Combining the functional design of Emerson Knives with the precision engineering of Kershaw, the CQC-8K is an excellent collaboration of form and function. The tanto blade is made of 8Cr14MoV stainless steel, offering wear resistance, edge retention and versatile cutting capability. The knife?s black-oxide blade coat provides extra protection and creates a stealthy matte appearance, while the contoured G-10 handle scales provide strong gripping power. The CQC-8K?s blade is manually opened using the thumb disk or Emerson?s patented ?wave shaped feature,? which enables immediate blade deployment out of the pocket. When the wave-shaped tab on the blade?s spine catches on the pocket seam, the blade opens, making the CQC-8K ready for use in an instant. This feature is a favorite among military, rescue and law enforcement knife users. A liner lock secures the blade locked-up during use, and the pocketclip is reversible, allowing ambidextrous carry for both left and right-handed users..