Gerber really disappointed me today

I have a Gerber Compact Sport multi-tool, that basically could be put in the novelty-tool category. Not very robust, and kind of flimsy. For anything serious, it's a piece of junk! I have one their Applegate's, that sees no duty at all, junk-drawer too. Just go buy Leatherman, or Swiss Army for a multi.
 
Saw that vid with Wranglerstar, and couldn't believe he didn't say anything about that blade not being able to lock up. What a joke. Looked like in that vid the spring was weak. Nutn's looked like the spring was too strong. Weird.
Kershaw has an issue like Nutn had with the Gerbers bouncing and not locking up. They are still pumping them out. Garbage.
Joe

knives_in_nature said:
You guys should all watch this video I made showing how Gerber autos have major issues. -

Click to expand...
 
knives_in_nature said:
You guys should all watch this video I made showing how Gerber autos have major issues. -

Click to expand...
got 4 06s that lock up. pivot was too tight ill bet. there is a tiny bit of play with the dsign of these side to side and many folks want zero play even under hard side to side motion to see if there is play. problem with all these videos is we can't see before or edit parts. now maybe it was that way from the factory? who knows, but loosen the pivot a tad and works. amazing right.:)
 
It seems like ever since Gerber tried to produce the airframe model a number of years ago and ran into problems making them, it started them onto the path they are well on now.I think they found it easier to market and sell cheap knives and bring them in from overseas instead of making good quality ones.They had some good models from tawain about 10 years ago,but they just got cheaper and cheaper as the years went on.
 
It does seem like quality production suffers when the people with the passion for quality are replaced by suits focused only on business considerations. Blessed is the firm that maintains the clear vision of its founder(s) when they die or retire. This is all too rare today.
 
I haven't bought a Gerber since back in the '90s. It's too bad that they are where they are now. I hope they can get serious about turning things around and once again become a true force in the knife industry. I have one of their old LSTs, and it was a fine knife.

Back in the '90s, a shop I used to visit on occasion had a single Silver Knight, which was made in Japan. It was a beautiful little lockback knife, nicer than anything else I've ever seen from Gerber, and I regretted not buying it.

Jim
 
IMO the only thing that remains of the classic Gerber, and the thing that hasn't changed and keeps being top notch is their steel, and their Multitool catalog.

tme35P4.jpg


That 420 is as good as ever in my experience, an all time classic like SAK steel or the one in the Opinels, and those MP tools are the AK47s of the multitool world. Dirty, rattly, scratched and beaten, but they keep working for what they are needed.
 
If Toyota can manufacture the Land Cruiser, Gerber can produce the Gator Premium fixed blade. It's S30v steel hasn't disappointed me yet! They don't have a reliable manufacturer on the mainland, but their Taiwan made folders were as good as crkt's, only simpler. Their US steel is fine, not on the level of Spyderco or Benchmade
 
Zephyr One/Zero said:
I have a Gerber Compact Sport multi-tool, that basically could be put in the novelty-tool category. Not very robust, and kind of flimsy. For anything serious, it's a piece of junk! ....... Just go buy Leatherman, or Swiss Army for a multi.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about Gerber's MP 400?

I think we can agree that Leatherman and Victorinox both make great multi-tools but, to call Gerber's multi-tool line a novelty-tool is a little much. Their compact 400 series has the same grade of tools as the MP 600 products. They are just dropped in a slightly smaller frame. Yes, Leatherman and Vic are considered better products but Gerber is no powder puff. I have owned Buck and currently own Gerber, Leatherman and SOG. Out of these, I reach for Gerber first and Leatherman second. I mainly keep the Leatherman around because of its diamond impregnated file.

For ease of use, nothing beats a MP600 when you are cold, wet or tired and need to use a multi-tool.
 
Last edited:
I just found out Gerber is reintroducing the older model LMF fixed blade from the 1990s only this time, it's is being made in China. :(
 
It's well known than overall Gerber hasn't been high quality since the 1980s, especially since Fiskars bought them in 1990 or so...most all their models are China made and not well at that. They're typically sold at Walmart, dicks etc at enormous profit margins.

Since everything is throwing around cat analogies, I have one that's very accurate:

The Gerber Air Ranger is to knives what Takata is to airbags ..:google it if you care...and both impaled people too
 
jbmonkey said:
got 4 06s that lock up. pivot was too tight ill bet. there is a tiny bit of play with the dsign of these side to side and many folks want zero play even under hard side to side motion to see if there is play. problem with all these videos is we can't see before or edit parts. now maybe it was that way from the factory? who knows, but loosen the pivot a tad and works. amazing right.:)
Click to expand...

So you are telling me I should buy a knife from a company that doesn't know how to tune their own knives? Two of the clips shown in my video are from a Gerber employee....



palonej said:
Saw that vid with Wranglerstar, and couldn't believe he didn't say anything about that blade not being able to lock up. What a joke. Looked like in that vid the spring was weak. Nutn's looked like the spring was too strong. Weird.
Kershaw has an issue like Nutn had with the Gerbers bouncing and not locking up. They are still pumping them out. Garbage.
Joe
Click to expand...

I have another video on my channel showing off a Benchmade 4300-1 I believe the video is titled the most underrated Benchmade but yeah I show off how all my Kershaw autos don't lock up properly.
 
knives_in_nature said:
So you are telling me I should buy a knife from a company that doesn't know how to tune their own knives? Two of the clips shown in my video are from a Gerber employee....
Click to expand...
youre surprised in todays world a marketing employee doesnt know his products? really?
 
How true JB!! Watching that dude try to open that auto was very sad! Seemed like it was the first time he tried opening an auto.
Sad.
Joe

jbmonkey said:
youre surprised in todays world a marketing employee doesnt know his products? really?
Click to expand...
 
jbmonkey said:
youre surprised in todays world a marketing employee doesnt know his products? really?
Click to expand...

He knows how to open an auto. But I'm not talking about about him, I'm saying Gerber made that one and the other shown in my video to present and they still don't lock up right.
 
Zombie411 said:
Sorry to double post... I have to ask a completely sincere question.

Lets say you were walking down the street, and suddenly a log cabin, and a pile of boulders fell of a cliff.
You are in just the right spot for it all to surround you in a shell 10 foot thick.

You realize you have your trusty Mac Lite, and can see. There is a box of Twinkie-s so you have food. There is also a rat named George...

You know it will take 3.5 hours of digging because George said so.

In your front pockets you have a Gerber 06, and a Benchmade (whatever the OTF for 3 grand is)

Here is the question part:
Since that Benchmade (or whatever) is SOOOOO MUCH BETTER wouldn't you use that to dig thru the rocks, and logs?
Too many bad arguments in the knife world.
Click to expand...

Your story was completely believable right up until you mentioned I had a Gerber 06 in my front pocket.

Still though, the tool you have with you is the best tool you have. That's also why I feel it's so important to be able to depend on your tools. And Gerber's reputation in that area has been negative in the past years.
 
I really don't think that Gerber will ever be like it was before Fiskers got involved. Those of us that remember Gerber's good days won't touch the current product line and everyone else doesn't know and there is a good chance they don't care.

Personally, I would like to see Gerber follow in KIA's footsteps. Offer better products under a different brand name. Like Kershaw and ZT are doing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top