Gerber Downrange Hawk

clearytja

clearytja

Joined
Oct 17, 2002
Messages
1,235
I see that these have been released. I want to like them, however, the steel (420) scares me. I don't know much about steel but I know that carbon tends to be tougher. For example there are no real stainless swords. Can anyone allay my fears. Lets not turn this into a " I hate Gerber" or "Gerber is not what it used to be" thread.

Thanks
Tc
 
Never buy a hawk or axe with stainless steel, it is a sin. When it comes to axes and hawks carbon steel is the only way to go. Stainless steel is simply useless for hawks.

I have a SOG T-Hawk in 420 steel and on the first day of using it to chop some wood the edge chipped and rolled. I'm not sure why in God's name Gerber decided to use such shtty steel on such a well designed hawk. It really shows their lack of interest in making their products
 
That was my fear. I guess I was hoping there was something I was not understanding.
Thanks
T
 
Contrariwise, my SOG FastHawk has stood the test of time quite well. User Foxx has posted similar positive feelings towards his SOG.


For the price I've seen, you can do better. CRKT comes immediately to mind for half that at actual price. $250 is getting into custom range, and still significantly more than the MSRP of the CRKT.

Where have you seen them released? The GCS site says May 22.


To specifically answer your question, yes 420 could work, but why take the chance? If you specifically need a breaching tool for something, there are better options than that for the money.


In the end, this about sums it up

20130312-083115.jpg



01.jpg


He's finally ready!
 
scouter27 said:
In the end, this about sums it up

20130312-083115.jpg
Click to expand...

The hawk in that pic is severely enlarged to a point where they're exaggerating in an absurd way. It looks like a pathetic attempt at photoshop. I know for a fact the Downrange is much smaller than what is pictured. I actually got to handle one at SHOT Show and it is definitely smaller than in the pic.
 
I too own several "stainless" SOG hawks, and they have held up quite well under fairly heavy abuse.......however, like what's already been said, for the price, why take the chance on the more brittle steel. If the down range was specifically made for what they claim, they would not have used stainless, regardless of the tempering process. Without having had the opportunity to use one yet, seems more like a marketing plan to keep up with the somewhat recent "tactical" type of tomahawk. Again, somewhat of a prejudging on my end, which I don't like to do, but it does seem a little suspicious.
 
clearytja said:
The tomahawk is in stock at the "center" of the Internet knife world.
T
Click to expand...

Thanks, still too much, IMO.



In all honesty, I'd like to buy one just to show Gerber that there is a market for US made stuff for them. There are just too many problems and too many better options out there for the money for me. Sorry Gerber.
 
Scouter is right, I have made good comments about the SOG Fasthawk. I've beat on wood and a metal chair, thrown it quite a bit at a dead tree, and it's still in good shape. Thing is, I would not use it for more serious use, breaching or rescue, I wouldn't expect it to hold up at all. I would not depend on either hawk when lives were on the line. .

I just looked at the price, $209 is a bit steep for the wrong steel. Why didn't they use S7 or 4140? For half that price you can get the Kangee from CRKT, double that price and you've got an RMJ or a Omnivore Scout.
 
foxx said:
Scouter is right, I have made good comments about the SOG Fasthawk. I've beat on wood and a metal chair, thrown it quite a bit at a dead tree, and it's still in good shape. Thing is, I would not use it for more serious use, breaching or rescue, I wouldn't expect it to hold up at all. I would not depend on either hawk when lives were on the line. .

I just looked at the price, $209 is a bit steep for the wrong steel. Why didn't they use S7 or 4140? For half that price you can get the Kangee from CRKT, double that price and you've got an RMJ or a Omnivore Scout.
Click to expand...


Agreed on all counts. It's not that I know the SOG wouldn't hold up, it could. There are just so many other, better options that... why bother? Not that I do that sort of thing anymore, but if I did...

I'd have been happy to see the Gerber in 1075 even. 4140 is a blessing at that point ;)
 
foxx said:
I just looked at the price, $209 is a bit steep for the wrong steel.
Click to expand...

$209!?

I didn't know it was that pricey! Wow, this is why I have always looked down on Gerber. They use cheap Chinese made 420 steel on a product that's intended use is contradicted by the steel choice and then they have the audacity to severely over price it. I bet you those hawks are very cheap for them to make.

For that price I would be at least expecting a decent high carbon steel. This really sucks because I actually think it's a very well designed hawk.
 
I like the design as well. It seems to be one of the only mass produced, one piece tomahawk with a hammer poll. It is just a shame that it is so expensive for steel that has been over shadowed for the past twenty years. Any simple 10 series steel (1080, 1095, etc) would be a step in a better direction.
T
 
Knifein said:
$209!?

I didn't know it was that pricey! Wow, this is why I have always looked down on Gerber. They use cheap Chinese made 420 steel on a product that's intended use is contradicted by the steel choice and then they have the audacity to severely over price it. I bet you those hawks are very cheap for them to make.

For that price I would be at least expecting a decent high carbon steel. This really sucks because I actually think it's a very well designed hawk.
Click to expand...

I think that the saddest part is that it couldn't have been a significant in the overall price to make it from decent steel. In all honesty, it's *effing* insulting that they did this. I was optimistic that through it all that the 420 steel would make the price exciting. I mean in the sub-$100 range exciting. My understanding is that US labor is still expensive, and most steels cost about the same, but I was hopeful. I mean, why else would someone have made that decision? The only logical answer is that consumers are stupid and won't know the difference or the people calling the shots at Gerber are too stupid to know the difference. Someone is stupid, so I'm not buying one till I figure out who :rolleyes:


clearytja said:
...mass produced, one piece tomahawk with a hammer poll...
Click to expand...

Chogan. Google it.
 
Botach has it listed for $159.00
http://www.botachtactical.com/ge30doto.html

420 can be a perfectly decent steel, Buck does good things with it.

That being said I am tempted to buy one. Originally I wanted an RMJ shrike but the price is keeping me away for now. Then I found out about the CRKT from an RMJ design and I thought I would get that, then this comes along. Now they are different, this has a pry bar and a hammer head while the CRKT has a spike. Decisions decisions.

What worries me is the space in the head. I can see why they put it there and it definitely has a use but I am worried that it takes away too much weight. It seems like the head wont weigh enough and therefore wont chop as well. Also maybe the balance wont be as good since the head is lighter and the handle looks pretty beefy. Thoughts?
 
The head is gonna see huge shock forces and there are two major load-bearing areas where the steel is like 1cm wide. Sketchy...
 
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