New Gerber tactical knives

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MG_Saldivar

Joined
Feb 5, 2005
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In my area (central Texas), one of the major sporting goods chains (Academy Sports) stocks a lot of Gerber products. While browsing the other day, mooning over knives I can't afford, I was astounded by a display featuring several new Gerber tactical folders and a couple of fixed blades.

Does anyone have any experience with these new Gerber tacticals?

Graced with tough-sounding names like "Crusader," "EVO," "Revolt," and "Fatty" (I'm not making this up), these tactical folders look interesting (and suspiciously like CRKT M-16 series models).

My lifetime record-holding EDC is a Gerber AR 3.0 that I carried for almost three years without rotation, but I've moved away from linerlocks in general and Gerber in particular. It seems to me that in recent years, their prices have become exhorbitant given their run of the mill blade steel. Also, I know many on these forums have been critical of Gerber quality control in recent years.



(See them for yourself here: http://www.gerberblades.com/products/results.php)
 
I had a Gerber AR 3.25, it wasn't being used, so I got rid of it. I do have a newer Gerber Silver Knight with wood scales, and it works great as a "gentlemans" folder. Different strokes for different folks man.
 
MG_Saldivar said:
these tactical folders look interesting (and suspiciously like CRKT M-16 series models).
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That is why I will not buy any more Gerbers. I am not sure why they feel it necessary to rip off other's designs.
 
I haven't seen the newest Gerbers but I know that the AR3.5 was not impressive, it never felt right to me. The original EZ out was OK for a relatively inexpensive knife. The ones I really miss were the Paul and the Bolt Action.

My favorite is the Guardian I bought in about 1984 much better than the current generation of Guardians. Of course I liked the Mark 1 and Mark 2 also.
 
I like the look of the new Sheridan but my objections to it are two fold. One it looks an awful lot like a Nimravus tanto ripoff and two it's made of 440A, which I think is unfortunate. Gerber used to be a great company, sad to see them come to this.

Lagarto
 
will62 said:
The ones I really miss were the Paul and the Bolt Action.
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I had a Bolt Action, that I eventually lost. My brother liked it so much, he got one for himself, and still carries it. I little while ago I picked one up on the forums, more for old times sake than anything else. They are really good knives, though. Clean design, stayed nice and sharp, locked up reliably -- and so smooth, I could open it one-handed, even without holes or studs, just pressure against the blade with my thumb. Wasn't Meyerco making them for a while?
 
GarageBoy said:
gerber has hit the bottom. first crappness, now copying
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No doubt! I like my Mark I very much, but until Gerber redeems themselves in my eyes, I won't buy another. :grumpy:
 
It doesn't just look like the M16 series, it is the M16 series :(. Man, I know that everybody has to make a buck, but that's a blatant rip off. The only difference in my eyes is the handle color and the placing of the holes in the handle. Wow, they need to hire some better designers.
 
I know it's been said to death, but in my opinion the EVO model is just so obvious that I have to add my own statement that I am through with buying Gerber.

I actually did like the Air Ranger, but with the EVO issue I don't mind saying no thanks to anything from Gerber. Heck, maybe I will go buy a Chinese ripoff of a Gerber design just out of spite. Unless that cheap Chinese POS actually turns out to be another Gerber import. :(
 
I have to say that the Fatty looks like a really nice little knife. it is cool to see someone other than Spyderco doing the short, wide knife thing.
 
The Fatty is just one model, like the SOG Sculptura and Al Mar SLB.

I think the heartburn is over the Evo line looking so exactly like a copy of someone else's signature design that it can't be accidental -- and it isn't necessary. There's no reason not to go for the same niche as the CRKT M-16s, but a different handle would not have been all that hard to figure out.

Another part of the problem is that Gerber somehow got to be one of the bad guys here. They don't get credit for doing anything right, but they get jumped on for every mistake. Presumably, they have a market somewhere that pays the bills.
 
it's made of 440A, which I think is unfortunate
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Is the Sheridan a tactical knife? If so, I wouldn't worry too much about the steel being 440A. You will probably (and hopefully) never have to use it. But if you should ever be so unfortunate as to end up having to defend yourself with a knife, it won't really matter that 440A is a poor edge-holder. You won't be doing enough cutting to get it dull. Plus, the cops will confiscate your knife, and that would suck if you were carrying a fine, expensive knife.
 
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