If you retrace the lineage of the tactical folder over the past 20 years, then you’d eventually come to one knife: the Emerson CQC-6.
The handmade tactical folding knife designed by the legendary Ernest Emerson is widely considered the knife that popularized the tactical folder (along with designs by Sal Glesser and Bob Terzuola).
Even after more than 20 years of being made, the waitlist on this custom knife stretched several years. So Emerson partnered with Kershaw to bring a factory version of the knife called the Kershaw Emerson CQC-6K.
But could Kershaw recreate the design, fit, and finish that made the custom so popular with a smaller budget? The answer is a resounding yes.











