What happened to Emerson?

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Westflorida

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It seems like there is very little talk about Emerson's and their forum does not have too much activity. What's happened?
 
I don't know, and it concerns me. Along with Bob Terzuola, Ernie is one of the main reasons we have this hobby we all enjoy. The first high-end knife I owned was a CQC7. Lots of people came into this sport the same way.

There were some teething problems as time went on, but that's any new business, not just his. I still have a knife on order from him since December, 1996; seems a bit long, but guys who know him say he's a man of honor, and that's all that matters to me.

However, when I look at Strider, and now Extrema Ratio, it does look like the industry that Ernie helped build is passing him by. That doesn't seem fair somehow, despite the fact that this is business.

I hope that he is in his lair right now, designing something with a super-steel no one is using and he creates a product that rocks the industry on its heels like the CQC series. Call it prejudice, I want all of my heroes to do well.
 
Awsome knives - I wish they'd make more models without the chisel grind. I might be the only one here who feels this way but..I like the "wave" feature.
 
Awsome knives - I wish they'd make more models without the chisel grind. I might be the only one here who feels this way but...
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I'm with you there. I tried one, but it never grew on me.
 
Well, last month at the NY show he unveiled 2 new killer models, the CQC 11 and 12. They were awesome and the protos sold for $1800 and $2200 respectively, and there were more buyers than there were protos. He had about 4 of each and they went fast. His regular raffle was as busy as usual, about 300 people trying for the chance to buy one of about 30 customs that were there for sale. He had rare versions of waved CQC 5's and 6's there as well as bolstered and waved CQC 8's.Unless you were there very early it was impossible to get near his table. Since the show he has inveiled the HD 7, a very heavy duty framelock version of the custom CQC7 and shipments have gone out of the HMMV, the Emerson knife of the year. He's been making custom knives since the late 80's and keeps coming up with new stuff. His business has never been stronger, he's about 7-8 years backordered on customs and has stopped taking orders except for special runs.

He is training people as always and his seminars are still requested by various military specialty groups.

His made in the USA production line is going full blast, and from all reports any QC problems of the past seem to be worked out very nicely. His overseas economy Hardwear line is also doing well. He told me recently that one of his top production people had moved on so he has had to take on more responsibility with the production line, temporarily slowing down some custom production.

This past month in the new issue of Blade magazine in an article about groundbreaking knives and industry leaders, a picture of an Emerson knife was the lead picture.

Ernie has never been big on posting, preferring to let his product talk for him, and I suspect that most of the folks who mainly discuss Emersons have relocated.
 
I have to say that coming into town with 30 customs is very generous to the public. I can remember a lot of high-demand makers who show up to a show with much less in quantity. This gives more folks a chance to own an Emerson custom who might have never imagined ever having one.
 
Originally posted by Boink
I have to say that coming into town with 30 customs is very generous to the public. I can remember a lot of high-demand makers who show up to a show with much less in quantity. This gives more folks a chance to own an Emerson custom who might have never imagined ever having one.
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Actually, I'd say it is just smart business. If you know you can sell every knife you make without batting an eye, it would be dumb not to have as many knives as possible.

However, I doubt many makers can crank out that many knives for a show AND keep up with their order backlog.
 
i'd have a lefty commander by now, except it isn't available with a 100% plain edge. oh well. guess it's time to save for a custom emerson.. *goes & buys lottery ticket*
 
The emerson fans went to the Usual suspect network.

The got tired of all the controversy related to EKI, so they made their own club house.

Lots still float around here, but some don't.

Times change. Shi+ happens.
 
Originally posted by memnoch
The emerson fans went to the Usual suspect network.

The got tired of all the controversy related to EKI, so they made their own club house.

Lots still float around here, but some don't.

Times change. Shi+ happens.
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yup, the emerson forums here are pretty dead because pretty much all the emerson fans just post on USN
 
Boink, the waved, bolstered CQC8 you got in NY was awesome!
Just FYI, Emerson and Strider are good friends and often request tables next to each other at shows.
Anyway, for the person who sked what happened to them, there you have it.
BTW, the article in Blade this month is good and gives good credit to Ernie, Kit Carson, and Bob Terzuola. As it should be.
 
Originally posted by lifter4Him
Boink, the waved, bolstered CQC8 you got in NY was awesome!
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Yes, sir. That's 'zactly what I was talking about. Someone who never imagined ever being in a place and time and actually win at something, and then incredulously seeing the 8 still on the table. Earlier that day, Ernie was regaling us with stories about the old comedies we saw on TV as kids while I eyeballed that knife and said to my self, "yeah, right. I might ever win that thing!"
 
I agree with everything Dave said. I'd just add that to me buying knives is alot about the people that make them. You really won't find nicer people than Ernie and Mary. With all that goes on at Emerson Knives you can still talk to them. Last week when my HMMV-K was ready,
it was Mary who called. A couple of days before Christmas and a family and Mary's on the phone. These people care!!

The business has by no means passed this person by. I believe Ernie is still an industry leader and I'm glad to have gotten to know him.
I've got a CQC6, Carson Model 4 and a Terzoula ATCF, all the tactical history one needs. Well, in folders!!

Oh, and I got a waved Super 7 in New York, and I think Dave got something pretty cool, also. Boink was one happy camper, as he should have been!!

Win
 
Strider and Extrema might be taking some of the EKI business, but I believe that Ernie will still corner a good % of the tactical knife market.
I used to post at USN, but I'll damed if I didn't have technical problems every time I logged onto the site, just got tired of dealing with it.
I really enjoy this site , anyways.
 
I think a few things have happened to Ernie. One is that his customs are so difficult and expensive to get, there's only a small group of people who have the opportunity to talk about them. As far as his production knives, The Tourist calls the early problems "teething", but I think in that case there's still some teething going on -- too many liner lock problem reports for knives that charge a hefty premium just for the Emerson name.

That said, I really like Emerson's designs. Forget the Wave for a moment (though no argument it's a cool feature) -- I really respect how Emerson's folder handles include a lot of up-front protection, doing just about the best job of offering the necessary hand protection for combative use. He's also a great guy to talk to, very generous with his considerable knowledge. I just wish he'd give up and move away from liner locks.
 
Originally posted by Manji
yup, the emerson forums here are pretty dead because pretty much all the emerson fans just post on USN
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Not all of us have left for the other place.
 
There's plenty of Emerson fans here, just look at the replies to this thread. If you start a thread or ask a question people will answer.
 
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