Well couldn't resist the urge to splurge on another lock back. I purchased an Old Timer last week and have it sharpened to a razors edge. I also last week at Wally World looked at the Gerber Gator and Easy Out. Today I went an picked up the Gator. Here are a couple of observations.
Sharper out of the box by alot than the Old Timer. The handle ergo's are much better. The fit and finish is very well done with a very tight lock up. Don't care for the nylon sheath and may have to do something about that. The Kraton hanldes are very comfortable and the finger choil cut outs are a nice touch too. The blade is a bit bigger and has a type of finish on it that sort of looks like a bead blast but I could be wrong. It is also alot liter in weight than the Craftsman I resurrected or the O.T. I think I am going to give the Schrade to my son for a work knife and keep the Gator and Craftsman to carry. Anyways for 30 bucks the darn thing is a good deal. I have only stropped the blade to a razors edge and don't for see having to sharpen it much for probably the amount of use it will get.
the only thing I am going to do to it is to try and have someone put a thumb stud on the blade for one handed opening. Anyone ever do this. Ihave a perfect thumb stud for it off of my Magna lite wt. Well all in all for the limited use I have given it inside of a couple hours the Gator seems like a very nice and inexpensive piece. One someone wouldn't be afraid to beat on ocassionally while camping or mucking about out of doors. Keep'em sharp
PS anyone want to trade an E-Z out in ATS 34 for a really nice M18?
Sharper out of the box by alot than the Old Timer. The handle ergo's are much better. The fit and finish is very well done with a very tight lock up. Don't care for the nylon sheath and may have to do something about that. The Kraton hanldes are very comfortable and the finger choil cut outs are a nice touch too. The blade is a bit bigger and has a type of finish on it that sort of looks like a bead blast but I could be wrong. It is also alot liter in weight than the Craftsman I resurrected or the O.T. I think I am going to give the Schrade to my son for a work knife and keep the Gator and Craftsman to carry. Anyways for 30 bucks the darn thing is a good deal. I have only stropped the blade to a razors edge and don't for see having to sharpen it much for probably the amount of use it will get.
the only thing I am going to do to it is to try and have someone put a thumb stud on the blade for one handed opening. Anyone ever do this. Ihave a perfect thumb stud for it off of my Magna lite wt. Well all in all for the limited use I have given it inside of a couple hours the Gator seems like a very nice and inexpensive piece. One someone wouldn't be afraid to beat on ocassionally while camping or mucking about out of doors. Keep'em sharp
PS anyone want to trade an E-Z out in ATS 34 for a really nice M18?
