If I’m being honest, I’m not as much into knives as I am into bags but I do follow Gibb’s Rule #9. Therefore, I do like to carry a quality folder. I’ve not yet ventured into custom knife territory due to cost and I generally don’t buy cheap knifes unless I’m going to beat the hell out of them. My interests fall into the mid-range of the cost and quality spectrum. My carry knife for the past year as been the Zero Tolerance 0350SW. It’s a great knife, but I’m a little bored with it. I’ve always heard about Emerson knives and their near mythic reputation for being hard use tactical folders so I decided to take the plunge with the purchase of an Emerson Mini CQC-15. It is my first hands on experience with Emerson.
Zero Tolerance 0350SW and Emerson Mini CQC-15
The Emerson mini CQC-15 blade length is 3.5″ and 7.9″ overall, which is still a manageable but longer than the ZT. I knew the specs going in and I’m fine with them.
The CQC-15′s modified tanto blade is what drew me to this model. It’s kind of a cross between the Commander and CQC-7 blade shape. The stonewashed and polished finish combo is very nice.
All Emerson knives feature a single edge grind. It’s one of the biggest misconceptions about Emerson knives. When Emerson describes a model as having a v-grind, they’re referring to the main bevel, not the edge grind. A lot of people suffer buyers remorse because they don’t understand that. With that said, the edge on the CQC-15 is razor sharp and without a doubt the sharpest blade I’ve ever encountered.
The Emerson scales are G-10 and they are extremely rough. That’s good in order to maintain a positive grip but bad in that it tears up pockets without mercy. It comes down to priorities. A soldier doesn’t want their knife slipping from their hands when it’s covered with dirt, sweat, and possibly even blood. But, for more civilian type use, the smoother scales of the ZT 0350 were easier to live with.
Zero Tolerance 0350 Scales (top), Emerson CQC-15 Scales (bottom)
I probably should have opted for the non-mini version of the CGC-15 due to grip size. My thumb can’t really take advantage of the jimping in front of the wave without shifting my grip. Too cramped for space.
A reverse grip felt more comfortable.
The CQC-15′s thumb disk and pocket wave feature are effective but not as easy to use as the Zero Tolerance’s Speedsafe system. ZT’s spring assist is a point of failure while Emerson keeps it simple but it’s all user preference. I prefer the Speedsafe and I’ve had no issues with it. Your mileage may vary.
Both use G-10 backspacers and have liners – titanium in the Emerson and Stainless Steel in the ZT. I’ll let the picture below speak for itself in terms of the level of finish between the two. The rough G-10 spacer on the Emerson is a lint magnet.
Emerson Mini CGC-15 (left), Zero Tolerance 0350SW (right)
When I got the Emerson, it didn’t open smoothly even after adjusting the pivot. You can tell in the picture below that there is debris in there. Yes, I could disassemble the knife and clean it but isn’t it reasonable to expect that should have been done at the factory? The other obvious flaw is the gouge, which doesn’t effect the performance of the knife, but is evidence of really sloppy quality control and not indicative of a knife that retails for $200.
Lock up was solid on both knives. No issue there.
The clip on the Emerson isn’t exactly setup for deep pocket concealment. In fairness, neither is the ZT.
CONCLUSION
I’m fully aware that Emerson knives aren’t known for their fit and finish. They’re designed to be hard use tools. But, I couldn’t help myself being disappointed when comparing it to my less expensive Zero Tolerance and seeing the striking difference between the two. Granted, this Emerson is a 2012 and I’ve heard that recent improvements have been made. For instance, stand-offs have replaced the rough G-10 backpsacer.
But, to play devil’s advocate, it’s not like Emerson is a new company. And given it’s stellar reputation, I guess I expected more.
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