Gerber COMBAT Folder

H

Harikari

Joined
Sep 27, 1999
Messages
104
The Appelgate Combat Folder regular size & the covert version looks & feels fantastic! Who has one?
 
I've got one, but I'm not really sure how I feel about it. What do you think are its virtues as a fighting knife?

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It's always Dark. Light only hides the Darkness.

 
The original Applegate Combat Folder had a lock that couldn't be trusted. I sold mine for that reason.

If the lock was dependable, it would have been a perfectly adequate double-edged folding knife, though a bit bulky.

Razor

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AKTI #A000845
And tomorrow when you wake up it will be worse.
 
The AF Combat Folder used to be my favorite knife. Then I started logging on here and learned of liner lock failures. I tested my AF Combat Folder and found that it fails every time with a moderate whack to the spine. I now know this is common for this knife and would therefore recommend against buying one.

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Megafolder Fans Unite!

Mike Melone

"Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. " Psalm 144:1
"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson

 
I've had my combat folder for some time now. I carry it daily. I tested the lock as much as I would want to and it held up fine. I have heard most others fail. I like the design and size of this knife more than most other tactical folders I have seen. I would like to see a higher quality version with a better lock. My favorite trait of this knife is the ease in which it opens with one hand, in either standard, or reverse grip. The grip lends itself to switching back-and-forth securely. It is a great fighting folder. James Keating reccomends it in one of the Drawpoint Reverse Grip Knife Fighting Videos.

Mine is getting a little shabby-looking from daily utility use, and I will probably replace it with another design when I find one that appeals to my needs as much. Most other tactical folders aren't as large. Most other's I have seen of comparable size and better quality have something else about them that turns me off.

A lot of places offer this knife pretty cheap (circa $75.00), so be careful not to pay too much for it.
 
Hiya Hari!

I got one of the first ones offered so I don't know if this holds true for all of the GCF's, but I found mine to be almost impossible to sharpen.

I never tested the lock strength, but I don't use the knives hard enough to worry about excessive force closing 'em up on me.

I like the way the knife feels in my hand, for whatever that's worth.

IMHO, I think there's plenty of better knives out there for the money.

VG

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Vampire Gerbil: Nosferatus Rodentus Moderatus; similar to a domestic gerbil, except for the odd accent and little black cape.


 
Harikari, first, open the knife so that the blade is locked. Then, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, PROTECT YOUR HAND! Grasp the hilt so that the blade is edge up and spine down. Whack teh spine against a workbench or table or whatever and see if this defeats the lock and lets the blade close. None of my Spydies will close, but my Gerber EZ Out closes nearly every time. None of the Bucks that I have tried nor an old Gerber Folding Hunter will close. I would start with moderate taps and work up. Remember that anything would likely give with enough force, although I read in a post here about some guy who duct taped REKAT Carnivour to the end of a pole, and whacked it full swing, against a tree. It tore loose from the pole but did not fail.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh


 
My A-F folder's lock is very reliable. I can rely on it to fail every time with a moderate whack or pressure on the top edge or spine. Mine has a sharpened top edge so this lock problem is clearly a fundamental problem.
How do you test it? Carefully. The knife is big enough to test while holding with your fingers clear of the blade path. If you're not comfortaable with that or haven't done it before, have someone more experienced show you how. It really isn't very difficult.
I'm also not impressed with the one sided liner. I would have liked a clip, which mine doesn't have. This is a relatively big, heavy folder, which is good. I like the design, which is why I bought the knife, and because I've come to associate Gerber with toughness and quality. I've had all kinds of Gerbers over the years. My first serious knife was an old Gerber Magnum Hunter, which is completely indestructible, and I have innumerable Gators and other lockbacks. This is the first piece of garbage I've ever had from Gerber: and any folder, especially a double edge fighter, that has an unreliable lock is worse than garbage: it's a hazard. Shame on them. Somebody, maybe a youngster who doesn't know better, maybe someone who actually needs the knife in an emergency and didn't adequately test it, is going to lose some fingers or suffer permanent damage.
I can't remember who, but someone is making custom or semi custom versions of these knives. If you like the design, try that. Don't risk buying a production version. Even if yours won't be failure prone when you buy it, I wouldn't trust it to last very long, as I would trust a BM, or a REKAT, to mention only two. Even then, you should maintain and test any liner lock periodically, no matter who made it.
 
I have the Applegate Fairbairn Special Commemorative set (A-F folder and fixed blade, double edged). It looks like the back of the blade where it meets the liner lock has been hand finished, as it is rounded. The liner lock moves over further as a result and doesn't slip off so easily. I've never had it fail the test (these sets are on special at knifecenter.com).

This in comparison with my friend's regular one, which is very angular indeed there. Would sanding this part to make it rougher improve the lock? Together with modifying the liner so it moves over further onto the reverse end of the blade? Sounds like it should work.

I also have the covert and it is the knife I handle (and therefore cut myself with!) the most. I love the feel of it. Had to remove the annoying pocket clip though. The covert has failed the spine whack test once of all the times I've performed it. Plus it has that ingenious looking, simple and apparently effective "interlock" mechanism.

I agree about their ease of openning too.

Fun knives!

Kallisti

[This message has been edited by Kallisti (edited 04 November 1999).]
 
My AF Combat folder has repeatedly passed all the liner lock tests (see http://www.bladeforums.com/features/faqllock.html , including the spine whack, with flying colors. However, the many reports of lock failure associated with it -- regardless of what percentage of production they may represent -- indicate to me that Gerber had serious QC problems with this model.

IMO, this is not a knife that you want to buy sight unseen. If a dealer near you carries the AF and is willing to allow you to perform the lock tests, go for it. Otherwise, they're your fingers...

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Cheers,

--+Brian+--

I may be goin' to hell in a bucket, Babe, but at least I'm enjoyin' the ride.


 
I guess i got lucky....i bought it when i was still new to this whole knife thingy and spine tests are unheard of. Tested mine a year back and it survived, no lock fails at all. I think this model should be bought on hand as you can test it before the purchase, i would be against on-line purchase cause you can't 'feel' or test it. I agree this has to be QC problems Gerber have to deal with. As for the performance? Good over all, IMHO.
 
The best fighting folder Gerber ever made was the old Parabellum. 4.5" THICK 440C(?) blade, good lock, good grip.

Too bad they were too expensive to keep making...there ain't been a new one in a decade or so?

I consider it the first modern megafolder.

Jim
 
Jim March revealed:
<BLOCKQUOTE>4.5" THICK 440C(?) blade</BLOCKQUOTE>

&lt;SMARTASS&gt;
<EM>Geez!</EM> 4.5 inches <EM>thick</EM>? How <EM>long</EM> was it?
&lt;SMARTASS&gt;

[This message should have been edited by Athanatos, but wasn't (unmitigated 05 November 1999).]

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It's always Dark. Light only hides the Darkness.

 
If anyone is interested, I am trying to sell a Parabellum, like new, never sharpened. Email c/o my wife at GFuller@vts.edu or, at work, FullerH@sec.gov.

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Walk in the Light,
Hugh


 
DROP the CHALUPA!

I -=SAID!=-...
biggrin.gif


Jim
 
Mine was the first folder I bought; love the ergos, but it has never taken an edge. I agree with Gerbil. Just can't sharpen the dang thing.

But the lock never failed, and I whacked it pretty good a couple of times.
 
The Czech word "chalupa" means <EM>farmhouse</EM>.

Who the ____ here is holding a <U>farmhouse</U>?!?

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It's always Dark. Light only hides the Darkness.

 
Mine is shaving sharp, the only thing it has been sharpened on is one of those $7.95 plastic kitchen knife sharpeners with the ceramic rods inside from Walmart, because its all I had at work.

Addendum: Before, I had done the spine-whack against the horizontal edge of a countertop and it passed. Just today I did it against a vertical wall and it failed! I may keep it to open boxes, and make a cool whack when I flip it open, but I'm definately in the market for another folder now.

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"The snake that cannot shed its skin perishes.
So do thinkers who cannot change their opinions;
they cease to think."
-NIETZSCHE
 
I have one and carry it daily
I think the spine banging test is bunk. The lock on my 2 (old and new style)AFs are
fine. Feel one up if you are concerned compare it side by side with others in the
same price range
If it fits nicely in your hand and is something you will carry buy it
Cap
 
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