Your opinion on Emerson knives?

Ever try using a Emerson to make a hotdog stick while camping? ....not fun. Why is Emerson backwards?

Left handed chisel grind:



Right handed chisel grind: (notice the Emerson is a left handed knife with the chisel on the wrong side) :confused:

(Right handed Strider with a right handed chisel grind)
 
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Actually, I have. It worked just fine. I get what you're saying, but I just adjusted my technique a bit, and was able to shave the wood down adequately.
 
I used to think Emerson Knives were the bee's knees.

At one point I had a mini cqc-7, cqc-7 karambit, super kerambit, persian, commander, la griffe, and probably others I'm forgetting.

I ended up selling all of them. I kept the commander longest because the ergos were so great.

I just realized that I could find knives that fit my needs better with better materials and better prices.
 
I must be really lucky because all of the Emersons I've had have been pretty good from a f&f standpoint. I don't have any now because I didn't care for them functionally but I don't have anything bad to say about them. My wife loves her pink mini CQC-15. It was pretty much flawless and I'm confident it'll last since she's not really all that hard on her knives.

Her edc -

AF6F1614-A0B0-443B-9CC8-51729E8E7DC9_zpscgpa0obm.jpg
 
From what I see it looks like a good knife, but I live in NY so the length of the blade is a problem for carrying and it is a bit expensive. But the site that I saw it on Knifecenter.com has a Kershaw Emerson CQC-5K on sale for $19.99 that mite be a good alternative.
 
What's the NY limit? 3"? There's a framelock kershaw emerson 3k tanto v grind, fwiw. If you're allowed under 4" it opens up the nicer kershaw emersons, IMO. Ie 6k, 7k.
 
Emre said:
I don't think its scorn. Honestly.

Here's how these threads go:

Guy #1: "Emerson knives are nice enough. But fit, finish, and materials could be better for the price. They were innovative and well-built for their time, but haven't really kept up with modern developments.

Guy #2: "Emerson knives are the best ... at what they're designed for."

That last part is always italicized. And they never specify what exactly it is they're designed for. But the implication seems to be that if you were a true "operator" or SEAL Team 6 ninja ... you'd understand (wink wink, nudge nudge).
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I have no dog in this fight, and I've already given my take on Emerson's, but there is no debating the SEAL Team 6 ninja thing (wink, wink, nudge nudge) if that matters to people.

http://emersonknives.com/news/the-emerson-cqc-7-mark-walters-and-osama-bin-laden/
 
straitr said:
I have no dog in this fight, and I've already given my take on Emerson's, but there is no debating the SEAL Team 6 ninja thing (wink, wink, nudge nudge) if that matters to people.

http://emersonknives.com/news/the-emerson-cqc-7-mark-walters-and-osama-bin-laden/
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The spec ops people I worked in the army with were serious, highly capable people . . . with largely unimpressive taste in knives.

The last two units listed on my DD-214 before I opted to return to civilian life are special forces battalions, 2/3 SFG(A) and 1/10 SFG(A), and the knives I remember seeing most from those years were leatherman multi-tools and whatever the PX sold (at the time mostly Gerber and SOG). Everybody had a knife, all of which were functional and could cut stuff, but they weren't special ninja knives at all.

I'm glad fans of the brand like them, but IMO a knife with crappy fit and finish, questionable lockup, wrong-sided chisel grind, and too high a price tag for its materials is still a crappy knife even if the pope, the president, and every delta operator all have one in their pocket.
 
I wanted a Super Commander for years. I finally got the chance to handle one in person, and was sadly disappointed. It felt light, flimsy, and boring. Definitely not worth the high price they go for. I will admit that it felt great in the hand, but I just couldn't bring myself to drop the dough on it.
 
evilgreg said:
I'm glad fans of the brand like them, but IMO a knife with crappy fit and finish, questionable lockup, wrong-sided chisel grind, and too high a price tag for its materials is still a crappy knife even if the pope, the president, and every delta operator all have one in their pocket.
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Then clearly, the Pope, President, and every Delta operator have different views and/or needs of their knives than you do. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. I was merely sharing a link to a fact, which is that SEAL Team 6 "Ninjas" as people like to say, actually carry Emerson knives, at least one of them did and he donated it to be auctioned off for charity.

Like them or leave them, people need to stop hating on Emerson's just for doing what they're being designed to do. They may not be as pretty, nor carve up your hot dog sticks or cut the seal on your jar of beard cream as well as (insert your pet brand), but they clearly perform well enough to be "Famous in the Worst Places".

I have two Emerson's in my safe, neither of which I use because they don't do my EDC tasks as well as others or in a way that brings me joy, but I won't for one second say they aren't as advertised.
 
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Armadew said:
I used to think Emerson Knives were the bee's knees.

At one point I had a mini cqc-7, cqc-7 karambit, super kerambit, persian, commander, la griffe, and probably others I'm forgetting.

I ended up selling all of them. I kept the commander longest because the ergos were so great.

I just realized that I could find knives that fit my needs better with better materials and better prices.
Click to expand...

This pretty much sums up my experience as well.
 
straitr- Twas a good post.
Emerson knives are what they are. Like them or move on.
rolf
 
straitr said:
Then clearly, the Pope, President, and every Delta operator have different views and/or needs of their knives than you do. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. I was merely sharing a link to a fact, which is that SEAL Team 6 "Ninjas" as people like to say, actually carry Emerson knives, at least one of them did and he donated it to be auctioned off for charity.

Like them or leave them, people need to stop hating on Emerson's just for doing what they're being designed to do. They may not be as pretty, nor carve up your hot dog sticks or cut the seal on your jar of beard cream as well as (insert your pet brand), but they clearly perform well enough to be "Famous in the Worst Places".

I have two Emerson's in my safe, neither of which I use because they don't do my EDC tasks as well as others or in a way that brings me joy, but I won't for one second say they aren't as advertised.
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Them along with just about every other knife brand.
 
shinyedges said:
Funny you didn't address the chisel grind being on the side that photographed best rather than on the side the majority of users would find more helpful. Considering the point of a chisel is to plane material off.
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Dont see, why I should comment on it in a previous post. Im fine with a chisel ground no matter which side its on. It has a chisel grind for a reason, as others have stated, but I dont currently own a chisel ground Emerson, so dont care. Wouldnt care which side it was on, if I owned one either but my current Emerson is a V grind.

shinyedges said:
Nothing on any of my other points either? .
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We've pretty much covered the ground, so no. I elaborated on the 'intended use' but which you mentioned (Id already covered that, so no need to repeat it) and the ZT comparison in the post you hint at, has already been covered at well, as I never mentioned ZT in the post of mine, which you quoted.
 
I think this thread has run its course. The OP had bought an Emerson. Let him tell us what he thinks of it.


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