Gerber Chameleon

M

meteogeek

Joined
Jan 18, 1999
Messages
57
Anyone seen the Gerber Chameleon folder. Looks like a unique blade pivot design. I would like to inspect one for myself but haven't seen them yet,...still looking.

>>DeWayne<<
 
I've seen an ad for them recently. Looks interesting, but curious if they can open with one hand and if they have a pocket clip. The lock looks similar to some of the newer lock release mechanisms(on the sides of the handles) from other companies, but could be a new version of Gerber's old bolt-action mechanism.

Ken
 
There are some specs on the Gerber site, (www.gerberblades.com). They don't say if they are one-hand openers, but I suspect not. They do use the bolt-action locking system.

Brian
 
All I know is if that lock fails it will do to your finger what a cigar cutter does to a cigar.I like Fred Perrins better at least his is fixed so you don't have that added worry.
Bob

 
I don't know about that "cigar-cutter" thing.......seems as though the blade pivot IS the outer circumferance of the hole. I do not see how the edge could intrude into it.
In other words, the hole is THROUGH the tang, not behind it.
Could be mistaken.....



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Brian W E
ICQ #21525343
MONEY- spend it before it's gone.




 
Nah, I don't think you're misstaking. The hole goes through the pivot "pin".

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Tea drinker and hellraiser from Northern Sweden, above the arctic circle.



 
It doesn't look like there is enough room outside of the pivot hole for an external blade pivot, so it's likely that the steel ring on the inside of the hole is part of the blade.

My question is, how do you open it? I don't see anything on the blade to allow a good grip.

My twopence.

Ted Stewart
 
Amacks

If they are using the same Blackie Collins "Bolt Action" from earlier Gerbers, there is a sliding button on the handle. It is attached to a rod that rides in a channel in the spine of the handle. A spring forces the rod or "bolt" forward to mate with a cutout on the top of the tang preventing the blade from closing. Slide it back and the blade unlocks. Like a door-bolt.
I am curious about the opening method ,too. Maybe you unlock it and it opens under gravity or with a flick ? Legal ?
And the name ? Wonder what that signifies.

BTW, Myerco (?) is now producing the old Gerber Bolt Action pattern. Still have my Gerber......works well.

------------------
Brian W E
ICQ #21525343

My opinions are based on information available to me. Don't attack my opinions....give me more information.





 
I called a couple of retailers in OKC and had no luck with a price on the Chameleon.
Bummer....anyone out there know what the going price tag is on one of these?

>>DeWayne<<
 
I called a couple of retailers in OKC and had no luck with a price on the Chameleon.
Bummer....anyone out there know what the going price tag is on one of these?

>>DeWayne<<
 
bcaffrey,

Thanks for the info, I should of checked their site before I posted, I forgot they had one.
You're probably right that they aren't one-hand openers, if they truly aren't maybe they could raise a texture ridge on the bottom of the tang/ring that pokes over the top of the handle/ring area when the blade is closed, and is opened like the old Cold Steel Ultralock.

Thanks,
Ken
 
Ken -- I have a couple of Bolt Actions, an original in all black & a Parabellum. Unfortunately, neither has any type of device for one-hand opening.

I really like your idea for a texture ridge on the bottom of the tang/ring. If they don't have one, they definitely should consider adding it. I think it would be both a major functional improvement as well as in keeping with the style of the piece. I have an old Tekna Hidden Edge that uses this type of arrangement and, with practice, the blade can be rolled open with a single finger stroke.

Overall -- and this may just be my own personal prejudices creeping in -- the Chameleon speaks to me more of the Fiskar rather than Pete Gerber heritage. It's not the finger hole per se since I like Fred Perrin's designs. Whatever it is, I don't see myself buying one.

Brian
 
I agree about the Fiskars styling influence. Put an orange handle on it and the Gerber Chameleon would be right at home with all those Fiskars sewing scissors my wife likes. It has that minimalist European functional look, like a Krupps coffee maker. Not for me even if it was a one-hand opener, but it might find a place in the kitchen utensil drawer. The hole would be very useful preventing accidentally dropping the knife using it with wet hands there, and certainly stop them from slipping onto the blade. But the bolt-action mechanism might be harder to keep clean working around food, and there is really no reason to have a folder in the kitchen. I wonder exactally what market niche the Gerber people had in mind for the knife? Comes in three sizes... maybe it is a camping/fishing knife.

[This message has been edited by senpai (edited 05 February 1999).]
 
senpai,

What market niche for this knife? Just my observation based OPINION:
Bolder(more exotic) designs are gaining in popularity. People are starting to see more of the Axis/REKAT style side-button-slide lock fixtures as super strength new-tech locks(not saying the bolt action is neccessarily one of them). Fred Perrin's 'look' seems to be well accepted by alot of knife people recently.
Gerber may have reflexively designed the Chameleon to current market demand or possibly had this design on the back burner for a couple of years and just now saw the right time for optimal acceptance in the market place. Please note that I DO like Gerber and alot of their products and am not slamming their company, if anything, I'm complimenting them on smart marketing regardless of the Chameleon's functional
quality, which I'm betting will be good.

Brian,

Glad you understood my description of the texture ridge, I was getting confused describing it. As the knife 'seems' to be designed now, I too don't see myself buying one soon either.

Thanks,
Ken
 
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