Ernie Emerson designed this awesome defender of freedom that offers fully automatic deployment. Ernie didnt earn his reputation as tactical knife expert by cranking out crap. He expects Gerber to use only primo materials and components in building his namesake knife, and Gerber does. This knife is configured in such a way as to achieve the speed and might that tactical pros require, while still protecting the user with features like the patent pending safety pin, which prevents accidental deployments. The black oxide-coated blase is of the 154CM variety, with a Rockwell Hardness rating of HRC 59 to 62. The exotic-looking handle is machined out of 6061-T6 anodized aluminum, which is as hard as it is tactile.