Athletes - Ernest Emerson

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	Athletes - Ernest Emerson

Ernest R. Emerson (Birthdate Unknown) is the President of Emerson Knives Inc. which was founded in 1997 by his wife Mary and himself. Emerson and his company specialize in tactical knives. Besides designing tactical weapons, Emerson also provides instruction on the use of knives as weapons.

Emerson hails from Wisconsin, and ever since he was young has had an interest in sports, including the martial arts. He graduated college with a degree in physical education. He made his way to Southern California where he persued a career in the aerospace industry working in the capacites of a technician, operator, and design engineer. He also continued his martial arts training, studying under some of the legends.

Upon finding himself in need of a particular kind of knife for a branch of his studies, he tried his hand at making one, thus bringing together his machining and metallurgy expertise and his love for the martial arts. 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 and eventually came up with standard models.

When Ernest began instructing his own course he found his students, primarily operators in US unconventional warfare, fond of his knives and ownership became something of a status symbol among them.

He began with models 1 through 4. The 6th model he named the CQC 6 (CQC = Close Quarter Combat). The CQC6 is often considered the first in a new revolution of folding tactical knives. Emerson was manufacturing these in his own little shop, prior to the founding of his larger company. He realized that the demand for his handmade knives outpaced his ability to produce them.

His next model the CQC7 was licensed to Benchmade Knives who manufactured it on a larger scale. 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.

After coming up with more designs which proved popular to the collectors of his tactical folding knives, Emerson decided to say good-bye to the company where he had worked for so many years, and start his own cutlery production company.

Emerson Knives Inc. was born. Emerson Specwar Knives was the name of his own custom knives, to distinguish between the two.

Emerson made great waves with his Commander knife, which featured a little hook (called "THE WAVE") which, when skillfully snagged on the edge of the pocket causes the knife to open as it is removed. 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.

Emerson began 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.

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 SAR was born. Seeing another need in the knife community, Emerson replaced the blunt end of the SAR 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.

Emerson knives are 100% made in the USA- right in Emerson's own shop. This produces a high quality, durable, and tough knife. 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 hardes, 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. His workshops on self defense are always full and in much demand.

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