Here is a knife I’ve been wanting to make for a long time.
You know it’s funny how things work. I am a knifemaker, I am a knife designer, and I own a knife company. You’d think I would make any and every knife I would ever want. Yet, that’s not always the case. I remember when I was working with Les Baer on designing the Emerson CQC-45, 1911 pistol. I wanted a stripped down, plain Jane working man’s pistol, no frills and only what was absolutely necessary for that gun to do its job. In the middle of all this Les tells me, “Ernest this is the gun that I’ve always wanted to build.” It’s something I’ve carried around in my head for years but it just never came into clear focus. It’s finally happening.”
Well it’s the same with me and this knife, the Emerson EX100. I’ve carried this design rolling around in my head for years. It was something I could just never put my finger on. It just never seemed to come into focus. I truly believe it is the result of my past, my experience with knives since I was a little boy growing up on the farm in the woods of Northern Wisconsin. Maybe it goes back to the knives that my Grandpa, my Dad or one of my Uncles had. Maybe it goes back to knives that either I or some of my friends carried around as teenagers. Farm work, tools, hunting, fishing, there was always a need for a good working knife.
I remember Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones saying once that the riff for the song “Satisfaction” came to him in a dream. It was simple, plain, yet raw and powerful enough to become one of the greatest, iconic Rock songs of all times. Maybe this knife came to me in a dream. Maybe it was all of the above. But now, it’s finally happening.
As you can tell, I really like this knife. It’s the knife I wanted to build for a long, long time. It’s plain, raw and yet powerful enough to do any job, anytime, anywhere.
One of my friends once told me, “Ernie the ultimate expression of evolution is simplicity.” I truly believe that statement. And this knife, the EX100 is, after over 40 years of designing and building knives, my expression of that evolutionary simplicity. It’s all about work and functionality. Compared to the rest of the flock currently roaming around in the field, it’s not fancy or beautiful, but to me, it’s the knife I’ve always wanted and to you, I believe it’s all the knife you’ll ever need.
| Blade Length | 3.5 in |
| Blade Material | 154CM - Tough |
| Blade Thickness | 0.125 in |
| Grind Type | V Grind |
| Handle Material | G-10 |
| Hardness | Minimum: 59 , Maximum: 61 |
| Lock Material | 6AL4V Titanium |
| Overall Length | 8.2 in |
154CM is our top choice for our hard-use knives, and it's been battle tested and proven by the US military war fighters and international special operations forces in every theater of combat for over 30 years.
We've been using 154CM since the beginning.
It has earned its place in our lineup. Originally crafted for the aerospace industry, this steel can handle extreme stress, heat, and extreme lateral pressure. It's tough, wear resistant, and built for demanding situations. When the environment gets rough, 154CM stays strong. Corrosion resistant, and designed to keep an edge without chipping, this steel can take abuse and it just keeps going and going. With our proprietary heat treating process, this steel gives you the strength and reliance you need for a hard-use tool and extreme performance.
Crucible 154CM Steel C 1.05, Mn .50, Si .30, Cr 14.00, Mo 4.00
Emerson Knife handles are made from G-10, a glass filled epoxy laminate. Some models are available with different colors of G-10.
At Emerson Knives, we don’t add anything for flash. If it doesn’t serve the mission, it doesn’t go on the blade. The stonewash finish is a perfect example of that mindset—practical, durable, and effective. It's not there to impress anyone. It's there to survive, to perform, and to keep doing its job long after others tap out.
But the benefits aren’t just tactical. That finish is tough. It hides wear. It masks scratches. A satin blade might look great the day you buy it, but a few weeks on your belt and it starts to tell the story. A stonewashed Emerson doesn’t complain—it just gets better with time. It's easy to maintain, easy to clean, and it won’t show every fingerprint or smudge like a polished blade.
They don’t get hung up on anything and they cut through seat belts like crazy.
Maintenance:
For serrated blades, each tooth must be sharpened individually using a tapered rod to maintain the factory bevel. Precision and consistency are key to keeping your serrated edge performing at its best.
Customers often ask why our knives are only sharpened on one side. The simple answer is that it's intentional. After over 30 years of testing and research, Emerson developed the single-side edge to create an extremely sharp, durable, easy-to-sharpen blade ideal for hard-duty use. While most conventional knives are sharpened on both sides, once you try our design, you'll find it cuts exceptionally well, stays sharp longer, and is easier to maintain—because you're dealing with one edge, not two.
Interestingly, the sharpest piece of steel in your house isn't your kitchen knife or pocket knife—it's the razor you shave with every morning. Razors are sharpened on only one side, just like an Emerson Knife.
The flipper mechanism adds a fast, intuitive opening option, using a tab that transitions into a finger guard when the blade is deployed. Ball-bearing washers at the pivot help ensure smooth, efficient motion, complementing the knife’s multiple deployment methods.
The Thumb Button is there so that you may open the knife single handedly. Specifically with your thumb.
Ernest Emerson started making custom knives in his garage in 1979. He rapidly rose to prominence as a knife maker due in equal parts to his expertise as a craftsman, (tool and die maker), his artists eye for design, and his practical experience as one of the world’s most sought-after and respected hand-to-hand combat instructors.
Emerson’s work has been featured and exhibited at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian Museum. There are only a handful of living artists who can make that claim. As an instructor in hand-to-hand combat and edged weapon skills, Mr. Emerson has taught the most elite warriors on earth, from the US Navy SEALs to the Guards of Parliament in London and everywhere in between.
He is the author of scores of articles, books, and videos regarding tactics, training and combat. As one of the most sought after instructors in the world he is in high demand for seminars and lectures to civilian, military and law enforcement agencies.
He is an inducted member of The Martial Arts Hall of Fame, along with such venerable names as Bruce Lee and Chuck Norris. In fact he is the only knife maker known who also owns and operates his own training facility, the world-class “Black Shamrock Combat Academy Gym” in Los Angeles, California.
At a time when knives are designed by graphic artists and 22-year-olds who never did more than use a knife to sharpen a pencil, the name Emerson and the company Emerson Knives stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Note: We do not process or ship orders on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.
Membership Orders: May require an additional 1–2 days for document preparation.
Important: We will not refund or replace shipments marked as delivered by the carrier.
At this time, we do not ship to locations outside the US, including US territories (e.g., Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands).
Freight Forwarding Addresses:
We reserve the right to refuse, cancel, or hold any order shipping to a known freight forwarding company, package forwarding service, mail forwarding facility, export agent, or similar third-party forwarding address.
Orders shipped to freight forwarding addresses are placed entirely at the customer’s sole risk. If a freight forwarding address is used and the order is processed and shipped, once the package has been marked as delivered by the carrier to the address provided at checkout, we are not responsible for loss, theft, damage, misdelivery, delays, missing contents, customs issues, or any other issues that occur after delivery. Orders shipped to freight forwarding addresses are not eligible for refunds, replacements, reshipment, insurance claims, chargeback exceptions, or credits under any circumstances.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
We have a 7-day return policy, which means you have 7 days after receiving your item to request a return. An 8% restocking fee will be charged for items that are returned.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
To start a return, you can contact us at
info@emersonknives.com. Please note that returns will need to be sent to the following address:
Emerson Knives, Inc.
1234 254th Street
Harbor City, CA 90710
If your return is accepted, we’ll send you a return shipping label, as well as instructions on how and where to send your package. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return question at
info@emersonknives.com.
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, like perishable goods (such as food, flowers, or plants), custom products (such as special orders or personalized items), and personal care goods (such as beauty products). We also do not accept returns for hazardous materials, flammable liquids, or gases. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.
Digital downloads are also non-refundable.
Exchanges
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.
European Union 14 day cooling off period
Notwithstanding the above, if the merchandise is being shipped into the European Union, you have the right to cancel or return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification. As above, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You’ll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
Refunds
We will notify you once we’ve received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you’ll be automatically refunded on your original payment method within 10 business days. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
If more than 15 business days have passed since we’ve approved your return, please contact us at info@emersonknives.com.
Absolutely my favorite Emerson so far. Based on my other Emerson knives I expected to appreciate it, until I got it in hand. After a slight break in period it easily became obvious it was my favorite. Great, handy design.
The ex-100 is one of Ernie’s most useful designs and the price is decent. Also worth noting is EKI is a wonderful company to buy from.
Very well built. Smooth action. Feels substantial in hand. Beautiful Bowie-style blade. Arrived nice and sharp with nice, even grinds.
My first Thunderstorm finish, I really like the look!
I ordered a black deep-carey pocket clip which looks nice on the gray G10.
Excellent knife! Simple but functional. Came razor sharp and with great action!!
This knife kills packages! it went through about 100 ebay packages today and is still sharp!
Emersons 154cm is superior to all others… don’t worry about it not having super steel the heat treat on these knives is out of the park!
Seriously great knife. No notes!
I’m lucky enough to own two of these now, and I feel it’s one of the best edc knives I could ever ask for! Absolutely the perfect size, and a beautiful knife all around. Man I love Emerson knives!
I’ve had my name on the waitlist for this for a long time. As with all Emerson’s, the ergonomics are spot on as are all the grinds. It’s perfect to me. Sharpness out of the box is never a question from Emerson, and this one keeps the standard. Over the years I have owned and traded lot of blades from alot of manufacturers, but Emerson has always been a mainstay and never traded. I will gift one before I trade it. Anyway, this is my EDC for the foreseeable future and I love it. The clip point just does it for me.
I purchased this knife for the configuration and blade shape. Everything with the knife has been outstanding. From the fit and finish, sharpness of the blade, action, and anesthetics has been flawless. I'm completely satisfied with this model.
Blade is what I wanted, but the scales are much thicker then any other Emerson that I have purchased. Makes it feel more blocky and cumbersome in the front pocket. The thickness of the knife is on par with a Buck 110 folder. Everthing else I like, but the thickness is going to keep me from using this as an EDC, unless I can find thinner scales to put on it.
Awesome profile on the blade. Great ergonomics, fits comfortable in the hand!
The blade is more shallow than I realized, but this is an instant favorite. Get yourself one.
Nice size and great blade shape for casual carry. Would be even better with thinner G-10.
It’s been many years since I have owned an Emerson and happy I chose to come this route again. This one has great ergos, great size, and built with awesome craftsmanship.
This nice just feels solid, like it was meant for work. The grip is fantastic. As a user/collector of knives, I have "prettier" ones, but the EX-100 looks are a modern classic that also feels timeless. I like this knife, a lot.
Other than I feel it’s way too thick, it’s fantastic.
love this EX-100 , its close to a cqc7 handle but with a little more flare esthetically. love the blade as well as ergonomics. true American classic in the making.
I am a Knife collector and user. This is my 1st Emerson and I initially got it for the throw back aspect to measure how knife making has evolved and honestly I wasn't sure if I was going to like it or carry it for that matter. I have been carrying my Emerson, it is definitely a user and for all the modern knives that I own and carry, I like that this knife is not refined, I like that it's USA made and I know that if I need a hard use knife I don't have to worry about scratching it or whether it's going to hold up, this thing is a beast. My biggest problem with this knife is now that I own one, I want to buy a bunch more and I did not want to like it as much as I do, because every time I end up liking a company or brand I end up spending way too much money buying a bunch of other models that I absolutely don't need.
Classy, clean and distinctly Emerson. If I lost all my knives besides this one, I’d still have something that’s capable, reliable, pleasing to the eyes and hands and is a joy to carry.
Another quality, well made knife from Emerson.
Just do yourself a favor and get one!!
Saw it online and had to have it. Knife arrived with a damaged pivot
**** and a new
**** is arriving from Emerson tomorrow. Great customer service.
This is a beautiful design with the gray G10 scales. The Bowie style blade is beautiful and a working brute. More civilian looking than most all other Emerson’s and I like it a lot. Just as rugged as the others too.
I’ve owned and used many Emerson’s over the years, and they have never disappointed, but this one tickled my fancy as it did for Ernest Emerson to design it.
It’s a great story and a great knife.
I’ m proud to own and use it.
