Applegate-Fairbairn folders made by Gerber?

A

arnie

Joined
Mar 9, 2002
Messages
11
Any thoughts on the Applegate-Fairbairn folders made by Gerber?
There are at least three sizes.
The "regular", the smaller covert and the mini covert.
The covert has ATS-34 steel, a liner lock, with another lock to hold the liner lock in place, a partially serrated edge, and a false edge that can be sharpened
 
I carry the "regular" quite er....regularly! LOL
Its a great blade, I havent sharpened the back edge, but have touched up the primary edge afew times, its quite easy to get it very sharp. The knife lives in my hip pocket when Im in jeans with the clip outside the pocket. With a little practice, its possible to flick the blade open, but even just using the thumb-stud it does deploy very quickly.
It is quite an agressive looking knife, so Im careful where I use the blade for "everyday" chores, and, IF Im gonna be round lots of "sheeple" I usually EDC a SAK Explorer instead.
 
Got one. Sharpened both edges. Never used it. Lost it. Found it. Sent it back to Gerber. They reconditioned it to like-new. Put it in a cabinet. It's still there.
 
I have all three sizes, but in the single edge version - it makes for a better cutting knife. I find the mini is a little too small for comfort in handling, and the large one I only carry when out mountain biking. The covert is part of my EDC rotation - though I'd be happier if it didn't have the serrations. The 134 steel holds an edge well.

Biggest problem: people's reactions when they ask me to cut something (cuz they know I always have a pocket knife) and I flick out the covert. I've taken to opening it very slowly in those situations, cuz they just get so shocked otherwise.
 
Its one of the only gerber's I like. The liner lock isn't exceptional but it has a safety lock so its lock up well also, it has a good tip but the steel isn't great. The size is nice and gives it a good handle.
 
I'm with destroythealter, the A-F knives are some of the few Gerber's I like.

I've got all three now (just grabbed a Mini Covert a couple days ago).

My Combat (the full-size one) is a First Production Run model, and is a whole lotta knife! Mine locks up perfectly, but I've heard a lot of people complain that theirs aren't secure at all, so if you wanna pick one up, try to do so in person, so you can check the lock engagement. It's a big knife, and lacks a pocket clip (it comes with a nicely-made cordura belt pouch), so I don't carry mine around much. Opening it around sheeple just might cause a stampede!!

The Covert (the middle-size model) is easily my favorite. The blade size is just about perfect for EDC, although I wish it lacked the partial serrations. The handle is a thing of beauty: it's molded in three dimensions, with partial nested liners, so it feels like the slimmest knife I own. (It's isn't, actually, being of fairly typical thickness along the centerline; but the edges are so much thinner, you don't notice it.) Also, the Covert has a LAWKS-like secondary safety that automatically engages when you put your thumb on top in a saber grip. Disengageing it can be tricky when wearing gloves, or perhaps if you have very large thumbs. Oh, and the clip sits the knife down deep in the pocket, leaving very little showing.

The Mini Covert (the smallest model) seems pretty well made (especially for a Gerber!), but doesn't feel as good in my hand as my Covert; the edges aren't as slim and rounded. The clip sits it even deeper in the pocket than the Covert, and the blade on mine opens smoothly and locks up perfectly, but it also lacks the secondary safety of the Covert, too. And while it still looks very dagger-like, it's small size makes it more sheeple-friendly than the other two.
 
I have no experience with the smaller models, but the full-sized version was a serious disappointment. Mine had poor fit and finish and the dullest blade I have ever seen on a new knife. It took an adequate edge, but never a great one, and it wouldn't hold it for any time at all.

It was supposed to be my first good-quality knife, but I got rid of it and kept looking. Evidently mine was worse than usual, but I have heard about a lot of other issues with that model.

--Bob Q
 
i have a very early one (1st pro run) and its F&F is pretty good.

havent ever carried/used it though, i dont like the no pocket clip.
 
The old full sized one that I have has the worst lock of any folder and is downright dangerous. I have heard here that the problem was fixed, but be very, very careful with older versions. You should be careful with any folder, but these were horrible.
 
I have held a full-sized one ergonomics were very poor, I really was not impressed at all. I have a mini covert, the ergos are OK but it is mostly a lot of fun, I can hide it any were and open it very fast. I am not really crazy about the blade either, looks cool, but would be much better without serrations. It also has developed some major blade play in every direction it seems. Never have held the middle one. I think there are much better knives out there for the money.

TBG
 
This was my first "modern" style folder. By that I mean pocket clip and one-hand blade deployment. As a knife novice at the time I paid WAY too much for it (MSRP) and treated it with kid gloves for a long period of time. When I did start using it hard, it literally fell apart. I still have it, in fact it's all packaged up to send back to Gerber, I just haven't taken the time to run it to the post office.

Many of the tiny little scale screws fell out. The Walker-style detent ball that tensions the blade closed simply fell out one day. The linerlock snaps all the way over to the opposite scale during lockup. The blade gets screaming sharp then manages to hold an edge just long enough to cut something. The pocket clip is sprung outward. Rust spots all over the blade. Etc and etc.

The knife remains special to me however. It was the knife that introduced me to Sal Glesser's watershed inventions. The pocket clip, the marvel of a one-hand opening device, and serrations on a pocketknife. This Gerber was a stepping stone on the way to my first Spyderco.

I haven't done much in the way of looking back. :p
 
I had a Covert, though mine was 154CM rather than ATS34. I felt it was solid and a lot of knife in a not-so-big package. As someone else mentioned it's very slim, so you sometimes forget it's got a 3 7/8" blade because it's not bulky or heavy. The low ride clip was a good feature too. I never ended up carrying it that much because of some other knives I was more partial to, but I feel it's a good all around knife if you get one where the QC and F&F is up to snuff.
 
Harry,
I had the exact same problems you described (although mine was lost for quite a while), minus the scale screws. I sent it back to Gerber, and they had fixed everything. New liner with detent ball, that *didn't* go all the way over. Lockup is perfect now. Of course, I never carry it because I don't like dagger-shaped blades.
 
I have a covert in 154cm and like it. To me, it's also the only gerber I like. (well, maybe the l.s.t. also) I have it sharpened on both sides and feel that adds a slight collectability factor to it. It's lite, slim, and good steel. No blade play with the liner lock. But I would not of bought it with out the safety as it does have a thin liner. Doesn't feel too great to me in a "hammer" grip, but is very commfortable in a saber style grip. -Pretty good knife overall.
 
I got one in my shop a while back for a pocket clip and can't say it is a knife I'd pursue. Don't get me wrong it seemed made well enough but something about the shape, size and the ergonomics of it just didn't do anything for me. The big bold lettering on the blade is a turn off also. Overall I can't say it impressed me. I don't know which size I had. BIG! It was really a large folder.

http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=52019&d=1138828177

STR
 
I had mini covert. It looks great and this is it. It come sharp but I was able to slice only couple pieces of paper and it became dull. I e-mailed to Gerber to find out that blade is 440 stainless (most likely 440A).
R
 
hey guyz!!!! Im am desperate to find a first run production gerber applegate-fairbairn covert folder with a double bevel blade. If you or anyone you know has one PLEASE contact me either by email daymaker25@yahoo.com of phone 9183138834. thanks chelsea
 
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