The Emerson SARK? Should I?

[VaughnT]

I'm always in the mood for a new knife and a recent trip to Asheville gave me the chance to examine the SARK up close.

What I really like about it is the grip. The finger choil is deep, almost to the point of being a crossguard hilt, and that makes me more confident in handling the weapon.

The blade looks good and I'm sure would function well as a slash and stab defensive tool. It's not the best stabber, but a bottle-opener movement will get the job done.

The liner lock isn't the best I've seen. I tend to not like them after working with BM's axis lock. But, I could go that route.

Price tag? $140 + tax. Is that good? I could pick it up on the next trip...

I just don't know. I really like my BM Griptillian for size and how it fits the hand. The plastic handle doesn't abrade my pockets and the ambidextrous nature is a big plus.

Should I just buy another grippie and be happy?

 

[G21dude]

Emerson

It's REALLY hard to go wrong with an Emerson. What do you want it for, cutting seatbelts/boxes or as a backup defensive gizmo?

Personally, I carry my CQC7 wave model for both purposes, and my old Raven sits in my gunvault...

 

[Psssniper]

My SARK recently visited a lot of places in D.C. and New York and met lots of nice security type people. Before walking through the metal detectors I always told them, "I have a small pocketknife, what would you like me to do?"

South West Airlines: knife checked in bag, TSA searches and tags my bag and it arrives on the flight after mine and had to be delivered to our hotel.

Washington Monument: "Wow, thats a nice knife. (holds it up for the other security guys to see) Heres a claim check and don't forget to get it before you leave"

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing: "I'm supposed to confiscate that, but just put it in your backpack okay?" (wink wink)


The Statue of Liberty: "We typically confiscate and destroy any knifes, but why don't you ask one of the hotdog vendors if he would hold it until you get back" (I did ask and he did hold it for me)

Holocaust Museum Deli: (Yes the DELI seemed to have more security than an airport) I took one look at the Deli security and left in amazement at the absurdity.

I couldn't see myself walking around DC and NewYork at night without something for defense and the Emerson was a constant companion.
I believe that I paid about $120 when I bought mine.

 

[G21dude]

SARK = tamed down "real emerson"???

Psssniper ... 1st, what's with the name? You been to any real sniper schools, or play America's Army too much (no offense, a valid question about a handle)...?

Next, a SARK is not exactly a rough looking knife (compared to a Persian Tactical Folder, for instance, or even a CQC7), although I still miss my Spyderco Merlin (lost in a COUCH!?!?!)...

 

[Don Gwinn]

Do you really shoot a G21? And are you really a dude?

 

[VaughnT]

G21, what's with the need for a "rough looking blade"? I like the lines of most of Emerson's designs, but I'm looking for a defensive blade that is could also be seen as a tool in the eyes of a jury. The SARK, aka Search And Rescue Knife, has something of the "rough looking" lines of a carambit, but it also has a very positive finger-stopping handle design. The last is something that is very important to me in any knife that might be used for defense.

I'm still not sold on the Emerson line and might have to look at the Benchmade stuff again.

And then again, I might just buy a snubbie revolver and put that in my pocket!

 

[G21dude]

Me again

Before you all decide I'm a twit and write me off... I must not be getting much sleep lately (I have a two month old daughter).

When I got the email notification about replies and looked at the board, I saw the opening line to Psssniper, and I seriously thought someone snatched my password, because I didn't recall writing that. Also, I would normally write out "first" instead of "1st" in a sentence. I jumped ahead to the rest of the thread, and decided for SURE someone got my password. Then I read the rest, and the bit at the bottom about my Merlin, and thought "#$@#! When I did write THAT?"

...so I must have been half asleep. Apologize if I ruffled any feathers. I still would like to hear where Psssniper went to sniper school, sounds like fun.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with the SARK. If I was considering a knife as a weapon, though (remember, the thread is part of "Non-Firearm Weapons") I would probably go with the Police SARK at least. Pointy bits can be nice. $120 sounds like a good price, too. One thing I like about Emerson is the real world usage of their stuff. Does Benchmade (who knocked off the CQC7 with Emerson's permission, and got dropped right after, evidently because of quality) have a steady backlog of orders from SpecOps personnel? Obviously that can't be the main criteria for selecting a knife, but it's nice to know they get used hard.

(BTW, Don, I do shoot a G21 and I am a dude, honest

Seems like everyone around hear (North Atlanta 'burbs) has some kind of pocket folder, and the way the GA laws go (see http://www.legis.state.ga.us/cgi-bin/gl_codes_detail.pl?code=16-11-126) either a pocket folder is concealed when clipped on your pocket, or it's not. If that's considered concealed, 90% of the folders out there could be argued to be "for the purposes of offense and defense" and therefore a no-no. If clipped-on-pocket-carry is not concealed, my CQC7 is fine.

Point is, most people around here don't care about a pocket knife clipped on your pocket (in a store, office, whatever), and if TSHTF, I'd rather "have" than "have not." I usually CCW anyway, so the fact that I have a knife clipped on my pocket ought to be incidental compared to a .45.

Anyone have any experience regarding the law and this scenario to share?

 

[Don Gwinn]

I wasn't mad at ya, G21, just having a little fun.

I don't know about Georgia. I do know that in Illinois, they've got it fixed so that they can just about call any knife illegal if they feel like it. They've got "dirk," "dagger," and "dangerous knife" listed as illegal, and not one of them is defined. I'm particularly perplexed as to what a "dangerous knife" might be.

HOWEVER, I carry knives that would seem to be illegal under this statute for two reasons.

1. The statute has a clause that says these knives are only illegal if you possess them "with intent to unlawfully harm another." Self defense is lawful, so you only commit the offense if you have ALSO illegally harmed someone, which with a knife will be at least assault with a deadly weapon. Big fish as opposed to small fish.

2. Even if some judge decides he can ignore that clause (which is not unheard-of in Illinois) it's still only a misdemeanor. The odds are that I will only be arrested for it if I have bigger problems than misdemeanor charges. But I'll fight it either way. I have an email at home from an assistant State's Attorney in which she opines that all the above is correct, although it is "off record" because she said her office is not allowed to advise citizens on the law.