Emerson knives

My current non-firearm everyday carry

My EDC used to be heavier than it is now, but I’ve learned to ‘cut the fat’ through training, practice, and education. My EDC is a pretty basic setup compared to most, but that is because I prefer simple which leads to being habitual with carrying it. Every morning I walk down the steps, into my office and take my EDC items from my EDC tray and it all goes into my pockets.

In my front left pocket in my Streamlight Protac 1AAA handheld flashlight. In my front right pocket, I keep my folding utility knife, which could be used for self-defense if it came down to it and my Chums minimalist wallet. In my back, left pocket is my SWAT-T Tourniquet. The subject of tourniquets can become somewhat of a debate depending on who you talk to. The SWAT-T works for me and has proven to be the best low-vis type tourniquet for me. I’ve trained with it and am comfortable with using it. I also wear a bad-ass watch from either Resco Instruments or NFW watch company which levels up your whole EDC.

Photo of the day: Emerson Carnivore personal high-end steak knife

The Emerson Carnivore is a purpose-driven design. Its purpose is to slice your steak with ease into perfect bite-sized pieces of meat. Not to tear, crush and destroy a prime Wagyu dinner with a dull, tin knife made in China.

And what’s more, is that you certainly can’t ignore the “show off factor.” Just like a pool player, with his own handmade personal pool cue, you’ll be able to impress your fellow diners with your own personal high-end Emerson Steak Knife. They will immediately realize that you definitely know your way around a prime cut New York strip.

You can carry this knife anywhere you go, even when surrounded by a crowd of Armani suits, all the while enjoying the confidence and superiority of knowing that you are a man who carries his own personal steak knife.

Get your personal steak knife today!

Emerson Knives N-SAR: The Navy search and rescue knife

When I think of a rescue knife, I think of an overbuilt, purpose-driven tool. By saying “overbuilt”, I don’t mean heavy, thick, or tons of gadgets; I mean a tool that can take a beating time and time again, and come back for more. It has to have a good balance and “feel” in the hand, and it has to be capable of exactly what its name implies: rescuing.

Over the years as a paramedic, I’ve had and used rescue hooks, friends rescue knives and “tacticool” tools. But my search for the perfect “rescue” tool/knife didn’t end until 2015 when my wife gave me the Emerson Knives N-SAR (Navy Search and Rescue) as a gift after graduating fire academy. In reality, up until two years ago, I didn’t fully appreciate exactly what I had in my “toolbox” (actually, my right-front pocket). Being a first responder, there is an importance to having the right tools for the job, because when seconds count, it can literally mean the difference between life and death.

“To provide a little bit of a background on the NSAR, in 1999 the United States Navy came to Ernest Emerson, the owner of Emerson Knives, Inc., and asked him to build a knife with certain specifications after a tragic helicopter crash. Six marines and one sailor were killed, due to being unable to free themselves from their webbing. The “rescue knives” that were initially issued to the members of the Special Boat Units (SBU’s) failed them and contributed to this tragic accident. In 2005, the “line cutter” on the spine of the blade was added at the request of the Navy. When I said purpose driven, the latter is exactly what I meant.” – Courtesy of Wikipedia

I have used this knife countless times on scene to remove a patients clothes, and speaking from experience, the N-SAR is way quicker and more efficient than a pair of trauma shears or any rescue hook. Some of you may squirm when I tell you that I have cut the clothes off of a patient that had been vomiting after a severe head injury, or blood-soaked clothing from being in a terrible car accident. The truth is though, I’m in the business of saving lives. I make seconds count. At the end of the call, the N-SAR gets cleaned and disinfected, and if it was heavily soiled, it gets broken down and thoroughly cared for. That’s the beauty of an Emerson knife; there are no fancy tools required to disassemble it. A Phillips and a flat-head screwdriver are all that is needed to get this tool back up to par and back in my pocket where it sits waiting for the next call.

The Emerson Knives N-SAR is one of three variations of Emerson’s rescue line. Made of 154CM steel, the blade is Cerakoted black, with Dragon’s Teeth serrations. The safety tip is rounded and blunted so as not to puncture a patient when using it to cut someone free from their seatbelt or webbing. The spine of the blade is notched out with a zero ground line cutter, capable of slicing through t-shirts, jeans, and (from experience) leather boots with ease.

The knife can be deployed using the thumb disc, or by Emerson’s patented Wave Feature, which is lightning fast; arguably faster than an automatic. As with all Emerson production models, the handles are made of grippy black G-10 and fits in your hand with a comfortable and natural feel. The liner lock is made of titanium for strength and durability.

Something that you won’t find on a production N-SAR is the backspacer that was made by my friend, Steve Kyle. At my request, Steve designed the backspacer out of titanium, notched the butt of it out to use as an oxygen wrench, and included a replaceable carbide window punch. If you get a chance, check out some of his work on Instagram @steveg30_knife_pimper.

If you are looking for the last rescue knife that you will ever NEED to buy, look no further. The Emerson Knives N-SAR is it. Functionality, durability and built with purpose.

For more information on the N-SAR and to purchase

Guest Author – Tony Kuhn

What is your absolute minimum edc?

Kyle Defoor recently made a Facebook post about his absolute minimum EDC. In that post, he mentioned the old school mantra of ‘always have a watch and a knife‘ that was coined by the Frogmen/UDT teams of WW2. During WW2, the UDT guys would do beach reconnaissance with only their dive knife and wristwatch. At the UDT/SEAL Museum down at Ft Pierce, Florida, they have several displays of the original frogmen and the equipment they used. One of those displays highlights the two most important pieces of gear that had on them during every mission. A watch and a knife.

Although the watch and knife worn by these elite teams may have changed from time to time, the principle of carrying them always remained. Going along with that mantra, I thought I would chime in with my absolute minimum EDC based on the above statement.

A Watch

I have a few key features I look for in an everyday watch. Out of the several watches I own, if I had to choose one to roll with, it would be the Resco Manus. In hindsight, it’s fitting for this article since Max Manus was considered a resistance fighter in WWII. With regards to the Resco Manus, there are a few key features that stand out from others. First off, all my Resco watches to include the Manus have the best lume in the industry. Well, in my personal opinion they do. I need to be able to easily read my watch in the middle of the night in the darkest of the dark. My second requirement is a date window. Anytime I’m filling out something that requires the date, I’m looking at my watch. Same goes if someone asks me what the date is. It’s just a feature that I use multiple times a day. My third requirement is a rotating bezel for timing. Most of the time, I’m using it to time my runs if I’m running a pre-set distance or course. I also use it to time my circuit workouts or when in the kitchen cooking. The Resco Manus meets and exceeds all three requirements. The Manus is also a great middle of the road sized watch. It doesn’t stand out as a big tactical watch, yet remains classy enough to wear on a night out. As far as ruggedness is concerned, well, it’s a Resco.

A Knife

Picking one knife for my bare minimum EDC was a tough choice. I’ve carried both folders and concealed fixed blades. Both have their pros and cons. Again out of my collection of both types of knives, If I had to pick one, it would be my Emerson CQC-7. The CQC-7 makes a great blade to run with. It clips to the waistband of my running shorts and I can effortlessly engage the wave if I need to deploy the knife quickly. The design and profile of the CQC-7 tanto blade make it a great overall blade for both EDC work and personal defense. Ergonomics are great too allowing you to use the knife for prolonged periods of time without hand fatigue.

A Flashlight

Other than my watch, probably the most used piece of EDC gear is my handheld flashlight. For a minimal low-vis option that is easily carried every day, I roll with the Streamlight Protac 1L-1AA. The 1L-1AA is a dual fuel light that runs off either a single CR123 or AA battery. You get a few more lumens out of the light if you use the CR123, but when traveling you can almost always find standard AA batteries both domestic and international.

Emerson Knives Tiger: The Apex Predator of Folding Knives

Definition of an Apex Predator: A predator at the top of a food chain that is not preyed upon by another animal.

The Emerson Tiger knife is just like a real tiger- an apex predator. It is a purebred fighting knife featuring a razor sharp trailing point wed to a serious self-defense handle style culminating in legendary Emerson Ergonomics. The Tiger tactical knife is a knife that anyone, soldier or civilian could count on in a life threatening or emergency situation. – Emerson Knives

For the detailed specs of this knife please visit the Emerson Knives website. For this review, I want to focus on the application of this specific knife design and what makes it superior over others.

Generally, when I’m selecting a folding knife to carry, I want that knife to be able to transition from an urban environment to a more austere environment and still be functional. To accomplish that, I look for a few key features.

Grip/Ergonomics/Comfort

Just about every Emerson knife I own has a handle that feels like it was custom made for my hand, they just feel that good when holding them and working with them. Even over extended periods of use, developt develop any hot spots on my hands. The Tiger is no different. Not only does it feel great in the hand, but because it is a fighting knife, the contour of the handle locks your hand in, in order to prevent riding up on the blade. The G10 scales do come a bit on the rough side, so as I do with every Emerson I get, I remove the pocket clip, get a small piece of fine grit sandpaper and make two or three passes over the G10, replace the pocket clip and I’m good to go. Whether I’m using this knife to defend my life with, gutting a deer, starting a fire or opening boxes, my grip will remain secure and uncompromised.

Blade design & profile

Out of the gate, a requirement I have on all my carry knives is a partially serrated edge. In a recent article we published, covering the 3 things needed to survive any disaster, we go over the importance of this feature. In an urban environment, a partially serrated blade is king when needing to cut through materials quickly, especially if it’s to rescue someone from a vehicle or rescue yourself from your own vehicle, seconds count, and I need to be able to work safely and quickly. For that reason, I ordered my Emerson Knives Tiger with a partially serrated blade.

Ease of Maintenance

Whether that’s in a city environment or more rural environment, I want to be able to maintain my knife with minimal tools. One of the biggest selling points, in my opinion, on all Emerson knives are the hardware. They use standard phillips and straight screws for the pivot and handle scales. That allows me to use commonly found tools to take the knife apart and clean/lubricate as needed. No more searching for that damn Torx bit.

The other aspect of maintenance is maintaining the edge. Most knives have a conventional v-grind which means there is an equal amount ground away on both sides of the blade. To a seasoned knife guy, keeping this type of edge maintained is no big deal. To the guy who’s just looking for a tool to use, either they don’t sharpen the blade, screw up the geometry of the bevel when trying or have to invest in a more expensive sharpening system to get the ‘degree’ of the edge dialed in. Not everybody is confident to do this freehand or has the money to drop on an expensive sharpening system. Emerson Knives has more or less taken the guesswork out of maintaining the edge. From day 1, Emerson has used the chisel grind, which means the blade is only ground on one side, so there is no guessing on the angle. This allows civilians and warfighters alike to be able to hone the edge back using a simple inexpensive sharpening stone, cinderblocks, ceramic coffee mugs or the edge of a car window. It’s literally that easy to do with an Emerson knife.

Conclusion

With all that said, I believe the Emerson Knives Tiger is a force to be reconned with when placed in the hands of a capable person. Everything from the blade profile, to the wave opening feature and ergonomics, make this, in my opinion, an apex predator of folding knives. Yes, it is a little bigger overall than let’s say the CQC-7, but it rides in the pocket nicely and affords you a no-bullshit weapon for personal defense and a tool to be used in the wilderness to keep you alive. If you’re looking for a ‘one-tool’ option for a folding knife, then I highly recommend the Emerson Tiger. Spend once, cry once and you’re set for life.

Everyday Carry items that make Great Stocking Stuffers

As we approach the holiday season, we at the Loadout Room would like to make your shopping a little easier for you. In this article, we are going to cover everyday carry items that would make great stocking stuffers for Christmas. We have reviewed many products over the past year and would like to highlight a few that stand out from the crowd. We’re going to consolidate those choices so you don’t have to waste your time sifting through the hundreds of options on Amazon.

Olight M20SX Javelot Flashlight

What can I tell you about the flashlight during the five years of daily use? Well, I could not kill it. In a daily use, daily carry lifestyle, I beat this little light with no reservation. I used it as a light hammer, I dropped it, I had it on my boat, I navigated at night in dark channels using it to light up channel markers, I used it to find my keys, along with any other thing a flashlight can be used for. I traveled with it. I traveled with it a lot. For its size, TSA does not even look twice at it.

The M20SX JAVELOT is a new generation of a two-tail-switch tactical flashlight. The maximum output has been improved to 820 lumens. Now, I have no way of actually testing the output of this light to make sure that it’s 820 and not 819, but I can assure you it is plenty bright for its size. One of the things I really like is it is powered by either two commonly found CR123A or you can use one 18650 battery. I personally have several 18650 batteries that I keep charged and rotate through the various lights I have.

If you are looking for a very hard use pocket light, that is designed and marketed as a “duty” flashlight, give the M20SX Javelot a close look. There are several accessories that can be used with it such as filters, diffusers, weapon mount options, remote tail caps, etc. The Javelot series also comes in different sizes and the price is definitely reasonable for what it is. Mine has become as much a part of my everyday carry as my cell phone and car keys have.

The full review of the M20SX Javelot

Surefire Sidekick Keychain Flashlight

I’m one of those guys that always have a flashlight on me. No matter what light I pick out to carry for the day, I can say that I have had the Surefire Sidekick with me at ALL times since I purchased it on Black Friday last year (2017). It sits on my keychain waiting to be used. I can go days without employing this great little light, but when I need, it is within arms reach. All too often though, when I use my Surefire Sidekick, I don’t give a second thought about how it was used.

The idea to share what is becoming one of my favorite ways to use the Surefire Sidekick came to me the other day when I was working my second job. I’m a glorified paramedic that starts IV’s for CT and MRI contrast studies. One thing that you should understand, is that when patients come in for these studies and need an IV, it is WAY different than what would be considered “acceptable” while working on the rescue at the FD. When you get a patient that is a “hard stick”, there is no bone drilling that you can do, no external jugulars… So, I do what any other fireman would do; get creative. Read the rest of this story.

The full review of the Surefire Sidekick

Streamlight Protac Series

I’ve carried a Streamlight flashlight for the better part of 4 years now as part of my everyday carry. For a long time, it was the popular ProTac 1AA that ran off a single AA battery and was the perfect size for carrying inside my pocket. I’ve also switched between the ProTac 2L and the newer ProTac 1L-1AA. Streamlight, in my opinion, is the best deal out there for what you’re getting. Their lights are just as rugged as other higher end manufacturers, but at a price point, everyone can afford. Kyle Defoor, former Navy SEAL and now firearms instructor, swears by Streamlight and carries one daily for both his job and personal EDC.

If you’re an aspiring minimalist with regards to your everyday carry, then the Streamlight Protac 1AAA light may be the ticket for you. Granted it’s not some super lumen light putting out 1000 lumens, it will get the job done in low light and complete darkness. You don’t think 115 lumens is enough to disorient a threat? Go into a dark room or outside at night and face the light towards your face and turn it on. I guarantee you’re going to be seeing spots for several minutes.

The full review of the Streamlight Protac 1AAA

Gerber Barbill Wallet

I love my minimalist wallets and only carrying what I need. I’ve tried others in the past similar to this design and was not a fan; mostly because accessing the cards and cash was not ideal, but that is just my personal opinion. When I saw the new Gerber Barbill on their site, I had to give it a try. To my surprise, I’m really liking this wallet and plan on using this for the foreseeable future. Accessing the cards and cash is easy, as is using the integrated bottle opener. Great for a night out on the town or vacations when you want to reduce what you’re carrying in your pockets. For only $20, you really can’t go wrong with this product.

Video review of the Gerber Barbill Wallet

Magpul Daka Everyday Wallet

The Magpul DAKA Everyday Wallet is a great option for a great price. It is constructed of a reinforced polymer fabric that is flexible and strong. It is coated with an anti-slip texture that ensures you can easily retain it. The wallet holds up to 7 cards comfortably and features an ID pocket on the front with a transparent window to display your driver’s license, business card, or library card. The edges of the wallet are made using a welding process of the materials, so there is no chance of it separating under normal to heavy use.

The divider pocket in the center for bills and other items is easily accessible and functional, unlike some wallets that don’t flex enough for your fingers to be able to catch what you are trying to retrieve. No chance for wallet-hoarding or the uncomfortable experience of sitting on a wallet with too much stuff in it. This wallet is no-frills, discrete, and EDC approved. The only thing missing is RFID blocking capability. If you are interested in picking one up, head over to the Magpul website and choose between four colors – black, FDE, stealth gray, and olive drab green. MSRP is $24.95.

The full review of the Magpul Daka Wallet

Zero Tolerance 0350

The ZT 0350TS is not nearly as large and bulky as the 0300 series, but it has that familiar feeling to me. I have heard from some people that they believe the 0350 to be rather large for every day carry. I have larger than average hands so the physical size difference between the 0300 and the 0350 is not lost on me.

The ZT 0350 is an assisted-opening, folding knife that has a liner lock and a 3 ¼” blade. ZT calls the assisted-opening “Speedsafe” and it can be actuated by hitting the “flipper” with your finger, or using the two blade stops on the spine of the blade, with your thumb. The spring assist deploys the blade quickly, with almost zero effort and the blade locks in place with a very detectible “click”. Even though this knife is ambidextrous, if you are a left-handed person, the blade stop on the left side of the knife does come down lower to the micarta, due to the liner lock. This may pose a problem if you use the blade stop as the primary way to open the knife. You can mitigate this issue by using the “flipper” with your index finger.

The full review of the Zero Tolerance 0350

Kershaw Decimus

Based on Rick Hinderer’s Maximus blade, Kershaw has created the Decimus; a single-edge spear point folder with the classic BlackWash™ finish. The blade is presented quickly via the flipper with SpeedSafe® assisted opening. The flipper is mirrored by a symmetrical protrusion, providing a short cross guard for finger safety and giving this EDC blade the appearance of a tiny sword.

The steel handle is stonewashed with a glass filled overlay inspired by the custom zigzag pattern of the original Maximus. Open construction and steel tube spacers, a reversible pocket clip, and frame lock round out the top features. As an additional detail, the handle also has a Hinderer-style filler tab with a stonewashed finish. Kershaw has found its market with those who need a functional blade that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Affordable at $52.49, it seems to be a solid folder at a good price. Gladiators weren’t exactly the high class of Rome, but they were effective with their weapons.

Watch the video review of the Kershaw Decimus

Emerson Knives CQC-7BW Flipper

I’ve been a long time fan of Emerson Knives and own several of them. The one model I never had my hands on was their CQC-7BW Flipper models. I went with the CQC-7 for a few reasons; first, it’s a proven blade design that was originally developed with input from the SEAL Teams. Second, the size of the knife is damn near perfect for EDC. The third and final reason, well it just works! Don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.

When I’m evaluating a knife for daily carry, the blade to handle ratio is very important to me. Ideally, I prefer the overall length to be around 7.5″, with a 3 to 3.5″ blade. That gives me plenty of handle surface area to maintain a positive grip in almost any condition. Couple that with the G10 scales Emerson uses on their knives and you got yourself a bomb proof knife.

The full review of the CQC-7BW Flipper

NFW Watch Company Regulator

The NFW Regulator. One of my favorites. Impact forged 44mm stainless steel case and Gunmetal Gray Ionic Plated. Rated to 200 Meters with a hardened mineral crystal. Under the hood is a rugged Citizen Precision Quartz movement. For the price, you really cannot go wrong with this timepiece.

Get yours today