Kershaw Emerson CQC-3K Knife Review

Just hitting the shelves is the much-anticipated Kershaw Emerson collaboration knife, the CQC-3K.  This folder boasts the classic “wave feature” from Emerson that allows you to open the knife as you pull it from your pocket.  Easily one of the coolest structural mechanisms to hit the knife market in the past few decades, the “wave feature” is quite simply a small curved integral hook that sits at the spine of the blade where it meets up with the handle.  When you withdraw the knife from your pocket, if you pull it outwards also, the hook snags the edge of your pocket from the inside and the force of your pull draws the blade from the closed position to the fully open and locked position.  Not only does this look awesome when done properly, it allows you to pull the knife out and have it ready to use in an instant.  Although not an auto knife, you may actually feel like it is one.  This “wave feature” was designed to allow ranchers and farmers to pull their knives out and have them ready for action immediately.  It makes for easy one hand operation.

What else is great about this knife?  All kinds of things.  First, it is being manufactured by Kershaw Knives which means you can count on high quality production.  Second, because it is being produced by Kershaw, you can get what is essentially an Emerson knife for well under $100.  In fact, you can pick this one up for just a hair under $40–an unbelievable price for an Emerson.

The knife has a black finished tanto blade that can also be opened with the thumb disc that sits atop the blade spine.  This means the knife operates as a truly ambidextrous model.  The tip up pocket clip gets into the act by being right/left reversible.  The handle is comfortable to hold and provides plenty of grip with its front G10 scale.  The framelock back scale is 410 steel with a black oxide coat.  It functions flawlessly and keeps the blade open when you want it that way.

This is a spectacular collaboration that provides a fantastic every day carry knife at a price that won’t destroy your budget.  Find the Kershaw Emerson CQC-3K on our site here.  Let me know what you think of yours down below.

SPECIFICATIONS: 

• Designed by Emerson, built by Kershaw
• Thumb disk; “waved shaped opening feature”
• Manual opening
• Frame lock
• Reversible pocketclip (left/right)
• Steel: 8Cr13MoV, black-oxide coating
• Handle: Textured G-10 front, 410 black-oxide coated back
• Blade length: 3.25 in. (7 cm)
• Closed length: 4.2 in. (9.5 cm)
• Kershaw Product Code:  6014TBLK
• Weight: 3.8 oz. (107.7 g)