New Gerber Instant, odd numbers on blade? extremely hard to open..

T

tobruk

Joined
Dec 27, 2012
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13
I purchased a new Gerber Instant today and after opening it, I noticed numbers "1212" on the clip side, on the blade, above the thumb stud. Odd because, my cousin who recommended this knife, bought the same model and has no numbers. The reviewers models on YouTube that I watched, also show no such numbers. Can anyone tell me what they mean? Also, this is my first assisted folder and I have to say, It's super hard to push open.. Can anyone who has experience with this model tell me, was your blade seated really tight in the handle? Is this normal for the blade to be so hard to open? I see online videos where people open it with ease.
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I have two of these. One 1212 and one plain. The 1212 version has a choil that is ground flat, thus giving it more friction and is a little harder to open. The no number version has a round choil and flies open. I don't know why this was done, but I did drop the no number on the floor and it opened on impact. I dropped it on carpet at about 5 ft. Took my 1212 and dropped it on purpose at the same height and surface 5 times and it never opened. The plain one opened 4 out of 5 times when dropped.
 
I had the numberless version for about six months. It got to the point where it would open with the lightest touch... that includes inside a pocket. Many times I wanted to take it apart and use a file to grind a tiny flat spot. I resisted this urge as Gerber would surely void the warranty. Knowing it was a recalled item it was sent back for Gerber to deal with. About a month or so later my new Instant arrived. Guess what their solution was... grinding a HUGE flat spot in the blade tang.

The knife "1212" is now extremely difficult to open, closing is also impeded. The grind leaves a corner the spring must scrape against. The new knife is also crap quality wise compared to the original numberless Instant. From the factory grinding there are chunks of stone everywhere inside the knife. The lock grinds, the ball bearing grind, it's so gritty you can hear it destroying the metal. The "G-10 Handle" which is composite is machined like crap compared to the original. The lock doesn't engage but half way, let's hope it needs to break in. Being a Gerber it should break soon enough.

I write this today to inform all those looking for information about this knife. AVOID IT! AVOID ALL sub ~100 Gerber's and maybe avoid the others too.

Here is what rocks about Gerber knives. They are cheap enough to get you into knives. Being pieces of crap they will fail or piss you off in short order. This leads to you wanting a better knife. This leads to some SOG and Kershaw blades that are so much better but still lacking what you want. I went to Spyderco next and damn what a world of difference compared to the piece of **** Instant (original or 1212). Now I am loving my Benchmade Griptilian and Contego. My woman loves her two Spyderco's and her pink Benchmade mini Griptilain.

Both of our Gerber's, her mini paraframe and my Instant 1212 sit in a drawer. When I need to cut sandpaper or pry on something the worthless Gerber finds its true niche. When you really need to abuse something and couldn't care less what happens, reach for your Gerber.

**** all those awesome commercials that hype this knife. Gerber is a marketing company that also sells knife.

Stay Sharp Everyone (unless you're a Gerber with 7Cr17MoV steel)
 
The only gerber I will ever use below one hundred dollars is the Prodigy other than that my uncle said anything gerber ~100 is alright. I've used a Paraframe and they aren't half bad, but it was a one time use
 
I have easily tripled that sitting here today watching MORE nutnfancy reviews just flicking it out. It even sounds sad compared to my original. Sure, I could try and adjust the non/poorly heat treated hardware and strip it out more than the factory... Taking it apart to polish the rough metal would be great too. My quality bits just chew up Gerber hardware. Well, about time to put it back in the drawer.

I really should mention the good with the bad. It came just about phone book paper cutting sharp. The 1212 seems to have a much more laid back bevel and smaller inclusive angle. After some 2000 grit and leather strop, four minutes tops, it flew threw those pages. The edge grind was good, it's about like my Benchmade Griptilian and that's not bad. Unfortunately, it will loose that edge rapidly. The 154cm and VG-10 are doing good as expected.

Next on my wish list is a Spyderco with CTS20CP... and it's all thanks to Gerber.

It's simple really. The "revised" version sucks harder than the original and my expectations are so high now from quality (not top but mid) that I can never go back. I own a home now, don't really want to go back to renting!

Stay Sharp!
 
I read all the reviews from purchasers, which were quite different from the promo videos, and despite their warnings I bought this knife. I couldn't help it, LA Police Gear had it on a super sale so it was embarrassingly cheap. I just got it today and sure enough, I couldn't open the damn thing. I'm talking about trying to open it with two hands! I started looking for a safety. After about 5 minutes, or at least it seemed that long, I finally got the blade out. Closed it and tried the thumb stud.......could not make it open. I am not small and not weak. I have been collecting knives for 40 years. I have dozens of AO knives. Yet, I could not open this one without using two hands. I sprayed a small amount of lubricant on the knife, still could not open with one hand using the thumb stud. I immediately called LAPG customer service to bitch and complain, and as I was waiting on hold for the next representative, (and hearing a recording about how important my call was), I continuously opened and closed the knife with two hands. After about 75 openings I began trying the thumb stud with one hand. It was still tight and I had to hold the handle at a funny angle, but it started opening. After another 50 openings it began to loosen up. The next 10 attempts opened with just a little more tightness than I liked but it was workable. I hung up the phone before customer service answered. The knife is now opening great. I threw it on the ground to make it fire accidentally, and could not make it open. I then picked it up and it opened beautifully. It is still not like one of my Benchmades, which are silky smooth, but the knife is working fine and getting better each time I open. I am having absolutely zero failures. Mine may be another redesign as it has a serial number, and a matching serial numbered box, and that makes me think it is different than both the un-numbered models and the 1212's. If I had not been on hold with customer service and able to work the mechanism over and over, this knife would have gone back. I am actually kind of happy with the knife now.
 
Anyone tried to de-assist the Instant?

I purchase the Propel and immediately de-assisted it because A) torsion-springs suck B) the knife was hard to open C) without the spring, it flips open and closed easier than an axis-lock, most user-friendly knife I own :thumbup:
I bought the Propel over the instant because A) American-made B) safety switch which not only prevents accidental opening but also accidental lock disengagement. A/O's are intrinsically prone to accidental opening, I don't understand why anyone would pay money for a design that must be anti-user to prevent accidental opening. Also button-locks are prone to accidental lock-disengagement. With the Propel's safety engaged (which is designed better than the Hogue, btw) the lock cannot disengage, you'd have to destroy the pivot to accomplish lock-failure.

Anyway, here is a qick video of the Propel. Anyone have a de-assisted Instant?

[video=youtube;vEGP9yAigYg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEGP9yAigYg[/video]
 
Honed_Edge said:
AVOID IT! AVOID ALL sub ~100 Gerber's and maybe avoid the others too.

Here is what rocks about Gerber knives. They are cheap enough to get you into knives. Being pieces of crap they will fail or piss you off in short order. This leads to you wanting a better knife. This leads to some SOG and Kershaw blades that are so much better but still lacking what you want. I went to Spyderco next and damn what a world of difference compared to the piece of **** Instant (original or 1212). Now I am loving my Benchmade Griptilian and Contego. My woman loves her two Spyderco's and her pink Benchmade mini Griptilain.
Click to expand...

+1. Kershaws cost the same, and are much better quality. If you can do without the A/O and live with an opening hole, get a Spyerco Tenacious for $30.

My Gerber Paraframe 2 has the frame lock slip with even minor pressure on the spine.
 
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