Is this a fake Gerber, or just an early model?

[alettish]

I bought the knife in the middle position, used, from an online auction site. It was described as being a "Gerber fast Draw Knife, Assisted Opening". I realized that it looked a bit different from other Fast Draws that I had seen but figured it was an earlier model. After receiving it, I realized that it was even more different than I though.

The blade size is 2 and a half inches. The gimping is different, clip is mounted different, handle shape, and a hand full of other discrepancies.

It wasn't that expensive, but at first I was upset that it had been misrepresented, but after looking at it, I'm not certain that's the case. Why semi clone a knife that is not that expensive to begin with, and why make it with what I consider to be a relatively complex system of assisted opening.

At this point, I feel that it's kind of a novelty either way, and likely won't return it. But, what do you folks think? Early actual Gerber, or one off forgery? Thanks for any input.
'

 

[deltaboy]

LOOKS like an Early one to me.

 

[Sosa]

I wonder if a fake gerber is better than the real one.

 

[alettish]

I wonder if a fake gerber is better than the real one.

Actually, what ever it is, seems to lock up with more "authority" than the "real" ones do, spring is definitely stronger. The blade does have a little side to side movement unlike the "genuine" ones that I have, but that can probably be easily tightened up.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

It was misrepresented, but it's not a fake. It's a Gerber Vallotton Fine Edge rather than a Fast Draw.

If anything you got lucky. It's a better knife than the Fast Draws. Congrats.

 

[alettish]

It was misrepresented, but it's not a fake. It's a Gerber Vallotton Fine Edge rather than a Fast Draw.

If anything you got lucky. It's a better knife than the Fast Draws. Congrats.

Mystery solved. Thank you T.L.E. Sharp.

I do like this a bit better, than the FAST Draw due to the same ease of opening, but sounding better while it's opening. Going to have to figure out how to sharpen a serrated blade.

 

[riversidedep]

I wonder if a fake gerber is better than the real one.

Okay, that made me laugh out loud.

 

[Petunia D. Feeble]

Mystery solved. Thank you T.L.E. Sharp.

I do like this a bit better, than the FAST Draw due to the same ease of opening, but sounding better while it's opening. Going to have to figure out how to sharpen a serrated blade.

Cheap solution is to buy wooden dowels at a craft store that are the same width as the serrations. Then just wrap wet/dry sandpaper around them and use that to do your sharpening.

 

[Corwyn_bv]

I wonder if a fake gerber is better than the real one.

Lol... actually I had 4 or 5 genuine Gerbers and my favourite is this fake one .
It might be made of pot metal the coating peels and the grind is uneven... however it is sharp as hell, the clip is perfectly tensioned, the lock locks perfectly and unlocks smoothly and it can get really sharp... also it has perfect ergonomics (both for regular and choking grip) ow and it's pretty (bad picture) - so it's far better than any real Gerber I ever had ...