What are you paying for when you buy Emerson?

Does bearing make a knife better? Would a super steel make the knife better? For me, no. Emersons knives are designed to function under any circumstance. Mainly the worst kind. Most super steel would chip like icicles from what i throw at my Emersons. Ball bearing will never have the longevity of the nylatron washers. Just a few things to think about.
 
100% made in America. How many companies have their knives made in China to bring the prices down. Emerson has the integrity to keep their knives American made. Might be more expensive but I think it is worth it.
 
Bearing are not always an upgrade. They would actually be ridiculous on an Emerson, considering what they're designed to do.
 
This thread has reached maximum fanboy capacity, please clear cache and reboot :/ . . . . ;)
 
kylemiller said:
Bearing are not always an upgrade. They would actually be ridiculous on an Emerson, considering what they're designed to do.
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Well Ernest did put bearings in the CQC-7 flipper. So I guess he doesn't find them ridiculous.

Whether or not they are worth the asking price is purely an individual choice.

For me, my Mini CQC 15 was worth it. I have carried and used it everyday for the past year and a half.

Some think otherwise, that's fine too. Thankfully we have many great knife companies , at all price points, to choose from.
 
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This was under $200 lnib from the exchange. One of the best bangs for the buck ever. This knife will do whatever I ask of it and afford me ease of sharpening at the same time. For me...It's worth it.
 
AsianBeerCan, if you were in elementary school when G-10, titanium liner locks, and 154CM blade steel were premium materials, then you're missing some of the historical significance of Emerson Knives. When Ernest Emerson started EKI, those were still predominantly state-of-the-art folder materials/construction methods. Now there are plenty of companies cranking out such knives, but there weren't very many then. EKI knives were pretty avant-garde for the time.

Over the intervening years, EKI has been slow to change. But despite the tremendous growth of market competition, it doesn't seem to be hurting for business. And the fact that the company sticks with tried-and-true components appeals to a lot of people.

Personally, I love the fact that EKI knives are made in America. I also find many of Emerson's designs appealing. And the fit-and-finish and ergonomics of every Emerson I've handled have been spot-on. I don't think that any of the brands Emerson has loaned his designs to have been able to match the in-hand comfort of EKI knives.

Oh, and no other company makes a knife quite like this....

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-Steve
 
1SHOT1KILL said:
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This was under $200 lnib from the exchange. One of the best bangs for the buck ever. This knife will do whatever I ask of it and afford me ease of sharpening at the same time. For me...It's worth it.
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What is that....handle does not look CQC 7ish, yet its chisel ground so not a roadhouse.
 
Ahh, too bad I missed out on that one. Just like the UBR Commander. Looks like whenever they were around just 184 on Bladehq....not bad for a "Super" Emerson.

Todd21969 said:
Well Ernest did put bearings in the CQC-7 flipper. So I guess he doesn't find them ridiculous.

Whether or not they are worth the asking price is purely an individual choice.

For me, my Mini CQC 15 was worth it. I have carried and used it everyday for the past year and a half.

Some think otherwise, that's fine too. Thankfully we have many great knife companies , at all price points, to choose from.
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The CQC-7 flipper is just a special run though. I don't think we'll see flippers become standard on his knives.
 
You're paying for a knife you like, but you could also be paying for new pairs of pants if your pockets get torn . I have heard of people's pockets eventually tearing from waved knives , and have no reason to doubt that I can happen.
 
I just got a mini 7 plain edge. Really like the solid build and tank feel. But for not cut so well. Wouldn't cut through cardboard very well at all. Want to keep it but I have to get it to perform better than that. Any sharpening or grinding suggestions
 
falar said:
Ahh, too bad I missed out on that one. Just like the UBR Commander. Looks like whenever they were around just 184 on Bladehq....not bad for a "Super" Emerson.



The CQC-7 flipper is just a special run though. I don't think we'll see flippers become standard on his knives.
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The Super SOCFK is sold by Emerson direct only now. The others you've seen are usually purchased from collectors or traded in from collectors. It took me quite a while to hunt this one down. When it came up I jumped on it.
 
I love Emerson knives....but it may be awhile before buying another one if ZT keeps putting out framelock versions with better steel.
 
I don't want to have come across as an Emerson hater. I love my Commander- it's riding in my pocket right now. I have a Combat Karambit from Emerson and am looking at a Sheepdog Bowie. I was just looking at other knives and I just thought to ask. Many great answers and much to think about. Thanks all
 
I had a 2004 cqc-13 I bought on the exchange, that was very stiff, but still had blade play, I ended up selling it- but kept wanting another one when I saw it in EDC pics because of the design- so I waited until one popped up for $150 and got a 2013 version which had a lot better f&f overall and don't plan on selling it ever, but I don't think I'd pay the full $230 that they go for new, and I don't really like any of the other designs so far, so for $150 I'm happy with my purchase- I passed up several before that one at around $175 and up.
 
I can't speak for others, because the money was a bonus from work.

Having spent some time with my mini CQC-7, I've decided that

1) they're more than the sum of their parts.

2) everything is there for a reason. No more features than it needs to fulfill it's purpose.

Individually, each feature doesn't stand out as something special or unique, but once I used it a couple times, I began to appreciate the intangible quality of something designed with one clear purpose. I like a tool that's simple and effective.

Are they over-priced? That depends on who you ask. You can argue all day about steel choice, materials, warranty, fit and finish, and we do argue about all these things, here. In the end, personal choice is the biggest deciding factor.

I'm planning on buying another one....
 
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