Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder 4.5 inch

R

Rubicon63

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Feb 6, 2010
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I have not seen much discussion about this knife and I was wondering what everyone's general impression of this knife was. I ordered one based on looks and I have never held or seen on in person. It looks like a quality, "tactical folder." I was wondering what if any, are the pluses and minuses of the Roto Lock.
 
I think it looks pretty cool. It's a double edged folder, so if you want a fighting folder, it's a good choice. Check out Nutnfancy's review on this one.
 
dangreco said:
It's a double edged folder, so if you want a fighting folder, it's a good choice.
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Actually, its not a double edge knife, the back is an unsharpened false edge. Plus, almost have the real edge is taken up with serrations, which I don't think have a place on an SD knife. I agree they are fairly cool looking, but even though I think the A-F folders are still USA made, I don't think I would care to bet my life on a Gerber knife. I have just seen and heard of too many problems with the brand in the last few years. :(
 
Rubicon63 said:
Is the Roto lock like the lock CKRT uses?
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That's basically what it is, when you open it, it's just like a liner lock. Then, when you place your thumb into position, you are pushing the roto lock forward and thus it is similar (if not the same) to the LAWKS safety (not auto LAWKS).

I hope this helps, J.
 
I had one for many years. Mine was pretty well made. The handle felt great in my hand, very comfortable. I usually took mine on deployments, so the serrations were a good thing for me. For day to day carry back home the knife was a bit large for my taste, and the blade shape wasn't the most useful, I prefer a drop point.
There is (or at least was) a smaller version which I also had. It was not as comfortable to use, but was a lot more comfortable to carry in civilian clothes. It also had a better steel if I remember right (154CM I think).
Either one will work for you depending on what you want. They were both well made, never had a lock problem (although I never truly slammed it against something). Depending where you live the design will scare the sheeple, so that might be a concern.
 
i have an old liner lock A-F folder, its a 1st production run, it says so right on the blade, its ok i suppose, if the price was right anyway, i can think of a lotta other knives i would prefer though.

i know the lock up on some of the old ones was suspect, i guess the rotolock was the fix to that.
 
something about the look 'n feel of that knife that never fails to make the handler go "wow! but hang on, why is the top false edge edgeless for a combat fighting knife?"
 
mdauben said:
Actually, its not a double edge knife, the back is an unsharpened false edge. Plus, almost have the real edge is taken up with serrations, which I don't think have a place on an SD knife. I agree they are fairly cool looking, but even though I think the A-F folders are still USA made, I don't think I would care to bet my life on a Gerber knife. I have just seen and heard of too many problems with the brand in the last few years. :(
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Amen. My Gerber's were almost all gifts from well meaning but not very knowledgeable family members. I use them for the nastiest beater knife tasks I can find. The brand has suffered a lot over the years.
 
GIRLYmann said:
something about the look 'n feel of that knife that never fails to make the handler go "wow! but hang on, why is the top false edge edgeless for a combat fighting knife?"
Click to expand...
It probably should come from the factory with a sharpened top edge. That said because of the way the blade sits in the handle you can sharpen the top edge. If you look at the nutnfancy review I think he had someone put an edge on that false edge.
 
Here a couple of the Covert models I have.
These are the very first models made. ATS-34

Covert5785.jpg

Covert5795-1.jpg

Covert5795-2.jpg
 
mdauben said:
Actually, its not a double edge knife, the back is an unsharpened false edge. Plus, almost have the real edge is taken up with serrations, which I don't think have a place on an SD knife. I agree they are fairly cool looking, but even though I think the A-F folders are still USA made, I don't think I would care to bet my life on a Gerber knife. I have just seen and heard of too many problems with the brand in the last few years. :(
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, you're right about the double edge. The one I've seen was, but that's 'cause it was sharpened. It's OK to double edge this one because it's totally protected in the handle.
 
I've got one with 154CM steel. I sharpened the other side by hand - looks like hell but I got a real good edge on it.

2 of the screws stripped where the clip screws onto the handle. Overall the quality is not that great - I expected a little more for what I paid. I use it as a beater.
 
if memory serves me well, it was the late colonel's intention to have a working dual edge combat folder.
but FYI, the false edge came to be "unsharpened" due to obvious legal reasons.
so much for the grand plans of providing grunts with a true factory sharpened dual edge combative folder!
 
I bought an OD 4.5" version once with the pocket clip and it failed a spine whack on carpet. Even though it had the roto lock, I just didn't trust it to my fingers so it got sold off. (Too much hassle to return from where I live.)

If you find one with a good lock, stick with it!!
 
I've had one for about 10 years, don't carry it often, but I do like it, my one brother has had his for about 5 years longer.
He's used it a fair bit in his jeep, he's used the hell out of it including opening many cans with it.
he has never had a problem with his
 
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