Kershaw Emerson CQC-8K Knife Review

The much anticipated Kershaw Emerson CQC-8K has finally arrived.  This collaboration between Emerson Knives and Kershaw Knives gives you the very best of two worlds.  Built with the tactical user in mind, the CQC-8K features a tanto blade with standard edge, a linerlock, and dual black G10 handle scales.  Comfortable enough for everyday carry and use, this tactical knife is built rugged enough for heavy tactical situations.  And it opens with the patented “wave feature” from Emerson knives so you can get the blade out in a hurry.

The 3.5″ blade has a slightly modified single bevel tanto point.  Made from 8Cr13MoV stainless steel with a black oxide coat for greater corrosion resistance as well as minimal reflection, the blade is best suited for heavy piercing cuts.  The single bevel chisel grind allows you to get an even sharper edge than normal achieved with a classic double bevel tanto blade.  The blade can be opened with the blade disk using either thumb–so it is a true ambidextrous knife.  You can also open the knife with the classic Emerson “wave shaped feature” that is essentially a small curved integral hook that sits in the same location as the blade thumb ramp.  When you pull the knife from your pocket, by pressing it slightly outward (away from your body) you can catch the hook on the edge of your pants pocket.  As you fully pull the knife out of your pocket, the hook pulls against your pocket edge with enough force that it actually opens the blade so that by the time the knife is out of your pocket, it is in the open and locked position.  This particular model locks up with a very sturdy liner lock.

The handle scales are textured black G-10 with slightly rounded edges so that it is easy on your hands and pants.  A very generous finger groove allows your forefinger to rest comfortably while allowing you to keep an extremely secure grip on the knife.  Wide jimping on the spine extends into jimping on the thumb ramp so you can get a good thumb grip that allows you to control the blade very well.  There is also some “reverse” jimping on the blade spine where it jogs downward about an inch from the handle.  This jimping lets your thumb get a pull grip on the blade so you have even more control when you are making precise cuts.  This rarely found extra spot of jimping is great touch.

The pocket clip keeps the knife in a tip up position and is reversible right/left.  A small lanyard hole is found at the very butt of the handle so you can alternate carry if you wish.  The clip has the Emerson skull logo imprint on it for a special touch.

This great folder knife has everything I like about a good carry knife.  Serious cutting ability, strong tip strength, and lots of features that afford me a secure grip even when things are a bit wet and slippery.  Plus the fact you can now get an Emerson designed knife for under $50 makes this special knife even better.  Find the Kershaw Emerson CQC-8K here on our website and let me know what you think of your Kershaw and Emerson collaboration knife below.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Designed by Emerson, built by Kershaw
• Thumb disk; “waved shaped opening feature”
• Manual opening
• Liner lock
• Reversible pocketclip (left/right)
• Steel: 8Cr13MoV, black-oxide coating
• Handle: Textured G-10
• Blade length: 3.5 in. (8.9 cm)
• Closed length: 4.6 in. (11.7 cm)
• Weight: 5.4 oz. (153.1 g)
• Kershaw Product Code:  KS6044TBLK