Ernest Emerson
Ernest R. Emerson is a custom knifemaker as well as the founder and President of Emerson Knives Inc. Ernest and his wife, Mary Emerson, founded Emerson Knives Inc (EKI) in 1996. EKI specializes in manufacturing tactical folding knives. Besides designing tactical weapons, Emerson also provides instruction on the use of knives as weapons. His knives are in high demand by Navy SEALs, US Marines, German GSG-9, British Special Air Service, and many other police departments and military units. This popularity has also made his knives appeal to knife collectors.[1][2][3]
Background
Emerson was born in a 20' X20' log cabin in Northern Wisconsin[4], and ever since he was young has had an interest in sports, especially the martial arts. He played minor leauge baseball and graduated from the University of Wisconsin with degrees in Physical Education and World History. He relocated to Southern California primarily to study martial arts and he also pursued a career in the aerospace industry working in the capacites of a technician, operator, and design engineer for Hughes Aircraft. He studied martial arts at the Filipino Kali Academy under Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo who were both protege's of the late Bruce Lee. [5]
Upon finding himself in need of a balisong knife for his studies of a Filipino Martial Art, he tried his hand at making one, thus bringing together his machining and metallurgy expertise and his love for the martial arts. He milled the handles from aluminium stock [6] and the knife blade was a simple steel blade handcut with files and heat treated at his dining room table with a butane torch[7]; nevertheless, his instructors and fellow students were very impressed with his work and asked if he would consider making knives for them as well. He continued this newfound talent of his selling these early knives for $50 each [8]and eventually became a custom knifemaker.
Knife models
When Ernest began instructing his own martial arts courses he found his students, primarily operators in US unconventional warfare, fond of his knives and ownership became something of a status symbol among them.[9][10]
His early knives were more of what is known as "High end" or "art knives" utilizing space age materials such as titanium, carbon fiber, and micarta as well as exotic materials such as Mother of pearl, stag, hardwood, and Mokume-gane..[11] Among collectors these are known as "Pre-Tac" (Pre tactical) models.[12]
Ernest decided to strip down 5 of his designs to simpler materials: titanium liners and bolsters, ATS-34 steel, and black linen micarta scales. This produced a more durable knife that would stand up to the elements. The blades were bead blasted as opposed to polished and were sold under the name "Viper Knives".[13]
Ernest was approached by individual members of a Navy SEAL team who were looking for a folding knife. At the time, many SEALs were using fixed blade knives by Southern California knifemaker, Phill Hartsfield. Phill's knives were chisel ground and zero ground blades made from A2 toolsteel. Ernest had asked Phill's permission to incorporate the chisel grind edge into his folding knives. Phill informed the SEALs that he did not make folding knives and referred them to Mr Emerson.[14][15]
This became the sixth model and he named it the CQC 6 (CQC = Close Quarter Combat). The CQC6 is considered by many to be the first in a new revolution of folding tactical knives. Emerson was manufacturing these in his garage. He soon realized that the demand for his handmade knives outpaced his ability to produce them.[16]
Benchmade Knives approached Emerson to manufacture the CQC6 on a larger scale. Ernest, instead allowed the company use of his CQC-7 design. [17] The CQC-7 featured a similar chisel ground tanto blade with a differently contoured handle as well as a pocket clip in the tip-down direction as opposed to tip-up. Aside from the repositioning of the pocket clip, the knife was true to the Emerson design, although 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. It featured the chisel ground blade of ATS-34 steel, Titanium liners, and G10 handles.[18]
Innovations
Emerson's Commander knife which featured a little hook on the spine of the blade (originally designed as a blade catcher) which, when snagged on the edge of the pocket caused the knife to open as it is removed. [19]This little development made the knife the fastest opening folding knife available, faster than an automatic, switchblade, or assisted opening, and soon Emerson secured a patent for it. Video of Wave Demonstration
Emerson began factory production of the CQC7, as the contract with Benchmade was up, and made a few improvements. He replaced the Torx screws with standard phillips head screws, which where threaded into the titanium liner, rather than into the fiberglass handle. This allowed for a more sturdy construction. He also permitted knife owners to take the knife apart themselves for regular cleaning and sharpening, something which Benchmade had prohibited under penalty of voiding the warranty.[20]
Unique requests
Emerson was able to have some special projects come his way on at least two occasions. After reviewing their then current equipment- US Navy Search and Rescue decided that they needed a new knife. They went straight to Emerson who designed and fabricated a prototype in 24 hours. They were pleased and found that it met their needs and thus the SARK was born.[21] Seeing another need in the knife community, Emerson replaced the blunt end of the SARK with a pointy end thinking it was a perfect tool for police departments. Various police departments agreed, and bought enough for each of their officers. They then consulted Emerson with writing policy for the carry and deployment of knives in their department.
NASA approached Emerson with a special request a knife especially designed for their astronauts to use for opening packs of freeze dried foods. The knives not only had to be functional, but had to withstand the rigors of NASAs QC tests. They passed with flying colors. That was probably not a big order, but it was one which Ernest Emerson is rightfully proud. The model is a Specwar folding knife with a guthook cut in the tanto point to open freeze dried food packages. The knife features the NASA logo and in not available to civilians.[22]
Pride and popularity
Emerson knives are made in the USA in Emerson's own workshop, which is renowned for producing high durable, high quality knives. To make his products more readily available to consumers of all price ranges, Emerson has collaborated with knife manufacturers in Seki City, Japan to work on his Emerson Hard Wear line of knives. These knives are Emerson's own designs, but with a different manufacturing method.
Emerson enjoys a wide popularity among knife collectors, but probably more importantly, among knife users. Emerson's knives are used by those who use them hard, and those who need them most. They are found in the pockets of ranchers and boy scouts, of mechanics and store clerks. Emerson is proudest of the fact that they are used and trusted by the most elite forces in the US Department of Defense. Emerson's products and advice are sought after by police departments, high profile bodyguards, and US and foreign government agencies.[23] His workshops on self defense are always full and in much demand.
Collaborations
Ernest'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[24], won Blade Magazine's American Made Knife of the Year Award[25], 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[26], . 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.
Emerson also collaborated with Gerber Legendary Blades to create Gerber's first automatic opening knife, the Gerber-Emerson Alliance.[27] NSN Number: 5110-01-516-3243, 5110-01-516-3244
The latest collaboration has been with the American Tomahawk Company to produce the CQC-T Tomahawk.
Instruction
Ernest Emerson was a martial artist many years before he became a knife maker. Starting at the age of 16 and continuing rigorously to this day, he has accumulated over 30 years of "hands on" practical experience.[28] Mr. Emerson has developed a highly specialized and unique fighting system that has revolutionized the way in which fighting skills are now taught.
His hybrid system has been taught to numerous Police and Law Enforcement Agencies, numerous members of the U.S. Military, including U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy SEAL teams, U.S. Air Force and Army Special Forces. Mr. Emerson has instructed FBI, DEA, Federal SWAT teams, operatives from various government agencies, correctional officers, high risk entry teams and hundreds of civilians.
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.[29]
Film Knives
Emerson's Knives have appeared in many films and television shows:
Soldier of Fortune, Inc., Ravens, neck knives, and a Commander were featured in this televison series.[30]
Night of the Running Man, Scott Glenn's character carried a whitehandled one of a kind Emerson folding tanto
Black Hawk Down, various soldiers carried EKI folding knives
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.
In addition to Films, Ernest's knives were featured in Richard Marcinko's early Rogue Warrior Novels as well as the David Morrell novel, The Protector, who's cover art featured an EKI CQC7.
References
- ^ Cameron Hopkins, Guns Magazine, June 2001
- ^ Knives Illusrtated, 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
- ^ Knives Illustrated, May 1993
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Cameron Hopkins, Guns Magazine, June 2001
- ^ Knives Illusrtated, June 1994
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Knives Illusrtated, June 1994
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Blade Magazine, The Hottest Grind of All, January 1998
- ^ Tactical Folders Magazine, Ernest Emerson Profile, Annual 1996
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Knives Illustrated, Bud Lang, February 1997
- ^ Blade Magazine, The Hottest Grind of All, January 1998
- ^ 'Cutler of Fortune',Blade Magazine October 1998
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Guns Magazine,SARK Knives by Emerson, Cameron Hopkins, January, 2002
- ^ American Handgunner Magazine, Emerson Knives, November, 2000
- ^ 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
- ^ Automatic Success, Chuck Karwan, Tactical Knives Magazine, September 2003
- ^ Knives Illustrated, April 2004, Roger Combs
- ^ Soldier of Fortune Magazine July,1997
- ^ Blade Magazine February, 1998