Gerber that bad? Why?

Gerber probably makes 3 or maybee 4 realy good knives. they arent the BEST and they are fairly expensive for what you get.

But then again, even Frost Cutlery managed to make the 154CM Uzi Defender. Even a blind pig will find an acorn occasionaly. One good knife doesnt make Frost a good company.

Similarly, while they are good knives, the Silver trident and the LMF dont make up for the rest of Gerbers crap. Cool stuff like the automatic emerson collaboration are cool, but they realy dont help much.
 
rifon2 said:
BTW, I recently bought a Gerber Covert in 154CM, made in Portland Oregon, and it's a real nice knife. I was pleasantly surprised at the fit, finish, and great lockup. It's one of the few Gerber models still made in the USA.
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I have this knife too, bought 2004, excellent knife.
05786.jpg
 
I think like many other companies Gerber has relied on it's name and reputation to sell an inferior product. There are some decent Gerber's still being made,but you might be in a crap shoot. The picture with the purple lightning could be a Smith&Wesson advertisement.
 
popcornpicker said:
The picture with the purple lightning could be a Smith&Wesson advertisement.
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That's the retailer's presentation, obviously, not Gerber's.

The particular model shown happens to be a good knife IMO.
As I noted in an earlier post, it's made in Portland Oregon.
 
This post and the responses herein, are just more proof that the old adage of you get what you pay for, is truer now than ever. Occaisionally in this market place in nearly all sectors including knives/tools, if you want good to excellent quality materials and workmanship knife/tool, your simply going to have to pay for. While there are always good deals to be had ebay, garage sales, estate sales, on line store close outs, forums, etc. The rule and not the exception is you get what you pay for, and if want something good your just gonna have to fork over the money, or shop. Case in point Gerber, some of their line is still good quality well made stuff, but its all the higher end stuff. I think the market place in many sectors is starting to split with big portions of the market catering to the common everyday buyer that wants an inexpensive knife, when its dull or breaks they'll buy a new one, just like many people do with all sorts of things, and then those people such as our self who are constantly seeking their own personal knife Nirvana or "perfect knife" and place a high value on having the highest quality knives/tools we can afford and in some cases merely pay for. What is happening in this is there is no middle ground left or what little middle ground is left is shrinking rapidly, (kinda like the middle class, but thats another email for another site). The knife market is just changing as are most markets, as the overall economic structure of the US and World for that matter changes so do the market offerings. With the cost of quality anything going up so rapidly due to commodity prices and energy prices, the overwhelming supermajority of the market place has to decided what they want to put a preference on, i.e. say your a big hunter with the price of hunts, guns and optics, etc. somethign has to give, so instead of having nice high quality everything certain areas have to be scaled back upon, say for instance knives. I think ya'll get the point without me continuing my discertation.

Sorry for the long response but is much more involved then just Gerber making cheap knives, now.

Look at the market, theres not just much middle fo the road stuff to be found, its' either suspect quality materials and workmanship or its highend to uber highend. Why do you think so many production companies have started offering a chinese made line i.e. spyderco-byrd.

sorry I'm still going, I'll stop now.

Mike C
 
I still own and use my Gerber EZ-out folder I got 6 years ago...Combo edge, and the knife has only been resharpened maybe 3 times in that time...I usually have this knife on me around the house, and sometimes when I go fishing...Served me well, and it will continue to serve me!
 
2brothers said:
When did Fiskars buy them out? 2000? 2001? Anyone...

mike
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More like the mid to late 90's i think.
The problem with Gerber is that when they were bought out they discontinued a lot of really good knives like the BMF/LMF/Mark II etc. Also shortly after that the quality started to dip.

The only Gerbers i've purchased in the last 7 years are the Backpaxe and two Gerber Clutches. The BackPaxe is a decent little hatchet (although the handle is a little too short). I also have three Fiskars axes which are good and strangely cheaper than the Gerber even though they are exactly the same axes even made in the same factories.

I just recently purchased the 2 clutches, so far they are acceptable regarding quality/durability. I primarily bough them to have a keychain carry with pliers.I got both on sale 9$ each and for THAT price i think they are a good deal. However locally they have sprung back up to the 30+$ range. I don't think i'd bother with the Clutch at 30+$. If i'm going to shell out that much i'll just spend some more and get a Leatherman or a Victorinox.
 
My old Gerber 400 (the presentation knife that the current Cabelas offering, the "Longbow," is based on) is THE knife by which I measure all others.
It fits my hand like a glove, is VERY secure with a light grip, cuts like a dream, takes a heck of an edge and holds it for a very long time!

That knife is simply the best knife I have ever handled, and the only knife that has ever come close to it is a custom knife that Jim Moyer built for me.

I also had some great luck with my Gerber 400 multi-tool . . . until I snapped the blade, but that was my bad.

So, bottom line:
Gerber + "400" = :thumbup:
 
Gerber&Kershaw USED to be worth a crap,now they are outsourced to foreign markets made to substandard price point.buy a Benchmade or Spyderco.love my Endura and my 425 BM more expensive? sure better quality? ask the 22 millon other Spydie and BM owners don't take my word for it.
 
How about their tools? I have seen some good comments about the 400/800. I don't own but 1 Gerber and it's an old one. Are their tools just as poor as their knives?
 
I wouldn't carry a gerber tool, I have had one break and seen another break during critical times. I have not had that problem with the TiCharge I now carry...yet.
 
Daverageguy said:
Gerber&Kershaw USED to be worth a crap,now they are outsourced to foreign markets made to substandard price point.buy a Benchmade or Spyderco.love my Endura and my 425 BM more expensive? sure better quality? ask the 22 millon other Spydie and BM owners don't take my word for it.
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Based on posts from Thomas and Kershaw owners, Kershaws are not outsourced. Kershaw is a Japanese owned company and Japan makes some very good knives ( and they ain't cheap in price or quality, so I got no problems if some of their knives are made in Japan). Thomas said that Kershaw has been shifting even more production to the US from Japan so that most Kershaws are now made in the US.

BTW a number of Spyderco knives are made in Japan as well, including you beloved Enduras.

Please check your facts before posting.

Knarf
 
cutlerylover said:
I still own and use my Gerber EZ-out folder I got 6 years ago...Combo edge, and the knife has only been resharpened maybe 3 times in that time...I usually have this knife on me around the house, and sometimes when I go fishing...Served me well, and it will continue to serve me!
Click to expand...

I carried an EZ-out combo edge for a couple of years. I even bought a PE model several years later. While they sharpened easily, they needed sharpening too frequently for my taste. I also got tired of the blade wobble on both. Plus the grind on the PE was so coarse that the first time I sharpened it, the "factory edge" literally crumbled into powder.

If it works for you, fine. It does not for me, even though I still like the design. For the same price as an EZ-out ($25 online), I recently purchased a KaBar Large Dozier. Far better steel, far better fit and finish. Much more satisfactory at no more cost than an EZ-Out.
 
I'm in agreement with a previous poster in that I wouldn't buy any CURRENT Gerber or Kershaw product---both are low end crap anymore.
 
i dunno i'm not a gerber fanboy here, but i have a drop point gerber freeman folder and a gerber hinderer both are really nice, solid knives, its a shame gerber cant get any consistancy in quality.
It be nice if they could turn it around...
 
I have about 6 gators and an original run LMF (all pre-Fiskars). I carried the LMF and a gator throughout my military career in all different environments. Aside from little spots of surface rust in the jungle, they performed perfectly. I beat the LMF...used it as a pry bar....a hammer....it kept right on cutting. I'm getting all nostalgic now....I'm going to dig out the LMF. :thumbup:
 
I have a Gerber framelock. not sure of the model. its a 3" clip point w/ cut out handles. The knife is really cool to me, all grey coated. The blade shape is good. Blade lines up perfect center. Flicks open like a dream. Comfortable to hold. Super thin and light. Yet, I NEVER carry it. The reason is that even though the frame lock looks good, (lines up center open) I can fold this thing like a card table. Basically, about as much resistance as a new slipjoint has. Certainly not a locking folder. A shame, its really a nice knife for the price. But for about the same $$, the Kershaw Vapor is similar and way better in the lock. Of course, I may have just gotten a bad one. I did have a Gator back in the early 90's and liked it.
 
I bought a Gator back around 99 I think and EDCed it for along time in the pouch. Then I lost it. Bought another and carried it a few years after that and it served me well. I still have it. It takes a DAMN good edge still. Its got bondo on the handle still too from my autobody college classes..
A friend of mine at works had his for longer than I had my first one and still carries it. The rubber on the grip is worn smooth and is peeling around the edges. He had a guy in the tool room drill it and mount a thumbstud. His is BEAT to hell. I need to snag it from him and reprofile it. Its horrible.

I dont care for any other Gerbers than the classic Gators...
 
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