Gerber Air Ranger (The last Gerber I tried to like)

[Maximumbob54]

An original from about thirty or so years ago with a more modern production run:

The top knife I bought at Naval Station Mayport in the late 90's or early 2000's while the bottom is a somewhat recent bay purchase just to see what modern production has done to them. I'm pretty sure they used to be US made in Gerber's 420 HC while the bottom is imported in 7cr. You can see subtle differences like the milling on the pivot but the action is VERY bad on the red one while the nylon is still slick as it was decades ago on the blue one. I used to go for half serrated blades just so they would still cut some when the blade went dull and dang did that blade go dull easy. I quit carrying it pretty quick after buying it because this was also the last tip down knife I let stab my in the thigh from the thumb stud working the blade out despite having a pretty sturdy feeling detent. But I loved the look so I held onto it and all these years later still think it's a looker. If they would just give it some decent steel and a tip up clip it would be a great little knife. Instead it feels like just another reason the Gerber brand is dead to me. Could be so much more.

 

[vjb.knife]

I understand where you are coming from. In the early 1970's through probably the late 1990's I collected lots of different Gerber Knives. From fixed blades like the Mark II series to folders like the Paul knives, two Air Frames, Air Ti's and even the lower end LST's, I liked quite a few of them. I think they were innovative and good quality; at least as good as most other brands, at the time. I still have a few Mark II's, a Paull or two, a few LST's and several others.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I should heavily emphasize TO ME on this. I have no doubt they’ve made some good stuff over the years. It just feels like my luck with them was always snake eyes. Maybe all looks and not enough substance. Like all the Gators I went through. Those sure looked like tough no nonsense knives but they sure didn’t last long. I think I still have the last one I about used up and the one I bought to replace it and never ended up using at all. More digging….

 

[vjb.knife]

I definitely feel that they have mostly fallen behind during the last 30 years. I have not bought a new model Gerber in at least that long.

 

[edgelion]

The Strongarm is a real high point, and it's been nearly 30 years since I've gone without a Multi-plier in my pocket, but every folder of theirs that I've tried lately has failed to impress.

 

[Maximumbob54]

The Strongarm is a real high point, and it's been nearly 30 years since I've gone without a Multi-plier in my pocket, but every folder of theirs that I've tried lately has failed to impress.

I listened for years about all the Strongarm hype so a few years back I finally bought one. It came with the widest nearly ninety degree angle edge I had ever seen. Put the Worksharp belt to it and laid on a convex edge. That was the last camp knife I've used and once again this is very much a IMHO type of thing but who does that handle appeal to???? YUCK!!! It's grippy but in all the wrong ways. Even through my deer skin leather gloves I could feel the shock just splitting some kindling with it. And I know the belt did nothing to the heat treat because it's slow enough it hardly gets warm enough to hurt fingers. But it was wild dull quick. Switch over to the Robust and everything was right in the world.

Probably half a dozen of the multi pliers with the slide out pliers on the end have fallen apart on me from losing the c clips. I still have one floating around that just needs new clips. Also bought the "Suspension" model where it has sliding locks for some of the tools. But I left it in my truck glovebox and it rusted closed. I've cleaned it up mostly functional again but I've never had any other multitool rust in a glovebox before.

I'll have to dig these out and take pics eventually.

 

[vjb.knife]

I gave a strongarm to my younger Son who has not broken it yet so it must be pretty tough. He could break a rock.

 

[John_B]

Gerber intentionally went full gas station knife some 30 plus years ago.

Shame really, still have a LST and Mark II in my footlocker.

Just remember the good ol 'days and think of them as a friend who has passed away.

 

[Claptonion]

An original from about thirty or so years ago with a more modern production run:

The top knife I bought at Naval Station Mayport in the late 90's or early 2000's while the bottom is a somewhat recent bay purchase just to see what modern production has done to them. I'm pretty sure they used to be US made in Gerber's 420 HC while the bottom is imported in 7cr. You can see subtle differences like the milling on the pivot but the action is VERY bad on the red one while the nylon is still slick as it was decades ago on the blue one. I used to go for half serrated blades just so they would still cut some when the blade went dull and dang did that blade go dull easy. I quit carrying it pretty quick after buying it because this was also the last tip down knife I let stab my in the thigh from the thumb stud working the blade out despite having a pretty sturdy feeling detent. But I loved the look so I held onto it and all these years later still think it's a looker. If they would just give it some decent steel and a tip up clip it would be a great little knife. Instead it feels like just another reason the Gerber brand is dead to me. Could be so much more.

I have an original (Taiwan) in green. Was my go-to for many a hunting and camping trip and my EDC for many years. Always served me well. I moved on the the Benchmade Bugout once they hit the market and never looked back. Still keep the Gerber clean and sharp. It has a lot of wear “character” marks and held up well. Purchased some of the newer editions, but gave them away. Great post, thx.