Ernest Emerson
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Ernest R. Emerson is a custom knifemaker, martial artist, and knife-fighting instructor who founded Emerson Knives, Inc. in 1997. [1][2]
[edit] Background
Ernest Emerson was born in a log cabin built by his grandfather in Northern Wisconsin.[3] While attending high school he was a wrestler and athlete, being drafted to play pro baseball at the age of 17. [4]
Emerson attended the University of Wisconsin. Although Emerson began his martial arts training at the age of 16 in Korean Judo; while at University he earned a brown belt degree in Kyokushinkai Karate and a black belt in Shotokan Karate. He graduated with degrees in Physical Education and World History. He moved to Southern California where he met his wife, Mary, and worked as a technician, machine operator, and design engineer for Hughes Aircraft.
Emerson continued his pursuit of martial arts and studied, among others: Jun Fan Gung Fu, Jeet Kune Do, Filipino Kali, and Escrima, at the Filipino Kali Academy under Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo (both proteges of the late Bruce Lee), eventually becoming an instructor. [5]
Emerson later trained in Gracie Jiu Jitsu for three years at the original Gracie Academy in Torrance, California under the founders of Gracie Jiu Jitsu, Rorion and Royce Gracie. [6][7]
[edit] First Knife
Upon finding himself in need of a balisong knife for his studies of a Filipino Martial Art and unable to afford one, Emerson decided he would attempt to make one. He milled and drilled the handles from aluminium stock [8] and the knife blade was a simple steel blade handcut with a hacksaw, shaped by files, and heat treated at his dining room table with a butane torch[9]. [10]
[edit] Custom Knifemaking
After starting classes with his "homemade knife", his instructors and students asked him to make knives for them. Emerson did so and sold these early butterfly knives for $50 each.
Emerson went on to make fixed blade knives but upon seeing a Michael Walker custom knife at a gun show, he was so impressed by the quality and design that he decided he was going to make folding pocketknives as opposed to balisongs. Emerson contacted Mr Walker and obtained his permission to use Walker's patented linerlock mechanism.[11]
[edit] Pre Tactical Models
Emerson's early knives were of the Walker liner lock variety and utilized rare materials that working in the aerospace industry gave him access to; such as titanium, carbon fiber, and micarta. He also used materials common to other knifemakers of the time such as Mother of pearl, stag, hardwood, and ivory.[12] Among collectors these are known as "Pre-Tac" (Pre tactical) models.[13]
[edit] Viper Knives
In the early 1990's Emerson decided to strip down a few of these designs to simpler materials: titanium liners and bolsters, ATS-34 steel, and black linen micarta scales. This was to produce a more durable knife that would stand up to the elements. The blades were bead blasted as opposed to polished or hand rubbed. These 5 models were sold under the name "Viper Knives".[14][15]
[edit] Specwar Knives
In the mid 1980's several individual Navy SEALs were using personally purchased fixed blade knives by Southern California knifemaker, Phill Hartsfield. Phill's knives were chisel ground and zero ground blades made from A2 toolsteel. Emerson had recently asked Hartsfield's permission to incorporate the chisel grind edge into his folding knives; which Hartsfield granted.
When the SEALs asked Hartsfield for a folding knife he informed them that he did not make folding knives and referred them to Emerson.[16] [17]
This sixth model in the Viper series was named the CQC6 (CQC = Close Quarter Combat). The CQC6 is a handmade linerlock folding knife which features a chisel ground stainless steel tanto blade, titanium liners and bolsters, linen micarta scales, and a steel pocket clip. [18]
Other models in the CQC Series include the CQC8 ("Banana Knife"), CQC9 ("Eagle Knife"), and continue up through the CQC15 in numerical sequence. The CQC7 is another Tanto bladed folder similar to the CQC6 with a different handle shape. The CQC5 is a smaller version of the CQC6.[19]
Emerson has standard models for his custom knives, but each are made by hand. They include but are not limited to the Viper (MV)1-5, the CQC models 5-15, Commander, ES1-M, Rhino, Persian (fixed and folding), Kandahar, Phaser, Trivector, Swinger, Warrior, Bodyguard, Rogue Warrior, various neck knives, and Caracci Dagger and folder.
Emerson was manufacturing these knives in his garage workshop and soon realized that the demand for his handmade knives was outpacing his ability to produce them.[20]
[edit] Collaboration with Timberline
Emerson's first Collaboration with a knife manufacturer was with Timberline Knives in 1993 for his SPECWAR model. Vaughn Neeley of Timberline designed the sheath. The knife was originally a custom piece designed for Naval Special Warfare Group One and this factory version was soon entered in the trials for the Navy SEALs knife in 1995[21](although it was not chosen by the Navy), won Blade Magazine's American Made Knife of the Year Award[22], at the Blade Show in Atlanta that same year and was displayed as an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York City[23], . This model features a one-side chisel ground blade almost 1/4 inch thick. Its handle was a fiberglass reinforced Nylon, molded around a near-full tang.
[edit] Collaboration with Benchmade
Benchmade Knives approached Emerson to manufacture the CQC6 on a larger scale as a factory production model. Preferring to keep the CQC6 as a custom only knife, Emerson instead licensed a similar design of his, the CQC7. Similar in all respects to the CQC6 except for the shape of the handle. [24]
The Benchmade factory version was sold under the model name BM970. It retained the chisel ground tanto blade profile of ATS-34 steel as well as the handle shape and titanium liners of Emerson's custom model. However on Benchmade's offering the bolsters and micarta scales were replaced with G10 fiberglass scales; slotted screws were replaced by torx head screws, and the pocket clip was repositioned so that the knife could be carried in the pocket in a tip down position.
The knife was true to the Emerson design, even though it did not have the craftsmanship of a handmade piece of cutlery, it satisfied customers with their own version of the now popular knifemaker's work at an affordable price and without the long wait. Benchmade released it as the model 970.[25][26]
When the contract with Benchmade had run it's course, Emerson Knives began factory production of the CQC7 in 1999.[27]
Emerson made a few changes from the Benchmade model. The Torx screws were replaced with standard phillips head screws, which were threaded into the titanium liner, rather than simply into the fiberglass handle. This allowed for a more sturdy construction similar to his custom knives.[28]
[edit] Emerson Knives Inc
See Emerson Knives for more detail on the production knifemaking factory that Ernest and Mary Emerson founded in 1997.
[edit] Semi Retirement From Custom Knifemaking
On July 1, 2000 Mr Emerson announced his semi-retirement from custom knifemaking in order to concentrate on the production company and to fill the thousands of outstanding orders. He still makes custom knives available through a lottery at knife shows, but takes no orders for new work.
[edit] Emerson Combat Systems
Ernest Emerson was a martial artist before he became a knife maker. Starting at the age of 16 and continuing to this day, he has accumulated over 30 years of experience.[29] Mr. Emerson has developed a unique fighting system known as Emerson Combat Systems, which has been taught to numerous Law Enforcement Agencies, members of the U.S. Military, and hundreds of civilians.[30]
Mr Emerson's teaching credentials include, Gunsite instructor, Hand-to-hand Combat Instructor for H&K Defense Group, and Director of the Combat Research and Development Group. In addition he is an expert witness for the Los Angeles Prosecuting Attorney's Office and has been used as a consultant to National Geographic and has consulted as a technical advisor to various television and movie productions.[31]
[edit] Film Knives
Emerson's Knives have appeared in a variety of films and television shows:
- Night of the Running Man: Scott Glenn's character carried a whitehandled one of a kind Emerson folding tanto.
- Soldier of Fortune, Inc.: Ravens, neck knives, and a Commander were featured in this short lived television series.[32]
- Black Hawk Down: various soldiers carried EKI folding knives in the hangar scene.
- Tears of the Sun: The Kandahar model appeared on Bruce Willis character's web gear and another actor was seen with an Emerson Police Utility Knife.
- The Punisher: Frank Castle used an Emerson Karambit in one scene.
[edit] Knives in Books
In addition to Films, Emerson's knives were prominently featured in Richard Marcinko's early Rogue Warrior Novels as well as the David Morrell novel, The Protector, who's cover art featured a Production CQC7.
[edit] References
- ^ Knives Illusraated, June 1994
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Cameron Hopkins, Guns Magazine, June 2001
- ^ Knives Illustrated, June 1994
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Illustrated, May 1993
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Annual, Factory Trends, Annual 2006
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Knives Illustrated, June 1994
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Walker, Greg (1993)Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives (Hardcover),ISBN 0873647327
- ^ Blade Magazine, The Hottest Grind of All, January 1998
- ^ Tactical Folders Magazine, Ernest Emerson Profile, Annual 1996
- ^ Knives Annual, Stand and Salute the CQC7, Dexter Ewing Annual 2006
- ^ Blade Magazine, The Hottest Grind of All, January 1998
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Knives for the SEALs, Tactical Knives, Issue #2 Spring 1995
- ^ Blade Magazine, July 1995
- ^ Knifemaker Profile:Ernest Emerson, Fighting Knives, July 1995
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Blade Magazine, The Hottest Grind of All, January 1998
- ^ Knives Annual, Stand and Salute the CQC7, Dexter Ewing, Annual 2006
- ^ Knives Annual, Stand and Salute the CQC7, Dexter Ewing, Annual 2006
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Strike Force!. American Handgunner Magazine, Jan, 2000 by Pat Covert
- ^ Soldier of Fortune Magazine July,1997
- ^ Blade Magazine February, 1998
