Paraframe II self lock fails

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Stabbed

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Oct 28, 2009
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I love the outdoors and camping. I have always carried a Buck straight blade when backpacking and hunting. I’ve also had a number of Gerber products a skin saw and gut blade combo and a hatchet. In July while on vacation I purchased a Gerber Paraframe II knife.

To my dismay the first time I used it the self lock failed. I used two hands to open it. I heard a click and assumed the knife had locked. It didn’t and it closed on me and I received a pretty bad cut. I have to force the extension of the blade to fully lock it.

Has anyone ever had this problem?

I always check my guns prior to putting them away and cleaning them. I’ve learned my lesson with this product.
 
the gerber paraframe knives in general are of poor quality but I'd say yours is a defect and I'd send it back to them for an exchange, mine, while being a junky knife, never had any problems like that. It's probably a bent lock.
You've really got to be careful when buying Gerber knives. Some of their knives are of decent quality but a good amount aren't worth the money.
 
I have both the paraframe 1 and 2...they seemed cool at the time..but i resold the paraframe on ebay..and paraframe 2 is in my backpack that i bring to work..never had a issue with it...then i saw it sold at target for a rediculously low price..i firgure it was a cheap quality..
 
Stabbed said:
Thanks. I hope I piss Gerber Off.
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I doubt it. Don't think they'll care what anyone has to say. Unfortunately, they've gone the Walmart route, and now just make crappy knives to sell to people who don't know any better.
 
Dare I say improper use/uneducated user.

Locks only offer a false sense of security, its your responsibility to make sure that you are using the knife for its intended purpose and that you are doing so safely. NEVER EVER TRUST A LOCK 100%, always keep in you mind that it may fail.
 
lol, On the first click (which is due to the retention-ball) the blade isn't fully extended even. How could someone make the mistake of not engaging the lock? The knife is fully functioning; I call user error/ignorance.
 
mgboy said:
lol, On the first click (which is due to the retention-ball) the blade isn't fully extended even. How could someone make the mistake of not engaging the lock? The knife is fully functioning; I call user error/ignorance.
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+1

All knives with frame- or linerlock that have a retention ball, may have this very audible double click. A lot of mine do.

It's a steep learning curve when you cut yourself, though :rolleyes:
 
I'm not a fan of gerber knives but the video look more like user error than a defective product. The ball detent will always be the first click, it in no way means that the lock has engaged fully. It also look like you are purposely not opening the knife all the way as your last few openings of the knife the lock does engage.
 
mgboy said:
lol, On the first click (which is due to the retention-ball) the blade isn't fully extended even. How could someone make the mistake of not engaging the lock? The knife is fully functioning; I call user error/ignorance.
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Agreed.
My only gripe, and its really not given the price of the thing, was that I had to lube and work it for about 4 days till I could thumb it open fast. It came very tight at the pivot.
I kinda like it...no problems here.
 
The knife is fully extended on the first click and if you look at the frame lock it appears to be locked. If you hyper extend the blade the frame lock moves just slightly and fully engages.

Out of all the people who looked at my knife only one person fully locked when they opened it and that was one handed. They flipped it open with there thumb and a snap of the wrist – there was only one click but it fully locked.

How ever I found no information in any of the packaging that explains how the knife should be opened.
 
?? Retention Ball It's a frame lock there is no retention ball from what I can see the frame just slides over.
 
Most of the Gerber folders are toys (my last girlfriend carried three of them, I think) but they do make some good knives, and their multi-tools are on par with SOG and Leatherman. This underlines a rule in the knifeworld; despite the burry line in this industry between innovation and novelty, you more or less tend to get what you pay for.

?? Retention Ball It's a frame lock there is no retention ball from what I can see the frame just slides over.

Liner and frame-based looks typically feature a small ceramic bead inlaid into the locking arm, on the side that faces the inside of the knife where you can`t easily see it. When the knife is opening and closing, the blade rides on this bead instead of on the lacking arm itself. This makes actuation smoother and reduces wear and tear. It also holds the knife shut; when the knife is closed, the bead settles into a recess in the blade. This provides the resistance you have to overcome when opening the knife.

The ball detent will always be the first click.

Not on an Umnumzaan :D
 
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Stabbed said:
?? Retention Ball It's a frame lock there is no retention ball from what I can see the frame just slides over.
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Detent ball.
If the detent were not there, the blade would fall open.
It's there.
 
I re examined my knife sure enough there is a retention ball.. I think my problem is this is my first frame lock knife. I have always carried a plane jack knife most of the time a swiss army knife. I've always open them with two hands. I think the Paraframe is ment to be opened with a flick of the wrist. When I open it the lock look like its fully engaged but it's not. When my son opens it he does it with a flip of the wrist and you can actually see the difference.

It would have been mise if Gerber included opening instructions for old farts like me..
 
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