many people buy, lets' say a CQC7, and get upset when it does'nt open envelopes very easy (they really do, you just have to know how:)). All the while, the 7 is a tactical knife designed to punch through metal and dispatch people, or seriously wound them. Yeah, I know- any knife can cut flesh, but few do it with a knife as well thought out as an Emerson. Buy the Mini-Commander or a CQC8 and you will not be sorry. Just don't be upset if they don't chop veggies like a Henkel. Just my opinion.:)
Click to expand...


Extremely well put!!!

I have said this before, "Emerson's aren't for arts and crafts" They are serious knives for serious situations.
 
If the chisel grind really bothers you, you can get a commander with a standard V-grind. I have even seen these for sale at dealers for the same price as the others. I have a commander with the "modified-chisel" grind which looks like a standard V-grind that tapers to the edge, untill the very last 1/16" where only one side is ground to the knife edge. I find it holds an edge, is easy to sharpen if you follow emersons directions and cuts anything I want it to, especially with the half serrated edge.... even pesky envelopes... :D

buy a commander or a CQC-7, and don't worry about the liners, I've never seen or heard any say theirs failed while cutting, and I've used my CQC-7 to pry stuff open and have abused the hell out of it and it still locks up strong and tight. And as stated before the knife can be sent back to emerson to have it serviced and the lock replaced for a minial charge although I don't see mine needing to be replaced anytime soon.
 
all commanders are v-ground, but chisel-edged. (except maybe the ES1-M?)

sharpening and using it takes some getting used to, but they don't veer in cardboard/stiff materials like the full chisel grind.

i've had two EKI locks now fail on me while cutting and many more fail while testing.

still love 'em though...

-j
 
I currently carry a CQC7 w/wave and love it! Snaps open in a hearbeat with an extremely sharp chisel ground plain edge. I didn't buy it to slice tomatoes. I bought it for self defense and I feel very comfortable with it. Try one and I bet you'll like it. :)
 
Yes, go with the Mini-Commander. I just sold a SpecwarA with an after market "V" ground blade. I have also owned a CQC-7A and the Mini version as well. All of these models have had great ergonomics. I sold my CQC-7's (too small for me) and the Specwar (wanted a black blade) and just recently ordered a Mini Commander. I'm not a fan of the chisel grind on the secondary bevel but I just had to have at least one Emerson in my collection. There are two reasons that I choose the Mini Commander. The first was because the Commander model won the Blade of the Year award back in '98. The Commander embodies all the aspects of an Emerson knife. The wave feature, a recessed liner lock, chisel grind (on the secondary bevel), G-10 handles, and a black blade with the Emerson logo. The second reason was because the Mini Commander was much cheaper than the full sized commander or the CQC-7 Super. :D
 
Thanks for all the replys. I ordered a mini commander yesterday. I will use and test it and report back on how it performs. Thanks agian!
 
UPS aka. Santa Claus dropped off my mini commander and I have had the knife in my hands for about an hour.Fit and finish are just as good as BM or Spyderco. Blade sits centered and the grind is perfectly even although the V chisel is a bit wierd, I wil soon see how it performs. The liner is think enough, about the same as my BM mini Stryker. The knife feels very solid in the hand and there is no blade play in any dierction. On first inspection I am happy with my purchase. You Emerson guys just might catch me lurking around here a little more often from now on.
 
dbdeath,

After using the blade, you may find it doesn't slice as well as other prodos of the same calibre. Partly this has to do with the low grind and very thick final edge thickness, but much of this can be remedied by lowering the edge angle (i.e. reprofiling) and then putting a proper edge on it.

I lower my EKI edges to about 40-50 deg (which would work out to about 20-25deg per side) and they slice very well.

One more thing -- don't hesitate to spine whack it. I usually start with some spine pressing, then light, whippy hits, and then some solid thuds (nothing TOO hard, just something emulating what you might do if you were cutting something dense and you jerked the knife out and it hit the spine on the wall or a chair.)

-j
 
M~I~N~I :D C~O~M~M~A~N~D~E~R ! I just got it last week and can't put it down, Great EDC and the blade is formidable for its size (pitbull).

Waved CQC7 would also be a good choice...Great Knives..EK for life! :)
 
Sounds great DB. If you guys want to pick up what I feel is the best EKI production piece to date, get your hands on a CQC 11. It has the drop point bull-nose of the CQC 10, the recurve blade of the Commander, a really nice, big Specwar handle and she waves like a dream. Spit-cuttin' sharp and locks up with no play in either direction. It is my new favorite Emerson- Ernest hit a homer with this design:)
 

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