Hardcore Affliction
Knives Illustrated|July-August 2017

The freedom defender flipper cqc-7 is an EDC to be reckoned.

Joshua Swanagon
Hardcore Affliction

Ten minutes. A lot can happen in 10 minutes. You can organize your sock drawer, read a good article, cook a pack of ramen noodles, or miss out on a chance to meet UFC Hall of Fame member Randy “The Natural” Couture. I have to admit, that last one stung a bit.

During my rounds at the 2017 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, I headed over to the Emerson Knives booth to take a look at their new products. I was shown the Freedom Defender Flipper CQC-7, done in collaboration with Randy Couture and Affliction Clothing. As I marveled over how nice the knife was and heard the story behind it, I made the immediate decision that it would be the cover knife for this issue. It was at that time I was told that if I had been there just 10 minutes earlier, I could have met Randy. Darn the bad luck! Oh well, at least I get to tell the story of this amazing knife and the work Randy is doing for our veterans—easing their physical, psychological and financial hardships through his Xtreme Couture G.I. Foundation.

First Impressions

When I was first handed the Freedom Defender Flipper CQC-7, there were many things that immediately stood out to me. Although it had the clearly recognizable Emerson look, it had some elements that really made it pop.

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