Kershaw 6034T Emerson CQC-7K Knife
Kershaw 6034T Emerson Designed CQC-7K Knife Review
I was recently given the Kershaw 6034T Emerson CQC-7K Knife to review, winner of the Best Buy Award at the 2014 Blade Show in Atlanta, Georgia. This knife was designed by Emerson Knives and it was built by Kershaw Knives. I greatly value and proudly carry each of the Kershaw Everyday Carry (EDC) knives that I own. I initially knew little about Emerson Knives, but I was especially intrigued after reading their slogan online: “To some they are accessories…. To others they are necessities”. I consider my EDC knives to be more of an accessory, but with a motto like that, I was excited to put the CQC-7K to work!
Why Emerson Knives?
Emerson Knives are built for those “seeking the finest in all things”. The knives I found on their web site were magnificent pieces that are highly valued across the globe for their craftsmanship and performance. The term “CQC” itself means “close quarter combat”, which is fitting since the founder Ernest Emerson is one of the world’s most respected hand-to-hand combat instructors. Kershaw partnered with Emerson to create 8 new knives, which are sold online from $49.99 to $59.99.
Sleek and Sexy Finish
The Kershaw 6034T Emerson CQC-7K Knife is a stunning knife to look at. It features a 3.25 inch modified tanto blade, ideal for slicing and piercing purposes. The lower grind area of the blade features a satin finish and the upper area features a stonewashed finish. The two finishes really look great together and they add a sophisticated feel to the knife.
The handle features two different designs. One side has a textured G-10 finish, which I found to be very secure in my hand. The backside of the handle is stainless steel, with a very thick frame lock. This robust frame lock was solid and secure when I was bearing down on the blade and handle of the knife. When the blade is deployed, there is a deep indentation in the handle to safely place your index finger when gripping the handle; such engineering proves to me that Kershaw is focused on safety, form, and function when they design their knives.
The handle is pre-drilled for a lanyard and the CQC-7K has a reversible pocket clip. It should be noted that the pocket clip could only be used so that the blade is in a tip-down position. I didn’t find this to be a difficulty, though some might prefer a different blade orientation. The CQC-7K very much resembles the Kershaw Scrambler, which I previously reviewed.
Cuts Like Butter!
The 8Cr14MoV blade arrived razor sharp and retained this edge through all of my tests. It easily cut through braided rope, corrugated cardboard, wood shims, fishing tackle, 16-3 electric wire insulation, and other materials around the house. The sharp tip and blade were especially handy when I needed to pierce and cut through the sealed plastic containers that so many household items are now sold in. Even after using it around the house, the blade was smooth and sharp enough to slice through apples and tomatoes.
I found the pocket clip to be very secure when carrying the Kershaw 6034T Emerson CQC-7K Knife in my pocket. The knife also sat low enough in my pocket to not be a distraction when walking around town. The CQC-7K is 4.5 inches in length when closed, so it could be awkward if you did not have deep pockets and chose not to use the pocket clip.
The CQC-7K opens manually using either the thumb disk or the patented Emerson “wave shaped” feature. I am accustomed to using Kershaw’s SpeedSafe assisted opening on all of my EDC knives, so it took some time to become comfortable with the thumb disk and wave shaped opening feature. I did like the thumb disk and found it easier to use than thumb studs often found on other knives. The disk was large enough for my thumb to deploy the blade while holding the handle in my right hand. It was not a quick deployment, but it did work well. For those who choose to, the disk can be removed from the blade using a small Phillips head screwdriver.
