Gerber locking stockman

[Stich2442]

My wife bought this for me yesterday at a sporting goods store, it was on clearance for $19.95, so she picked it up.
It's a Gerber made in China, I don't know the steel, most likely 440A, I'm a carbon guy, but have a few stainless knives.
First impression, reminds me of a Buck, the grinds and blade placement of the spey & sheepsfoot blades. The knife is nicely made, all three blades razor sharp, stag scales, the pile side scale is fuller to fit the hand nicely. Not a bad little knife, don't know if I like the design on the bolsters, it also came with a felt storage bag. I should add the only blade that locks is the clip, the spey and sheepsfoot both have a positive snap opening & closing.

So in the pocket it goes.

Anyone else have one of these?

 

[puukkoman]

Cool! That's a neat one. I wish some American makers would put a lock here & there on a traditional knife. I'd especially like a locking whittler. Despite my Chinophobia, that's one I would carry & use.

 

[Humppa]

Pete, that´s a nice knife. The stag looks nice. Do you know, if it´s really stag or just imitation? For 20 bucks real stag would be a great prize.

Anyway... congratz on that nice knife - and congratz to such a great wife!

Kind regards
Andi

 

[Stich2442]

Andi, I was thinking it had to be bone at the price she paid, but Gerbers web page has it listed as Genuine Stag, no mention of steel or country of origin, a online vendor has it listed as China, no stamps on the blade tangs except Gerber, no China, no reference to any steel?

Thanks Andi, she is the best

 

[qncygnnr]

Looked at one of these at a local sporting goods store. They are nice - good looking, solid feeling and very sharp blades. The lock on the main blade is very well executed and unobtrusive. The etching on the bolsters is very attractive - unlike a Browning Bird and Trout I looked which just looked "cheesy". They're asking $38 - it just came in. The origin of this knife is not clearly identified on the tang or elsewhere. I looked at it (thought American) before I looked at the price and I immediately thought "China". I'm about 75% certain I'm going to buy this knife - I really like the whole concept. It will be an EDC so I can live with wear & tear even at $40 ... $20 would be better.

I'm going to take another look at this knife tonight - I'll report back on whether its "stag" or "bone" or a synthetic material. Regardless - I've almost talked myself into the other 25% of the buying decision.

 

[tew3006]

My wife bought one just like that about 6 months ago. When I saw that it was made in China I figured it was just a piece of junk. I was wrong. I carried it for a few months before I switched it out. I never had any problems with it. It held a decent edge and it stayed nice and tight. I love the traditional look with the locking clip blade. Gerber says it's genuine stag.

 

[iahunter3]

Looks like a nice gerber, the stag handles really look full. Congrats on a nice knife and an even nicer wife!

 

[TLARbb]

I have the single blade lockback like yours and it is an okay knife. But something about it doesn't scream to me - "carry me". It is pretty amazing that these knives can be manufactured and imported and retailed for this kind of money. I'll get a picture up of mine in a little bit as I have a picture taking session scheduled in a few minutes. I need to use it and see just how good it is; for what it costs there is no reason not to. The engraved bolsters are an unusual touch, they may be die cast. I'll look closer at mine and see if I can tell if they are cast or not.

Edit:

Here are the pics I mentioned earlier. On my knife one cover is thicker than the other side, which to me looks a bit tacky, but stag being what it is I think it is okay.

I believe the bolsters are etched, either chemically or laser, rather than engraved. The pattern is attractive.

I would like the blade to have more belly than it does. It seems to work fine, but I haven't carried and used it enough to judge how well the blade holds an edge. I need to start using it some.


Ed J

 

[qncygnnr]

The scales do in fact appear to be "organic" rather than "synthetic". Whether it's horn or bone remains to be determined and what type of bone or horn! I will admit that as a person who deals with Chinese industrial "truth" on a daily basis it's not always prudent to believe everything you're told even if it's in writing ... experience has taught me to be suspicious of something that seems to be to good to be true (value for the $s) when delivered by any Chinese operation. That said - it's selling for $34 (not $38 as I first reported) so I'm still hovering around a 75% positive buying decision. The blade almost looks like a "tweaked" sheepsfoot.

 

[TLARbb]

Based on my knife, I have to say it is stag. Sure looks like it is to me anyway.

Ed J

 

[Stich2442]

It's Stag, even though it's made in China, Gerber is still a American company, if you go to Gebers site it states Genuine Stag. Not a bad knife for $20 bucks, It's a nice in between size.

 

[hawaiianhawk]

I have one of these as well. The stag looks decent, but on my personal knife the secondary blades don't have much snap, open or close, and the main locking blade rattles back and forth pretty badly. Anybody else have this issue?

 

[qncygnnr]

If I end up buying it, I'll put it under a microsope along side a "known" stag scale. I'll post the pictures. As I said, I'm confronted with Chinese business perfidy on a nearly daily basis - unfortunately, often with the collusion of "American" business. Many of the rationalizations for these "shady" decisions are always driven by Shareholder Value, Production Bonuses, etc. In the Navy we called that "Sea Lawyering" ... using creative interpretations of rules and regulations to justify behavior.

If it really is "stag" horn (of what asian animal?) then I applaud Gerber's manufacturing partner for developing a process that is able to produce a beautiful, natural product at a fantastic price point. I suspect that Gerber would be very reticent to release any details under the guise of "proprietary processes" and "intellectual property". Just so there is no confusion about what I just wrote - it's a "fact" that if it's being made in China, anybody who really wanted to find out what Gerber is doing could find out with little to no effort. There are no compelling reasons that Gerber is not marking the tang with the steel's country of origin and providing any other reasonable details a discrimanting buyer might care to know.

And even after "venting" about Chinese and American business practices, I'm probably going to buy that knife. And if I don't, it won't be because it was made in China. I like the design concept of of the locking blade on a stockman frame and don't believe I've seen any other examples from any other makers.

 

[knarfeng]

Gents, in this forum, we discuss the knives, not where they are made.

 

[qncygnnr]

Understood ... didn't realize how much my work day ruined my hobby yesterday. China is a hot button for me and since my area of professional expertise is materials and industrial processes I took this thread to an area that was not helpful to enjoying our hobby. Got back on track by going into what my wife calls the "hole" (my man cave) and sharpening a knife.