Does anyone like Gerber?

I bought an old Applegate-Fairbairn folder and agree with others that have posted about it - it was a fine knife. But I actually suggested that a friend return an inexpensive Gerber that she had bought at Target for a Christmas gift and buy a Case Sodbuster at Lowes instead - she was happy with that advice and so was the recipient of the gift. ;-) I'm more familiar with their multi-tools and the American made MP600 line of multi-pliers tend to have a better fit and finish than the rest. But I downloaded their 2011 product list and I like the looks of the new Gerber Crucial F.A.S.T..
 
My foster son spent 2 months in Iraq with a folder in s30v. It did ok until he cut some weather striping to replace on a vehicle. The edge chipped very badly to the point of not being useful. He bought a cheap S&W at the fob's px and it worked like a champ for the rest of his year and did some chores I didn't think a S&W could handle and stayed reasonably sharp doing them. I worked the blades of both knives when he got home. The s30v was brittle but not that hard. What I mean is it sharpened easily but then chipped out again. The S&W auto he still carries and it is much harder to sharpen. It seems to be a hard steel and tough. I personally will not own a Gerber. I just don't trust their quality. The legend is overstated IMHO.
 
I have several gators that I've used extensively to clean deer and hogs while hunting. Always performed great. I have a silver trident which is a great knife, but I don't have much use for it. I have an LMF II which sits under the seat of my truck. I don't really like that one very much - heavy, mediocre blade, not too useful for my needs. I still have faith in some of their knives.
 
I've used an LMF early version for years on everything from utility/camp chores up to butchering elk--good, strong, comfortable knife--no complaints. Edge holding is adequate to butcher an elk without re-sharpening.

Alferd
 
I have a camouflage LST Magnum that I bought from a MAC tool distributor in '89 and and a camouflage Guardian I I bought in the early 80's along with a LMF. I sold the LMF a while ago and still have the others... Both good solid knives... I need to get a better sheath for the Guardian I..
 
Rafthos said:
My foster son spent 2 months in Iraq with a folder in s30v. It did ok until he cut some weather striping to replace on a vehicle. The edge chipped very badly to the point of not being useful. He bought a cheap S&W at the fob's px and it worked like a champ for the rest of his year and did some chores I didn't think a S&W could handle and stayed reasonably sharp doing them. I worked the blades of both knives when he got home. The s30v was brittle but not that hard. What I mean is it sharpened easily but then chipped out again. The S&W auto he still carries and it is much harder to sharpen. It seems to be a hard steel and tough. I personally will not own a Gerber. I just don't trust their quality. The legend is overstated IMHO.
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Ironic, I bought an s&w swat folder before my descent into knife nuttyness and its my most hated knife. The edge is only profiled on one side, I use it to pry door handle locks at work.
 
I like the mini coverts, good blade steel, not hard use knives but a great shape and size for EDC, have'nt let me down yet
 
I own several Gerber blades/tools...2 LMFII green and black, pac-axe, Freeman fixed blade, Suspension multi-tool, small folder I carry on my belt, and the machete. The machete is just garabage....so I bought a cold steel.
On the other hand the LMFII's I have are outstanding....cannot rave more about these....price, multi-carry sheath etc....
 
i have a Gerber Gator II and it's a really solid, lightweight, and comfortable folder. it mostly lives in the drawer but it does come out to bust open cans of beer for shotguns :thumbup::D:thumbup:
 
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It's not that Gerbers are bad, it's just why buy a 30 dollar gerber fast draw when you can buy an ontario rat 1 with g10 handles and an aus 8 blade for the same amount...
 
drifts1 said:
Longtime Gerber fan. Its just that there is so much better now. And/or I just know better now. Anyhow, I still like Gerber :thumbup:
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^^^That pretty much sums it up for me as well.^^^
My user name should be somewhat of a hint.
Some of my good ones -

gerbercollection2.jpg


gerbercollection.jpg
 
I would imagine that anyone who makes as many differet types of knives probably wouldn't be world class, but then that could be said about most knife manufacturers. I have a Gator Brush Thinner from Gerber that has never failed me for what I use it for. It's not world class stuff but it works well in the woods.
 
I keep a BFK in our get away stash. A Gerbers have wanted fro a long time and has eluded me for years is the old school International with no scales.
 
I like many of Gerber's designs and have an ATS-34 Drop Point Gator on the way, which should be a solid performer.
 
I just don't trust a company that has their knives in literally EVERY outdoor store I go to. Too many knives--bad QC. They don't advertise their steel, and I won't buy.

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Beckerhead #32
 
I got interested in Gerber when I was young and sort of became a collector of them mainly because there were likable models and they had many inexpensive models. However in recent years I've liked their styles less and less and it seems that the quality of the consumer models has suffered. I look at their catalog now and see very little to like.

That being said I have several in my collection that I love and find excellent.

The Mark I is a very well made knife with excellent fit and finish. I've never used it so I don't know the quality of the steel but I love it.

The Titanium Harsey Air Frame is a really great knife. The fit and finish is top notch. It just looks like a quality piece of gear and feels great in the hand plus you can open it with a gentle flip of the wrist. It opens like butter and the liner lock locks tight and deep across the back of the blade yet unlocks with ease. Plus I love the look and feel of the titanium handle and clip.

The Michael Walker tactical is very well made with a very heavy and sturdy looking blade and heavy stainless liner. I like the G10 scales and it also locks up very securely with roto lock. The fit and finish is not on par with the Air Frame though. There are minor tool marks and uneven bevels on some of the parts. It does have a very interesting look that I like, however it does not feel good in the hand. It is kind of square and uncomfortable and not that well balanced. It's also rather more difficult to unlock than other liner locks. Has a very stiff lock spring.

The last one I like is the Fast Draw. It's a nice compact knife and the FAST opener works well. It has a decent blade and sharpens relatively easily. A good EDC.

Most of the rest of the knives I have are hit and miss but then again most were under $30-$40 so what do you expect?

I have since branched out into other brands: Kershaw, CRKT, SOG to name a few and my current favorite is the SOG Spec Elite I. It is a very excellent knife that is much better than most anything Gerber offers. Excellent axis lock, VG-10 steel and just feels great.

The only knives Gerber offers in the same style as the SOG is the A-F Combat or Covert which I do plan to get. I think they are made well, the recent ones at least, and I just like the look and feel.

I'd also like to find a Gerber Spectre. Should have gotten one when they were easy to find. As far as I can tell it is well regarded. I also like the Air Rangers but they too are difficult to find.


Gerber collection:

-early '90s Mark I
-titanium Harsey Air Frame with 154CM blade
-Michael Walker International Tactical folder with G10 scales and ATS-34 blade
-large Fast Draw
-original Multi Tool from late '90s
-first production run AR 3.0
-first 1995 production run EZ-Out
-EVO Jr.
-large LST
-small LST
-mini Paraframe
-used to have folding Gator but lost it
-used to have LST II but it just fell apart
 
Despite Cold Steel's torture test of the Mark ll, which broke the aluminum handle, I still think that the Mk ll is absolutely one of the most bad ass looking knives of all time. My local knife store doesn't carry Gerber, but I'm going to travel down to Seattle in the next little while and pick one up. I also have a long time weakness for the Gerber Guardian back-up [ I think that's what it's called] I might pick that up as well.
 
I have several Gerbers, but all mine are from the 70's; a Mark I, two Mark II's (one is the walnut/brass handled presentation model), a hunting knife C300B, and a small lockback called the "Classic".
 
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