A knife noob here asking for help in selecting a good knife

N

Nick22N

Joined
Aug 28, 2016
Messages
10
Hello everyone. I recently got the Gerber StrongArm Fine edge for my camping, hiking needs and also as a survival knife if, ever I am caught in such a scenario. Now, I wish to buy another one as my brother took such a liking to it, that he claimed it as his own :D I am confused should I go for another StrongArm or maybe the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro? I really liked the way the blade has been designed. But can I depend on it for some heavy duty work? batoning, prying, etc? I read that the tip is really weak. Can I bet my life on it during a survival situation? I don't know why everyone hates the Bear Grylls knives. And yeah, both the Strongarm and the Ultimate pro are costing me the same. so which one should I go for? I like the color of the pro! :p
Or if there's any other knife? I am particular to the Gerber brand, I live in a tropical climate, humid all the time, so no 1095 steel..
please advice! thanks
 
If I'm selecting gear to purchase, knives or otherwise, that I may need to "bet my life on....during a survival situation," then I don't let cost of said gear solely drive my decision(s).

With that said, of the two choices you've listed, buy another Strongarm. Just say "no" to the Bear Grills-branded Gerber product line. Just my two cents.

Good luck in your search!
 
I'll second the "stay away from bear grylls" sentiment. Take a look at the Buck 102 or Buck 119. Both can be had for just over $40, they're made in America with a forever warranty, and they're made with Buck's 420 Hc which is decent steel performance wise and stainless.

Paying $40ish for a knife for life is a pretty good deal.
 
My advice would be to stay away from Gerber's Bear Grylls line altogether. If you read actual customer reviews of the older versions of the BG knives online or search youtube for failure videos of the Gerber BG line you will find PLENTY of results. Many of the failures seem to occur due to whatever weak Chinese steel Gerber is using for the BG knives. Other large failure areas are the pommel area where it's supposedly designed to be used as a light duty hammer (seen several pics and videos of these knives breaking at the pommel) Supposedly, the newer redesigned version of the knife is better quality but, personally after the amount of failure I've seen pretty much throughout the whole BG line, I would just avoid it altogether. The same goes for Camilus's Les Stroud knife line (lots of failure).


Having said that, Gerber's domestically made offerings like the Strongarm do appear to be very good quality and I have heard many positive things about them. I was personally considering buying one myself.

IMO, if you're looking for a serious survival knife but, on a tight budget I would recommend looking at Ontario Knife Company's offerings, the Becker line from KA-BAR or Mora of Sweden. Or, you could just purchase another Strongarm, based on the reviews I've seen on Gerber's newer domestically made survival knife lines like the Strongarm I don't think I would hesitate one bit to buy & try.

If you have a little deeper pockets, I would recommend looking into TOPS knives. They are very high quality and dependable but, that will ultimately be reflected in the price.

Overall, my general rule of thumb is if you need a SERIOUS knife steer clear of the cheap stuff as in the knife industry for the most part, you will DEFINITELY get what you pay for. (w/ a few exceptions, Ontario's 499 USAF Pilot Survival and the smaller offerings of their SP line...good quality knives all imo)

You can save yourself quite a bit of money on any of the brands listed above by shopping at online discount, manufacturer authorized retail websites. (one of my favorites is Oso Grande Knives)

Hope this helped and wish you all the best w/ your decision. :)
 
155440 said:
I'll second the "stay away from bear grylls" sentiment. Take a look at the Buck 102 or Buck 119. Both can be had for just over $40, they're made in America with a forever warranty, and they're made with Buck's 420 Hc which is decent steel performance wise and stainless.

Paying $40ish for a knife for life is a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...

I'll 2nd this but be wary, Buck is also making a percentage of their knives in China but as far as their domestically made knives are concerned...I wouldn't hesitate. I own a Buck 110 myself, have used it while out in the bush to carve sticks on numerous occasions has yet to disappoint me.
 
Considering what you're asking for out of a knife, I would suggest something from the Ka-Bar Becker line. Maybe something from MORA. Both these brands are popular because of their quality and reputation. Do a search for fixed blade camp knives and you will find plenty of help.
 
I would spend more an get a Falkniven F1. All the knife you will probably ever need and it will last a lifetime. Money well spent. If not that, get a Becker BK 15 or 16. A little care will keep them rust free.
 
+ 1 Fallkniven F1! It is THE knife. Not an exiting color, just an absolute pleasure to use and abuse.
 
Schrade has a good knife out in the same range. I believe it is called the Frontier. It should be in the same price and size range as the strong-arm.

Do not buy the Bear Grylls stuff.

Ka-bar (espesially the Becker line,) Ontarios, or an ESEE would be brands I would consider and I own some high end knives.
 
155440 said:
I'll second the "stay away from bear grylls" sentiment. Take a look at the Buck 102 or Buck 119. Both can be had for just over $40, they're made in America with a forever warranty, and they're made with Buck's 420 Hc which is decent steel performance wise and stainless.

Paying $40ish for a knife for life is a pretty good deal.
Click to expand...


The Buck better matched to the OPs description would probably be the new (Walmart exclusive) Buck Mesa. Made in the US. Bos heat treated 420HC. Micarta scales. Around $40.

ueG3O8Q.jpg


The 102 and 119 are classic hunting knives and like the 110 (which is my second most commonly carried knife) the thin clip point is prone to snapping when used for drilling and such like that.

The other Buck worth considering is the Large Bucklite Max, which has a hidden full tang and a very tough drop point tip. It's a bit shorter at 4" though.

To the OP... go with what ever looks the best to you. Follow your heart as at this point in the journey, the first job of the knife is to make you happy.

I would also recommend you reask the question in the Outdoors forum as I think you'll get more feedback from people who use a knife in a similar way that you describe than you'll find here in the General forum.

One thing to note in your search is that many people report moving from thicker knives to thinner blades as their experience grows. Battoning performance is more about knowing your knife and when to back off than it is spine thickness. But experience is better teacher of that than some bloke writing on the interweb.
 
Since you've said no 1095 (and I'm also assuming other carbon steels like 5160, etc) due to your climate, I'd also suggest Fallkniven. Have a look at their product line and see which one looks like it best suits what you like in a knife then use the search function here to learn more about it. There should be lots of good information. It might take a little extra time saving up, but since emergency survival is part of its potential job description, it wouldn't be a time to cheap out on tools in my opinion.
 
Nick22N - Anyone asking about any Bear Grylls knife, & not understanding why "everyone hates the BG knives", has made a very wise decision in asking for help!!

Let your brother keep the strong arm & get yourself a real knife. Go to the Fixed Blade exchange right here & buy a knife that speaks to you - you'll see tons of examples of very well priced one-offs that will open your eyes to what a knife really is supposed to be - leave the plastic-y tin-can steeled wonders for other folks!
 
wow lots of good sugestions in here it seems like. Im just going to throw my ole hat in the ring too. the ozark trail line is top notch for the price of 4 dollors. read through the thread about it on here. good knifes thatll last for years and if it breaks or loose it! just throw it away and buy a new one for cheap! hard to beat that. anyway have a good day buddy and good luck :thumbup:
 
I used to think Gerber knives are the best but now, I am discovering so many other wonderful knives. I really loved the buck and the Fallkniven. So many options, wow! thanks everyone!
 
Don Joe said:
wow lots of good sugestions in here it seems like. Im just going to throw my ole hat in the ring too. the ozark trail line is top notch for the price of 4 dollors. read through the thread about it on here. good knifes thatll last for years(?, possibly an hour, depends on the usage) and When it breaks or loose it! just throw it away and buy a new one for cheap! hard to beat that. anyway have a good day buddy and good luck :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Don't spend your money on a VERY low end knife if you are looking for a "survival" knife.

The knife is considered Disposable by many, trust me, I had one and gave it to a guy in my warehouse when his Other cheap no name but made in China lockback broke in half.

If you want a good knife for cheap, look for a stainless mora and buy 5 of them.
 
Last edited:
Nick22N said:
I used to think Gerber knives are the best but now, I am discovering so many other wonderful knives. I really loved the buck and the Fallkniven. So many options, wow! thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

Gerber has gone through some tough times over the last decade or two. They do still put out a couple good knives. The StrongArm being one of them!

But, I would maybe spend a little more and have a knife that will last a lifetime if needed. Better steel, better fit and finish, better heat treat, better edge retention, just better overall.
 
The Gerber Strongarm is probably one of Gerbers better offerings. That said, there are lots of options out there, even though you only want stainless (most are carbon).

These are three of the main others that I can think of that haven't been mentioned yet. The first two are under $50. The mora is under $20 usually.

Buck Selkirk.

Selkirk-15_zpsqv64i6q8.jpg


Johnson Adventure Blades Gamestalker (made by kabar).

kabar_orange004.jpg


Mora companion.

mora-companion-860-mg-stainless-zoom-10944.jpg


Good luck finding something you like :).
 
pinnah said:
The Buck better matched to the OPs description would probably be the new (Walmart exclusive) Buck Mesa. Made in the US. Bos heat treated 420HC. Micarta scales. Around $40.

ueG3O8Q.jpg


The 102 and 119 are classic hunting knives and like the 110 (which is my second most commonly carried knife) the thin clip point is prone to snapping when used for drilling and such like that.

The other Buck worth considering is the Large Bucklite Max, which has a hidden full tang and a very tough drop point tip. It's a bit shorter at 4" though.

To the OP... go with what ever looks the best to you. Follow your heart as at this point in the journey, the first job of the knife is to make you happy.

I would also recommend you reask the question in the Outdoors forum as I think you'll get more feedback from people who use a knife in a similar way that you describe than you'll find here in the General forum.

One thing to note in your search is that many people report moving from thicker knives to thinner blades as their experience grows. Battoning performance is more about knowing your knife and when to back off than it is spine thickness. But experience is better teacher of that than some bloke writing on the interweb.
Click to expand...

Good call, I didn't read the op was planning on battoning or prying.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top