Just how "bad" is a Gerber Paraframe?

jfindon

jfindon

Joined
Dec 12, 2006
Messages
967
I know knives are what you make of them, but I just wondered how "bad" the Paraframe is compared to other knives. I can't find any info on the blade, just that it uses carbon steel.

I'm not one for testing knives but I don't have any play in the blade, it sounds sturdy when you open and close it, and it really doesn't feel cheap. I don't have anything to compare it to though, I was just wondering what kind of difference I'll be able to see when I get my Griptilian.

One thing I will say is that the Paraframe I doesn't seem very sharp to me. It took me more force that I would suspect to cut through a cardboard box.
 
400 Series stainless steel. That's not "carbon steel" Carbon steel, or high carbon steel, is the original material, iron with carbon added from heating with wood or coal.

Stainless steel adds other elements which keep it from rusting as easily, but also interfere with its ability to get and keep a sharp edge.

400 series could be anything from 420J2 to 440C, but is likely to be at the low end of that spectrum since they would be sure to tell you if it were at the high end.

Cheap steel, maybe not heat treated effectively, equals poor edge.

---

The difference between your new Griptilian and the old Gerber is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
400 Series stainless steel. That's not "carbon steel" Carbon steel, or high carbon steel, is the original material, iron with carbon added from heating with wood or coal.

Stainless steel adds other elements which keep it from rusting as easily, but also interfere with its ability to get and keep a sharp edge.

400 series could be anything from 420J2 to 440C, but is likely to be at the low end of that spectrum since they would be sure to tell you if it were at the high end.

Cheap steel, maybe not heat treated effectively, equals poor edge.

---

The difference between your new Griptilian and the old Gerber is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
Click to expand...

Quite the analogy there, thanks :) I may take a trip to a store that may have them just to see how it feels, but I'll order from an online store.
 
I borrowed the analogy from an expert. :)

Mark Twain said the difference between the right word and the almost-right word was the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.

---

If you do have a good knife store near you, consider buying something there now and again, if the markup isn't too bad. If you only go there to window shop, they won't be there forever. Someone has to pay the bills.
 
I gave 2 friends mini-paraframes for XMASS 2 years ago, both carry them EDC and overall like them, but have had horrible problems keeping the pocket clip screws tight.
 
I have a paraframe and a griptilian. The paraframe would actually be a decent knife if Gerber used good blade steel, you can get it ok sharp but the thing just won't hold an edge. Out of the box it was just plain dull. The grip, on the other hand, is a very fine knife, once you get it the gerber will spending it's time in your junk drawer. ;)
 
speed647 said:
I have a paraframe and a griptilian. The paraframe would actually be a decent knife if Gerber used good blade steel, you can get it ok sharp but the thing just won't hold an edge. Out of the box it was just plain dull. The grip, on the other hand, is a very fine knife, once you get it the gerber will spending it's time in your junk drawer. ;)
Click to expand...

Good to know it wasn't just me that thought it was dull. I have this dinky little Coast knife from Sears with like a 2" blade and it seems sharper than my Paraframe.
 
I bought all my groomsmen a paraframe several years ago. A few of them carry it every day. They have had the clip screws problem also. While they like the knife, they also don't really understand good knives. It looks cool and cuts stuff...ok. About 18 months ago I picked one up and thought I would see how it was. I carried it for about 2 weeks. For a knife person...its junk. It is 420 cheapo China steel and thus the reason it will not hold an edge.
 
Lets put all the technical info aside for a moment (i know, I love it too, but...).
I carried a gerber paraframe II combo edge (3.5" half serrated blade, aluminum framelock) for a little over a year for EDC. Now it just happens that I was doing tree removals for employment over this year, which will tend to put a knife through slightly harder use than opening letters and trimming fingernails.

That said, the plain edge part of the balde doesnt hold an edge for shit; I mean you could sharpen your fucking finger and it would hold a better edge! The serrations aren't bad though.

The problem here isn't the lousy blade though (got a paraframe II and a para mini for $20 together!), its the craptastic lock. Remember how those frame handles are aluminum? Well aluminum will fatigue and break with extended flexing, and that is just what mine did. Entire lockarm broke right off on me back in October!!

Just got my replacement back from warrenty (hey a crappy knife that is free is, well, free!), and I pulled all the screws out to lock-tite them (had a problem on my original with them loosening up), and putting it all back together, the damn thing doesnt even fit together perfect! Gerber's quality has really hit the shitter, and I dont plan on buying ANY more of their products.

Oh BTW, the factory edge SUCKS.
 
I bought a Paraframe a year or 2 ago while on vacation. As soon as I got home, I gave it to somebody that did not need a knife. If you want an inexpensive Gerber knife, I would suggest the Harsey Air Ranger. I used 1 for a while as an every day knife at work and it did fine. I picked up a few of them for $15 each ( I think) at Smokey Mountain Knife Works this summer. I'll give them to my co-workers Christmas morning.
 
its just a cheap knife you can't expect a lot from it. i have one and use it to cut stuff that i wouldn't use a better knife on. that said i am very careful of it, because i wouldn't trust its lock not to fail.
 
I was given 2 of them a few years back and they wont take much of an edge and they dont hold it worth a crap. They have since been retired to a box full of other junk knives I have been given. I have broke several of the jaws on their multi tools. I have never broke leatherman or sog pliers though. I have decided to quit buying gerber since there quality is on par with qvc or gas station knives.
 
It is my name sake :o , that said, the blades suck, really, really suck, the handles are crappy, and the screws are soft, really soft. on the + side it is so stainless it will never rust.:D :rolleyes:
 
para-frame said:
It is my name sake :o , that said, the blades suck, really, really suck, the handles are crappy, and the screws are soft, really soft. on the + side it is so stainless it will never rust.:D :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Methinks I would change my name. :)
 
I have one and haven't had a real issue with it. Yeah its not that sharp but this is the folder I take on/into the water because i don't want to lose a good one or deal with a lanyard/retention lanyard. I recently saw a pic of a USMC Scout/sniper with a paraframe II on his OTV so it can't be that horrible. Are there better? Yes. Is it a bad deal? Not really.
 
If you want a cheap but good knife go with a Frost Mora for a fixed or a byrd
(not liner lock though) for the folder. Or if you like a classic look one of those little chinese Buck's.
 
The Paraframe is one of the few knives that wouldn't take an edge worth a shit. My brother owns a partially-serrated one and has used (and probably abused) it for about...two years now? Three? The plain edge portion is literally duller than a butter knife, while the serrated portion has held up fine. The edge is now very obtuse through wear and severely rolled, but the steel is run so soft, that it simply won't take an edge using the Sharpmaker white stones. I've even tried 60 grit sandpaper to reprofile. No go. I'll have to touch it up on my belt sander if he ever wants a decent edge on that thing. I never mind using steels featured in lower-cost knives (440abc, 420HC, AUS-6 and 8, etc.), but this stuff is rubbish. Bad heat-treat plus low quality steel is never a good mix.

All things considered, I guess it's done everything that he's asked of it - for $20 at Wal-Mart. The finish has held up well, but the liner has worn all the way to the other side of the tang. Oh, and it's dull. I got him a minor upgrade ;) for Christmas.
 
I wish I would have thought about getting the Griptilian before I did, I could have put that on my Christmas list. Now I'll have to wait until after the hectic-ness is over to go online and order it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top