Knife Gear: Emerson CQC-7A-SF

Make: Emerson
Model: CQC-7A-SF

It's hard to talk about this knife without talking about the progression of EDC knives I've been through of late.

For the gun folks, the analogy goes as follows... 

The Benchmade Griptilian was my Garand: it served me well for years and was a real workhorse. 

The Griptilian was eventually replaced by the Kershaw Shallot (see post) the same way the M14 replaced the Garand.  The Shallot was a decent knife, and seemed to address a few things I didn't particularly like about the Griptilian (namely its bulk and handle material), but its service was as short-lived as the M14's.

Then the Emerson arrives on the scene like the M16.  There is some initial doubt and hesitation, but it is nonetheless adopted, and now I can't imagine carrying anything else.



vs the Black Shallot
I still prescribe to the theory that the "right" knife for you is whatever feels best in your hand at that particular phase of your life.

I really did like the Black Shallot, but somewhere in the back of my mind it bothered me that the SpeedSafe action, while very smooth and reliable, required that you hold the knife in a particular way and used a particular finger in a particular motion to activate it.  So sure, in a no-stress situation with nothing to lose and time to spare, opening it was a breeze (and just plain cool, to be honest).  But could you do it with gloves on?  Left-handed?  With greasy hands?  With the knife upside-down?

I would just hate to need the knife for that once-in-a-lifetime moment where I needed to cut a seat belt with bloody, injured hands and not be able to get the thing open.

Kershaw actually makes a knife called the Avalanche that's pretty similar to the Shallot except that it has a thumb stud on the blade to assist with opening.  I had actually planned on trying that out instead when the Emerson landed in my lap...

Enter the Emerson
I lucked out in that my shooting buddy had also been on the hunt for a new EDC to replace his own Griptilian.  He tried the Emerson but it didn't quite fit his liking.  So money traded hands at the range one Sunday morning and I became the proud new owner of an Emerson folder.

So this knife is actually one of the Prestige Line collaborations with Action Concepts.  It's a CQC-7 except with a spear point, which I definitely preferred over the standard tanto (mainly for aesthetic reasons, I think). 

I loved the knife, but like the army and their M16, I did have some initial reservations about adopting it as my standard EDC.  I had just gotten used to the slimness and disappears-in-your-pocket feeling of the Shallot, and this was a return to a bulkier knife. And I have to admit, I still thought the SpeedSafe opening was just plain nifty, not to mention I'd only just bought the knife a few weeks back!

But I ended up carrying the Emerson for a few days just to feel it out, and just like Stoner's rifle, it slowly grew on me.  First off, the thing just feels rock solid.  It feels more like a tool than a knife, if that makes any sense.  There's plenty of G-10 real estate to give you all-condition grip, and the blockish handle is pure utility.

I'd never had a knife with a thumb stud before, but I now believe it gives you the most purchase in different situations than either thumb-hole or thumb-stud.  I actually used the knife during a full day at my storage unit cutting up boxes, constantly opening and closing it, the whole time wearing heavy work gloves.  I feel pretty confident I can get this knife open under almost any circumstance.

It's definitely a bit thicker than the Shallot, but nowhere near as bulky as the Griptilian was.  For EDC, that comfort factor is always something to consider.


The Gist
A no-frills, hard-use, more-tool-than-knife knife.


In Comparison
From left to right: Benchmade Griptilian, Kershaw Black Shallot, Emerson CQC-7A

Knife Gear Comparison: Kershaw Black Shallot vs Benchmade Griptilian

Make: Benchmade
Model: Griptilian 551

Make: Kershaw
Model: Black Shallot 1840CKT


I will not even attempt to sell you on which of these knives is better overall; that's truly a personal choice.  I once read that the right knife for you is the one that just "feels" right in your hand (same as a pistol, I suppose).  Both of these blades are quality pieces of hardware, made in the US by highly reputable manufacturers.  I'll simply try to compare and contrast them as Every Day Carry knives.

Opening Mechanism

The Griptilian uses Benchmade's AXIS mechanism and it amounts to having three ways to open the knife.  You can use the traditional thumb stud and simply push the blade out until it locks.  You can pull backward on the AXIS thumb stud which essentially lets the blade drop free and either gravity or a flick of the wrist will get it the rest of the way.  And finally, on most Griptilians I've seen, a more energetic flick will snap the blade open (though this can take some practice).

The Shallot uses Kershaw's SpeedSafe assisted opening, which only requires you to get the blade moving a small distance before the mechanism takes over and snaps the blade quickly and solidly into place.  Note that unlike other SpeedSafe models (like the Leek or Chive), the Shallot has neither a thumb stud on the blade or a safety lock.















Getting a Grip
The Griptilian is almost an ounce lighter, but the handle is considerably thicker.  That means it feels big in the pocket, but also gives you plenty of material to wrap your fist around.  The handles have good checkering and also have a slight bulge to them which again makes for a secure, comfortable grip.

The Shallot is thinner, heavier, and while the handles are flat, smooth stainless steel, they also have a more dynamic contour to them.  This, combined with a deep forefinger groove means that if the overall shape fits your hand, chances are you'll find the grip to be equally secure and comfortable.

Left or Right, Up or Down?
The Benchmade can only be carried tip-up, though the clip can be put on either side of the knife.  The AXIS lock has studs on both sides which means that it's easy for both lefties and righties to close the knife. 

The Kershaw, on the other hand, can be carried either tip-up or tip-down, but the clip cannot be put on the other side of the handle.  It's also worth noting that the Kershaw is a liner lock and therefore rather awkward to close for lefties.

Knife Gear: Boker Subcom F Black

Make: Boker Plus
Model: Subcom F Black (model #01BO586)

Usually when people talk knives they like to talk about the big stuff: the hard-use tactical knives or bushcraft blades. But I've always found that it's the humble utility knife that tends to get the most use on a daily basis.

I carried this little Boker Subcom for years, and only recently did it go into retirement to make way for the new Kershaw Leek. I actually didn't intend to get the partially serrated blade (I didn't read the description closely enough before placing my online order), as I typically find that a plain edge is more useful overall, but over time I've come to like it well enough. Most people would say that a partially serrated blade is the worst of both worlds, and just plain pointless on a knife this small. However, I've found that with this Subcom, I'm either slicing through something very thin with the front plain edge, or trying to cut through light rope or twine with the full length of the blade which offers the benefit of the serrations, as abbreviated a length as it may be.

Normally I feel like I have to "fiddle" with knives of this size, and almost end up holding them like a pencil because the handles are so narrow.  But due to the width of the Subcom's handle (it's as wide as a knife twice the size), I feel like I can get a rock solid grip on the thing.  Add in the generous choil and serrations on the top for your thumb and it feels like the knife locks itself into your grip.

The Discount Line
The best thing about the Subcom is that it only runs about $30.  Utility knives get abused, and little folders like this one can also get lost pretty easily, but at that price you could get a few spares.

At the time I bought it, though, I didn't realize that the "Plus" in Boker Plus means that this particular knife is made in China.  I've become a lot more conscious of trying to find American made whenever possible, but the Subcom is such a great little tool that I'd have to make an exception.

Knife Gear: Kershaw Leek

Make: Kershaw

Models:

Leek, plain blade, G-10 handle (model #1660G10)
Leek, plain blade, stainless handle (model #1660)


I really the Leek for an EDC (Every Day Carry) utility knife.  It's not so small that you have to fiddle with it like a pen-knife, but not so large that it would draw unwanted attention should you need to use it in public.

I'm also a big fan of Kershaw's SpeedSafe assisted opening function.  It's essentially the closest thing to a fully automatic knife you can legally carry in California (unless you limit yourself to a blade smaller than two inches).  Essentially you just give the blade a slight nudge using the ridged ramp or the thumb stud and it flicks out solidly and locks into place.

Handles: Stainless vs G-10

I bought the stainless version first and it immediately replaced the Boker Subcom that I'd been carrying for years as a general purpose "left pocket" utility knife (a larger tactical folder sits in the right pocket).  But it only rode the pocket for a few days as I got the kydex neck sheath for it just a few days later, and have been carrying it that way ever since.

At that point, I felt like I'd found my ultimate small utility folder: perfect size, slick assisted opening, solid lockup and a practical blade.  I was carrying it when I went to my storage unit one day to organize junk and sort boxes.  The knife got its first full day of work of slicing tape and cutting up cardboard.  But I hadn't carried a stainless handled knife in awhile, and as my hands got dustier and drier, I quickly remembered just how slippery that material becomes.  If you use your index finger to engage the SpeedSafe opening using the top ramp, it relies on keeping a good grip on the rest of the knife with pressure between your thumb and middle finger, and there was a point where I could barely hang onto it.

At that point, I had to downgrade the stainless Leek from "ultimate" status.  If only it came in a grippier handle material...

I'd actually bought the stainless Leek on a whim (a birthday gift to myself) and hadn't really done too much research on the different versions it came in.  So it was only after the storage unit experience that I went back, did some hunting, and realized that the Leek came in a G-10 handle version.  The Leek was back in the running for Ultimate Utility Knife.

I placed an order and got it a few days later.  As soon as I took out of the box, I knew it was pretty much exactly what I was hoping for.  The handles are almost "sticky" and grip is a non-issue.  But there was one completely unexpected and tragically disappointing downside, although this had nothing to do with the knife itself...

By this point, I'd become a big fan of the kydex neck sheath, and had sworn to never again let a knife clutter up my left pocket.  But while the G-10 Leek is much lighter than its stainless cousin, it's also substantially thicker, and the kydex was form fitted to that thinner stainless version.

So unfortunately, each morning I'm forced to choose between bringing the near-perfect-for-me G-10 version Leek but having to carry it in my pocket like a chump - or using the elegant, you-almost-forget-it's-there neck sheath, but with the sometimes slippery stainless version.

At the end of the day, though, I'm glad to have them both.  And if you don't care for neck carry anyway then you probably can't go wrong with the G-10 Leek. 

I like them so much in fact that I'm tempted to get a third.  Kershaw sells a rather attractive version of the Leek with a composite blade.  It's been calling to me...