Ernest Emerson Ernest R . Emerson ( born March 7 , 1955 ) is an American custom knifemaker , martial artist , and edged - weapons expert . Originally an engineer and machinist in the aerospace industry , Emerson became a knifemaker by producing knives for a martial arts class and making art knives early in his knifemaking career . In the 1980s he became better known for his combat knives and popularizing a style of knife known as the Tactical - folder . In order to secure military contracts , Emerson eventually founded Emerson Knives , Inc a production company to mass - produce his designs in 1996 . Emerson ' s knives have been displayed as museum pieces , designed for use by Navy SEALs and used by NASA in outer space . Emerson ' s knives have been featured in films and novels , due to their association with military units . This has furthered their popularity with collectors . Emerson is an accomplished martial artist who has developed a combatives system , Emerson Combat Systems , which has been taught to police officers , military units , and civilians . Background . Ernest Emerson was born on March 7 , 1955 in northern Wisconsin . While attending high school he displayed athletic ability as a wrestler and baseball player , being drafted by the St . Louis Cardinals to play professional baseball at the age of 17 in the Midwest League . Emerson began his training in martial arts at the age of 16 with the Korean version of Judo known as Yudo , traveling from Wisconsin to Minnesota twice a week to attend school . He continued his study of the martial arts while attending the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse where he earned a brown belt in Kyokushinkai Karate and a black belt in Shotokan Karate while competing on the university ' s karate team . After graduating with degrees in physical education and world history , Emerson moved to Southern California for the sole purpose of continuing his martial arts training at the Filipino Kali Academy . There he studied Jun Fan Gung Fu , Jeet Kune Do , and Eskrima under the tutelage of Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo ( both protégés of the late Bruce Lee ) . Emerson subsequently trained in Gracie Jiu Jitsu for three years at the original Gracie Academy in Torrance , California , under the founders of the Gracie Jiu Jitsu system , Rorion and Royce Gracie . Eventually , Emerson became an instructor in his own right and combined the principles of all these systems . It was in Southern California where he met his wife , Mary , who at the time was one of the world ' s top female practitioners of Jujutsu . During this time , Emerson worked as a technician , a machine operator , and eventually a design engineer for Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo . Early knifemaking . Although Emerson credits his grandfather ' s gift of a Barlow knife to him at the age of eight years with starting his interest in knives , it was not until later in life that he turned to making them . The summer of 1978 found Emerson in need of a balisong knife for his study of a Filipino martial art and , unable to afford one on his salary , Emerson decided he would attempt to make his own instead . He milled and drilled the handles from aluminum stock ; the knife ' s blade was a simple steel blank that he hand cut with a hacksaw , shaped with files , and heat treated at his dining room table with a butane torch . When he started classes with this " homemade " knife , his instructors and fellow students were impressed with his handiwork and asked him to make knives for them . Emerson did so and sold these early butterfly knives for just the cost of materials , but he soon raised the price to $ 50 each , as demand for his knives increased . Emerson went on to make fixed - blade knives on a part - time basis , but upon seeing a Michael Walker handmade folding knife at a gun show , he was so impressed by the quality and design that he decided he was going to make folding pocketknives from that point on . Emerson contacted Walker and obtained his permission to use the Walker Linerlock mechanism on his own knives . According to a 1990 article by Paul Basch , Emerson said of Walker , " Here was a guy who put everything I was looking for into a knife . It was then I decided to start making knives seriously and locking liners in particular " . Pre - tactical models . Emerson ' s early folding knives were of the linerlock variety , ground by the stock removal method , and utilized rare materials from the aerospace industry , including titanium , carbon fiber , micarta , and meteorite . He incorporated exotic materials common to knifemakers of the time , including mother - of - pearl , abalone shell , paua shell , staghorn , and rare hardwoods . Writer Paul Basch reported in 1990 that Emerson refused to use the parts of any animal or plant which was an endangered species , noting Emerson as being an environmentally conscious knifemaker . The steel used in these blades was typically graded ATS - 34 , AEB - L , or 440C , and the blades were either highly polished or hand - rubbed . Emerson made knives with Damascus steel blades . Among custom knife collectors and purveyors today , these knives are known as the " Pre - Tac " ( Pre - Tactical ) models . They can be identified by their bright anodized titanium bolsters and liners and the predominant use of clip point blades . The knives were noted for their close tolerances and precise locking mechanisms . Emerson credits the following knifemakers for helping him along during his early years as a knifemaker : Michael Walker , Clint Breshears , Bob Engnath , and Jim Ferguson . Emerson ' s first logo or stamp on these knives was " Emerson Knives " surrounding the outline of a Bowie knife ; accordingly this is referred to as the rare " Bowie Logo " , appearing on only a very small number of knives . When a knife collector asked Emerson if he made Bowie knives , Emerson informed him that he did not . The collector then advised him to change his logo or he might confuse the knife - buying public , as they would ask for Bowie knives instead of linerlock folders . Emerson agreed with this assessment , dropping the knife outline and the word " knives " from his stamp , using just his name in a half - circle on the blade as a logo . This marking is known among collectors as the " Half - Moon Logo " and would appear again as a transitional mark between the Viper and Specwar lines of knives . These early knives sold for between $ 800 and $ 2 , 000 each ; that , combined with his appearances at knife shows and write - ups in knife magazines , helped Emerson gain status and credibility as a custom knifemaker . Once established as a serious and reputable maker , Emerson was soon able to concentrate on making the knives he wanted to make — knives designed for use as opposed to show , specifically folding - knives designed for combat . Viper Knives . As a direct result of watching his fellow martial artists train with a fixed - blade fighting knife in class , yet carry some type of a folding knife when they left the training area , Emerson decided there was a need for a sturdy folding knife designed primarily for combat . Although Emerson had always maintained that the knives he made were built as fighting knives first and foremost , in October 1985 he stripped down five of these designs to simpler materials . He continued his use of linen or canvas micarta because of its high tensile strength and superior gripping surface when wet ; he decided on black or dark grey for the color instead of the brighter colors used previously . He retained the titanium for the liners and bolsters but chose to bead - blast them a flat grey matte color as opposed to the colorful anodizing which used to appear on his knives . The reasons for using titanium were its exceptional strength - to - weight ratio and corrosion resistance . Emerson ground the blades of these knives from ATS - 34 steel with a Rockwell hardness of 57 – 59 and made them thicker toward the tip , creating a stronger - tipped blade than he had made previously . He bead - blasted the blades as he did the liners and bolsters instead of rubbing or polishing them , giving them a matte finish as opposed to the mirror - polished finish common on his earlier knives and other knives at the time . Emerson designed each one of these knives for a specific purpose . The slender Viper 1 and smaller Viper 2 were designed for use as a police officer ' s backup weapon . The Viper 5 was designed to be used by naval boat crews , as the handle was contoured with a rear brake so as to not slip from the user ' s hand when wet and the Viper 3 was designed as a pure fighting knife with its 4 - inch blade . Emerson ' s goal for this Viper line was to produce a working knife which would be more resistant to the elements and more durable than the " art knives " for which he had become known . These knives were created to satisfy the demand for a practical field - grade combat knife which could be carried discreetly and accessed quickly . He sold these five models under the name " Viper Knives " and changed the logo on the blades to read the same . Emerson makes these models on a custom basis under the names MV1 – 5 , " MV " standing for " Model Viper " . Specwar Knives . In 1986 individual Navy SEALs from a West Coast team had been using personally purchased custom fixed - blade knives made by Southern California knifemaker Phill Hartsfield . Hartsfield ' s knives were hard ground from differentially heat - treated A2 tool steel and are known for their distinctive chisel - ground blades . More accurately , they are zero ground ; that is , the edge has no secondary bevel , minimizing drag when used for cutting purposes . Emerson had long been impressed by the cutting ability of the chisel - ground edge and had asked Hartsfield ' s permission to incorporate it into his own folding knives , which Hartsfield granted . When the SEALs asked Hartsfield to make them a folding knife , he informed them that he did not make folding knives and referred them to Emerson . According to the SEALs ' requirements , the knife had to be corrosion resistant , designed for easy cleaning in the field , durable enough to be used on a daily basis as a tool , and capable as a weapon should the need arise . Emerson ' s folding chisel - ground " tantō " became the sixth model in his Viper series and , while a handful of prototypes were referred to as " Viper 6 " , the model was soon named the " CQC - 6 " ( CQC refers to close - quarters combat ) and was chosen by the SEALs for use . Ownership of a CQC - 6 soon became something of a status symbol among members of various elite military units , including Navy SEALs , Army Special Forces , German GSG 9 , and British SAS . Because of this connection to the Special Warfare community , Emerson changed the name of his custom knife line to " Specwar Knives " , and in 1990 this new designation began appearing in the logo on his blades . Other models followed in the Specwar line bearing the CQC Series moniker , including the CQC - 7 which is another chisel - ground tantō - bladed folder similar to the CQC - 6 but with a saber - type handle shape . The CQC - 8 ( " Banana Knife " ) was a folder inspired by Bob Taylor ' s Warrior knife and William F . Moran ' s ST - 23 is used by British SAS troops . The knife has the distinction of being the first folding knife that was designed to be ergonomically correct in both forward and reverse grip . Its users refer to it as " the finest fighting knife ever developed " . The CQC - 9 ( " Eagle Knife " ) is a reverse - curved hawkbill blade developed as a backup weapon for an American law enforcement agency ; it has an opening hole in the blade licensed from knife manufacturer Spyderco . Although Emerson has standard models for these custom knives which progress in order to CQC16 , each one is made individually by hand . Popularizing the tactical knife . While not the first knifemaker to build what is known as a tactical folding knife , Emerson was one of several makers who popularized the concept of the handmade tactical folder in the 1980s . Emerson ' s knives began appearing in the " Rogue Warrior " series of novels written by the founder of the US Navy ' s SEAL Team Six , Richard Marcinko , at this time which helped fuel interest among collectors . This surge in interest for Emerson ' s knives soon became overwhelming . Although he had been making knives full - time since 1994 , Emerson was still manufacturing these knives in his home garage workshop three years later . As Emerson watched his customers ' wait time expand from two years to seven , he realized that the demand for his handmade blades was far outpacing his ability to produce them . The first method to bridge this gap between supply and demand would be through factory collaborations with established cutlery companies . Emerson ' s first collaboration with a knife manufacturer was with Timberline Knives in 1993 for his SPECWAR model . According to Stephen Dick , the editor of " Tactical Knives " , this collaboration was a result of " the Navy deciding that only commercial designs would be considered due to failure of a previous custom knifemaker to deliver enough models to satisfy the need " . This model featured a one - side chisel - ground tantō blade almost 1 / 4 inch ( 6 . 35 mm ) thick . Its handle was made from fiberglass - reinforced nylon molded around a near - full tang . 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 . Although it was not chosen by the Navy , Stephen Dick reported that a number of members of SEAL Team One privately purchased the knife and were disappointed it was not made the official blade . The Emerson - Neeley SPECWAR knife won " Blade Magazine " s 1995 American Made Knife of the Year Award at the magazine ' s Blade Show in Atlanta , Georgia , and that same year and was displayed as an exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York City from May 24 to August 15 , 1995 . In 1994 the president of Benchmade Knives , Les DeAsis , approached Emerson to manufacture the CQC - 6 on a larger scale as a factory production model . Preferring to keep the CQC - 6 as a custom - only knife , Emerson instead licensed a similar design of his , the CQC - 7 . The Benchmade factory version was sold under the model name BM970 or BM975 depending on blade length . Other designations followed which denoted blade finish , manual or automatic opening , or partially serrated blade . The knife retained the profile of Emerson ' s custom piece in addition to the ATS - 34 steel and the titanium liners . However , on Benchmade ' s offering the titanium bolsters and micarta scales were replaced with G10 fiberglass scales , the slotted screws were replaced by Torx head screws , and the pocket clip was repositioned so that the knife could be carried in the pocket in a tip - down position . Despite these changes the knife was true to Emerson ' s original design , and even though it did not have the craftsmanship of a handmade piece of cutlery it satisfied customers with their own version of Emerson ' s work at a lower price point and without the five - year wait . Emerson Knives , Inc . . In February 1996 , Emerson and his wife , Mary , founded Emerson Knives , Inc . ( abbreviated as EKI ) in Torrance , California to manufacture knives on a larger scale than he was then capable of . This new company would be a distinct entity from his Specwar custom knives , although several custom designs would make their way into the production lineup . Four years after starting this venture , Emerson sold an entire year ' s worth of production in four hours at the SHOT ( Shooting Hunting and Outdoor Trade ) Show in January 2000 . Emerson continued to collaborate with other companies on knife - related projects as his own company grew . In some cases these collaborators had become his competition , such as Gerber Knives . In 2002 Emerson collaborated with Gerber Knives to create both companies ' first automatic opening knife , the Gerber - Emerson Alliance . In that same year , Emerson collaborated with SureFire Flashlights by making an exclusive CQC - 8 ( Banana Knife ) numbered and marked with the SureFire logo and sold with an identically numbered Emerson - marked Centurion C2 CombatLight . In 2005 Emerson collaborated with Andy Prisco , the CEO of the American Tomahawk Company , to produce the CQC - T Tomahawk . This tomahawk features a curved head machined from 4140 steel with a rear spike and a lightweight fiberglass handle . Although not made by Emerson , the tomahawk was designed by him . In 2007 , Emerson announced a collaboration with custom knifemaker and knife thrower Bobby Branton . The collaboration piece is a fixed - blade knife designed primarily for knife throwing dubbed the BETT : Branton - Emerson Tactical Thrower . One of Emerson ' s earliest production models , the Commander ( winner of " Blade Magazine " s Overall Knife of the Year Award for 1999 ) , is a large recurve folding knife based on a special custom design , the ES1 - M , that he had made for a West Coast Navy SEAL Team . The Commander has a hook on the spine of the blade ( originally designed as a blade catcher ) which , when snagged on the edge of the pocket or sheath , causes the knife blade to open as it is drawn . Due to its visual aesthetic , Emerson called this innovation the " Wave " and secured a patent for it in 1998 . Since another knife and tool company , Leatherman , had trademarked the name " Wave , " in March 1999 Emerson changed its name to the " wave - shaped opening feature " . Emerson ' s Wave made its way onto most of the knives in both the production and custom lines , with the exception of the Viper models . It is a required feature on all knives that Emerson supplies to military units , search and rescue units , and law enforcement agencies . After a disastrous helicopter crash in 1999 resulting in the deaths of six Marines and one sailor , the US Navy performed an assessment of their equipment and decided among other things that they needed a new search and rescue knife . The KA - BAR knives issued to the SBUs ( Special Boat Units ) had catastrophically failed to cut the Marines free from their webbing . The Navy went to Emerson , who designed and fabricated a working prototype within 24 hours . They found that it met their needs , and the model was dubbed the " SARK " ( Search and Rescue Knife ) . The SARK is a folding knife with a wharncliffe - style blade and a blunt tip designed so a rescuer could cut trapped victims free without stabbing them . The knife features Emerson ' s Wave . Seeing another need in the police community , Emerson replaced the blunt end of the SARK with a pointed end and named it the " P - SARK " , or Police Search And Rescue Knife . In 2005 , the Navy changed the requirements on the SARK to incorporate a guthook on the back of the blade for use as a line - cutter . Emerson made the change on this model which is only available to the US Navy and the model designation is the NSAR ( Navy Search And Rescue ) Knife . In 1999 , NASA contracted Emerson to build a knife for use on Space Shuttle missions and the International Space Station . Rather than design a new model from scratch , NASA chose an existing model which already met their specifications , with one additional design requirement . The model is a folding version of the Specwar knife that Emerson had designed for Timberline with the addition of a guthook cut into the tantō point of the blade with which astronauts could open their freeze dried food packages . The knife is not available for purchase outside of NASA . On July 1 , 2000 , Emerson announced his semi - retirement from custom knifemaking in order to concentrate on this new production company and to fill the thousands of outstanding orders for his custom work . He still makes custom knives available for sale at knife shows , but takes no orders for new custom work . Since 1995 the only way to get a new custom knife from Emerson himself is through a lottery held at knife shows where he is present . Depending on the size of the show , as many as several hundred potential buyers write their names on individual pieces of paper at his booth , and at a predetermined time a name is drawn . The winner gets a chance to buy one of the custom knives brought to the show . In 2007 , Emerson branched out in a new direction , announcing he would manufacture twelve custom electric guitars per year . His first guitar debuted at " Blade Magazine " s Blade Show in Atlanta in June 2007 . In 2008 , Emerson opened a clothing company called " Emerson Brand Apparel " specializing in MMA and casual clothing . In 2009 at the annual NRA Convention , Emerson announced a collaboration with custom pistol manufacturer Les Baer to produce a custom M1911 pistol built to Emerson ' s specifications with a semi - custom ( handground blade ) folding knife named the " CQC - 45 " ( out of sequence from the CQC series as the number relates to the caliber of the pistol ) . In late 2009 , Emerson announced a collaboration with Spike ' s Tactical to produce an M - 4 Carbine based upon his specifications for training , chambered in . 22 long rifle and in 5 . 56 NATO ; with a matching folding knife designated the " CQC - 22 " ( out of sequence from the CQC series as the number relates to the caliber of the rifle ) . In September 2010 , Emerson announced a collaboration with Pro - Tech Knives to produce an automatic opening version of the CQC - 7 . In November 2010 , Emerson ' s Roadhouse Knife won " Knives Illustrated " s American Made Knife of 2010 – 2011 Award at the Spirit of Steel Show in Knoxville , TN . According to Emerson , the knife will be used as a prop on the " Sons of Anarchy " Television Show . In January 2011 , at the SHOT ( Shooting , Hunting , Outdoor Trade ) Show in Las Vegas , NV , Emerson debuted a new knife model designed in collaboration with Kelly McCann known as the " Canis " . Emerson ' s knives in the media . Emerson ' s knives have appeared onscreen in films and television shows . In " Night of the Running Man " , Scott Glenn ' s character carried a mother - of - pearl handled , one - of - a - kind Emerson CQC6 . Emerson Ravens , neck knives , and the Commander knife were used as props in the short - lived UPN television series " Soldier of Fortune , Inc . " A Commander knife was used by the character of Zak in the 1998 movie " Placebo Effect " ; Emerson Knives is thanked in the film credits for the knife . Ridley Scott ' s 2001 film " Black Hawk Down " portrayed soldiers carrying Emerson folding knives in the hangar scene , and in " Tears of the Sun " the Kandahar model appeared on Bruce Willis ' character ' s web gear , and other actors were seen with Emerson Police Utility Knives . Emerson Karambit s , La Griffes , and Police Utility Knives are often used as weapons or rescue tools on the television show " Burn Notice " . Frank Castle used an Emerson Karambit to kill an opponent in one of the final scenes in " The Punisher " . " Transporter 2 " briefly showed an Emerson fixed - blade Kandahar knife in the trunk of Jason Statham ' s car along with other weapons as props . An Emerson La Griffe was featured in the 2007 film : Doomsday . In the Russian movie " 12 " a remake of the classic Twelve Angry Men , an " Emerson CQC - 7 " is revealed as the potential weapon used by a Chechen teen in the murder of his Russian foster - parents . However , the knife shown in the movie is not a CQC - 7 or even an Emerson made knife . Emerson ' s knives are mentioned in mystery , spy , military , action , and adventure novels . At least seven of Richard Marcinko ' s " Rogue Warrior " novels ( " Red Cell " , " Green Team " , " Task Force Blue " , " Detachment Bravo " , " SEAL Force Alpha " , " Violence of Action " and " Holy Terror " ) prominently make mention of Emerson ' s knives ( CQC - 6 or CQC - 7 ) as a regularly carried piece of equipment . The protagonist , Marcinko , uses an Emerson CQC - 6 or CQC - 7 on various occasions . On page 175 of " Task Force Blue " , Marcinko remarks that his CQC - 6 was a " personal gift from Ernie Emerson , himself " . " New York Times " bestselling author David Morrell ' s novel " The Protector " not only has the main character , a former Delta Force operator named Cavanaugh , using an Emerson CQC - 7 knife , but the cover art itself is a photographic illustration of a blood - stained Emerson CQC - 7 . Cavanaugh uses the knife in combat as well as in many rigorous cutting chores . The author claims Emerson is " the best manufacturer of tactical knives " as well as a " top level blade instructor for elite military and law - enforcement units " . In an interview with British E - Zine " Shots : The Crime and Mystery Ezine " , Morrell indicated that he injured his collarbone during an Emerson knife - fighting course while performing research for the novel . Morrell went on to include Emerson ' s knives in his books " Creepers " and " The Spy Who Came for Christmas " . Three of Marcus Wynne ' s novels ( " Warrior in the Shadows " , " No Other Option , " " Brothers in Arms " ) feature use of Emerson ' s knives by the main characters . The CQC - 7 , Commander , and La Griffe are favored by the main characters and are used as defensive weapons throughout the books . The characters of S . M . Gunn ' s novels based on Naval Special Warfare , Navy SEALs , and submarine s routinely carry Emerson ' s knives . One of the main characters carries an Emerson custom MV - 1 Viper knife in the book " SEALs SubStrike " . Barry Eisler ' s fictional hired killer John Rain ' s former U . S . Marine Sniper friend " Dox " uses an Emerson Comrade CQC - 12 , a folding knife based on the AK - 47 bayonet , in " The Last Assassin " , referring to it as a " helluva knife " that could cut through a car door if he needed it to . Retired Navy SEAL and SEAL Team 6 Plankowner Dennis Chalker routinely puts Emerson ' s knives ( CQC - 7s and Commanders ) into the hands of the heroes of his " Home Team " novels based on the exploits of former Naval Special Warfare Operators . Emerson ' s CQC - 7 has made its way into the Clive Cussler novel , " Plague Ship " . Emerson Combat Systems . Emerson ' s study and instruction of martial arts is ongoing . He has accumulated 35 years of experience in a variety of styles and philosophies of combat . Drawing upon this base of knowledge and experience he has developed a combatives system known as Emerson Combat Systems , which has been taught to hundreds of law enforcement agencies , members of the U . S . military , and civilians . The system is based upon the recognition of two factors : the human body ' s physiological response to stress and its reduction to the use of gross motor skills . According to Emerson , the techniques are based upon the physical and instinctual laws that govern the survival instincts and physical function of a human being . This system is characterized by training as realistically as possible ( not training in workout gear for example ) and using flowing , dynamic concepts ( for example , integrated fighting and weapon transition with a strong emphasis placed on overall physical fitness . Emerson maintains he does not teach a " martial art " encumbered by ritual or sporting aspects but a combatives system where the goal is more than simple self - defense . Emerson has been consulted as a technical advisor to television and movie productions including " National Geographic " , specifically the program " Fight Science " , due in part to his position as the Hand To Hand Combat Instructor for Harry Humphries ' Global Studies Group Incorporated , a company that teaches police and military tactics to law enforcement agencies and film production crews . Emerson has written over 30 articles on hand - to - hand combat , knife fighting , history , and knifemaking for publications including " Human Events " , " Blade Magazine " , " American Cop Magazine " , " Martial Arts Experts " , " Journal of Modern Combatives " , " Inside Kung - Fu " , " Black Belt Magazine " , " Police Magazine " , and " American Handgunner " .