Gerber 600-series DET

[steelscout30]

I have been interested in the Gerber DET-series multitool for several months now, due to the fact it has a blasting cap crimper, plastique punch tool, and RemGrit cable saw, which I think would be quite handy in my line of work. Are the rest of the tools functional, especially the cutting edge on the knife blade? If anyone has any experience with Gerber tools in general, please let me know---I have a Leatherman TTi and a Victorinox SwissChamp, but no Gerber tools. Thanks for the help.

God bless you, America, and our men and women overseas.

KATN,

Wade

 

[supratentorial]

I use a Gerber 600 and a Gerber Diesel on occasion. The one-hand opening pliers are convenient and the wire cutter on the Diesel is pretty good. The RemGrit saw is nice. The rest of the tools are just OK. The knife blades aren't a premium steel but they're usable.

I don't have the DET Model but I have the cap crimper for the Evolution Multi-Plier. Here's a photo of it next to the SOG EOD PowerLock 2.0.

 

[Eyegor]

Most folks here have a low opinion of Gerber. I am not one of them however. I have a US made Compact 400 that I rely on quite often. Yes, it shows a little wear where I have abused it. But it hasn't failed in 10 years of use. I have pretty good confidence in USA made Gerber products. Their imported gear I have not tried so will withold opinions.

 

[GIRLYmann]

DET has a incredibly specialize set of plier jaws, which omits the spanner facility (to loosen or tighten nuts 'n bolts) for a madhat blasting cap crimper in it's place.
That alone makes it less worthy as a pair of pliers, in other words - it's goin' to be a blast for crimping and crimping only (provided it fits the precise cap diameter) and pure frustration when it comes to tightening up the nuts.
The best darn thing ever put on to the DET tool is probably the C4 punch, aka "the Spike".
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Gerber DET tool as a welcome addition to enrich any pliertool collector's treasure chest (not that you don't have enough of dead weight already!).
But not if it was intended purely to be your first and only "regular" working pliertool.
Then you would probably understand why it's not the No#1 pliertool in the market except for those in certain high-risk-job-related circles.
Even so, the DET tool isn't the primary tool for these intended individuals.

 

[dmonay]

Most folks here have a low opinion of Gerber. I am not one of them however. I have a US made Compact 400 that I rely on quite often. Yes, it shows a little wear where I have abused it. But it hasn't failed in 10 years of use. I have pretty good confidence in USA made Gerber products. Their imported gear I have not tried so will withhold opinions.

+1 on that 400 Sport Compact. I edc mine every day mostly use the needle nose pliers and the flat and phillips drivers. I'm impressed.
Looking at a SOG S62 or maybe a gerber Diesel or 600 model for a second tool. It'll come down to the flip open SOG or the slide open Gerber tool. I've read some Soldiers testimonials on the gerber and the sog both seem to be popular.