Emerson Specwar Knives.

Conviction and Integrity

Why do I prefer an Emerson knife over all others? Let’s go back to the start….

Back in the mid 1990’s I had just started life as a LEO and was checking out the latest knives in Frank O’Reilly’s sports store here in Melbourne, Australia and saw this weird little folder that had a menacing look about it. It was a Benchmade CQC7 designed by a fellow I had never heard of called Ernest Emerson.

It cost quite a lot for a folder back then, $190 if I recall correctly. I decided to do some research on the knife and Emerson via the web back at work. Five minutes reading about Emerson and his knives and I was convinced. The next day I was back at the store and left with a bead blasted CQC7. Little did I know that this was the first step down the path to becoming an Emerson fanatic and the owner of some of his custom knives.

Emerson is a man of conviction and integrity. Pure and simple.

Here’s a little history that I have gleaned from web sites, forums, magazines and a few friends that have a more in-depth knowledge of Emerson and his knives than I ever will.

His “overnight” success actually took a couple of decades. He toiled away in his garage in his spare time making knives during the 1980’s. Most of these were very elaborate fancy folders. Recognising the need to develop his own “signature” knife he approached fellow knifemaker and friend, Phil Hartsfield who was a proponent of chisel ground blades. He asked Phil for permission to make a few folders with a chisel ground blade. The rest, they say, is history.

With his background in martial arts and his contacts with the military and law enforcement communities Emerson began making no frills folders at a reasonable price which were much appreciated by those they were designed for.

One of these “tactical” knives was the sleek, lethal CQC6 and once word got out that elite military units were toting these knives Emersons knife orders skyrocketed. Benchmade Knives came calling to cash in on this new phenomenon and soon the Benchmade CQC7 was released to great success.

 







































All the while Emerson kept up with the mountain of custom knife orders and still managed time to design and make some new models such as the CQC8, ES1M and CQC9 among others. Seeing the once in a lifetime opportunity to set up his own company Emerson didn’t hesitate and Emerson Knives Inc was formed in 1997.

To kick start the company on the road to success in a heavily competitive marketplace Emerson released the flagship model for EKI – The Commander, a ¾ size version of the ES1M. This knife went on to win the knife of the year award at the Blade Show in 1998. Emerson and EKI have not looked back since.

Back to my situation…..

After buying just about every model that EKI produced in the first few years I realised that only a custom knife made by the man himself would satisfy my passion for knives and Emersons in particular. I decided to sell most of my production Emersons and used the funds to nab my first custom Emerson – a double ground CQC8. Waiting for this knife to arrive from my new friend in the USA was like a little boy waiting for Christmas to arrive. When the CQC8 finally arrived I was elated and couldn’t wait to show it off among the other guys at work. From then on I was hooked. The wickedly sharp zero ground edge and the all business G10 scales, thick liners and the Specwar logo just appealed to me as no other knife had ever done.

The biggest attribute that this knife had, had nothing to do with steel and titanium however. I really believe that a big part of owning any custom knife is that you are actually buying a little piece of the maker. If  I’m going to spend my hard earned dollars on a custom knife then I want to make sure that the maker deserves my money and that I’m going to be proud to carry one of his knives. With Ernest Emerson you are getting just such a person. A man of conviction and integrity.

I quickly followed the CQC8 with a chisel ground CQC8, a couple of CQC6’s, Viper Model 1’s and an ES1M. I have a new ES1M on the way from the States and I can’t wait for it to arrive. It will be the pride of my collection.

One of the benefits of being an Emerson fan is the multitude of great people you will meet. I have never met an Emerson fan I didn’t like. They are all great people and each and every one seems to have and believe in the same values. Conviction and integrity.

Thanks to websites like this one of Pauls, the mighty USN and the musings of the Usual Suspects I have managed to learn enough to appreciate and admire Emerson and his knives. I encourage each and every one of you to do the same.

Emerson has branched out into many other endeavours such as making custom guitars and running self defence training courses etc. He is not a man to sit still.

But at his essence he will always be known as Ernest Emerson – Knifemaker.

Keep the great work Ernest and long live the USN!

Peter Ervin aka Outlaw Pete.