QSP Emu QS164-C2 14C28N Blade Black Coarse G10 Handle Glyde Lock Folding Knife

The QSP Emu QS164-C2 combines practical design with reliable performance. Its 14C28N stainless steel blade delivers excellent corrosion resistance and easy maintenance, ideal for EDC and wet environments. The clip-point design offers versatility for everyday tasks, while the black coarse G10 handle provides secure grip and durability. Featuring a smooth ceramic ball bearing mechanism and dependable Glyde lock, this 7.75" folding knife balances functionality with portability at 4.16oz. The reversible stainless steel clip accommodates both left and right-handed carry. With a 59-61 HRC hardness rating, the blade maintains a sharp edge for regular use, though it may require more frequent touch-ups on abrasive materials compared to premium steels. Perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and everyday carry users seeking reliable performance without premium pricing.

14C28N Blade Introduction

14C28N is a high-value budget-to-midrange stainless steel that excels in corrosion resistance and ease of sharpening, making it a low-maintenance workhorse for EDC and wet environments, but it falls short of premium steels in edge retention and requires more frequent touch-ups when cutting highly abrasive materials like cardboard.

SPECIFICATIONS

Category :  POCKET KNIFE
Mechanism :  Glyde lock
Name: Emu

Blade: 14C28N
Handle: black coarse G10
Lock: Glyde lock

Mechanism: ceramic ball bearing
Overall: 7.75''(196mm)
Closed: 4.50''(114mm)

Blade: 3.25''(82mm)
Blade thickness: +/-3.0mm 
Blade shape: Clip point

Reversible stainless steel clip
HRC: 59-61 ( blade with coating will be around 1-2HRC less )
Net weight: +/-118g( 4.16oz )

QSP Emu QS164-C2 - 14C28N Clip Point Folding Knife with the Glyde Lock

The QSP Emu is built around a 3.25-inch 14C28N stainless blade in a clip point profile, riding on ceramic ball bearings and secured by QSP's Glyde lock. At 7.75 inches open and 4.50 inches closed it disappears into a pocket, and at 118 g (4.16 oz) it is light enough to carry every single day without thinking about it. QSP folding knives have earned a reputation for delivering real materials at working prices - this one leads with corrosion resistance and effortless sharpening rather than a spec-sheet number you cannot maintain.

The handle is a black coarse-textured G10 handle built for a locked-in grip even with wet or gloved hands, shaped for a full four-finger grip. A reversible stainless steel clip supports left- or right-handed tip-up carry, and the ceramic bearing pivot glides open with light thumb pressure instead of a flick-and-hope motion. See it alongside the rest of the QSP Emu family, compare it against other folding knives and liner lock knives in the catalog, browse all 14C28N steel knives, or start from the full EDC lineup.

Why 14C28N Is the Right Steel for a Working Knife

14C28N is a nitrogen-enriched Swedish stainless steel. It is not the highest edge-retention steel on the market - and it does not pretend to be. What it does exceptionally well is resist corrosion, tolerate being ignored, and come back to a shaving edge on a simple stone in a couple of minutes. In a 59-61 HRC blade it holds a practical working edge through cardboard, rope, packaging and food prep without requiring a diamond sharpening system to restore.

• Corrosion resistance: the standout property. Sweat, rain, salt spray and food acids are handled without the rust anxiety that comes with D2 or 1095.
• Sharpening ease: one of the most forgiving steels in the knife world. A basic ceramic or water stone restores a working edge fast, which matters more in daily use than a headline wear-resistance figure.
• Toughness: excellent for a stainless steel at this hardness. The edge rolls rather than chips when you hit a staple or a hidden nail.
• Edge retention: moderate. It will need touch-ups sooner than CPM-S35VN or M390 when you are cutting heavily abrasive material all day.
• Trade-off: 14C28N is the steel to choose when low maintenance and easy field sharpening matter more than cutting thousands of feet of cardboard between sharpenings.

QSP Emu QS164-C2 - Core Selling Points

• 3.25 in (82 mm) 14C28N clip point blade, 59-61 HRC, +/-3.0 mm stock
• QSP Glyde lock for secure, solid blade retention in use
• Ceramic ball bearing pivot for smooth, consistent one-hand deployment
• A black coarse-textured g10 handle built for a locked-in grip even with wet or gloved hands handle shaped for a full four-finger grip
• Reversible stainless steel pocket clip for left- or right-handed carry
• 7.75 in (196 mm) open, 4.50 in (114 mm) closed, 118 g (4.16 oz) total
• Excellent corrosion resistance - suited to wet, sweaty and coastal environments
• Easy to sharpen and maintain; no specialist sharpening system required

Where the QSP Emu QS164-C2 Performs

• Everyday carry: 4.50 inches closed and 118 g (4.16 oz) means it sits in a front pocket without dragging your pants down.
• Camping and hiking: food prep, rope cutting, kindling and gear repair with a blade that tolerates rain and river water.
• Workshop and warehouse: opening boxes, cutting strapping and stripping wire with a steel that shrugs off cardboard abrasion.
• Fishing and coastal use: line cutting, bait prep and tackle work where corrosion resistance is the deciding factor, not wear resistance.
• Household utility: a genuine do-everything knife for packaging, garden ties, zip ties and letter opening that lives in a drawer or on a shelf.

QSP Emu QS164-C2 - FAQ

What lock does the QSP Emu QS164-C2 use?
The QSP Glyde lock - a bar-style crossbar lock that blocks the blade from both sides and is operated with the thumb. It keeps the knife out of the way of your fingers while closing.

What is the blade steel and hardness?
14C28N stainless steel at 59-61 HRC. Bladed variants with a coating typically run around 1-2 HRC lower at the surface.

Is the QSP Emu left-hand friendly?
Yes. The stainless steel pocket clip is reversible, so it supports left- and right-handed carry. The Glyde lock itself is ambidextrous.

How big is it, and how much does it weigh?
118 g (4.16 oz) net. It measures 7.75 inches (196 mm) overall and 4.50 inches (114 mm) closed, with a 3.25-inch (82 mm) blade.

Does it come with a pouch?
The standard SKU is the knife only. Leather pouch bundles are listed as separate variants on the Dolphin and Emu lines when in stock.

Will 14C28N rust?
It is highly corrosion resistant and will not rust from ordinary sweat, rain or food contact. Long-term saltwater immersion with no rinse is still worth avoiding.

Steel Comparison: How It Stacks Up

Ratings are relative within this class of steel, not absolute. Hardness varies by maker and heat-treat protocol.

Glossary of Terms

14C28N
A nitrogen-enriched martensitic stainless steel developed for cutlery. Known for outstanding corrosion resistance, high toughness and very easy sharpening, with moderate edge retention.

Glyde Lock
QSP's bar-style crossbar locking mechanism. A spring-loaded bar engages a notch in the blade tang, blocking it in both directions, and is disengaged with the thumb.

Clip Point
A blade profile with a swedged, clipped spine that brings the point below the centerline. Good for detail work and piercing while keeping a usable belly for slicing.

Ceramic Ball Bearing Pivot
A pivot running on ceramic balls rather than washers. It reduces friction and delivers smoother, more consistent opening with less break-in than phosphor bronze washers.

HRC
Rockwell C hardness. Higher numbers resist edge deformation better but reduce toughness. 59-61 HRC is the sweet spot for 14C28N in a working folder.

Reversible Clip
A pocket clip that can be moved to either side of the handle so the knife suits left- or right-handed tip-up carry.

Who Should Buy the QSP Emu QS164-C2

Who should buy it

• Daily carriers who want a real working blade without paying premium-steel prices
• Buyers in humid, coastal or sweaty conditions who are tired of rust spots
• Anyone who sharpens on a simple stone at home and wants a steel that responds fast
• Left-handed users who need a reversible clip and an ambidextrous lock
• First-time quality folder buyers stepping up from budget gas-station knives

Who should skip it

• Buyers who need maximum edge retention on abrasive material - choose CPM-S35VN or M390 instead
• Anyone wanting a heavy-duty hard-use or bushcrafting knife; this is a 111-118 g light folder, not a survival tool
• Users who specifically want a flipper tab - the Emu is a thumb-stud and bearing deployment knife
• Collectors chasing rare or limited-run pieces; this is a production working knife
• Buyers who want a fixed blade's absolute lock-out certainty

Care & Maintenance

1. Rinse and dry the blade after cutting food, especially anything acidic, then wipe the pivot area.
2. Keep the ceramic bearing pivot clean - rinse grit out and re-oil with a light knife oil or CLP, one drop at a time.
3. Blow or brush dust out of the Glyde lock channel; a dry lock bar is a sticky lock bar.
4. Do not disassemble the pivot assembly beyond basic cleaning unless you have the correct driver bits; the bearings are easy to lose.
5. Touch up the edge on a fine ceramic rod or 1000-grit stone as soon as it stops slicing paper cleanly - 14C28N needs a few strokes, not a full reprofile.
6. Avoid dishwashers, boiling water and harsh solvents; heat and detergents attack the handle material and wash out pivot lubrication.
7. Wipe the blade down with a lightly oiled cloth before long-term storage.
8. Keep the clip screws snug; check them every few weeks on a knife that is carried daily.
9. Never use the blade as a pry bar or screwdriver - no folding knife lock is designed for that load.