The Loadout Room
Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • 1A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686
        • The Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventuresThe Tristar folding shotgun is ready for your wilderness adventures
        • maxim defense cqb stock (8)The Maxim Defense CQB Stock: Short and Sweet
        • Perfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG wayPerfecting your zero | A little help goes a LONG way
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • RIP-MVehicle Preparedness: Fast access to essential items | Grey Man Tactical RIP-M
        • Midland radioOverland Essential | Midland Radio MXT275 | GXT1000
        • ppGrab your gear and go | Here’s everything you’d need to build an adventure go bag
        • Scrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the fieldScrubba Washbag: Keep your clothes clean in the field
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stingerThe Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
        • How to determine how long you have before the sun setsHow to determine how long you have before the sun sets
        • fireWilderness survival expert breaks down how to build a fire
        • 5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt5.11 Tactical Expedition Long Sleeve Shirt, SWAT Tested and Approved
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Shop

Emerson Knives CQC-10 Folder

Emerson Knives CQC-10 Hard-Use Folder

June 17, 2017 by Scott Witner Leave a Comment

The Emerson Knives CQC-10 knife has been my go-to blade for the past few months. I’ve had it in my pocket every day and have used it for a myriad of tasks. Not once has it failed me. If you’re like me, when you get a new knife, you put it through its paces. Any knife I purchase has to earn my confidence by successfully performing several outdoor tasks and be easy to carry and use on a daily basis.

If it fails during any one of those tasks or does not perform to my expectations, I don’t carry it. With that said, the CQC-10 has more than impressed me over time, and it continues to do so today. The CQC-10 is known by many in the knife and military community as the original H&K knife. The CQC-10 continues to serve in the hands of many operators currently defending our freedoms for a damn good reason: It works!

Style of knife: 

This is a straightforward, no-frills blade perfect for everyday carry, a day out in the woods, or downrange fighting bad guys. The design of the blade is utilitarian, making it a jack-of-all-trades. The design of the spear-point blade, in combination with the swedge, create a brutishly strong tip.

Blade specs: 

  • Overall length: 8.5″
  • Blade length: 3.625″
  • Handle length: 4.875″
  • Weight: 5.5 ounces
  • Lock type: liner lock

Type of edge:

The edge of the CQC-10 blade is a conventional V grind with a chisel edge. Emerson knives are known for their chisel-ground edges. The chisel-ground edge on the CQC-10 allows for quicker and easier honing in the field. All you need is a rock, piece of glass, or a brick. Users typically have a love/hate relationship with the chisel grind. When I got my first Emerson knife, I was thrown off by this type of grind, but over time it’s grown on me and now I love it.  

Blade and handle materials:

The handle material is a black G10 epoxy that, out of the box, is pretty aggressive and well-suited for working in less-than-ideal conditions. You won’t lose your grip on this one. The handle ergonomics are second to none. I’ve never owned another knife that has had the ergonomics and comfort Emerson knives provide. It doesn’t matter what grip you use, it feels like it was custom made for your hands.

Emerson Knives CQC-10
CQC-10 handle ergonomics
Emerson Knives CQC-10
Perfectly executed jimping at the thumb ramp
Emerson Knives CQC-10
More jimping at just the right place to enhance your grip. This comes into play when you’re using the reverse grip.

The blade material is 154 CM premium blade steel that you will find on all Emerson knives. This type of blade steel has become my standard when looking for a knife. First off, it’s an American-made steel, so you’re supporting American jobs. Second: The heat treatment that Emerson knives gives these blades makes them tough as nails and easy to maintain. These blades will bend before they break. And as you’d imagine, a bent blade is still a blade, but a broken blade is no blade. When you’re putting these knives in the hands of our military, you want a knife made from a material that will stand up to harsh environments.

Emerson Knives CQC-10
A brutishly strong spear-point blade design

MSRP:

$230.95 direct from Emerson Knives. 

Unique features: 

As with all other Emerson knives, the CQC-10 does feature the “wave opening feature,” which deploys the blade as you pull it out of your pocket. We have the Navy SEALs to thank for this feature. Back in the late ’80s, when members of SEAL Team 6 asked Ernie Emerson to design a knife for them, they had a specific requirement. They wanted a hook on the spine of the blade to prevent another edged weapon from sliding up the knife, onto the operator’s hand and arm. To hear this story from Ernie Emerson himself, check out the following video.

Application:

Everyday carry, hiking, backpacking, law enforcement, or deployed military. 

Pros: 

What’s not to love about an Emerson knife? Especially the CQC-10. It feels great in the hand and it just works every time I need it to. I’ve used this knife for everything from cutting boxes open to cutting through a 50 pair telecommunications cable, and all it took to bring the edge back was a few passes against a ceramic sharpening rod.

Cons:

For most, it may be the price point, but before you dismiss these knives due to their cost, let me tell you this: They cost what they do for a reason. Not only are you buying an all-American-made product, but you are getting a blade from a knife maker with over 30 years of experience in knife making, martial arts, and hand-to-hand combat.


Share This

Filed Under: Knives & Tools Tagged With: 154 CM steel, chisel-ground edge, CQC-10, Emerson knives, Ernie Emerson, jimping

About the Author

Avatar

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

What’s Hot

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review
Featured

Top 8 upgrades every Kel-Tec Sub 2000 owner needs: MCARBO parts review

Why .45ACP is an outdated caliber
Ammunition

Why 45 ACP is an outdated caliber

Dogs

Tactipup Extreme Collar and Leash: Tactical dog gear, Perfected

OffHand Gear Takes AR-15 Accessories to Another Level with New Chameleon Handguard Finishes and Matching Furniture Sets
Firearms Accessories

OffHand Gear Takes AR-15 Accessories to Another Level with New Chameleon Handguard Finishes and Matching Furniture Sets

AR Build Kits under $300
Firearms Technology

Peak AR: Davidson Defense AR Build Kits under $300

Email Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates daily and to hear what's going on with us!

In Case You Missed It

Gear Reviews

A Gun to Ride the River With: The Smith & Wesson 686

October 9, 2019 Leave a Comment

Camping Gear

The MSR Pocket Rocket | Your little camp dragon

October 8, 2019 Leave a Comment

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger
EDC

The Outdoor Edge ParaClaw: A concealed stinger

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Gear Reviews

A plate carrier for the big boys: AR500’s Testudo Gen 2 is a good pick for large frames

October 7, 2019 Leave a Comment

Get it on Google Play

© Copyright 2021 Crate Club Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers