Thinking of getting my first emerson

T

tahomazz

Joined
May 3, 2012
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98
So i think im finally read for a rugged harder use folder, i originally thought i should go with a para2 but i figured i should give emerson a try and that they were probably a bit more robust.

With that said i love the horseman(i think i always have) but now i am liking the cqc7. Any input to which i should get? or any others like the commander?


Let me know
 
emerson is nice! but if ur looking into more hard use knife, i would suggest ZT 0300 series could be ur alternative too aside emerson....
 
I'd recommend a 7, 8 (larger horseman), or a Commander as a starter Emerson. I find myself carrying the commander more often than not. I love the blade shape and especially the handles. They mold to your hand and are comfortable in any grip.
 
ztholic said:
emerson is nice! but if ur looking into more hard use knife, i would suggest ZT 0300 series could be ur alternative too aside emerson....
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I have never been attracted to the ZT series. They kind of remind me of a brick with a paddle attached. Just my opinion.

As for the OP, you can't go wrong with either the Horseman or the 7. I wouldn't want to choose, I would just get both. ;)
 
Well... you've covered the only two folders that I currently carry with Emerson and Paras. My Emerson is a mini-CQC15, but I have both generations of Paras in use. I've had several different ZTs as well. I still have and carry my mini-CQC15, but not the ZTs. The ZTs had no issues at all as far as F&F and they were as sharp O-O-B as any production knife I've ever had. But they are way too overbuilt for my taste. They do indeed carry like bricks and they "feel" much less secure in my medium-sized hands than either my Emerson or my Spydercos do. My mini-CQC15 is tougher than I'll ever need a folder to be, it's very ergonomic when I use it, and it carries almost as easily as my Paramilitaries do.

As far as which Emerson to get, either one will represent Emerson's quality and function very well. The things to consider will probably be the handle length (for your hand) and the blade style. The 7s will most likely be tanto blades while the Horseman has that nice curving belly. I'm not a fan of tantos, personally. Had a few and I've never been able to get used to handling that sharp transition from edge to tip on American tantos. The mini-15 handles that transition nicely by combining a slight recurve on the cutting length of the blade with a tanto type tip. That lets me use prior experience and sharpening skill and my current kit (Sharpmaker and strops) to keep the mini-15 at the level of sharpness that I like for an EDC folder.

BTW, if you haven't had the experience of maintaining an Emerson edge, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. Emerson's HT gives the 154CM a really nice combination of toughness and edge holding, just about perfect for what I like and use. The single sharpened side of both the chisel ground and the V-ground blades makes touch-ups a breeze. My Emersons have all responded well to a Sharpmaker rod at 40 degrees followed by a light stropping. Often, a strop is all the attention the edge needs after use.

Good luck with your choice. Let us know how you like it once you've used it for a while.
 
tahomazz said:
i love the horseman(i think i always have) but now i am liking the cqc7.
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Funny thing is the seven was my first emerson and the horseman is now my second. And a mini cqc-15 will probably be my third :). The Para 2 is an awesome knife (my first folder over $100) and there really isn't anything bad I can say about it. But once I held an emerson in my hand I knew I would prefer carrying it over my Para. ZT's have never really appealed to me because they seem too heavy, wide for my tastes. So for the question at hand I'd say if you're looking for a strictly defensive/back-up folder go with the seven and if you're looking for a more practical edc design go with the horeseman. Either way you can't really go wrong (and you'll probably end up with both anyways :)). Just BEWARE because once you get started on an emerson kick it doesn't seem to stop until you run out of money.
 
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After carrying a regular cqc 15 for a while, my zt 561 feel right at home in my pocket and my 551 feels like a small knife. Cant go wrong with a cqc 7 or 15, they have a very strong tip. ZT 550 wowould also be a great choice.
 
Lycosa said:
CQC7 A, B or V.
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shocker...just kidding :D


For edc you cant go wrong with the horseman imo. I just got mine a couple days ago and am learning to appreciate it more and more. You cant go wrong with either though.:thumbup:

As an aside; I also have a Para 2 and it is a great knife, but it lacks the soul of an Emerson.
 
Well I bought my zt561 last friday with every intention of it being my new carry knife lol. Today the cqc 15 went back into my pocket lol. Im honestly pretty surprised because the 561 is a sweeeeet knife. Something about an emerson. I still cant figure out what it is.
 
simplespeed said:
Well I bought my zt561 last friday with every intention of it being my new carry knife lol. Today the cqc 15 went back into my pocket lol. Im honestly pretty surprised because the 561 is a sweeeeet knife. Something about an emerson. I still cant figure out what it is.
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Well, when you figure it out, let me know, because any other brand is only good for a couple of hours pocket time before one of my Emersons kicks it out.
 
dalefuller said:
Just like an old Bic pen... everything ya need... nothin' ya don't.
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That's actually exactly how I feel about my Starbenza, the knife that ended my multi-year EDC Emerson reign. I still do really love my EKI's, but the CRK has changed the way I feel about folding blades.

As for the OP, I'd suggest getting on a list for the upcoming re-release of the Journeyman, a knife that combines the best of the CQC-10 and the Commander (I own all three). I find the Journeyman the most Sebenza-like of my EKI's.
 
Find an Emerson design you're in love with and pick that one up. Which one calls to you more is the basic question. If you're just looking for an obnoxiously tough folder there are ways to go that will get you more knife for less $, so make sure an Emerson is really what you're looking for.
 
Officer's Match said:
That's actually exactly how I feel about my Starbenza, the knife that ended my multi-year EDC Emerson reign. I still do really love my EKI's, but the CRK has changed the way I feel about folding blades.
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Starbenzas are nice. My small one is going up F/S sometime this weekend on BF along with some other blades. I like it, but I don't use it and I don't keep safe queens. My mini-15, however, is permanent. I traded the first one I had and regretted it right away.

'Course, I also have to be honest and say that my large and small micarta 21s will never go away, either. I do carry them enough to keep them from being safe queens.Still, my mini-15 is what I reach for when I want something that'll do the job first time, every time and won't care where we are or what we're doing... just like the old mutt that hangs around with me.

My Sebenzas remind me of good friends that'll come down and bail me out on Monday morning after a really "memorable" weekend. My Emerson is like the buddy that'll be sitting in the cell with me sayin' "damn, that was fun." :D
 
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