If you’re a serious user or avid collector of tactical knives, the name Ernest Emerson shouldn’t be foreign to you. Emerson’s venerable craftsmanship produces some of the edgiest knives around, so he’s created quite a loyal following as a result. Given that many of his blades turn into collector’s items, this Alliance blade isn’t a bad price at all.
The 3.44-inch blade has a rough black oxide finish coating its partially plain, partially serrated edge. It’s made from 154CM steel, with hardness measuring anywhere from 59 to 62 on the Rockwell scale. And the handle is hard too, since it’s made from 6061-T6 anodized aluminum.
Gerber made sure to include tactical speed and functional safety in the handle as well. It’s fully automatic, but it’s protected with a patent-pending safety pin that helps prevent the blade from snapping out when you don’t want it to.
The handmade attention-to-detail is obvious. But while the Alliance seems a little pricey compared to other knives of similar caliber, remember that a big portion of that price tag goes towards the proven quality of Emerson’s image and brand. These knives are geared for an elitist group of metal-head perfectionists who like their knives reliable, lightweight, and a little rough around the edges. And that’s just what Gerber designed here.
