I decided to review this knife of a co-worker of mine. This is one of Gerber's Taiwan-made knives, and carries a price tag of around $30. The model number is 8452, making it the half-serrated version, which has also been discontinued. Let's check it out...
Handle Details: The Vector is 4" closed and 7/16" thick, not counting the pocket clip. It has a skeletonized handle, and stainless steel liners. The right liner provides the locking mechanism, and it's jimped for grip. Lock-up is good, but not great. There is no forward-and-back blade play, but the side-to-side blade play is totally unacceptable. Even when I tighten the blade pivot pin all the way, there's still blade play. The handle scales are made of black Zytel. They provide a smooth gripping surface, but coupled with the nice shape of the handle, the Vector isn't likely to slip out of your hand during use. The back of the handle is not open; it has a black Zytel backspacer. For you lanyard guys, there's no hole provided to stick your 550 cord in. The pocket clip is skeletonized black steel, and it's tip-up right hand only. But it is removable via three Torx T-6 screws. retention is a little too tight for my liking, but it's okay. If this were my knife, I'd remove the pocket clip and bend it out slightly. The blade pivot is adjustable for tension via Torx T-8 screw. You can get this knife to flick open without sacrificing a lot of blade tension, but the blade play issue will always be there.
Blade Details: The Vector's blade is a 3" piece of AUS-8. Half of it is serrated, although this model is available in a plain edge. Blade thickness comes in at just under 1/18" thick. the left side of the blade has the Gerber logo, while the right side simply has Taiwan lasered on. You get dual thumb studs, which open the blade smoothly and easily because you have a nylon washers on each side of the blade. Cutting ability was okay but not great. After sharpening and putting a paper-shaving edge on it, I used the Vector on some cardboard. It required a touch-up after about 20 strokes or so, which surprised me a bit. Every other knife I own, including the humble SAKs, stayed sharp much longer than this. Even my poor-man's $10 Rough Rider stockman held an edge better than this. I evened the edge out to where it could cut cardboard much better since that's what he wanted to use it for, but it will no longer slice paper cleanly.
Overall, I'm a bit disappointed with the Vector. I've avoided buying Gerbers for the past few years because of their low quality control, and this just cements my belief. The blade pivot pin can be tightened so much that the blade cannot be folded shut, but side-to-side blade play still exists. The blade will not hold an edge unless it's left at a relatively (for me) dull edge to begin with. these alone are reason enough for me to not spend my money on this knife. For $30, I can do a lot better for less money.
Other choices... any Byrd knife, any Boker CLB knife, Kershaw Skyline, SAKs, any Opinels.
For those of you interested, here's the Vector in plain edge since I couldn't find a usable on in half-serrated...
Handle Details: The Vector is 4" closed and 7/16" thick, not counting the pocket clip. It has a skeletonized handle, and stainless steel liners. The right liner provides the locking mechanism, and it's jimped for grip. Lock-up is good, but not great. There is no forward-and-back blade play, but the side-to-side blade play is totally unacceptable. Even when I tighten the blade pivot pin all the way, there's still blade play. The handle scales are made of black Zytel. They provide a smooth gripping surface, but coupled with the nice shape of the handle, the Vector isn't likely to slip out of your hand during use. The back of the handle is not open; it has a black Zytel backspacer. For you lanyard guys, there's no hole provided to stick your 550 cord in. The pocket clip is skeletonized black steel, and it's tip-up right hand only. But it is removable via three Torx T-6 screws. retention is a little too tight for my liking, but it's okay. If this were my knife, I'd remove the pocket clip and bend it out slightly. The blade pivot is adjustable for tension via Torx T-8 screw. You can get this knife to flick open without sacrificing a lot of blade tension, but the blade play issue will always be there.
Blade Details: The Vector's blade is a 3" piece of AUS-8. Half of it is serrated, although this model is available in a plain edge. Blade thickness comes in at just under 1/18" thick. the left side of the blade has the Gerber logo, while the right side simply has Taiwan lasered on. You get dual thumb studs, which open the blade smoothly and easily because you have a nylon washers on each side of the blade. Cutting ability was okay but not great. After sharpening and putting a paper-shaving edge on it, I used the Vector on some cardboard. It required a touch-up after about 20 strokes or so, which surprised me a bit. Every other knife I own, including the humble SAKs, stayed sharp much longer than this. Even my poor-man's $10 Rough Rider stockman held an edge better than this. I evened the edge out to where it could cut cardboard much better since that's what he wanted to use it for, but it will no longer slice paper cleanly.
Overall, I'm a bit disappointed with the Vector. I've avoided buying Gerbers for the past few years because of their low quality control, and this just cements my belief. The blade pivot pin can be tightened so much that the blade cannot be folded shut, but side-to-side blade play still exists. The blade will not hold an edge unless it's left at a relatively (for me) dull edge to begin with. these alone are reason enough for me to not spend my money on this knife. For $30, I can do a lot better for less money.
Other choices... any Byrd knife, any Boker CLB knife, Kershaw Skyline, SAKs, any Opinels.
For those of you interested, here's the Vector in plain edge since I couldn't find a usable on in half-serrated...
