Great, fun and informative Columbia River Knife & Tool Nirk/Tighe Folder review.
Joe Kertzman
Emerson Knives Opens New Factory by Mike Searson
The following was excerpted from examiner.com, and written by Mike Searson, Knife and Sword Examiner:
Emerson Knives held the grand opening of its new factory in Harbor City, California this past weekend, with more factory space, an in-house CQB-training area, visitor lobby and other amenities.
There were several charity raffles, door prizes, contests, a raffle to “Build your own knife,” a custom knife lottery, and a demonstration by martial arts aficionado and Emerson instructor, Richard Bustillo, with a number of his students from the IMB Academy. Additionally, tattoo artist Vance Foster was on hand to provide body art for any willing subjects.
Ernest Emerson set up a “virtual museum” with the timeline of Emerson Knives featuring photos and some rare and unique pieces from the vault. Emerson made his first knife, a butterfly knife, in 1979, while working as a machinist for an aerospace company in southern California because he could not afford to buy one for his martial arts class. He had been studying under Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo (both protégés of the late Bruce Lee) at the time, and soon received requests from other students to make knives for them. Emerson made these early knives in exchange for the cost of materials.
He branched out into more conventional designs of the time, fixed blade knives and lockback folders, but soon was intrigued by the LinerLock® design developed by Michael Walker. With Walker’s permission, he incorporated the lock into his own designs and used high-end materials such as mother-of-pearl, titanium and paua shell in his knives. Falling back on his martial arts background, he stripped these designs down to their essence and made a series of tactical knives. These knives featured bead-blasted titanium hardware and black-canvas-Micarta® scales.
In the 1980s he was contacted by a group of “underwater welders” to build a “hard use folding knife as strong as a fixed blade that could perform in extreme environments.” The “welders” turned out to be members of SEAL Team Six, for whom Emerson designed a knife from the ground up. The knife incorporated a unique chisel-ground blade, sharpened on only one side to eliminate parasitic drag and was named the CQC-6.
After profiles in knife magazines and being mentioned in the novels written by Richard Marcinko, the founder of SEAL Team Six, the CQC-6 took the knife community by storm in the 1990’s. Military and firearm aficionados purchased the knife as did legions of knife collectors. Emerson designed a slightly different version for Benchmade Knives in 1994, the CQC-7.
In 1997, Emerson launched his company as a full-time endeavor to produce knives on a larger scale for both his military and police contracts, and to supply the quickly growing collector base.
More than just a Knifemaker, Emerson is an accomplished martial artist. This new facility not only has more factory and warehouse space, but has a dedicated training area for Emerson’s CQB classes.
The highlight of the grand opening was the fabled “Emerson Lottery.” When the demand became overwhelming, Emerson stopped taking custom orders in 2000 and the only way to get a custom knife from him was at a show. To make it fair to the numerous collectors, dealers, and purveyors, this is done via lottery. Names are written on slips of paper and placed in a box. Whoever’s name is drawn gets a chance to buy a knife at the “table price.” Often the ratio of knives to consumers is more than 10-to-1, and with good reason. A custom knife may cost $650 at a show, but on the aftermarket can go for more than three times that amount.
As is always the case with Emerson Knives, the donations for the raffles were generous. According to Mary Emerson, over $3,000 had been raised to benefit the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, The Naval Special Warior Foundation and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
For more information on Emerson Knives, consult the company’s website: http://www.emersonknives.com.
Father Fends Off Mountain Lion With Spyderco Caly 3.5
A 6-year-old Texas boy is recovering after being attacked by a mountain lion while walking with his family during a vacation at Big Bend National Park. Rivers Hobbs was attacked late Sunday by the animal as his family returned to their room in the Chisos Mountain Lodge.
The mountain lion emerged from the bushes and onto the sidewalk where the family was walking, and clamped its jaws onto the 6-year-old boy’s face. Rivers’ father, Jason, reached down, retrieved and opened his Spyderco Caly 3.5 folder and used it to stab the mountain lion in the chest, causing the cat to flee.
“It sneaked up on me,” the young Hobbs said.
“The cat was clamped onto his face, I reached down and got my pocketknife out and stabbed the cat in the chest and it let go at that point,” Jason explained.
The boy’s wounds on the right side of his face took 17 stitches to close. The family is expected to return to their Leander, Texas, home late Wednesday. Once there, Hobbs will have to go though a series of rabies shots.
It was the second such attack of the day in the same area. The mountain lion tried to attack another family but was fended off with a backpack.
Boy Recovering After Mountain Lion Attack
What started as a family vacation quickly took a turn for the worst after a six-year-old boy is attacked by a mountain lion in Big Bend National Park. “We we…
Fox Sports Bans Firearms, Knives & Ammo Ads
The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry — has learned that FOX Sports Media Group has banned advertisements featuring firearms, knives and ammunition from its coverage of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events.
While the UFC has yet to make an official announcement, NSSF has confirmed that “absolutely no firearms, ammo, hunting or knife companies will be permitted as sponsors in any Zuffa-promoted events.”
NSSF is encouraging all gun and knife owners, sportsmen and firearms and knives enthusiasts to contact FOX today and urge them to rescind this anti-knife, anti-gun corporate policy. FOX’s decision to ban advertisements for lawful products owned by millions of Americans is nothing more than corporate gun and knife control.
Make sure your voice is heard. Here’s how to contact FOX:
Corporate Headquarters FSN
10201 W. Pico, Bld. 103
Los Angeles, CA 90035
Phone: 310-369-1000
Web: www.FOXSports.com
Washington State House Judiciary Committee Votes To Allow Assisted Openers
Washington State—On January 25, Knife Rights’ Director of Legislative Affairs, Todd Rathner, gave testimony at the state capitol in Olympia, Washington, in support of two similar pro-knife bills. Senate Bill 6179 and House Bill 2347 would clarify the definition of a switchblade so as to not include assisted-opening knives that are currently adversely interpreted as being illegal in the state. These bills also make it legal to manufacture spring-assisted and switchblade knives in the state of Washington. In addition, they would expand the existing law enforcement exemption for possession of “spring blade knives” (switchblades) to members of the military and full-time first responders.
Knife Rights worked with Washington knife manufacturers Fox USA, Blade-Tech and SOG to make necessary changes to ensure the bills would accomplish their aims. Although testimony was cut short because there was no opposition and a packed agenda, Todd was also able to get on the record in both houses stating Knife Rights’ strong support for these measures.
Initially, HB 2347 was drafted with a provision that would allow Concealed Pistol License (CPL) holders to carry switchblades, while the Senate bill did not include this provision. We are disappointed that this provision did not survive the hearing. Unfortunately, it was made clear that if it was retained, the bill would not pass out of committee. Ultimately, HB 2347 was amended in executive session to strike the provision allowing CPL holders to possess automatic knives.
On Monday, January 30th, the amended version of HB 2347 passed the Washington State House Judiciary Committee with a unanimous vote. Now it moves to the Rules Committee. Meanwhile SB 6179 has been scheduled for Senate Judiciary Committee Executive Session for today, where it is expected to be amended in like manner and likely pass out of the committee.
While Knife Rights does not believe there should be any distinction between citizens and government employees when it comes to possessing life-saving tools, we also understand political reality. We will be working with Washington state residents and officials to change this in the future when the political landscape is more favorable to such a rational move forward.
Meanwhile, the current bills are a huge step forward for Washington knife owners who might be subject to prosecution for assisted-opening knives and for knife manufacturers located in the state. Passage of either of these bills would create skilled, well-paid jobs, generate tax revenue for the state and increase the number of knives that say “Made in America.”
If you live, work or travel in Washington state, please contact BOTH your Senator and Representative in Olympia and ask them to support SB 1234 and HB 2347, respectively.
Backyard Bladesmithing, Part 1
Footage from my second knifemaking project, using “primitive” methods as inspired by Wayne Goddard’s book “$50 Knife Shop”. I attempt to forge a knife blade …
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