I know.... "G E R B E R"......but.....

The only Gerber products I have are an MP600 and an Infinity Ultra LED flashlight. The MP600 seems to hold up ok. I think if I really beat on it, it would break easily. The LED light is great though. It's a single AA with an anodized aluminum casing. I have beat this thing up so much and it still shines. Its been in sand, mud, dropped on rocks and in rivers, and is waterproof up to 10 feet. It's tough as nails and has a super long battery life.
 
I just got a Gerber Solstice. It's a small keychain-able five-function scissor-based folding multitool. No knife blade. Only used it so far to cut some packaging and open a bottle of beer. I think I could get to really like it.
 
I have two Gerber EZ-outs. One is about 7 years old with a combo blade. I had such good luck with it as an edc that I bought a plain blade version last year. Big difference in quality. Bad grind marks on the edge. Doesn't keep an edge worth anything I can print. I would agree that Gerber has gone downhill since Fiskars bought them. I won't buy another Gerber.
 
Yeah, I have two Gerber EZ-Outs and neither will hold an edge. Seems a lot of people have gotten the word that Gerber is washed up. Too bad, too, as I like some of their knife designs. But right now, I would recommend Frost, M-Techs and Maxams over Gerber. They're bottom of the barrel.
 
Confederate said:
Yeah, I have two Gerber EZ-Outs and neither will hold an edge. Seems a lot of people have gotten the word that Gerber is washed up. Too bad, too, as I like some of their knife designs. But right now, I would recommend Frost, M-Techs and Maxams over Gerber. They're bottom of the barrel.
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Gerber is still better than any of those POS "knives" you mentioned. (which isn't saying much)
 
Some gerber knives are far worse than others. I bought a paraframe ii earlier. It sucked. My kitchen butter knife could cut better than it could. The gerber fatty on the otherhand, came extremely sharp and is ok at holding that edge. I think that fatty is pretty good.
 
Bors said:
OK, I may have been a little harsh in my initial response to Gerber knives. I grew up in that part of the world and back in the 70s, their knives were poor quality. The several that I owned would not hold an edge even for the most basic of chores. The design ergonomics were very poor they did not feel rite in the hand at all. A very good friend who is a gourmet chief hated their kitchen knives. Since then, I haven't seen Gerber as a knife maker worth consideration. A lot can happen in 30 years and perhaps Fiskars is doing a lot to turn their image around but then again I still here a lot of negative things.
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I think you're a bit confused about Gerber. In the 70's Gerber and Puma were making some of the best production knives in the world. I still have an original Gerber Paul knife, a Magnum Folding Hunter, and a stag folding sportsman that were all made in the 70's - all 440C, and all are outstanding quality knives.

Puma was sold in the early 80's and their quality went completely down hill. Gerber was sold sometime later to Fiskars and their quality has also suffered. (although not all Gerber knives are junk.)

On another note, I think a lot of people just jump on the bandwagon when it comes to slamming knife brands around here... Case in point - People constantly rave about the greatness of the 110 yet they call the Gerber Gator junk even though it is also made with the same type steel (420 HC)that the Buck is.
 
Mick R. said:
Case in point - People constantly rave about the greatness of the 110 yet they call the Gerber Gator junk even though it is also made with the same type steel (420 HC)that the Buck is.
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The Gerber Gators and the LST line, to the best of my knowledge, are still made here and still good knives. They're the only offering from Gerber that folks will still defend as decent knives.

I'm not bashing the rest of the stuff as I have no experience with 'em. I have only one Gerber and its a 10 year old LST Jr. that was my EDC for years. Still takes a nice edge and still has surprisingly little blade play for as inexpensive as it was. Lock up is good too. I'd take my US made gerber over any Frost or Maxam.
 
Anyone have an idea as to value of my
Numbered 501 of 1500 ,1991 Wood handled Bowie in the box ?
I have the rubber handled one as a beater. The edge holding is ok. I think it's later than my boxed one.
 
I own a Gerber Airranger II and a Gerber Spectre. The latter has 154CM steel. Both are good knives. Well made and the hold an edge. I've had the ARII since 2002 and the Spectre since 2003. They never failed me. I gave my Gerber MP800 to a Pygmee in Uganda (not kidding) when I was on vacation there. Didn't like it to much. My Leatherman Pulse is kind of cheapy. Not wellmade at all. I think I will replace it by a Vic Spirit later.
 
After reading all of this negative publicity, I decided to try some myself. I bought a Gerber Fast Draw, an Armor, a Revolt Tanto and an LTR. They are all nice knives that are very sharp. The armor was very stiff at first and so I worked the blade a couple hundred times. The bad news is that the knife already looks used from handling it. The micarta is faded and so is the blade. The good news is since it already had a bit of a worn look, I started using it to cut everything. It sharpens quickly and gets as sharp as any knife that I own and I own MT, BMs, PTs, and Daltons etc for comparison. It opens with a slight flick of the wrist as fast as an auto. The Fast Draw is a slick little auto assisted knife that is perfect EDC size. The other two are really nicely made as well. They have an expensive fit and feel. I'm happy that I decided to get them and consider them to be competitive with Camillus and Kershaw.
 
One of my first good knives, I thought was a Gerber, Sykes/Fairbain folder. It ended up that the lock failed and cut my hand.

In fact, I sold it with that warning of my experiences, on this forum for $5, plus $5 shipping.

That's how much I like them. BS.

Get a swamprat or busse fixed, or a Strider, Manix or Chinook folder.

cliff
 
jdennen said:
After reading all of this negative publicity, I decided to try some myself. I bought a Gerber Fast Draw, an Armor, a Revolt Tanto and an LTR. They are all nice knives that are very sharp. The armor was very stiff at first and so I worked the blade a couple hundred times. The bad news is that the knife already looks used from handling it. The micarta is faded and so is the blade. The good news is since it already had a bit of a worn look, I started using it to cut everything. It sharpens quickly and gets as sharp as any knife that I own and I own MT, BMs, PTs, and Daltons etc for comparison. It opens with a slight flick of the wrist as fast as an auto. The Fast Draw is a slick little auto assisted knife that is perfect EDC size. The other two are really nicely made as well. They have an expensive fit and feel. I'm happy that I decided to get them and consider them to be competitive with Camillus and Kershaw.
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Are any of those made in Taiwan? Or are they all being made in mainland China these days?
 
I see Gerber as almost three different companies now. 1. You have the Gerber that markets basically junk and knockoffs. 2. The Gerber that sells all sorts of gear like flashlights,backpacks,etc. 3.The Gerber that still puts out some pretty good quality knives like the Silver Trident,LMF II,LST,etc.
I have a Silver Trident and it has an excellent handle shape and construction and very nice grinds with a very nice blade coating. That, is it is'nt epoxy paint that is so thick that it blurs the grinds or covers defects.
I have also e-mailed Gerber on more than one occasion and they have always responded promptly. I once e-mailed them about the possibility of an LMF II with a plain edge on a saturday and got a reply on sunday.
I know Gerber has problems but I havent completely given up on them yet.


John
 
I own 2 Gerber riverknives, one 11 years old, and one 2 years old. The older one is by far the better one. I have to agree that Gerber has gone downhill, however limited my Gerber experience may be.
 
jdennen said:
After reading all of this negative publicity, I decided to try some myself. I bought a Gerber Fast Draw, an Armor, a Revolt Tanto and an LTR. They are all nice knives that are very sharp. The armor was very stiff at first and so I worked the blade a couple hundred times. The bad news is that the knife already looks used from handling it. The micarta is faded and so is the blade. The good news is since it already had a bit of a worn look, I started using it to cut everything. It sharpens quickly and gets as sharp as any knife that I own and I own MT, BMs, PTs, and Daltons etc for comparison. It opens with a slight flick of the wrist as fast as an auto. The Fast Draw is a slick little auto assisted knife that is perfect EDC size. The other two are really nicely made as well. They have an expensive fit and feel. I'm happy that I decided to get them and consider them to be competitive with Camillus and Kershaw.
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The "Fast Draw " is definitely worthy of anyones consideration, I got one when they first came out. A great knife and like you said perfect for EDC.

I carried mine for a week before I noticed the little blade flipper hidden behind the scale. It's a great knife....
 
WeaselBites said:
But Gerber would never copy someone else's knife!

(The Gerber's holes are slanty!)
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WOW! I hadn't paid any attention to that Gerber before. That is pathetic.:thumbdn: The few low end Gerbers that I have looked at in the Walmarts here look really cheap and rough.

I have to say though that I have been very pleased with the Gerber/CMG flashlights that I have tried. The Trio and the Infinity are nice little lights.
 
shecky said:
Just tellin' it like it is. If you have problems with the free market, take it up with capitalism, not me.
:yawn:
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or just don't buy from companies who do unethical things. Nobody said that everybody at Gerber has to be arrested and beaten relentlessly due to them stealing designs. Doesn't mean we have to like it though.

If it doesn't bother you then fine, buy whatever you want.

Personally I'd just rather give my money to a company who doesn't steal their designs from other companies and makers.

To each his own.
 
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