Opinions on the Gerber BMF

M

MisterE

Joined
Feb 9, 2000
Messages
14
I have just recently dscovered this forum and appreciate the experience and wisdom represented here. I have the opportunity to buy a Gerber BMF to serve as my primary outdoor survival knife. I'm not sure what the benefts of such a large, heavy knife are or if they justify the additional weight and threatening appearance. Your opinions on this knife, or reccomendations of other knives would be appreciated. It is my intention to also carry a multitool or swiss army knife as well.

Thanks

E
 
The BMF is the first large survival knife I ever bought, and I've had mine for years now. It's a really good knife, and has one of the best sheaths I have used. It's hard to get a really sharp edge on it though, I don't know what the steel is, but it's hard to sharpen. That's the only flaw I've found with it. For it's size, it's pretty light, and the handle is very comfy.
 
Years ago I was looking at buying one of these Big units. I looked at it, the Buck Master and the Cold Steel Trailmaster.

I ended up with the TrailMaster. Much better knife all around I felt.

The handle on the BMF felt kinda weird, too large or something (and I have big hands), I'm not really fond of the steel that Gerber uses (I own half a dozen Gerbers with the same steel) and like mentioned, it doesn't take a nice edge.

I also eventually purchased a BuckMaster, cause I think it looks cool, but it's an losey using knife - better steel than the Gerber I thought, thou.

Anyway, just my thoughts.

Best regards,

Darren


 
Sombody you hardly ever hear about is Newt Livesay. He makes knives for the military and all kinds of other professionals who depend on their knives daily for a extremly low price.
I have 2 of his knives, the Cord Wraped Woo http://members.tripod.com/~Newt_Livesay/WOO.html and a Custom Air Assualt http://members.tripod.com/~Newt_Livesay/mdl131Air_Assault.html His knives are made to be abused and misused without any reservation.

Check out his forum http://server3.ezboard.com/blivesayknives http://members.tripod.com/~Newt_Livesay/index.html

His Custom Air Assualt has replaced my Randall #14 and Busse Combat #9 as my primary LBE knife along with taking it on any deployment. If and when I need a bigger knife the Buesse #9 will be my companion.

However Newt also makes some larger knives like the RTAK http://www.jungletraining.com/rtak.htm that for the price is a awsome knife.

Review of the Air Assualt: http://www.jungletraining.com/air.htm

For a survival knife you would be extremly hard presses to find somthing better than Newt's knives.

 
I like my BMF and carried it for years as my hiking knife. I can get the edge sharp with crocksticks. The funny thing is that I used the compass in the sheath more than the knife, but that's OK because I carried it as a sidearm anyway. These days I'm kind of switching over to a hatchet rather than large knife (I'm considering an Uluchet).
 
MisterE, there's a good thread on this very topic going on in the general discussion area:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum32/HTML/003123.html

Lots of pros and cons for big knives. I personally don't like the steel Gerber uses on their knives. For the same price, you can get a knife by Cold Steel, SOG, KaBar, etc.

What ever knife you do buy, I reccomend keeping the box! Even if you think it's a keeper, there may be one day down the road you want to sell it for a model that fits you better, and you'll sell it for more money with the box (assuming you didn't wreck the blade).

------------------
-Gregory Zolas
tinsta@hotmail.com
 
I love my BMF. Also, I just recently bought the LMF. I was told that both have been discontinued. If you can find one, I'd buy it. Cannot say bad things about Cold Steel knives either. CS has many fixed blades that you can probably buy for less money that would be plenty tough.

sarge
 
Hi Guys...

Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents worth...

For many years I had been looking for a large blade. I looked at both the BMF and the LMF as possibilities.

I never did buy one though,, and now I'm glad I didn't.

To all you guys who own BMF/LMF's That's great if you like them cool. I have nothing against it what so ever.. I still think it is a decent knife.

Anyway a few months ago I had a friend of mines for awhile and spent a lot of time with it,, both handling it while in the house and also in the bush.

The knife never "talked" to me. I tried Very hard to like it,,but just never got that,,you know feeling from it.

For me as a Big Chopper the blade just wasn't heavy enough weight wise to do Hard Core chopping... I really felt as if I was to do what I wanted to do with it I'd Blow a chip or the tip off of it.

Now I'm not quite sure what they are worth over in the god ole USA,, but over here that blade,,if it can be found was around $300.00.
At the same time I was also looking at the Seal knife 2000 and it was Way up there as well.

If I'm going to pay 3 Bones for a Gerber BMF,, I'm going to hold out,drop another $100 or so and get a TOPS Anaconda9. I figure I may as well if I'm going to drop that kind of Bill on a knife.

For $265.00USD give or take,, the Anaconda is a far better blade in many ways....

One of my beefs with the BMF is the handle material...
I don't feel it will last with what I'll be putting it through...

The big thick double guard on the BMF is another bothersome feature for me. Hard on the ole hands after awhile.

The sheath on the BMF looks somewhat well built though, I like the compass feature,,but wish they would have thought ahead put the compass on the back,,tossed the diamond hone in the garbage and put a decent bigger pouch on the front...

Anyhoo,, these are just my thought about the BMF/LMF....

I like more of the features on the Anaconda, such as the Choil (Important on a large blade). Full exposed Tang, pommell and the Tanto tip really sold me on the blade.

After seeing Ron in action with it..He's got me sold on one,,Very Soon....

ttyle Eric...

------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!

 
Thanks, everyone. I appreciate the variety of opinions and actual expereince with the BMF. I went ahead and bought one thru E-bay and look foreward to receiving it.
 
I would have to second Shrike, Newt Livesays larger blades would be a much better purchase, in my opinion. I used the BMF, not mine, and did not care for it. The blade geometry was too thick and not condusive to nice deep clean cuts. It has a good sheath, but that did not make up for the rest of the knife for me. Just my opinion.

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Lee

LIfe is too important to be taken seriously. Oscar Wilde
 
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