Gerber Knives...good or bad

T

TantoFan

Joined
Jul 16, 2013
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144
I am personally a Gerber Hater. Never had a good experience and I don't like how they cut corners. They don't list their steels nor do they use very good steels. I think they are junk and overrated.


However my friend loves gerber. He NEVER uses his knives but he likes them.

What do you guys think? I like the look and design of gerber's knives but as far as I'm concerned they aren't even an option.

So the big debate is: am I wrong?
 
I have had a mini paraframe in my back pocket for 4-5 years now. I have used it to pry open a car door. sharpens easily enough and cuts stuff. Cant ask for much more for 10 dollars.
 
lobo9er said:
I have had a mini paraframe in my back pocket for 4-5 years now. I have used it to pry open a car door.
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Ahh but that was 5 years ago...they have gone downhill, in my observation. My cousin bought a compact fixed blade a while ago and it's good.
 
I personally don't like Gerbers. But, my family likes to buy Gerbers as gifts for me, so suddenly it becomes precious to me lol It's weird because when I buy Gerbers, they're junk (stiff and dull and bleh ) But when I get Gerbers as gifts, they're smooth,sharp,fit and finish is decent. IMHO, most of their knives look cheap to me, materials and designs
 
I just bought a new one seems a bit better actually. the pocket clip is better anyways. Doing some electrical work with the power on I cut the wires with my old one and blew a chunk out of the edge of the blade. :( thinking about taking it apart and making a new blade for it out of some 5160 I got off ebay.
 
I have a few. Just gotta pick carefully. I have a Freeman folder w/Pear wood scales & a Metolius fixed blade that i LOVE !!!
 
Many years ago they were a GREAT knife company. However, they slide down hill, were bought out, came back some, but sadly in my mind are now a lower end company. If you can find their stuff from the 80's or earlier (not sure of the date) it is very good and likely worth the money.

New Bear Grylss endorsed garbage I wouldn't have for any reason. Junk & Fraud makes for a worse yet mix.
 
Not much of a Gerber fan myself. I do love this commercial though and almost bought an Instant because of it, lol! Its not a bad looking knife to be honest. Assisted opening too. And its actually getting pretty good reviews.

[video=youtube;mqQUgkO45nY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqQUgkO45nY[/video]
 
one should learn
never to regret a purchase.
but to live and be contented with one's choices
if we could only stop with the bitter practice of perpetual comparison.
bad as this may sound
denial may actually put one in a happier state of mind.
albeit the popular conception.
of griping unendingly for relief and justice
from tragic judgmental errors.
thus i admire your friend's secret
to having a very long
and happy relationship with gerber;
but of course it's a very big difference that he is buying
strictly for static display purposes only.
i guess each person have reasons or criterias
when coming to a decision of personal choice....
on the other hand,
there are a few made in the US of A
premium steel models
which should do better
than the off shore models?
 
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The steels are listed on the back of the clam packs, at least all the ones I have looked at. The website lists the steel too.
 
As far as I'm concerned anything from the USA is better than offshore models :D I have yet to find one that outperforms other brands though. My friend recently bought an lmf2. I tried to convince him otherwise due to the steel type and brand (ht stinks) but he bought it anyway. He enjoys it very much but I do fear that when we go camping he will regret it. It's on his bob and I don't think that's goanna work out when the wild comes down on us...
 
TheGent said:
The steels are listed on the back of the clam packs, at least all the ones I have looked at. The website lists the steel too.
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On some, maybe most yes, but I've seen too many that just list "high carbon" and turn out to be not even that. They are high carbon stainless which is a different animal.
 
The only Gerber I've owned was an old USA made "Bolt Action". I gave it to my son in law a few years ago, and it is still a pretty good knife. I think it was made in the 80s, or possibly the early 90s.
 
Akcir said:
The only Gerber I've owned was an old USA made "Bolt Action". I gave it to my son in law a few years ago, and it is still a pretty good knife. I think it was made in the 80s, or possibly the early 90s.
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Yup. Again with the oldies but goodies. A lot of other knife makers have gone the way of the dodo too so its not just gerber...but they may be the most overrated.
 
Their OK, not the best but definitely not the worst. They probably get bashed here more than they deserve here though. I picked up a Gerber Evo Jr years ago and it served me decently well, it did everything I wanted it to do, though it has nothing on some of my other knives like my Ka-bars, Kershaws, SAK's. Also seen what happens to those gerber multi tools when they are put to work they don't hold up as good as a leatherman and I have seen quite a few leathermans break, that should put it in perceptive.
 
I've had good luck with several low and mid-end gerbers, particularly their fixed blades. The Harsey designed Big Rock knife is excellent despite the steel, especially for $20. :)

I know people like to dog their more expensive knives, but I've found most of the U.S. made knives to be well made and typically of decent steel. They may be outclassed for the money easily, but that doesn't make them bad knives. Some of their new designs are downright good-looking. :cool:

I wish they'd take some of the better Bear Grylls designs and step up to the plate with some better materials and manufacturing though.
 
I have very little love for gerber, but I do have a soft spot for the Applegate folder and the Gerber Mk I. Coolest knives in the world when you are 14. Even after running the gamut of knives, I still really want a Gerber Applegate folder.
 
I have to say that there cheaper range knives are pieces of crap ie bear gyrlls but there mid range like the Prodigy and the LMF 2 are pretty decently mad and make for good users but in saying that, i find but my personal favs when it comes to gerber are the Pre Fiskars Knives :)
 
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