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Kershaw CQC-6K Review

Last Updated: August 11, 2019
Occasionally a knife comes along that I feel almost obligated to review. Almost as if I would be doing the site a disservice by not reviewing the knife. My goal with the website from day one was to build a resource, and a resource on folding knives would be pretty crummy if I didn’t have reviews of things like the Benchmade Griptilian or Kershaw Skyline. These kinds of knives have become so ubiquitous to our understanding of what a modern folding knife is, to the point where I feel that it would be a failure on my part not to include a review on them.

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I think that the CQC-6K could be another one of those knives. The CQC-6K is one knife in a series of collaborations between Emerson knives and Kershaw. That alone is reason enough to review it. Ernest Emerson is known for his quirky designs and relatively expensive knives. Between chisel grinding the edge, drilling and tapping the pocket clip for right side tip up carry only, and retailing the blades for (usually) over $180, his work is inaccessible to lots of people. These Kershaw collaborations can be had for under $40, and feature creature comforts like ambidextrous clips and v-ground edges. These knives could be perfect for someone who doesn’t want a cask strength Emerson.

I decided to pick out the CQC-6K specifically because it seemed like their flagship model. If you want to see an overview of the entire collaboration I invite you to check out the awesome work The Edge Observer did on the series. He really did a fantastic job and it gives you a good feel for the entire lineup. I am entirely too cheap and too lazy to purchase and review the entire collection.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CQC-6K has an overall length of 7.75″, a 3.25″ blade, and weighs 5.1 ounces. Kershaw has produced a number of smaller designs in the Kershaw/Emerson lineup, but I feel like this is a good size for my needs. 3.25″ is a good size blade for EDC, it fits the hand well, and just feels right.

I will say that at over 5 ounces, my biggest complaint is the weight. I don’t mean to sound like NutnFancy, but I think it is a valid criticism of the knife. Part of me wants to justify the heavy build because of the stainless steel frame lock, but with knives like the ESEE Zancudo being stainless steel framelocks coming in a full 2 ounces lighter than this 6K, I can’t help but wonder if things could have been done differently to save some weight. The flip side is that this knife appears to be very tough.

The CQC-6K comes with a classic clip point blade. Fans of a tanto blade may prefer the CQC-7K, which is basically the same knife with a tanto. You don’t need to be a history major to realize that the clip point is a very functional blade shape that has stood the test of time. I really enjoyed my CQC-13, which is an even more aggressive clip point. Here you get a capable tip, a good belly, and plenty of edge, all mated to a hollow grind. I like this blade shape a great deal.

Emerson’s blades are one of my favorite aspects of his knives. The grinds are beautiful and I love the 2-toned finishes found on his stonewashed models. Here Kershaw attempted a 2 tone effect: satin flats and a stonewashed primary bevel. It’s not nearly as nice as a real Emerson, but I give them props for trying something different. I like this touch.

For steel Kershaw went with 8Cr13MoV. I don’t mind 8Cr13MoV on a $30 knife. As I have mentioned dozens of times before, it sharpens easily and it takes a good edge. Sure it won’t hold onto that edge forever, but that’s part of the game. My blade has held up well under normal use. Can’t say I did anything too crazy with the knife, but it broke down boxes, carved wood, and opened up plastic packaging on several occasions. If the intended use is EDC, the CQC-6K should do just fine.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The CQC-6K has a G-10 handle scale and stainless steel liner on the non-locking side, and a stainless steel framelock on the locking side. There is a partial G-10 backspacer. Construction is solid. The framelock and liner are both substantial, and is where this hefty knife picks up several of its extra ounces. I like how Kershaw went with Phillips head hardware for the body screws, and a slotted pivot, paying homage to Emerson’s original creations. The fit and finish of the handle is also quite good. The corners of the framelock were all chamfered, and the pieces line up well. One thing I did notice is that this framelock will rust if you aren’t careful. I am not sure what I was doing with my knife (maybe I used it prepare food or carried it around in a sweaty pocket), but one day I picked it up and noticed little rust spots on it. Bar Keeper’s Friend saved the day yet again, but it’s an observation I wanted to mention.

Ergonomically, the CQC-6K feels like an Emerson. That’s a great thing. This is a ridiculously comfortable knife. The handle is thick and spacious, and you have a deep finger groove that locks your hand in place. There is a prodigious amount of jimping on the knife, a feature I have shied away from, but it’s subdued and works well here. There is plenty of space to grab this in forward and reverse grips. This is just a good handle design.

The pocket clip on the CQC-6K is modeled after the standard Emerson clip. It has been scaled down to fit the proportions of this smaller knife, but it’s the same shape of the clip regular Emersons come with. The clip is a proven design and was well implemented here, especially since Kershaw decided to drill and tap this thing for ambidextrous tip up carry. It’s a Christmas miracle – an Emerson with holes on both sides of the handle! (In case you couldn’t tell, I am very happy to see this.)

As far as carry goes, this is not a deep carry knife. There is room to easily grab the knife and make use of the wave feature. This is a heavy and relatively thick knife, but it carries well thanks in part to the sturdy clip design. The clip has also been laser etched with Emerson’s skull logo, an interesting detail that I could probably live without.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment, you have the option of either using the wave feature, or the thumb disk. For the uninitiated, the wave feature is essentially a hook on the spine of the blade that catches on the corner of your pocket when drawing out the knife. As the hook catches on your pocket it forces the blade open. The wave feature is a lot of fun and it works well on this smaller knife. The thumb disk also works well and I actually find it a little easier to use on this compact design than on Emerson’s full size offerings.

As I mentioned earlier, this knife makes use of a stainless steel framelock. This is a departure from Emerson’s liner locks. It adds a lot of unnecessary weight to the knife, but most people seem to prefer frame locks for the perceived increase in strength, so I can see why they did it. I am happy to report that this is a good stainless steel frame lock. My knife locks up around 50%. The blade is secure, and is without any sort of play. Also the lock doesn’t stick, and is easy to manipulate. At this price point I can’t ask for much more than that.

Kershaw CQC-6K Review – Final Thoughts

By and large this knife is a winner. Kershaw has successfully brought Emerson’s designs to the mass market. Most of the stuff that makes an Emerson an Emerson has been ported over, and you also get things like a “V” edge, and ambidextrous pocket clip. Fit and finish is very good and the end result is a well made, satisfying knife, with classic Emerson attitude and ergonomics. I am thankful for the fact that they didn’t make this a Speedsafe knife. Kershaw loves to do that on budget blades (because their market research has shown most people prefer assisted openers), and I’m glade this one was spared. This price is also hard to beat. KAI has been on fire with their collaborations with Hinderer, and these new collaborations with Ernest Emerson may just make KAI the collaboration king.

If I were to lodge a complaint against the CQC-6K it would be the weight. Some might try to cut the 6K some slack because it’s a $30 knife, but the Zancudo is similarly priced but is much lighter. For that reason this one doesn’t quite make my best EDC knives list, but it comes pretty close. This is an otherwise great knife so I feel the need to point out this potential issue. The flip side is that it makes for a very tough knife, and this could be a good choice for a beater / work blade. Emerson purists may bemoan the fact that this knife is made overseas. If that is such a big issue I would suggest saving up and buying a real Emerson.

At the end of the day I think you are getting a lot of nice knife for the money, and I recommend it for fans of Emerson’s designs or those looking for a tough and compact EDC that won’t break the bank.

Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K Folding Pocket Knife

3” blade is made of 8Cr14MoV stainless steel with dual blade finishes offers excellent edge retention and wear resistance
Modified clip-point blade is ideal for delicate handiwork, opening packages, cleaning small game, aggressive animal defense and preparing kindling
Designed by Emerson Knives and precision engineered by Kershaw for uncompromising function, fit and finish
Versatile pocket carry and ideal companion for wilderness guides, hunters, backpackers, landscapers and knife enthusiasts
Manual blade opening with a thumb disk, Emerson’s patented “wave shaped feature”, a favorite feature among military, rescue and law enforcement

I recommend purchasing the CQC-6K at Amazon or BladeHQ. Thanks for reading!

Emerson Roadhouse Review

by Dan Jackson 11 Comments

Last Updated: August 5, 2019
I’ve mentioned a couple times before that every now and then I get the urge to pick up an Emerson, and make it my EDC. I know the knife is going to be too large for me to comfortably carry, and way overboard when I stop to consider my actual needs for a daily carry knife. But still, like a moth to flame I convince myself that this time things will be different as I hit the “buy” button on yet another Emerson. This is probably like a gal that brings home the guy with bad credit and a pack a day habit, thinking that she will “change” him to one day become the man of her dreams.

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Well this time around I have no such delusions of grandeur. I bought the Emerson Roadhouse not because I intend to carry it in the pocket of my skinny jeans next to my mustache wax and Starbucks card, but because I really dig the design and wanted to add it to the collection. I know the knife is going to be too big for me to actually want to carry and use, and I could care less.

At least this time around I’m being honest with myself. This is a beastly blade and I have always been drawn to the low slung modified tanto design. Frankly, it’s about damn time I reviewed the Emerson Roadhouse and I’m not going to apologize for it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Roadhouse has an overall length of 8.90″, a 3.80″ blade, and weighs 6.2 ounces. This is a full size folder and was likely designed with law enforcement and military personnel in mind. I’m just a guy with a website and a day job, so my perspective on the knife will be limited to daily carry and use as a tool, rather than a defensive option. The design has proven popular enough for Emerson to roll the Roadhouse out in a variety of sizes. We have the regular (shown here) the Super Roadhouse (4.2″ blade), and the Mini Roadhouse (3.4″ blade).

The blade of the Roadhouse is a modified tanto and is one of my favorite shapes from Ernie. I’m not a tanto guy, but I really like this modified tanto. There is a little belly and something of a harpoon and swedge that give the knife some extra attitude. In the product description Ernie tells you to think about Jack Daniels and Harley Davidson’s. I can almost see Patrick Swazye in a dusty corner, the glint of the Roadhouse flitting through thick cigarette smoke and half empty bottles. Oh yeah. I really like this one. Mine blade is a two tone satin finish with stonewashed flats. Like all my other Ermersons, this knife is ground beautifully with a v grind and chisel edge. The blades are the best part of these knives although I see a fair amount of tooling marks on the spine around the wave and jimping.

The steel is tried and true 154CM. If it works why mess with it? I certainly don’t have a problem with 154CM, and Emerson has always done a good job heat treating it. People who actually use their knives will tell you that the chisel edge is ground on the wrong side for right handed users, but I don’t let that get in the way of a good time or a cardboard box. I have found the 154CM to be a serviceable steel, but if you don’t believe me feel free to read through my handful of other Emerson reviews.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Roadhouse’s handle is standard black peel ply G10 over a titanium locking liner, and a steel non-locking liner. My knife has a thick partial G10 backspacer. I am pretty sure if you were to buy one new Emerson now offers their knives with standoffs over a backspacer. We have been trained to think that flow through construction is better, but there is something endearing about the G10 backspacer. The hardware is Emerson’s signature phillips head fasteners for the body screws and oversized slotted pivot. There are some tooling marks on the edges of the liners, but beyond that everything is nicely finished.

In hand is where the Roadhouse really shines. This is a full size knife and it provides ample room for all your standard grips. In addition to being a long handle, it’s also quite thick. Much like every other Emerson I’ve handled the knife is extremely comfortable. The black G10 offers plenty of traction, and the jimping on the thumb ramp holds your thumb but isn’t overly aggressive. If you can get away with carrying a big knife it’s hard to beat Emerson’s offerings from an ergonomic standpoint.

For the same reasons the Roadhouse feels so good in hand, it will be noticed in the pocket. It’s a large knife and there is no getting around that. Even small Emersons have a way of feeling big. The Roadhouse has been outfitted with Emerson’s standard black parkerized clip. It rides low, but not so low that you can’t access it easily. This is a proven clip design and is very comparable to Benchmade’s offerings. As always the knife comes drilled and tapped for right side tip up carry only.

Deployment and Lockup

For deployment you have a choice of thumb disk or wave feature. I’ve never been a huge fan of thumb disks. They always seem awkward to me. But they are low profile and stay out of the way when you are waving the knife open. The nylatron washers aren’t amazingly smooth, but they get the job done. I’d prefer good ole phosphor bronze, but this isn’t Burger King. I can’t have it my way. I can flick open the Roadhouse with a little effort, but for rapid fail-safe deployment the wave is the way to go.

For lock up you have a thick titanium liner. The locking liner is visibly thicker than the non-locking steel liner and I find that reassuring. Lock up on my knife is early and secure. There is a little bit of lock stick, but nothing bad. I prefer a steel locking liner over titanium, but it is what it is. Apparently Emerson’s warranty service is good if you manage to wear down the titanium. I have never had to use their warranty service personally.

Emerson Roadhouse Review – Final Thoughts

It’s big, it’s bad, it’s surprisingly expensive. I have always enjoyed the look of the Roadhouse on paper and am happy to report the knife looks just as good in hand. It’s a solid tool, with Emerson’s signature quirks. Despite some tooling marks on the back of the blade and liners, the knife has been carefully put together. The parts line up, the blade is centered, the lock doesn’t stick (badly) and everything feels sturdy and secure. The super nice blade and comfortable handle are high points. The steep price tag and impracticality of the knife (for my suburban purposes) are low points. Regardless, I am pleased to add this one to my collection and recommend the knife if you are a fan of Emerson’s offerings or if the allure of the Roadhouse is just too strong to resist.

Emerson Roadhouse – $227.66
From: BladeHQ

Emerson Roadhouse SF Plain Stonewashed Blade

I recommend purchasing the Roadhouse at BladeHQ or Amazon. Please consider that purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

Emerson Horseman Mini CQC-8 Review

by Dan Jackson 10 Comments

Last Updated: August 4, 2019
I have bought a number of Emerson knives under the guise that they were going to be my next EDC. Ernest’s blades have an American bravado to them that I really enjoy, and on several occasions I’ve found myself say, “Oh yeah, I’m going to EDC the heck out of this thing,” as my cursor hovers over the buy button. When the knife arrives it’s usually about twice as big as I imagined. The unfortunate truth is that while I enjoy the knife for what it is, it never ends up staying in my pocket.

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I have (presumably) learned from this mistake several times now, and purchased my latest Emerson, the Horseman (aka the mini CQC-8), because it is a smaller knife.

Ernest calls this scaled down version of the CQC-8 “the Horseman” because it was designed to be carried while riding a horse. I haven’t been near a horse for at least a decade, so unfortunately I will not be providing any commentary on the blade’s equestrian capabilities. That said, I do hope to answer whether the knife is a worthy urban EDC.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Horseman has an overall length of 8.35″, sports a 3.54″ blade, and weighs 4.8 ounces. Compared to previously reviewed Emersons like the Super Commander and CQC-13 this is a much smaller knife. That said, this is still an Emerson, and it still has a blade over 3.5″ inches long. It’s got a pleasant thickness to it, a reassuring heft, and generally isn’t what I would call a small knife. While it is definitely more pocketable than some of their other offerings, it’s no gentleman’s folder either.

It’s hard for me to determine what exactly the blade shape would be classified as – perhaps a modified clip point? Some call it “the banana blade,” and to me that is as good a classification as any. The curved edge comes to a very acute tip thanks to a finely ground swedge. Like all of my other Emersons I have handled, the blade has been beautifully ground. I once again opted for the stonewashed version. I love the way stonewashed version is finished with it’s sparkling flats and satin grinds.

Like most Emerson knives this blade has been V ground, but is left with a chisel ground edge. Ernest claims this is done for ease of sharpening, and I must say that the edge was very easy to maintain. The steel is 154CM: a well-balanced blade material that should be no stranger to regular readers of this blog. 154CM sharpens nicely and holds a good edge.

I tested the Horseman out on a variety of materials. I started with a 6-foot length of 1/4″ thick sisal rope and had no issues cutting it inch long sections. I then moved on to a piece of 3/4″ thick manilla rope – a pretty nasty material – and the Horseman once again cut cleanly and with confidence. I found the jimping on the spine of the blade a bit aggressive under repeated hard cutting, but for normal work I think you will find it is alright.

I touched the chisel edge up on a strop and then moved along to several pieces of cardboard. The Horseman cut without issue although I do prefer a more conventional V ground edge over a chisel edge for cardboard. I find that a V edge tracks through cardboard a little easier, but that could just be due to my relative inexperience with chisel edges. I will say that the chisel edge is capable of getting razor sharp with very little effort. Ultimately I was satisfied with how the Horseman worked on cardboard.

I rounded things out with a little carving on a piece of pine 2×2. The fine chisel edge made for an aggressive carver, and I was pleased with how quickly the knife removed material. I have to admit that I found the handle pretty uncomfortable under this kind of use, and resorted to wearing a glove to finish the job. That is pretty much par for the course with most folders, but I felt it was still worth mentioning.

Ultimately I found the Horseman to be a capable cutter well suited to a variety of tasks. As expected, the 154CM held onto its edge, and was easy to keep sharp. I had no issues with rust or corrosion either.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

The Horseman’s handle follows the same formula of all of Emerson’s other knives: black G10 scales over a steel non-locking liner and a titanium locking liner with a black G10 backspacer. Everything is held together with Phillips and flat-head hardware. If you have seem one Emerson handle, you have pretty much seen them all. My Horseman came well finished. All of the parts are well lined up, there are no tooling marks on the liners, and everything is very solid. It’s simply constructed, but also well done.

From an ergonomic standpoint, the Horseman benefits from Ernest’s decades of knife design and martial arts experience. The Horseman feels very natural in both forward and reverse grips. The deep finger guard makes it difficult to slip forward on the knife, and the thick handle provides plenty of support for your palm. The jimping on the thumb ramp provides good traction, but it can get uncomfortable under extended use. For normal use I think most will find the thumb ramp to be comfortable.

The pocket clip is the same clip found on all Emerson knives. It’s a simple black parkerized clip and is very similar to the standard Benchmade clip. This isn’t an ultra deep carry, but the Horseman rides reasonably low and carries discretely in the pocket. Despite being a “mini” Emerson, this is still a thicker knife, and it still weighs 4.8 ounces. I definitely felt it while carrying it around, but there are certainly bulkier knives on the market. It carries better with jeans and thicker fabrics.

Deployment and Lockup

The Horseman makes use of Ernest Emerson’s patented wave feature for deployment. For the uninitiated, this is a tried and true method of rapidly opening a folding knife. They also included a thumb disk on this model, which is easy to access and suits the lines of the knife. My model came a little stiff, and could probably stand to be taken down, cleaned, and reassembled with some tuf-glide or other high end lubricant.

For lockup we have the aforementioned titanium locking liner. It is a bit thicker than the steel non-locking liner, and engages nice and early. There is a little stick on the lock of my knife, but it isn’t obnoxious. There is no blade play in any direction. There is something very purposeful about the way this knife was manufactured and assembled, and the solid lockup adds to that feel.

Emerson Horseman Review – Final Thoughts

The Horseman is another well contemplated offering from Emerson, and I think it will satisfy fans of Emerson’s products that want something a little more manageable for carry on a daily basis. It has the same features and design quirks of its bigger brothers, but it doesn’t compromise in ergonomic or cutting performance. That said, this is still a thick knife, and at 4.8 ounces I definitely feel it in my pocket. Whether it will make a practical EDC knife for you is entirely subjective.

I will say that this is a sturdy no-nonsense knife, and I was surprised with how much I have enjoyed it. My particular knife is immaculate, and it has been fun to carry. If you can find one as solid as this I think you will like it.

I recommend purchasing the Emerson Horseman at BladeHQ. Purchasing anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews. As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated! Thank you very much.

Emerson Horseman
From: BladeHQ

Emerson Knives Horseman SF

I recommend buying the Emerson Horseman at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out the review.

Emerson CQC-13 Review

by Dan Jackson 12 Comments

Last Updated: August 10, 2019
Emerson is one of the most American knife companies I can think of. Their blades are 100% made in the USA with American made materials, and when you thumb through one of their catalogs (or the pages of their website) you really get the feeling that these knives are distinctly American. There are plenty of references to the US Military, MMA, and hard rock – to the point where you can practically feel the bald eagles whooshing over your head.

Buy the CQC-13 at BladeHQ

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So when you take a company like Emerson Knives and combine it with the iconic American bowie you get what is arguably the most patriotic production knife on the planet: the Emerson CQC-13 Combat Bowie.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The CQC-13 has an overall length of 9″, a 3.85″ blade, and it weighs 5 ounces. Like most of Emerson’s offerings this is a pretty big knife. Designed for military, police, and anyone else seeking a large and rugged tool, this is a no-nonsense tactical folder. Personally I tend to pair it with a smaller utility knife.

The blade is what really drew me to the CQC-13, which makes sense because Emerson’s knives all follow a similar formula. Besides different blade and handle shapes, they are all built pretty much the same. Here we have a mean clip point cut from thick stock with a needle sharp tip, a good amount of belly, and a partial flat grind. My preference is for the stonewashed version, but Emerson also makes them in a black coated and matte finished (shown here) versions as well. Like many Emersons this knife is V ground, but the edge features a chisel grind (ground on one side instead of both like most normal knives). According to Emerson this is done for ease of sharpening in the field.

Like every other Emerson knife on the market the CQC-13’s blade comes in 154CM stainless steel. The steel is heat treated to 57-59 HRC, which makes the knife easy to sharpen yet capable of holding a nice edge. 154 won’t retain an edge as long as some of the more exotic steels on the market, but it is a proven steel and remains an all-around good choice.

Handle, Ergonomics, and Pocket Clip

In the handle department the CQC-13 continues to follow the typical Emerson format: roughly textured black G10 scales, a partial G10 backspacer, a steel liner, and a titanium locking liner. There is a lanyard hole and all the screws are phillips head (except for the flat head pivot screw). Emerson isn’t known for making the prettiest knives, but I am actually quite impressed with how well this knife has been finished. The blade is beautifully ground, everything lines up, and the liners are attractively finished.

The CQC-13 really starts to shine once you start handling it. The spacious handle is extremely comfortable. There is plenty of room for forward or reverse grips and the handle features a deeply scalloped finger choil, and a nice run of jimping on the spine. This is a capable work knife and it is a pleasure to use. Ernest has a strong martial arts background and it shows time and time again in his handle designs. Simply put the ergonomics rock.

The pocket clip is once again classic Emerson. It’s a simple matte black parkerized clip, discrete and functional. My only gripe (per usual) is that the handle is only drilled and tapped for right side carry. I know they apparently make lefty versions of the knife and that you can send knife in to be drilled and tapped for left side carry (for $20) but honestly this is one of those cases where they should have just done that at the factory. Not just for lefties but also for right handed people wanting to carry on their weak side. When you consider the intended use and near $200 price tag, the 3 extra holes should come standard.

As for actual carry, the CQC-13 carries well for a larger knife. The pocket clip is discrete but not ultra-deep, so the knife is easy to get at but stays out of the way. At 5 ounces this larger knife feels lightweight for its size.

Deployment and Lockup

Naturally, one of the big selling points for an Emerson is the classic wave opening feature, which allows you to open the knife as you remove it from your pocket. If you don’t feel like waving open the CQC-13, you can always make use of the ambidextrous thumb disk, something I’ve always found slightly more cumbersome than a thumb stud or opening hole, but with a little practice it can certainly get the job done. Opening the knife is fairly smooth, Emerson uses nylatron washers in all his knives. They get the job done, especially if you opt to wave the knife open.

For lockup we have a titanium liner lock. I am generally not a huge fan of titanium for a locking liner, as it is not nearly as hard as steel of a blade tang, but Emerson has been making them this way for decades. In practice my knife still locks up fairly early, and there is little to no blade play. As an added bonus the titanium helps lighten the knife up – always a plus. It is also worth mentioning that the pivot screw is of the flathead variety, so it is easy to adjust with pretty much anything handy.

Emerson CQC-13 Review – Final Thoughts

Ernest’s Combat Bowie is exactly as advertised; a rugged folding tactical knife making great use of an iconic American blade shape. I have no doubt that fans of Emerson’s other offerings will also find much to love about the CQC-13. But lets be real for a moment, clearly, this is not a knife for everyone. Those preferring something a little more subtle will likely pass this one up. And like the rest of Emerson’s offerings, the Combat Bowie has it’s share of quirks unique to the brand (including the chisel ground edge, non-ambidextrous pocket clip, titanium liner lock, nylatron washers, etc). Finally, it’s not a cheap knife – not at all. All of these things tend to polarize people, and I can appreciate the opinions on both sides. However, if this is a knife that interests you I can attest that it is comfortable and well made. In conclusion the CQC-13 is another well thought out tactical folder that compliments the Emerson line nicely.

Emerson CQC-13
from: BladeHQ

Emerson ECBF CQC13 BT with Plain Black Blade

I recommend buying the Emerson CQC-13 at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for reading.

Cold Steel Ti-Lite Review

by Dan Jackson 18 Comments

Last Updated: July 28, 2019
The Cold Steel Ti-Lite is a knife that I received in a trade. As a collector I find myself often buying and selling knives, and I routinely get it hit up with trade propositions. I must confess, the decision to acquire a Ti-Lite was really a product of impulsiveness rather than a well researched and rationalized decision. All I knew was the general shape of the knife and that it was a fairly popular offering from Cold Steel.

Buy the Cold Steel Ti-Lite at BladeHQ

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A few days later the Ti-Lite was in my hands. Again, it’s confession time. The styling of this particular knife was not my cup of tea, and I was turned off by how unfriendly the design was to left handed people like myself. So I stuck the Ti-Lite on a shelf and would revisit it occasionally. It was a great knife for when I needed a little distraction. I’d practice waving it off my pocket and imitating some of the “sweet moves” you often find in Cold Steel’s promotional videos.

So when I first got it I really wasn’t interested in reviewing the knife, but the Ti-Lite has slowly grown on me. It still isn’t a part of my EDC rotation, I don’t think it’s a practical utility knife, and it really isn’t lefty friendly, but the Ti-Lite is a well made purpose-built tactical knife, and I’d still like to spend some time and talk about it.

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Ti-Lite comes in 2 blade sizes, the 4″ version shown here and a much larger 6″ version. I happen to have the 4″ version which sports an overall length of 8-3/4″ and weighs 3.6 ounces. This is a long and slim design, and I immediately likened it to a Spyderco Endura. However, a big difference between the Ti-Lite and Endura is that the Endura is a much more versatile design, and can excel at both utility and “tactical” (defensive/offensive) tasks. In my mind the Ti-Lite is much less versatile and really is best suited for stabbing stuff. As we will learn, this Ti-Lite does that job quite well.

The blade on the Ti-Lite is a spearpoint design. The knife is hollow ground, and grind line pretty much goes down the center of the blade and reinforces the very sharp tip. On the spine of the knife you have a long aggressive swedge, and the edge has been neatly applied. There is just a very slight amount of belly here – like I said earlier, I don’t think this would make a particularly good utility knife. A nice satin finish rounds things out. All in all the blade is very well done, and resembles a folding railroad spike.

The blade is made from a 3mm thick AUS 8A stainless steel. This is a mid range Japanese stainless steel known for it’s ability to be easily sharpened and take a great edge. It’s common on Cold Steel’s current offerings and I generally don’t mind it, even if it won’t hold an edge as well as higher end steels. Really you aren’t going to do much actual cutting with this thing, mainly you need something tough – AUS8 is tough and reasonably inexpensive. Given the price, the intended use, and the way you would primarily use this knife I think AUS8 was a good choice here.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

My Ti-Lite came with Zytel (reinforced plastic) handle scales over full stainless steel liners. A full Zytel backspacer rounds out the design. There is also a more expensive [easyazon-link asin=”B001DZNST6″]aluminum version[/easyazon-link] that weighs about an ounce more. I really don’t see any advantage to the aluminum version, but I know some people simply aren’t fans of reinforced plastic handles. The Zytel on my knife is nicely finished, and the stainless steel liners have been given a little polish. Everything is well lined up and fits flush together. I like the screw type construction and how light and sturdy the handle feels. All in all this is a well made handle.

Like the blade shape, the ergonomics of the Ti-Lite are fairly one-note. 2 sharp quillions dominate both the aesthetic considerations and ergonomic qualities of the knife. These quillions are great for deploying the blade (more on that later) but make actually handing the knife somewhat awkward in most normal positions. The quillion on the top of the knife is right where the thumb ramp would normally be, and is rather sharp and uncomfortable. Really the knife is best held in either a reverse grip or a ice pick style grip, although you could straddle the quillion and rest your thumb on the spine of the blade. In the more stabbing oriented grips, the handle really fills the hand and I found the knife to be plenty comfortable. Regular forward grips for utility work are much more awkward.

The pocket clip is a sturdy piece of steel that has been given a bright satin finish. On a knife like this I’d really prefer a blackened clip, but it does match the rest of the stainless steel hardware quite well. A bigger gripe might be that the clip allows for right side tip up carry only. But the good thing here is that the clip is sturdy and offers nice retention. Also, the knife rides rather high in the pocket, not really a big deal in my opinion because of the way the knife deploys.

Deployment and Lockup

With the Cold Steel Ti-Lite you have several options for deployment. My favorite by far is using the quillion to “wave” this knife off the right pocket. Of course what I’m referring to is the wave feature found on many Emerson knives that opens the knife as you draw it from your pocket by catching a protrusion on the blade on the corner of your pocket. This action it snaps open the blade almost instantly, and is easily the fastest way to deploy the knife.

Traditionalists may prefer using the included thumbstud. Southpaws beware, this knife only has a right side thumb stud, and it’s not reversible in the slightest. For that reason, you may prefer to use the quillions to open the knife. If this part of the review was kind of confusing, I suggest checking out my video review – I think I do a slightly better job of explaining the various deployment methods there.

Regardless of the method you choose to deploy your Ti-Light deployment will be very smooth thanks to some teflon washers. Typically I am not a huge fan of teflon washers, but they are well implemented here and I honestly didn’t even realize they were teflon until I closely examined the knife before review (after months of ownership). Blade centering is dead on as well, so I’ve got no complaints.

The Ti-Lite makes use of a large liner lock to secure the blade open. My liner lock engages about 3/4 of the way, and is extremely sturdy. I did not experience any blade play at all, even after waving the knife open hundreds of times. It is a strong lock.

Cold Steel Ti-Lite Review – Final Thoughts

If you are looking for a dedicated defensive knife and are a fan of the retro styling, then I can recommend the Cold Steel Ti-Lite. It’s well made, features good materials, and at around $40 new you aren’t going to break the bank. I will say that this is definitely a specialized knife. It is really only good for stabbing stuff in my opinion, and leaves much to be desired as an EDC or utility knife. Also, the knife is really not lefty friendly – if you are left handed I’d just leave this one alone.

But what the Ti-Lite does, it does really well. It’s a very strong stabbing implement. So ultimately the decision rests on the desires of the consumer. Is this a must have knife? Not in my opinion, but for what it is the Ti-Lite is a nicely done knife.

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Emerson Super Commander Review

by Dan Jackson 17 Comments

Last Updated: March 4, 2018
Fans of Emerson Knives are no stranger to the Commander. It’s one of Emerson’s original designs and is among their most popular models to this day. So it would seem like a no-brainer to take this classic knife and come out with a mini version, and the Super Commander shown here. Having owned this one for a while now I can say that this knife not only has all the things that made the original Commander so desirable, but a lot more.

Buy the Emerson Commander at BladeHQ

Buy on Amazon

General Dimensions and Blade Details

The Super Commander has an overall length of 9.5″, a 4″ blade, and it weighs 7 ounces. Yeah, this is not one that I’d like to EDC (although plenty of people do), but it actually felt surprisingly good in my pocket and feels light for its size. This of course would make a great tactical knife, large utility knife, or just a welcome addition to the collection.

The blade on this beast is just a thing of beauty. I tell you, Emerson does not mess around when it comes to grinding their steel, and Super Commander’s blade is nothing short of epic. Of course you have that classic Commander blade shape, the nice drop point with the swooping recurve and nasty belly. They started with a thick piece of steel and everything has been ground with laser like precision (including the swedge – a recent refinement to the Commander series). I am super impressed with the blade on this knife.

Note that this Super Commander is “V” ground – although the actual edge is a chisel grind. I know this polarizes people but the grind works alright for me and the knife gets extremely sharp.

What I especially love about my Super is the gorgeous stone wash on the flats. Now, stonewashes have recently experienced a resurgence in popularity. I have to say this is the finest, most beautifully stonewashed knife I have ever seen – nicer even than the Chris Reeve knives I have handled. The stonewashing is so well done it basically has given the knife a jeweled appearance. My recommendation is if you are picking up an Emerson don’t get the coated version, don’t get the satin finish – get the stonewash (you can thank me later).

Emerson uses 154CM for all of the blades on all of their knives. They found something that works and are sticking with it – I can totally appreciate that. 154CM is a long time favorite steel of mine, it gets sharp, holds the edge and is fairly resistant to corrosion. A good all-round steel.

Handle, Ergonomics and Pocket Clip

The handle on the Super Commander is relatively plain next to the beautiful blade. Again, Emerson has a formula, and they tend to stick with what works. In this case it’s black G10 over steel and titanium liners with a G10 backspacer. The handles are held together with phillips screws, an interesting touch that was designed for easy maintenance in the field. All in all, handle construction is solid. The liners haven’t been milled out, but the titanium liner lock helps lighten the load. The steel liner could be milled to reduce weight, but I find that unnecessary here. Everything is sturdy and lines up well.

You would expect the ergonomics on such a large knife to be decent, and the Super Commander doesn’t disappoint. The spacious handle gives you plenty of room for any grip, and the Commander feels very comfortable in hand. There is a large choil that forms a nice guard, and the thumb ramp is substantial and nicely jimped. The edges of the handle have all been rounded and the G10 has a nice medium rough texture to it. No complaints with the ergonomics.

The pocket clip on the Super Commander is a nice sturdy blackened clip. It’s not a low rider clip, but it rides low enough for my tastes and has good retention. The one issue is that it is not ambidextrous. I could send this knife in to the factory and they will drill and tap some holes for like $25, but really – this should have already been done. Ambidextrous clips are important – not only for lefties like me, but for right-handers who like carrying knives on their weak side.

Deployment and Lockup

My Super Commander came with a black thumb disk. It works alright, not really my first choice (especially with such a big blade). I think you might be able to get this one with a thumb hole – that may be preferable although personally I’m not a huge fan of the Emerson style thumbholes. What I am a fan of is the wave deployment. In my mind this is the only real way to deploy this sucker. There is nothing like having 4 inches of gleaming steel at your fingertips, and the wave is the absolute fastest way to make that happen with a folding knife.

Lockup is done through a nice titanium liner lock. Mine engages very early, and it’s an extremely solid lockup. It’s a well executed lock that has held up so far. On the subject of deployment and lockup, my blade didn’t come perfectly centered and I wasn’t able to get it tuned with the pivot screw – it’s not that bad though. An interesting thing to note about the pivot screw is that it is it uses a flat head driver rather than more conventional torx bits.

Emerson Super Commander Review – Final Thoughts

The Super Commander is one hell of a knife, I don’t know any other way to really say it. The blade is the showpiece here – it is beautifully ground, and the stonewash finish on the flats provides awesome visual interest. I’d buy this knife just for the blade.

That said, everything else is pretty solid on this one. The materials are all great. Fit and finish is good – not outstanding, but good. Lockup on mine is super early and deployment is very smooth. My blade isn’t perfectly centered, and I noticed just some small things that could have been finished a little better (like the thumb ramp, and the backspacer isn’t 100% flush with the handles). But these are very minor issues, and are par for the course with all the Emersons I’ve handled.

So if an Emerson Super Commander is on your radar I think it’s a great knife. These retail for around $250, which is on the spendy side – but this is a big knife made in America (and it’s an Emerson) so frankly price wasn’t a big factor for me… and I suspect that would be true for many Emerson enthusiasts. So for the final word on the Super Commander – I think it’s a great knife, and I recommend the stonewash finish.

Emerson Super Commander – $234.95
Retail Price: $312.00
You Save: $78.00
from: BladeHQ

Emerson Commander Plain Folding Knife,Standard Edge Blade, Black G10 Handle COM SF

Emerson Wave Feature
Plain Edge
Black G-10 Handles
Titanium Liner Lock
Made in the USA

I recommend buying the Emerson Super Commander at BladeHQ or Amazon. Thanks for checking out the review.