Here's my choices:
Cold Steel AK-47 - 3.5" blade, super grippy G-10, cool aluminum pommel, AUS8 Steel (mid tier steel), tough Triad lock
Spyderco Endura Wave - Very light and thin, 3.8" blade (~3.4" cutting edge), VG-10 (superior to AUS8)
Cold Steel Rajah III - 3.5" blade, grivory handles (similar to FRN), Kukri blade shape, AUS8 and Triad lock
I've never owned an Emerson, but from all the reviews I've seen on them I feel like you get a lot more bang for the buck with these knives. For hard use, I would go with AK-47, for superior edge retention go with the Endura. And the Spartan is not legal to carry in a lot of states.