BlackJack Info Pages
BlackJack Info Pages (BlackJack Info Pages): Inforamtion about BlackJack brand knives
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Gerber Applegate History- where can I learn?
- Thread starter Turbo4x4
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- 4,138
too bad the secondary lock on the
a-f folder wasn't there since its inception.
but then again, it must have come
about as a result of reports of disengaging liner locks from back in the day...
i stand corrected, but i had come to understand that the flat ground model was entirely a product idea from the then folks at gerber.
the late colonel had intended for a true double edged folder; and since
the laws regarding double edged blades would have limited its sales potential, the combat a-f folder's false edge never did get factory sharpened.
the flat ground was a sales plan-b...
bladewise, it had less negative perception issues and with
the blade's narrower crosssection and geometry meant it would generally perform cuts and slices better;
but having a full flat ground blade
just didn't give the package character.
as a product, it must have failed to reach its sales objective.
hence its short production lifespan speaks for itself.
on the otherhand the a-f combat folder has now grown into a classic
with its commercial success.
its one of those knife designs
which never ages nor looses its appeal.
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G
GIRLYmann
- I went through the history you linked to above (thanks!) and near the bottom the A/F folders are shown with brief descriptions. Looks like the FF Combat folder was a limited 5000 units run, so they'll all be marked 1st PR. Never actually used that knife, it's somewhere in storage, so I can't take pics of it.
Anyway, yeah, back at that time the spine-whack test came up, and the Combat folder didn't take much of a whack to live up to its folder name... Guess the relatively long liner lock bar flexed too easily. The Coverts had the extra lock from day 1, even though that version didn't need it nearly as much. Designers, eh?
Anyway, yeah, back at that time the spine-whack test came up, and the Combat folder didn't take much of a whack to live up to its folder name... Guess the relatively long liner lock bar flexed too easily. The Coverts had the extra lock from day 1, even though that version didn't need it nearly as much. Designers, eh?
Between the ages of 16 and 31 I didn't purchase any knives. Then at the age of 31 (in 2001) I started buying knives again. I didn't have internet, so I went to a mall knife store. The first knives I bought were a Gerber "Covert", and the "Combat". They were the first "modern" folders I had owned (liner locks, modern steel, glass-filled nylon handles). But I'm sad to say that both purchases were regrettable. The blade of the "Covert" was canted back in the handle when the knife was open (somehow I didn't notice that in the store), and I would later discover, quite by accident, that the lock on the "Combat" would disengage with the slightest pressure applied to the back of the blade.
I carried the "Covert" for awhile, until I discovered Benchmade. Then it became my "garage" knife. A knife for dirty and possibly damaging tasks (I don't really care what happens to it). The "Combat" ended up in the trash, literally.
Let's face it, by the early 2000's Gerber was no longer the quality knife maker it had once been. I learned that the hard way.
A pic of the "Covert", after using it one day to cut a bad fuel pump loose from one of my bikes.
I carried the "Covert" for awhile, until I discovered Benchmade. Then it became my "garage" knife. A knife for dirty and possibly damaging tasks (I don't really care what happens to it). The "Combat" ended up in the trash, literally.
Let's face it, by the early 2000's Gerber was no longer the quality knife maker it had once been. I learned that the hard way.
A pic of the "Covert", after using it one day to cut a bad fuel pump loose from one of my bikes.
gotta say, loads of negative feedback with lock issues back then.
its reputation certainly took a beating with the possible dangers it posed.
perhaps a victim of
"great idea, failed execution".
the advent of the a-f combat folder made it a watershed moment in production folding knives;
for its was about the longest time,
the only production folder
that was entirely designed to be safely carried as a dual edged blade.
its reputation certainly took a beating with the possible dangers it posed.
perhaps a victim of
"great idea, failed execution".
the advent of the a-f combat folder made it a watershed moment in production folding knives;
for its was about the longest time,
the only production folder
that was entirely designed to be safely carried as a dual edged blade.
Hi I just picked up this Covert today and wondered if anyone could tell me something about it as it’s different to all the others I’ve seen. The mechanism to lock the liner lock is a sliding switch mounted on the handle rather then on the top of the knife. It’s not auto or assisted.
4DE9BCA9-2659-458C-ACFA-6AF9723B926D by Duncan Moore, on Flickr
9BFDBA91-430D-4CC9-8B45-7DD104424FAC by Duncan Moore, on Flickr
4F7E3DA5-9328-4474-9970-0B6DB0E1FA58 by Duncan Moore, on Flickr
D4B64E30-C300-4078-8A7A-FFD84F5677E7 by Duncan Moore, on Flickr
4DE9BCA9-2659-458C-ACFA-6AF9723B926D by Duncan Moore, on Flickr9BFDBA91-430D-4CC9-8B45-7DD104424FAC by Duncan Moore, on Flickr4F7E3DA5-9328-4474-9970-0B6DB0E1FA58 by Duncan Moore, on FlickrD4B64E30-C300-4078-8A7A-FFD84F5677E7 by Duncan Moore, on FlickrHi I just picked up this Covert today and wondered if anyone could tell me something about it as it’s different to all the others I’ve seen. The mechanism to lock the liner lock is a sliding switch mounted on the handle rather then on the top of the knife. It’s not auto or assisted.
According to the internet it's a rare first production model 05795. The version before Gerber switched to the lock safety that rotates around the blade pivot.
If you do a Google search for "Gerber Covert 05795" you'll see several examples.
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Many thanks , I’ll have a read up
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2022
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- 189
Here are mine from my collection.
Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Folder model 05785 First Production Run USA ATS-34 Satin finished Blade length: 3.79 partial serrated ATS-34 blade, Handle material: glass-filled nylon, black carry clip, Lock Mechanism: Liner Lock, Roto-Lock. Mfg. year late 1990s early 2000s Brand new never used with box and papers.
Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Mini Covert Knife model 6924 Overall Length: 6.63" Length Closed: 3.62" Length of Blade: 2.94" Weight: 2.2 oz. Lock Mechanism: Liner Lock Blade Style: Serrated edge Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel Handle Material: Fiberglass filled nylon. Carry clip. Mfg. year early to mid 2000s Brand new never used with box and papers.
Gerber Applegate Fairbairn Covert Folder model 05785 First Production Run USA ATS-34 Satin finished Blade length: 3.79 partial serrated ATS-34 blade, Handle material: glass-filled nylon, black carry clip, Lock Mechanism: Liner Lock, Roto-Lock. Mfg. year late 1990s early 2000s Brand new never used with box and papers.
Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Mini Covert Knife model 6924 Overall Length: 6.63" Length Closed: 3.62" Length of Blade: 2.94" Weight: 2.2 oz. Lock Mechanism: Liner Lock Blade Style: Serrated edge Blade Material: 154CM Stainless Steel Handle Material: Fiberglass filled nylon. Carry clip. Mfg. year early to mid 2000s Brand new never used with box and papers.
Attachments
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The first Applegate combat folder was also the cover knife for Tactical Knives premier issue in the fall of 1994 with the full story inside. That was a custom version that came before the Gerber. Later there was some disagreement on which custom maker designed and or made the knife. For those that are interested, the knife on the cover went missing on its way back to Col. Applegate. Some of us are still interested in its current location.
Chefget
Gold Member
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- Nov 2, 1998
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- 5,055
Pertaining to the folding version; back in '99 while talking to Butch Vallotton the question came up as to who designed the 'AF folding knife'
Butch became rather direct and forceful in his response in a way the indicated he felt somewhat slighted at not being given proper credit for the knife, and sent me a printout of the patent with his name as co-inventor (see below and note where he wrote 'AKA Butch'). Ah, the days of real mail
Also below is a picture of the custom AF I purchased from him with damascus blade and button.
View attachment 1968181
View attachment 1968183
Butch became rather direct and forceful in his response in a way the indicated he felt somewhat slighted at not being given proper credit for the knife, and sent me a printout of the patent with his name as co-inventor (see below and note where he wrote 'AKA Butch'). Ah, the days of real mail
Also below is a picture of the custom AF I purchased from him with damascus blade and button.
View attachment 1968181
View attachment 1968183