anyone carrying gerbers?

Just perusing through Gerber's product line, it strikes me that William Harsey knows how to design a functional knife. The Harsey stuff is the most interesting looking to me, i.e. the stuff I'd most likely buy.

I did buy one of the last on-the-shelf EZ-Out (full sized) in ATS-34 to get a cheapie with ok steel. I haven't tested the edge yet, but it needed a LOT of reprofiling to get the rather short, saber flat ground bevels to 20 deg per side. And ATS-34 was it's usual relatively hard-to-reprofile self (Jeff Clark maintains it's the molyb content, and I'll stick with that explanation since I can't decide what else it could be... other than the tempering temperature, high vs. low, and subsequent grain growth/size, of which ATS-34 has a couple formulas for heat treat).

So, what looks interesting to me in their product line:
Harsey Air Ranger
Harsey Air Ranger II
Spectre
International AR 3.00
Silver Trident (except for the size of that top guard and price)
Multitool line is very broad
Folding saw
Emerson designed knives
Maaayyybe the Paraframe stuff... maybe. Haven't handled.

What do I actually own out of the above? Just the folding saw and the ATS-34 EZ-Out cheapie (ATS-34 for ~$40 is an ok price, but alas, this model discontinued).

I'd have to handle and select from stock a production knife... to make sure the lockup and blade flatness/centering was ok.

The folders of interest share a good handle and blade design in common. Shame is I'm not tempted to spend more than $30, $40 tops on an AUS-8 blade. And not much more than $50-$60 on an ATS-34/154CM blade from Gerber (and then, I like the BM 710 and 800, and MT LCC so well I'm just not tempted). So depending on source, Gerber's might exceed what I'm willing to pay. Just me though. Newbies think Gerber and Buck make quality stuff in general.
 
I'm sold on the 600 series multi tools, I carry one everyday and don't ever plan to change. They're TOUGH!, and for me they have the best set up for the tools and pliars and stuff.
 
I have had gerbers, and still have one. I lost the first one I had, a small 4" fixed blade. Used to carry it in the small of my back (gaucho style), on an gi web belt. Took the belt off one time at the beach and so it went. I now carry, at times a Dagger looking gerber. I use it mostly for gardening, some tough blade, and it is really beat up. I am thinking of sending it to gerber for refinishing, as it has seen some hard use, and it is a pretty looking knive.
 
I am having an "affair" with my EZout lately, getting a lot of pocket time. I recently took a missions trip (building construction) and took the EZ, as I always use it for "work". (What I mean by "work" is real physical labor, not what I actually do for a living!) Anyway, someone asked to borrow a knife, and I lent it out. I only found out later he used it to cut up a stack of corrugated cardboard (I had a Stanley 99 that would have been much better for the task). When I returned home, I took the EZ to the Sharpmaker, and that egde came right back like a champ. I have the plain jane 440 version, but I like the fact that it takes a great edge with 5 minutes on the Sharpmaker, and the lock hasn't yet failed.
 
I have a Harsey Air Ranger and it is a very well made and well designed knife. It remains one of my most comfortable to use knives, and it's very strong and secure too.
It's not as nice as my Benchmade 555 but I like it better than my Spyderco FRN Endura and my CRKT M-16.

I really like the Gerber multi-tools. I've tried alot of multi-tools over the years and I like the Gerber Pro-Scout and Gerber Compact Sport the best.
All the blades lock, the jig-saw blade is easily replaceable with a new blade when it dulls, pliars at the flick of the wrist, and it does'nt weigh a ton.

Good luck,
Allen.
 
i think gerber offers some nice bang-for-the-buck knives. that said, i don't own one. why? i have multiple friends who have had gerber gators, and they always had boken tips. now, they were probably not using them right, but i've always thought the gators looked a little flimsy in the blade stock, and what i've seen of them after real use seems to agree. my spyderco dragonfly has been put through a car door with little trouble, and i don't even carry it anymore. i can't imagine carrying something that i EXPECT to break the first time i do something dumb with it :cool:
 
My only Gerber is a Harsey First Production Run Ti Airframe. Initially, I rated the knife a B+ but recently have taken a liking to it and have upgraded the rating to an A-. For me, it's more of a collection knife than a user--it is my decision and not because of limitations of the knife.

The knife is fairly heavy due to the nice ergonomics of the handle (palm swell) and to its large size. I prefer its straight blade configuration over the "forward cant" design that we see in most folders today. Visually, it looks like a hunting knife but it carries well clipped to a pocket and could serve urban EDC duty if the blade length is not a legal issue in your jurisdiction.

I recently handled some Gators at a dealer and think they're kinda neat. Inexpensive and a handful for work or play.
 
thanks alot for the long thread and all the helpful info. we picked up the line in case you were wondering. we stuck mainly to the 'top-shelf' blades. my descision was ultimatly based on demand. i've got plenty of knives that fill the strenious demands of real knife guys. these are for the fence sitters:)

happy cutting
 
I really like the Covert. A Covert has been in my EDC rotation for four or five years now.
 
I carry a few Gerbers as my EDC's.I have the A/F large folder and the Covert.I have kydex sheaths for both knives.Since the large folder fails the spine whack test and has no pocket clip,I put some thread lock in the main pivot screw and tightened as much as I could.So now it's a fixed blade that stays in it's sheath.I also have the Yari which is a great fixed blade.I have no problems with my Gerbers and I am very satisfied with them.
 
Hi,

I carried a Gerber Chameleon 2 (1/2 serated) as my EDC. It's a fine knive an very useful through it's hole. But for carrying it outside it looked to "agressive". So my actual EDC (Kershaw Scallion 2 1620 black, plain) replaced it.

Greetings
Olli
 
Back
Top