- Joined
- Aug 9, 2014
- Messages
- 387
I received my Tiger today, #42 (same as my Zealot) SW/PE and figured I would share my thoughts. I don't usually do reviews but read the other thread started by Emerson REP and it seems people are quite interested in this blade. Not really a review but more of my impressions after handling it for a bit.
First The Handle. As far as I can tell the Tiger uses the exact same handle as the CQC-13. The standoffs and the clip are even in the same place. Not a complaint as I love this handle. It may be the most comfortable handle on any folding knife I have ever used, and I have used a lot.
The blade closely resembles the CQC-8 but has it's differences. It is quite a bit wider (not thicker) making the edge sit very low, almost in line with the front of my fingers when gripping the knife. I has less straight edge than the 8 also, almost all curve, and would work well for rocking cuts (rocking the blade up and down). The swedge starts further back on the blade giving it a bowie look and it has a good point for stabbing. The wide profile combined with the point being so closely in line with the center of the handle would definitely create a wide channel that would sink deep.
The wave on this thing is huge, about the same size as the ETAK or Roadhouse. This combined with the heavy blade and lack of a second detent makes it wave very well from the pocket. The only other knives that i can wave this easily are my Roadhouse models.
Fit & finish are typical Emerson, rough around the edges, but that is fine with me as I don't buy these because they are pretty (even though they are beautiful in their own way). G10 is very grippy just like all of the newer models I have acquired. Centering is perfect and lockup is tight and fairly early with almost all of the lockbar contacting the tang. The SW models don't seem to be as rough as the BT models before cleaning and this one is no exception. Even though I have not taken it apart and cleaned it yet it is very smooth. I have heard many people describe Chris Reeve knives as having a hydraulic feel but I think Emerson knives have more of a hydraulic feel than any other brands. It is hard to describe but you guys know what I am talking about.
Overall I like this design a lot. I'm not sure I will like it better than the 7A, which is my favorite knife ever, but it has a lot of potential. I will be carrying it next week to see how much I like using it. Finishing up this week with the ZT 0620, which is also an excellent knife (I don't think Mr. Emerson can come up with a bad design). I know that makes me sound like a fanboy but if I am a fanboy for enjoying knives that work well for anything than so be it. I do own and use many other brands designed by other people so I do mix it up a bit but the Emersons are by far my favorite.
I would love to post some pics since they usually explain more than a written description can but I don't do pictures. My camera on my phone has a crack in the lens and images come out as a big blur and I don't own a camera. If I could go a week without buying a new knife I could probably get a camera but that just isn't gonna happen.
Hope this helps some people considering this knife. I do not regret this purchase but then again I almost never regret a knife purchase.
ETA: I just watched the video where Mr. Emerson explains his philosophy behind this design. I didn't buy this knife as a fighting knife because I would consider using whatever knife I had one me in a defensive situation and in my line of work wouldn't consider using a knife offensively but this is one of the things that attracts me to Emerson knives. They make excellent utility knives that would be an exceptional tool to defend oneself if needed.
First The Handle. As far as I can tell the Tiger uses the exact same handle as the CQC-13. The standoffs and the clip are even in the same place. Not a complaint as I love this handle. It may be the most comfortable handle on any folding knife I have ever used, and I have used a lot.
The blade closely resembles the CQC-8 but has it's differences. It is quite a bit wider (not thicker) making the edge sit very low, almost in line with the front of my fingers when gripping the knife. I has less straight edge than the 8 also, almost all curve, and would work well for rocking cuts (rocking the blade up and down). The swedge starts further back on the blade giving it a bowie look and it has a good point for stabbing. The wide profile combined with the point being so closely in line with the center of the handle would definitely create a wide channel that would sink deep.
The wave on this thing is huge, about the same size as the ETAK or Roadhouse. This combined with the heavy blade and lack of a second detent makes it wave very well from the pocket. The only other knives that i can wave this easily are my Roadhouse models.
Fit & finish are typical Emerson, rough around the edges, but that is fine with me as I don't buy these because they are pretty (even though they are beautiful in their own way). G10 is very grippy just like all of the newer models I have acquired. Centering is perfect and lockup is tight and fairly early with almost all of the lockbar contacting the tang. The SW models don't seem to be as rough as the BT models before cleaning and this one is no exception. Even though I have not taken it apart and cleaned it yet it is very smooth. I have heard many people describe Chris Reeve knives as having a hydraulic feel but I think Emerson knives have more of a hydraulic feel than any other brands. It is hard to describe but you guys know what I am talking about.
Overall I like this design a lot. I'm not sure I will like it better than the 7A, which is my favorite knife ever, but it has a lot of potential. I will be carrying it next week to see how much I like using it. Finishing up this week with the ZT 0620, which is also an excellent knife (I don't think Mr. Emerson can come up with a bad design). I know that makes me sound like a fanboy but if I am a fanboy for enjoying knives that work well for anything than so be it. I do own and use many other brands designed by other people so I do mix it up a bit but the Emersons are by far my favorite.
I would love to post some pics since they usually explain more than a written description can but I don't do pictures. My camera on my phone has a crack in the lens and images come out as a big blur and I don't own a camera. If I could go a week without buying a new knife I could probably get a camera but that just isn't gonna happen.
Hope this helps some people considering this knife. I do not regret this purchase but then again I almost never regret a knife purchase.
ETA: I just watched the video where Mr. Emerson explains his philosophy behind this design. I didn't buy this knife as a fighting knife because I would consider using whatever knife I had one me in a defensive situation and in my line of work wouldn't consider using a knife offensively but this is one of the things that attracts me to Emerson knives. They make excellent utility knives that would be an exceptional tool to defend oneself if needed.
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