Dear Members,
I was looking through the forums and happen to come across this post. I just finished replying to an e-mail from a customer regarding this subject. I thought it might be relevant here so I've included it below.
Best Regards,
Ernest Emerson
Dear xxxxxxxxxx,
As with everything we do, it is purpose driven. Although many not knowing the history of Emerson Knives think that we are just another Knife Company, the roots of this company are buried deeply in the history of the Naval Special Warfare community.
Per the requirements set to us by NAVSPECWAR, all of our materials were dictated to us by the environment they were to be used in. Since SEAL operational duties require exposure to marine environments, all of the materials chosen for our knives had to both function and not degrade upon exposure to salt water.
You may note that we were also the first company to use Nylatron washer bearings for that same reason. Although they may be smoother, bronze or brass washers degrade and oxidize almost immediately upon exposure to salt water. Just another reason that Emerson Knives are different from the other knife companies that just claim to be "hard core."
The lubricant that we use is a graphite grease impregnated with copper specifically used for its waterproof and stability (longevity) properties. This lubricant does not wash out or break down even under years of exposure.
I do not build knives for collectors or casual users. I build them for the hardest users and the most extreme environments on this planet.
The reason that there are people who take their Emersons apart to clean or re-lube is simply, because they can. Emerson Knives was the first Knife company to make knives that could be completely disassembled by the user. This was impossible for any other production knives at the time and voided the warranty for most production knives. Once again, knowing both the purpose and the environments our product would be serving, I built the knives to be just like a gun. You can take it apart, clean it, tune it and replace parts as needed. No other so called "hard core" knife company even understood that simple need.
On my own knives, I have never ever changed the lubricant on any of them and some I have carried daily for over 5 years. They are knives that I simply picked up off the assembly table and put into my pocket.
I build my knives to a different standard. A standard unknown or perhaps ignored by other knife companies and a standard probably not understood by those who are casual users of Emerson Knives. That standard is so that any and every Emerson Knife can be carried into the harshest and most extreme environments on this planet and perform anytime, anyplace, without concern.
So in the end to answer your question, what purpose does it serve? I hope I have given you an answer.
Thank you for your support of Emerson Knives.
My Best Regards,
Ernest Emerson
