Gerber multi-tool

Rsmith_77

Rsmith_77

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Jun 4, 2010
Messages
4,186
I've had a gerber compact sport multitool that i bough when i was stationed in saudi arabia with the military 10 years ago. It has done well all these years and i never had any problem with it

recently i needed to use the wire cutters to cut a fishing hook that was caught in my hat and i so i thought the multi-tool would work and it did, but after cutting the fishing hook i've noticed that the wire cutters were damaged. The pliers still work but when they close they seem to catch making one handed opening of the pliers extremely difficult (but two hands can open them easy enough still)

is this something that was abuse of the multi-tool? or should it have cut the fish hook with no trouble?
 
Send it to Gerber and they will send you a new one.

I had this happen to a Leatherman PST. I sent it in and they sent me a Blast as a replacement.
 
I wonder if the wire cutters were designed for "hard" or "soft" wire? I would think on a multi-tool that they would be designed for "hard" wire to make them more versatile. I've seen plenty of people FUBAR perfectly good electrical tools by cutting hard steel wire with ones that were designed specifically for copper or aluminum. I carry an older Leatherman Supertool (original) and seems I have cut hard wire with it before...it's been a while though...that tool is there in the car "just in case."

John
 
What many multi's have (including your Compact Sport) is what has been called a 'hard wire notch'. If you look at the very base of the cutters you'll see there is a very slight indent, that's the 'notch' and it's the bit you really should have used to cut the hook. Now, before you start kicking yourself, this has got to be one of the most common bits of damage people seem to do to their multi's, so don't feel to bad. I know I did it to my Leatherman Supertool.:o

One option would be to carefully file down the burr on the cutters yourself or you could send it in to Gerber for a tune-up. I've never had to deal with them myself but I've only heard good things about them.

Just to add that I'm a fan of my Gerber Compact as well, excellent tool and doesn't get enough credit IMO.
 
Depending on the damage, it is possible to just file down a burr or deformation on the cutters. I did this a few days ago on a little Squirt PS4 that my son got jiggy with. It would stick in the closed position because the little cutters were dinged.
 
yeah thats exactly what happened

i have done some work on it with a file and it looks better, but still sticks. Perhaps i just need more patience and just keep working on removing the deformations

glad to see its not just me though :)
 
Some of the new Gerbers have carbide insert you can replace. I've own dozens. Most free issue from the Army. I bugger up every one at one time or the other trying to cut some thing to hard. I just bought a used Gerber at a local gun show that was like new for 15 bucks that has the carbide inserts. I've cut hardware cloth, chicken wire and even small nails with it and no problems at all. I really like the new design. Donald
 
I have two Gerber multitools, boogered up the wire cutter on both of them cutting things that were too hard. File down the burr and you will be good to go.
 
I have one of the old Gerber tools. The tools weren't made well and it rusted. My SOG and Leatherman tools never rusted. That's why the Gerber hasn't seen the light of day in 15 years.
 
The last poster is correct. Gerber is basically light-duty 'junk'. Especially, the 'Compact Sport' multi-tool. They are not even in the same league with SOG, Leatherman, or SwissTool. The Army probably gets a special price for these 'seconds' it issues.
 
Zephyr One/Zero said:
The last poster is correct. Gerber is basically light-duty 'junk'. Especially, the 'Compact Sport' multi-tool. They are not even in the same league with SOG, Leatherman, or SwissTool. The Army probably gets a special price for these 'seconds' it issues.
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You are, of course, entitled to your own opinion but I can't say I agree. Yes, Gerber have done some very poor MT's (Suspension for example) but I wouldn't put the MP400 or 600 into that category. I'm curious as to what you found so substandard on them.
 
You know, a light weight cutter of a GERBER multi-tool could not be a heavier wire cutter for cutting fishing hook, it must be in trouble.The cutter's weight can be an indication as to the type of wire cutting that might be done, as heavier wire cutters can most often handle cutting heavy wire. Lighter weight wire cutters will most commonly be used for lighter wires such as floral or home electrical wire.
 
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