Anybody like the Gerber Bear Grylls knives??

brewcitymike

brewcitymike

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Aug 26, 2011
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I know this knife has gotten thrashed quite a bit by many knife nuts but isn't the main fixed blade just a Gerber LMFII with a different handle?? Even knife guys seem to like the LMFII a bit. The only thing that stopped me from buying one when they came out is the same thing that always kept me from buying a LMF which is the partial serrations but now that they are making a version with a plain edge blade I might actually take the plunge. I'm not looking for this $40-some dollar knife to be the do all end all of knives but I wouldn't doubt if it doesn't handle some basic camp craft decently. I'm not saying it'll baton me up a cord of hardwood but I bet it makes a good trap trigger, fuzz stick, and probably cuts a mean slice of spam:D I know this isn't gonna be a great knife but I have always thought it looked like a comfortable knife to handle and I do like the blade shape so for the price I think I will get my money worth. My knives don't get abused so it will most likely do better than it has in the past for a lot of the hard use fellas. So if anyone out there is like me and has decided to try the plain edge model I'd love to hear your feedback. Of course anyone who's used either one themselves I'd like to get some info from as well. I'll say this though-it sure looks better to handle, and even cooler than the Survivorman line from Camillus. Those are the fugliest knives I've seen in a while. After helping make something as sweet as the Temagami with Helle I was surprised that Les went for such butt ugly design and then he even calls them practical designs for survival and bushcraft:confused:
 
I used to own the fine edge one, it was alright, especially for $35 or less. I bought it brand new in package and the blade edge was crap, not that sharp and an uneven grind, but I fixed that. For the price you get a decent sheath, a fire steel and a generic sharpener. It would be a good knife to beat on and see how it holds up. I did like the grip, good texture & shape. All in all you really can't lose that bad for the price. There's a newer model out now but it's in the $60 range.

EDIT: Have you seen his new show on NBC? Wow its awful. Only thing that comes to mind is SELL OUT.
 
My fater in law has one. On our last camping trip I handed him my mule and he handed me him BG Gerber back. Decent impression for around the camp site.
 
It's not a bad knife, for a novelty. As far as it being an LMF with a different handle, it uses different steel as well.
 
I have a Bear Grylls Parang machete that came in a survival "kit" I was given as a gift. I beat the snot out of it and used it all summer as a yard tool and to my surprise it has been fantastic. And man, that Parang can really chop.
 
in all honesty, gerber has lost my respect after they became a knife seller rather than a knife maker. when they started relying on marketing to sell their stuff rather than brand name recognition based on superior product quality......thats when their products started to suck hard.

if you want a chopper for the same price point, get a condor.
 
There's a new premium edition out now too. Full tang,plain edge, better steel (something of the 17cromov variety), it has a choil and a streamlined sheath. It looks... Less crappy, whatever that worth, ill pass.
 
For far less you can get a Mora or one of the many awesome budget knives from Cold Steel. So, no thanks.

Apparently the Gerber Big Rock isn't so bad though, if Nutnfancy's testing is to be believed. I'd still rather a Mora Companion or a Cold Steel Outdoorsman Lite.
 
After the recall, I wouldn't trust the parang as far as I could throw it. The smaller fixed blades are decent, for the money, but also ridiculously gimmicky imo.

Bear himself is a tool, but that's not really relevant to the blades.
 
I got a parang as a christmas gift a year ago and it has held up very well and cuts like a dream on grape vine and other similar vegetation. I can't complain. I hate the ugly BG logo and not a fan of celebrity endorsed gear.
 
Daniel J said:
After the recall, I wouldn't trust the parang as far as I could throw it. The smaller fixed blades are decent, for the money, but also ridiculously gimmicky imo.

Bear himself is a tool, but that's not really relevant to the blades.
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Its funny I didnt even know there was a recall until I got a email from Gerber. I called up their CS and they said mine was OK based on the serial number. Say what you want, but that thing is an amazing chopper. It seems to be holding up just great. I wouldnt have bought it but it was a gift so I beat it just see what would happen. It has impressed me.
 
Ha! We just had a new sports store open in my town and I was looking at the new "ultimate" one they have. Full tang and looks like it could be a decent little knife. If you have to see it before you buy it and / or just like BG; I don't think you would be disappointed with the new full tang one. That being said, there are a heap of knives that size that are much better IMO. The Becker tweeners come to mind, ESEE 4 on the secondary market, etc... all around the same price as the "ultimate" BG.
 
retzius said:
Its funny I didnt even know there was a recall until I got a email from Gerber. I called up their CS and they said mine was OK based on the serial number. Say what you want, but that thing is an amazing chopper. It seems to be holding up just great. I wouldnt have bought it but it was a gift so I beat it just see what would happen. It has impressed me.
Click to expand...

I got one as a gift as well, but my impression is a bit different as a chopper. I had used it successfully to cut softer vegetation, but when I hit a small, live, baby scrub oak, less than 1/2" dia., the edge folded right over. So I reworked the edge and threw it in the storage bldg for use on green vegetation only. Meanwhile my $8.95 no-name machete goes right through those baby scrub oaks with no problems. ;)
 
I've had the serrated version for about three years and it's held up to hard use. I've used it to cut lots of rope, break open oysters and clams, pull my john-boat into shore by putting the blade in the bank and pulling the boat in, and countless other small chores over time that would have negative effects on a lower quality knife. It does not rust easily, I'd wear it on my belt when I was hip to chest deep in water, and with a little care after the fact it did fine. It's retired to my bug-out bag now, but I would definitely recommend the BG Ultimate Fixed Blade, serrated or fine edge, for anyone who wants a sturdy fixed blade for camping, hunting, fishing, or survival purposes.

A lot of the criticism coming towards it regarding it's ability to baton wood doesn't really hold a whole lot of weight with me. If you want to chop wood, buy an axe. The mall ninja crowd also takes issue with the BG knives because they aren't "tactical". Well, that's not their intended purpose, nor are they advertised as Rambo zombie killers.

As for it being similar to the LMFII, there are some notable common traits in the design, and I have only found a few tasks that my LMFII can perform that my BG Ultimate Knife can't do.

All in all, I'd give it an A+. If you find out it's not your cup of tea, Ka-Bar Beckers are always a sure bet.
 
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