Info request: Gerber BMF and LMF

A

almtiba

Joined
Aug 29, 2003
Messages
468
Hi guys,

I have these two knives, Gerber BMF and LMF, and never used them hard. I think the're extremely beautiful and well made.
The handle is hypalon (I think that's the material name) but I've never known wich is their steel.

Do you guys know the steel used for this knife ? And, any other info or opinions about these knifes ?

Thanks in advance,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
I believe they were both made of 440B.

As far as the handle goes, you got the material right:

HYPALON has outstanding resistance to most chemicals, heat and oil are among the most important characteristics. Further, HYPALON is flame resistant, offers excellent color stability, weather and abrasion resistance. Low moisture absorption, good dielectric qualities, and high abrasion resistance are among its other features. Like most synthetics, HYPALON® is superior to NATURAL RUBBER in temperature, oil and resistance to the effect of ozone.

HYPALON is generally attacked by concentrated oxidizing acids, esters, ketones, chlorinated, aromatic and nitro hydrocarbons.

Hypalon Chemical Designation: Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene
 
The LMF and BMF knives that I've owned were made out of 440C...At least the later models were.
 
It's my understanding that they are either 440A or 425M, but I am almost positive they are 440A. The big Gerber coffin handled bowie is 425M.
 
While I posted that I thought the LMF was 440B, it might have been made with 440A. I'm positive it was NOT 440C. I owned a LMF, and remember clearly that it wasn't 440C, and I know that from exchanges with Gerber about them resharpening the blade, but whether it was A or B I'm not sure. Google searches on "Gerber BMF 440" and "Gerber LMF" yield a few sites claiming 440A.

The blade grind changed during the production run, and they might have changed the steel during the run, too. The LMF and BMF were made of the same steel, while the huge bowie was made of 425M.

The LMF was a very well made production knife. Great handle, and superb grind (at least the original one), with perfect soldering of the blade and guard before bead-blasting. I think the blade was hardened to R 55.

I always laughed about the name. I recall something about it being "Big/Little Multi Function." But it was supposed to really mean Big/Little Mother F-----".
 
Well, thanks for info, guys !

I was afraid someone would tell me those knifes were made of 420C.... :)

But, far from being a high grade, ultimate steel, it's a good one...

Regards,

Andre Tiba - Brazil
 
Hi

Following is what I have found from a 1988 Cutlery Shoppe fall catalog :

BMF : 1/4 thick non reflective finish 440-A Rc 54-56
LMF : just like BMF

Just made to be easy to sharpen in the field.


ELDE
 
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