What is up with the tightness???

J

JordanSalyers

Joined
May 9, 2012
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188
I just got a Brand new emerson super commander and i am not really happy with my decision as of now...I just got it and the pivot is way too tight and it is off centered as all get out. So i am not too happy with the knife as of now. Is this a usual thing, or did i just get a bad one out of the bunch??
 
I'm not one to talk because I don't own any Emersons, but all the Emersons I've handled have been really tight or really stiff.
 
Well this is what I did when I first got my Horseman.

Took it apart, cleaned it, put some of my milcom grease on it and put it back together.
Played around with the pivot tightness until I found a balance between solid lockup and ease of opening. Threw some blue threadlocker on the pivot screw and no worries.
 
I have had some that are similar, but I took them apart and cleaned them along w some lube. Now they are perfect.
 
Krazy Cash said:
Took it apart, cleaned it, put some of my milcom grease on it and put it back together.
Played around with the pivot tightness until I found a balance between solid lockup and ease of opening. Threw some blue threadlocker on the pivot screw and no worries.
Click to expand...
- That's my standard break in for all of the Emersons I've owned.
 
My CQC-13 was like this too, full of super sticky factory grease, had to take it completely apart, clean it, and then after 2 weeks of break in, it finally started getting smooth, I'd also suggest the blue loctite, mine loosens after 5-10 openings
 
There are ways to fix them up, without a ton of effort on your part. If a blade is way off, here's my method:

1. Loosen the small black screws in the rear of the knife. Use a #1 Philips for this.
2. Tighten the pivot screw so the blade is hard to move.
3. Push hard on the blade in the direction of blade center. I usually go way past center, up to and including touching the metal scale.
4. While holding the blade "off center" tighten the small screws.
5. Release the blade and voila, a centered blade.
6. Readjust your pivot screw to your liking after the centering is complete.

This can sometimes take a couple attempts, but I can usually center an Emerson in under 5 minutes this way. Takes me longer to find the screwdrivers than to do the mod. What you're basically doing is biasing the scales so that the blade ends up centered. Works on many knives.

I found myself selling my first Emerson and not buying another for nearly a year. It really depends on what you want out of a knife. If you want refined jewelry, then they're not for you (unless you get a full custom Emerson at way more $$$). I have some "jewelry" knives myself. Nothing wrong with it at all. This is one of those hobbies (obsessions, perhaps) that can satisfy nearly any need. You just have to find knives that "speak" to you. That process has taken me a while and many knives have come and gone as a result.

One thing I can say is Emerson's service is top notch. I've had two knives repaired thus far and they pretty much bent over backwards to help. Never gave me trouble saying I abused the knife or anything like that. They also don't care if you take your knife apart to service it yourself. They fully expect their customers to beat the crap out of them and ask for more. Having to clean one thoroughly won't void your warranty, like it does with some other brands.

In the end, only you can decide what features you like in a knife and if an Emerson does those things well.
 
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Well i mean, if i am going to spend that much money for a knife. I dont want to have to loctite anything just because it loosens after 10 openings. Plus, i dont expect to pay this much money and then get screwed with blade centering and it cant be fixed by tightening pivot.
 
JordanSalyers said:
Well i mean, if i am going to spend that much money for a knife. I dont want to have to loctite anything just because it loosens after 10 openings. Plus, i dont expect to pay this much money and then get screwed with blade centering and it cant be fixed by tightening pivot.
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Then research your purchases before you make them. Those things you mentioned are all complaints that have been discussed to death in relation to EKI. Maybe Emerson's aren't for you, which is fine. Blade centering is still an easy fix with these. Either by the method already posted, which it would appear you ignored, or simply adjusting the tension on the secondary detent. Teflon tape can be used instead of loctite as well but I'm wondering how many liner/frame locks you've used since many do come from the factory already loc tited...
 
JordanSalyers said:
Well i mean, if i am going to spend that much money for a knife. I dont want to have to loctite anything just because it loosens after 10 openings. Plus, i dont expect to pay this much money and then get screwed with blade centering and it cant be fixed by tightening pivot.
Click to expand...
- Not to be the bearer of bad news, but production knives aren't perfect. You can go to any other forum on this site and find similar issues where blades are not centered, sticky lock bars, etc. Some of the knives are also more expensive than Emersons.
 
There is a really easy trick to centerig Emerson knives. Simply loosen all of the body screws, crank the pivot all the way down, then wedge a folded piece of paper between the blade and the scale it is off center towards (pushing the blade all the way to the scale side opposite the direction it is off center towards), then while the wedge is still holding the blade over to that side, tighten all of the body screws all the way down, remove the wedge, and then loosen the pivot to your preferred tightness.

As for the pivot being too tight out of the box, that is to avoid customs issues with knives shipped to Australia and other countries with a history of confiscating Emersons.
 
docbp87 said:
There is a really easy trick to centerig Emerson knives. Simply loosen all of the body screws, crank the pivot all the way down, then wedge a folded piece of paper between the blade and the scale it is off center towards (pushing the blade all the way to the scale side opposite the direction it is off center towards), then while the wedge is still holding the blade over to that side, tighten all of the body screws all the way down, remove the wedge, and then loosen the pivot to your preferred tightness.

As for the pivot being too tight out of the box, that is to avoid customs issues with knives shipped to Australia and other countries with a history of confiscating Emersons.
Click to expand...

Thank you for not being an asshole about it. I will tried your method and it worked. Now to you others, sorry for hurting your feelings. (in total sarcasm). But thanks again man!!
 
MHGeckos said:
Then research your purchases before you make them. Those things you mentioned are all complaints that have been discussed to death in relation to EKI. Maybe Emerson's aren't for you, which is fine. Blade centering is still an easy fix with these. Either by the method already posted, which it would appear you ignored, or simply adjusting the tension on the secondary detent. Teflon tape can be used instead of loctite as well but I'm wondering how many liner/frame locks you've used since many do come from the factory already loc tited...
Click to expand...

Well considering the fact this is my first emerson after buying nothing but microtech and spyderco, this tightness is not an issue with these knives.
 
JordanSalyers said:
Thank you for not being an asshole about it. I will tried your method and it worked. Now to you others, sorry for hurting your feelings. (in total sarcasm). But thanks again man!!
Click to expand...

No problem bro. Glad it centered up. There's a reason the Commander design is so popular that Ernie makes it in 5 different sizes... IT RULES. Now get out, and use the shit out of it!
 
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