Gerber/B.G.: is it just hype?

Shorttime

Shorttime

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Oct 16, 2011
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The fixed Gerber/Bear Grylls looks like Gerber's Prodigy line.

The large folder looks like the Metiolius (I may have butchered the spelling).

The smaller folders look like downsized versions of the same.

So my question is: is there a difference in steel or construction that makes these knives better, or are they just re-handled versions of existing Gerber knives?
 
My Brother received a Gerber BG folder ( can't remember the model) as a gag gift from a friend and I must say the F&F seemed to be pretty respectable for a Gerber knife there was no side to side blade play to speak of and the blade was perfectly centered the only quarrel I have about the knife is that the serrations seemed to be ground a bit on the thin side all in all if you can live with serrations the knife isn't half bad .
 
Keep in mind that when you have an endorsed product like this some of the cost comes from royalties paid so they can use the BG name. This does nothing to improve the knife quality, and unless the name is something that will make the knife collectible or valuable in the future (which is not the case here) it's not worth it.
 
I have the BG ultimate survival knife. When I first bought it, I had to really sharpen it because it was dull to the point of being useless or even dangerous. It's not a bad knife but I doubt that it will ever make it out of the emergency kit in my car.
 
Shorttime said:
So my question is: is there a difference in steel or construction that makes these knives better, or are they just re-handled versions of existing Gerber knives?
Click to expand...

My guess would be basically re-handled versions. Of course, its hard to tell since Gerber likes to keep things like steel a mystery.

I've read a lot of reviews of the fixed blade and it seems to get a general unenthusiastic "ok" (with better marks for the sheath). Usually coupled with comments that there are better choices for the money (including other gerbers).
The knife/sheath combo seems an interesting item if you can get one fairly cheap. I'd keep my expectations low on performance until you can evaluate it yourself for your uses.
 
Yeah, that's about what I thought. Not the first time something has been given a fresh paint job to try and increase sales.

I guess Bear Grylls liked the Gerber knives exactly as they were....
 
My information regarding these is that some are Chinese versions of products made elsewhere - similar designs, but not the same materials and the QC...? But I've heard nothing objectively negative about any of them.
 
My guess is: if you used the search function you would find you answer in the countless other threads that address this specific topic.
 
I have the Gerber Prodigy, purchased in 2007-I don't know what kind of steel it is, as Gerber seems to bounce between whatever is cheapest and don't advertise the specific steel. All of my Gerbers had great F&F out of the box, but the real tell was in using them. The Prodigy is a killer survival/utility design and the handle is very ergonomic, but the quality of the steel is just garbage. I've dropped the spine 2-3 times now due to taking chunks off the tip, and the edge is serrated due to all the fractures that occur in the blade steel-and this is with simple cutting tasks, I'm not even talking about battoning, prying, bolting, drilling, what have you. The steel just can't take the abuse of basic companion knife tasks. The same occured with a couple hundred dollars' worth of other Gerber knives-fixed blades and folders alike. The F&F is good- the quality of the materials used in construction is not, in my experience.

Now I don't know if the steel has changed since then, but the design is all but the same. I'm sure it will be a comfortable user-the question is how much the steel can take. I do like the folder designs, short of the spiffied handles. Since their products have consistently failed, the only product of theirs I have purchased since 2008 has been the Parang. I've chopped the handle off, stripped off/covered up all the logos on the blade, and will soon field-test it after the re-handle is finished. If the carbon steel blade fails me again, I will use it as a halloween prop and write it off as good re-handling practice.

My current opinion of Gerber (and this hurts, because again I like alot of their designs) is to not support their company by purchasing their products until I am provided a blade that lives up to my expectations. It's going to have to be a gift, a find, something. I feel taken advantage of, considering how much money I have spent and how I have nothing to show for it but a pile of useless waste of steel in the junk drawer. Maybe it was my own stupidity for continuing to invest in them after the first time around...
 
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