Any love at all out there for Gerber multi-tools?

M

missin_hobo

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Aug 9, 2007
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For the last several years now I've worn a SOG PowerAssist to the jobs that mandated a multitool, and have been very fond of it, especially the bali-style opening technique. If I had a qualm, it would be that it is by far the biggest multitool I've ever seen, held, or heard about.

This is where my curiosity regarding the Gerber MTs comes in.
I know Leatherman is generally accepted as the reigning king of quality when it comes to multitools, but so far as I know they've yet to produce a model of folding pliers that can be opened and closed with one hand. With that prerequisite in mind, the only options I'm aware of are SOG and Gerber, and of course their myriad of imitators. Considering that, the Gerber MTs are almost universally smaller than those made by SOG, and on top of that offer many models with outboard tools that can be accessed without opening the pliers.
I also know that the quality of Gerber knives can be inconsistent, to say the least, and this gives me cause for hesitation regarding their multitools. I realize they may be the only real option for a smaller (as in, smaller than a SOG) one-handed multitool, but if I hear too many horror stories on the forum, I might decide that smaller isn't worth it.

What does anyone think?
 
After buying just about everything from Leatherman, Victorinox, SOG, etc., I recently branched out into Gerber. In my view, they are not close to being up to par on design or execution with Leatherman et al. The sliding plier feature necessitates that the blades and other tools are smaller, the tools have a cheapish feels to them, and the who tool is loose and rattles. And to access any of the tools, you have to first deploy the plier head.

That being said, the Gerber lineup costs half of the Big Boys, and I would certainly rather have a Diesel or MP600 in my hand than nothing. The latter is military issued, and its not all bad for sure. But overall, unless one just cannot scrape together the funds for a Swisstool Spirit or LM Wave, its worth saving up for the real deal.

As for the one-hand pliers, I just do not find them to be very easy to deploy, but a large part of that is that it just takes a little time to get used to any new system.

Verdict: better than nothing, and fully adequate in terms of function. But poorly designed and executed, and not nearly on par with the Big Boys.

diesel.jpg

Gerber Diesel.

combo.jpg

Top to bottom: Diesel, MP600, and old-school Multi Plier. Note lack of plastic locking clips on the Multi Plier.

bear.jpg

Bear Grylls "Ultimate Multi tool": a Gerber Suspension at twice the price. Lets not tell anyone that I bought one of these, ok?
 
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Oh my. Bear Grylls has his tendrils everywhere these days.
I suppose I should have mentioned I was more specifically interested in the Gerber Flik, which I've handled one a few occasions. It seems sturdy enough, but you never know...

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This one is tiny and has outboard tools, which are great, but I'm skeptical of how useful the screwdrivers may be, since I use those a fair bit. I'm also skeptical of Gerber in general, but again, you never know.
 
Gerbers are the standard issue for the U.S. military.Too me they are among the best.
 
You can open a Leatherman one handed. I just tried with my ST300. Just shake one handle open and use your leg or stomach to get it the rest of the way.
 
Not from me , quality is pretty much down the toilet . Vic. and Leatherman put them to shame , as does SOG . Military buys in the US and Canada are price , not quality driven , and show a calous disregard for Troopies !

Chris
 
I can't get into them. The drivers are supidly short and weak. One I bought (and returned, crusable or somesthing) Had a pocket clip, I was like, cool! only when I cliped it to my pocket the pliers slid right out. IMO zero thought goes into them.
 
what I feel and have read is Leatherman is not the "reigning king" of quality but Victorinox is. Have you ever handled a Victorinox?

Vic has a way better finish, excellent corrosion resistance and they most truly believe in their products with a lifetime warranty, something I personally feel "speaks volumes"

I have never seen and read more complaints about any tool (name-brand) like I have with Gerber, especially over the past 10 years.

but that said I do think they have some smart designs that are fun and "different" from the norm. I know many that luv their Gerber MT's and if they work for them/you, gawd-bless!

Gerber does have a Lifetime warranty and I've heard/read nothing but positive reviews about that and their service with any problems.

Go for it and let us know what you think ;)
 
I'm going to say that I'm rather fond of my Gerber MP400 and MP600. The one handed deployment does gets a bit of getting used to but once you have got it they become great. The drivers are well formed IMO, though admittedly short. Sorry to say I've never had a Flick to play with.
 
I had a Gerber MP600 and still have an old Gerber Multi Plier. Although I like the way those multitools can be opened one handed, I find it annoying that I have to slip out the pliers first to get to the tools inside. Other than that I think they're good multitools. Over here they cost much less than a Leatherman or Victorinox and their quality isn't as good, but they're certainly not bad.
 
cdf said:
Not from me , quality is pretty much down the toilet . Vic. and Leatherman put them to shame , as does SOG . Military buys in the US and Canada are price , not quality driven , and show a calous disregard for Troopies !

Chris
Click to expand...
The Gerber I use is a 98 model given to me by my Son who came home a %100 DAV.I've used it for 10 years on the ranch and it has proven to stand up to some heavy duty use.As regard to what the troops get now as compared to what this old VN Paratrooper got back in the day I have to say with all due respect, you don't know what you're talking about.:eek:
 
No love here. I had one model, and broke several parts of it with moderate use.

My son has it now as a beater - I swore off of them after that.

I didn't pay enough for the gerber to waste time trying to make a warranty claim.

I stick with Leatherman and Victorinox MTs.
 
I've got two Gerbers - an old (early 90's) multiplier black finish with fuse crimping notch and a more recent suspension? model with parts/implements that open with out butterflying the tool. I have put that old tool to rest after lots of years at summer camp and general use. The newer Suspension was a "clearance" at one of those big box stores and I've not had a lot of use on it yet, but for my purpose I think it will do fine. Having said this - I generally carry and use a Leatherman "Fuse" so this and the old Multiplier will be my standards for making a judgment - ask me in a couple years.
Peace
Revvie
 
My 400 has stood up to eyerything I've thrown at it. The flik has gotten a bad rap more for tool size than anything else.
 
My first multi tool was this Gerber. I got it, because I didn't like leatherman's handles at the time (1992). Gerber had just made their first multi tool, putting their tools on the inside, so the outside was smooth, where your hand would be gripping and applying force. And I loved it for many years. The Leatherman's at that time were hard on your hand with any real force.
Then I got a Sog, very smooth operation and great force, but don't care for the outside edges.
The Leatherman Wave outshines them all. Very rugged, comfortable, It has gotten a little stiff/hangs up some times trying to close it, but defiantly the best of the three.

multitools.jpg


#1 Leatherman Wave
#2 Sog Power Pliers
# 3 Gerber Multi plier (Gerber's first, 1992)
 
i rock a gerber multi and love it. use it only when necessary, i mean if i am at home or work where proper tools are available i will use them instead. fixed many items for me out in the middle of the bush though. saved my ass from being stranded out in the woods in the dead of a Canadian winter on a busted snow machine. used it to field dress a buck one year when i forgot my knife in the truck about 4 miles from dead deer. (i know, i know, no knife on belt its a sin). mine is an oldie with i think a lifetime warranty, only broke one in 15 years.....misuse on my part.
 
Interesting Responses.
It seems like some folk really like them, but there's also a lot of horror stories out there.
I might go for it, since a gerber MT doesn't set you back all that much anyhow, but at the same time, I could always save a little more and get a new SOG, or a Victorinox.

I've got some thinking to do.
 
I think thje snag with Gerber is that they have a few good iterations and a lot of crap , if you ain't a Pihilly . Lawyer , you
don't know which is which . I have a couple of Canuck Troopie buddies who buy their own Leathermans , rather than use the FREE issue Gerbers .

Say's it all for me !

One will never soil my belt , before you ask ; I've tried a few !

Chris
 
missin_hobo said:
Interesting Responses.
It seems like some folk really like them, but there's also a lot of horror stories out there.
I might go for it, since a gerber MT doesn't set you back all that much anyhow, but at the same time, I could always save a little more and get a new SOG, or a Victorinox.

I've got some thinking to do.
Click to expand...

yeah I agree, give it a try. they have some interesting designs now and some of their past models (like the 600) are really liked.

we are tool-nuts :D we used to be able to play/handle with Gerber MTs in wally-world but with claim shells now :grumpy:

and again when you get it and use it let us know what you think :thumbup:
 
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