Spyderco Endela Emerson Folding Knife C243PGYW

🔪 Spyderco Endela Emerson Opener – C243PGYW

A versatile mid-sized folding knife with tactical elements. It combines practical one-handed opening via the classic SpyderHole with extremely fast deployment thanks to the Emerson Opener system. Lightweight, slim, and ergonomic – an ideal choice for everyday carry (EDC).

Thanks to its size, which perfectly bridges the gap between the iconic Delica 4 and Endura 4 models, the Endela quickly earned a reputation as the perfect compromise. To make this full-featured folding knife even more functional, it is now available with the Emerson Opener – an integrated hook on the spine of the blade that automatically opens it during the draw. This high-speed version of the Endela features a saber-ground VG10 blade, skeletonized stainless steel liners, a robust lockback mechanism, and an injection-molded fiberglass-reinforced nylon (FRN) handle in the distinctive blue-gray color of Spyderco knives equipped with the Emerson Opener.

The Emerson Opener

Ernest Emerson had a profound impact on the cutlery industry and on both the form and function of the modern tactical folding knife. Although the scope of his influence is extremely broad, his most revolutionary innovation was probably the “Emerson Opener.” Also known as the “wave feature” or colloquially – and less accurately – the “wave,” it consists of a small integrated hook on the spine of a folding knife blade. When the closed knife is carried tip-up and drawn from the pocket, the hook catches on the pocket edge and quickly rotates the blade into the open position. If you need to use your folding knife quickly, the Emerson Opener is without a doubt the fastest option.

Ernest Emerson's journey into knife making

Ernest Emerson, a native of northern Wisconsin, was born on March 7, 1955. In high school he was a gifted athlete, and at age 16 he began his lifelong obsession with martial arts by training in yudo, the Korean version of judo. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Lacrosse and earned degrees in physical education and world history, a brown belt in kyokushinkai karate, and a black belt in shotokan karate.

Immediately after graduation, Emerson moved to Southern California with one goal – to further his martial arts education at the famous Inosanto Academy of Martial Arts under Lee students Dan Inosanto and Richard Bustillo. There he studied the Filipino art of Kali and Lee's systems of Jun Fan Gung Fu and Jeet Kune Do. He later also trained in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under the respected Royce and Rorion Gracie. During this time, Emerson made a living as a machine operator and design engineer for Hughes Aircraft.

In 1978, as part of his study of Filipino martial arts, Emerson needed a balisong, or butterfly knife. At the time, balisongs were not widely available, so he decided to make his own. When his classmates saw them, they asked Emerson to make knives for them as well. Balisongs quickly led to fixed blades, and after seeing a custom LinerLock folding knife by Michael Walker at a gun show, eventually to folding knives. With Walker's blessing, Emerson began making LinerLock folding knives and soon became a full-time knifemaker. Inspired by his work in the aerospace industry, he incorporated state-of-the-art, high-performance materials and focused on carefully crafted knives of investment quality.

In the mid-1980s, Emerson turned his attention to more spartan, tactically oriented designs. He also adopted the one-sided chisel grind – a hallmark of the knives of fellow custom knifemaker Phil Hartsfield, who made knives for members of the U.S. West Coast SEAL teams. When the SEALs asked Hartsfield to make folding knives, he explained that he only made fixed blades and introduced them to Emerson. Emerson's folding knives quickly became essential equipment for SEAL members, and their popularity soon spread to other U.S. and foreign special operations units and elite law enforcement agencies. This later led to collaborations with several leading commercial knife manufacturers and ultimately to Emerson Knives, Inc., Emerson's own knife company, which he founded with his wife Mary.

Emerson's legendary designs have been displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian – an unprecedented achievement for a knifemaker – and his knives continue to be trusted by some of the world's most elite warriors.

The birth of the Emerson knife opener

The Emerson knife opener is one of the most dynamic innovations ever developed in the knife world, and over the years it has been used – with and without Emerson's blessing – on countless knives. The invention of this feature itself, however, was accidental. According to Emerson, instructors from a U.S. Navy SEAL combat course wanted to develop a specific knife for combat use. One of the elements they wanted in the design was a “blade catcher” on the spine of the blade to protect the user's hand. Emerson incorporated this feature into his iconic Commander model and decided to shape it like a small ocean wave. When he completed the first prototypes of the design, several SEAL members from the U.S. naval base in Coronado came to his shop to pick up the knives for testing and evaluation. Emerson delivered the knives to them, but kept one for his own testing.

Shortly after the SEALs left, Emerson drew his prototype knife and suddenly realized that when he pulled it from his pocket, the “blade catcher” snagged and partially opened the blade. At first he was concerned that this might be a safety issue, but when he repeated the experiment with more force, he realized that the feature opened the blade reliably and very quickly. Just as he had this revelation, the phone rang in his shop. It was the SEALs from Coronado, who had just returned to base, started evaluating the knife, and discovered the same amazing automatic-opening function of the “blade catcher.”

Because of its shape, Emerson called his invention the “wave,” and in 1997 he applied for a utility patent for it. This patent, No. 5 878 500, was granted in March 1999, but because another knife and tool company, Leatherman, had registered the name “wave” for knives, Emerson changed the official term to the “wave shaped opening feature.” He also made it a mandatory feature on all knives his company produced for military and law enforcement customers.

Spyderco co-founder Sal Glesser, an enthusiastic follower of all new trends in the knife industry, recognized the genius of Emerson's invention and approached him for a license to use it on selected Spyderco models. In 2006, we released versions of the popular Delica 4 and Endura 4 Lightweight knives that proudly featured our Emerson Opener design. In recognition of Spyderco's formal license for this feature, Emerson's patent number was engraved on the back side of the blade.

Since then, the “wave shaped opening feature” has been introduced on a number of additional Spyderco models, including the Rescue 93mm, Endura and Delica Trainers, Matriarch 2, Karahawk, Tropen, and P'Kal and P'Kal Trainer, which are unique in featuring a removable Emerson opening device that screws into the spine of the blade. More recently, Emerson's invention has been incorporated into the Endela Lightweight, Dragonfly 2, and Byrd Cara Cara 2 Lightweight, as well as several limited-edition exclusive models, including variants of the popular Paramilitary 2.

In January 2016, Ernest Emerson was granted U.S. registered trademark No. 4 879 356 for the iconic, patented design of his “wave-shaped feature.” His utility patent expired in 2017, and since then many knives using the Emerson Opener have been made without crediting Emerson or his revolutionary innovation in the marketplace. There are also countless improvised devices, blade modifications, and accessories that imitate the function of the Emerson Opener. However, nothing matches the original. To that end, Spyderco continues to officially license this unique feature from Emerson – even after the patent expired – and is immensely proud of the long-standing friendship we enjoy with this legendary knifemaker.

PROPER USE OF THE EMERSON OPENER

Edge-U-Cation®

Unlike ordinary one-hand-opening folding knives or even automatic knives, which allow rapid blade opening after the knife is drawn, the Emerson Opener deploys the blade as the knife leaves the pocket, making it the fastest opening method available. However, achieving this speed still requires proper carry and good technique.

As with any new skill, it is best to start slowly. If possible, first use a trainer version of your Emerson Opener knife, and once you feel ready, move on to a sharpened blade. To avoid property damage or injury to others, always make sure there is clear space around you, free of people and obstacles, before opening the knife. Because the Emerson Opener hooks onto the mouth of the pocket, it works best with pants made from sturdy fabric. Dress pants and other trousers made from lightweight fabrics are not suitable for this opening method.

Standard grip:

To draw and open the knife into a standard grip – so the blade extends from the thumb side of your hand – first make sure it is configured for tip-up carry by attaching the clip to the butt end of the handle. Clip the closed knife into your pocket so that the body of the knife is inside the pocket and positioned all the way to the rear of the pocket. The blade spine should face backward.

Insert your thumb as deeply as possible into the pocket and press the side of the knife handle firmly with it. At the same time, curl your fingers so that your index finger hooks under the tip of the clip. Apply pinch pressure between your thumb and fingers for a secure grip on the knife. As you lift the knife upward, push slightly backward to keep the blade spine at the back of the pocket. Once the Emerson Opener hooks on the pocket mouth, continue the pull so that your arm extends slightly behind you and the blade moves safely clear of your body and locks securely in the fully open position.

Practice these movements slowly and carefully until you are completely confident with them. Then gradually increase speed while maintaining safety.

Reverse-grip draw:

Spyderco knives with Emerson Openers can also be configured for a reverse-grip draw, where the blade extends from the little-finger side of the hand. To configure the knife for this type of draw, mount the clip on the butt end of the handle so that the spine of the closed blade faces forward when the knife is clipped in the pocket. For best results, clip the knife farther forward in the pocket, closer to the centerline of the body.

To draw the knife from this position, reach your thumb deep into the pocket and press it against the knife handle. At the same time, make sure the thumb pad is behind the butt of the handle. Place the tips of your index and middle fingers on the underside of the clip and pinch them against your thumb. Hold the handle firmly and remove the knife from the pocket. As you do so, push forward to move the spine of the closed blade toward the front of the pocket. As soon as the knife exits the pocket, the Emerson Opener catches the pocket edge and rotates the blade into the open position.

Again, practice these movements slowly and carefully, and become thoroughly comfortable with them before increasing speed. As you do, you will find that at least moderate speed is necessary to deploy and fully lock the blade.

Drawing without opening:

If you do not need to open an Emerson Opener-equipped knife quickly, you can also draw it without the blade opening automatically. To do this, use the same grip and mechanics described earlier, but draw the knife through the center of the pocket without allowing the hook to catch on the pocket mouth. You can also use your index finger to apply pressure to the spine of the blade and keep it closed while drawing the knife.

The Emerson Opener is a unique feature that significantly increases the speed and ease of deploying our knives. To get the most from it, remember the Navy SEAL saying: “Slow is smooth and smooth is fast.” Take your time to become smooth, and speed will come naturally.

Spyderco Endela Emerson Opener C243PGYW model

Knife type Folding / EDC / Tactical

Grind Saber grind

Finish Satin (matte sheen)

Made in Japan