I recently bought several more Emersons, a couple nearly new, a few well used. Good deals on each. I'm not a collector, and some of the knives show the character of hard use, but they're trusted tools to me, and I like having backups and choices.
I've purchased some from ebay and other similiar sources, or web sites with classified ads. I recently had several shipped to me in Iraq. A newly acquired CQC-13 just made it's first flight in country with me a night ago. It shows some solid wear to be sure, but it locks up tight, has a good edge, and is everything I have come to expect from an Emerson knife. I just received another commander as well, and am expecting a CQC-13, and one of the Emerson-Kneely timberline knives. A couple of these have already done one or more tours over here, and one owner said she'd sell me hers because she wanted it to go back to Iraq, to someone who'd know what it meant.
I'm very impressed by some of the collectors knives that have been shown here. Beautiful. I doubt I'll own such a knife, though I can understand why someone would want to. None of mine will be showcase models, and a few will live a rough life, but I depend on them and they haven't let me down.
I'm really partial to the commander blade. I have a few CQC-7's, mostly with the combo edge...don't like it, but for a good deal, they're servicable and do the job and that's what really counts. If I bought all new knives, I would only have one or two...but I carry several, and I can always reach one sitting, laying down, standing, or whatever...having more than one makes sense. I buy them where ever a good deal can be had, and I can be sure it's a genuine knife.
