Emerson Sheepdog Knife Review
Like many other tactical instruments, the greatest tactical folding knife does much more than common cut materials. The tool can be used as a self-defense tool and an emergency device for smashing auto glass windows, including seat belts. This instrument can be used by anyone, including police officers, hikers, hunters, etc.
Several tactical folding knives now govern the tactical market to serve multiple purposes. When selecting the best tactical folding knife suited for your needs, there are numerous factors to consider. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for.
Components: You desire the tactical folding knife to be made of the hardest materials possible. Opt for handles made of G10 or aluminum and blade steels that can maintain their sharpness considerably longer. 7Cr17MoV, as well as 8Cr13Mov, are two of the best steels for blades.
Functionality. The knife’s functionality should be in good working order. It should be simple to open and close the knife without any delays. More essential, look for a reliable locking mechanism to prevent your hands from being injured by the blade.
Additional Features: The knife’s tactical nature is because it has more than one military characteristic. Regarding vehicular emergencies, seek either a glass breaker or a seatbelt cutter. Some high-end brands include a dedicated slot for opening bottles and extracting wires.
Emerson Sheepdog Knife Review
The Sheepdog offers a fresh perspective to the table. This is the first Emerson flipper, and now it comes with the company’s latest ball-bearing mechanism. In addition, the handle has now been drilled as well as tapped to allow for ambidextrous use. This is important news from such a company firmly entrenched in its practices.
It’s not the first time Emerson has flipped such an item. The CQC-7 flipper was also manufactured. On paper, this CQC-7 flipper appears intriguing, as flippers have indeed been popular for years as well; the CQC-7 is the knife that placed Emerson mostly on the map; however, the design is uninspiring, and thus the result is essentially a CQC-7 with a big shark fin flipper slapped on it.
On the other hand, This Sheepdog is not a model in which the flipper would be an afterthought. Lt. Col. David Grossman, one man who initially contacted Ernest Emerson regarding collaborating on a knife and designing this for David’s company, Sheepdog Knife and Gun, requested that the knife become a flipper.
This Sheepdog does have an overall length of 8.4 inches, a blade length of 3.5 inches, and a weight of 5.54 ounces. The knife was created in the United States of America. The knife is designed specifically for police agencies as a utilitarian and self-defense tool. Grossman needed something useful in a police officer’s day-to-day work while still being non-threatening. Its handle is large, and the blade is large enough to do the job without becoming excessive. This isn’t realistic for the ordinary urban or suburban EDC, but it is for no Emerson.
You may get the Sheepdog with either a clip point or a pointed spear blade. Some people prefer the spear point to the arrowhead. This spear point blade is believed to balance out its handle aesthetically. It also has a less aggressive appearance than the clip point. Both types have partly flat grinds and give good all-around functionality. Both blade forms are made from blade stock that is 1/8′′ thick.
The blade here on Emerson is excellent as usual. Sharp lines, lovely slick grinds, a large sharpening choil, and gleaming stonewashed flats. The clip point has a very soft tip, while the spear point seems to have some more flesh behind it. The main grind is a “V” grind, with the edge applied solely to the visible side.
The Sheepdog, like all of the other Emersons reviewed, arrives in 154CM. 154CM stainless is a well-known grade at this moment. It starts harsh and stays that way for a long time. The upkeep is simple. You sharpen the bevel side as you typically would, and just a prominent burr emerges immediately. You then use a single swipe of a ceramic rod to remove the burr, and the blade is ready to use. It makes it a simple knife to sharpen, but you sacrifice very little edge retention, and also, the blade wears quickly.
This Emerson Sheepdog knife has a good toothy edge and isn’t afraid of boxes, which You broke down a lot when putting together household items for the rental house. It is also used to cut timber and do some light food preparation. A clip point is a good blade design, but it’s a little too harsh for public use. It not only slices nicely, but it also penetrates well. Although 154CM has good corrosion resistance, when you’re not careful, it will discolor.
With coarse leaf black G10 numbers on stainless steel non-locking liner, platinum locking liner, black stalemates, and Phillips headed body screws. The knife is well made. Emerson knives had a negative reputation for off-centered edges, tooling markings, especially on liners, and late shutdowns. These issues have virtually evaporated. Aside from that, the pocket clip screws do not extend beyond the liners due to the countersunk body bolts.
The ergonomics of the Sheepdog are a blend of Grossman and Emerson. Like many of his work, this handle is almost perfect. With years of expertise, the straightforward design has shown to be effective. The slightly sloped spine protects your hand, and the wide pommel grabs your pinky well. Emerson, on the other hand, provides the knife featuring G-10 sandpaper as well as a large thumb ramp with little jumping. The G-10 will ruin your pockets when you’re not careful.
Conclusion
Many people have waited for the Emerson knife, and I believe this is it. The knives have stayed substantially similar over the years, despite slight incremental changes to the company’s wares. Although this Sheepdog is still somewhat an Emerson, the addition of bearings and an ambidextrous pocket clip are significant improvements. The flipper is also a success.