Please Restore My Faith in Gerber!

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Nephron44

Joined
Aug 20, 2015
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Hey everyone!

I keep gravitating back to Gerber, particularly the Propel and Covert designs, but I keep getting burned one way or the other, whether it be poor lock up, broken clips, or stripped screws. I really like the designs, and what they are SUPPOSED to do fit my needs perfectly, but they always fall short of delivering.

I grew up with Gerber's and really want to like them again; Can anyone restore my faith in Gerber and tell me about a positive experience? Thank you!

Edit: Please don't use this thread to bash Gerber; I already have heard and experienced many negative things. I really want to hear some positives to know they are still out there!

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My brother and I grew up with Gerber..it was my first knife brand.
Hiking was and still is a favorite past time of mine and remember using it to scrape kindling.
I've since moved on to other brands..Protech, Benchmade and others but would I still carry and use a Gerber? You bet.
 
SoCalEDC said:
My brother and I grew up with Gerber..it was my first knife brand.
Hiking was and still is a favorite past time of mine and remember using it to scrape kindling.
I've since moved on to other brands..Protech, Benchmade and others but would I still carry and use a Gerber? You bet.
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Which of their current offerings would you still carry?
 
I have a couple of Gerber knives from the late 70s - early 80s that seem to be good knives. I haven't bought any since then so I can't speak to the quality of current products.
 
Just give up on that particular brand is my suggestion, there are MUCH better offerings out there right now
 
Dean Crail said:
Just give up on that particular brand is my suggestion, there are MUCH better offerings out there right now
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Some of their designs, like the Propel, have characteristics I can't get anywhere else, i.e. An S30v half serrated tanto blade, assisted with a safety, a strike pommel, and a lifetime warranty. Yeah my Benchmade AFO II has most of that, but I don't always want to carry an auto.
 
jc57 said:
I have a couple of Gerber knives from the late 70s - early 80s that seem to be good knives. I haven't bought any since then so I can't speak to the quality of current products.
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Those were made prior to Fiskars buying Gerber in 1987. Everything changed after that. Gerber made some very top line production knives in the 70's and early 80's.

I've not purchased a Gerber in a fair number of years, but I have an EZ-Out purchased in the late 90's that does a pretty fair job for a knife at its price point.
 
Honestly? Probably the 06 auto.
My advice though for about $100 more, I would recommend Protech.
They have a manual TR3 I believe that is exceptional quality. Own 3 and love them.
 
I've not been happy with Gerber products at all.
I have been impressed with Jeff Freeman's products (a former Gerber designer) who makes outstanding products.
 
Only Gerbers ive owned were early 90s E-Z Outs. Still have one today. Used the hell out of them before I knew or cared about steels. Mine were ATS-34 and to this day the ergos are still one of my favs.
 
NDJeep said:
Only Gerbers ive owned were early 90s E-Z Outs. Still have one today. Used the hell out of them before I knew or cared about steels. Mine were ATS-34 and to this day the ergos are still one of my favs.
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Man, I had one of those for the longest time. Felt great to use and it just plain took a pounding without complaint. Had I known back then, I'd have bought a dozen.

I'm thinking they make an EZ-Out in the US now... out of 420HC IIRC. You might take a look.

Go back in easy with some US stuff... get a mini LST and a Ghostrike or Strongarm and you'll warm back up I suspect. Won't cost much anyways.
 
I hear nothing but good things about the strong arm. The propel is intriguing to me as well.


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MANUAL 06 Combat Folder. I believe Gerber still makes these in batches, although they are listed as out of stock on the Gerber website. The 06 Manual folder is one of the few designs that Gerber actually put thought into engineering and producing. The 06 Manual folder is USA-made versus the assisted opening versions, which are overpriced trash produced in sweatshops overseas. You should have no problems with the 06 Manual, versus the non-auto propels, which are imported along with Gerber's other Chinese stuff.

Your thread reminds me of what irritates me so much about Gerber, the fact that this company could produce knives to compete with ZT/Benchmade/Spyderco/etc, and when they finally make a good design, like the 06 Manual Folder, they relegate it to relative obscurity behind a mountain of poorly built crap.
 
Gerber was seduced by the dark side, as many have been, now making cheap crap overseas.

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Yep. The StrongArm is cool. I'd say it's currently my second favorite mid-sized fixed blade, coming in just behind the Cold Steel SRK. It's only second to the SRK because the handle isn't quite as comfy for me in use. It's not bad at all, it's just that the SRK's handle feels about perfect to me in size and shape, so it's not quite as nice in comparison. The knife is well made, and the sheath is pretty decent too (unlike the SRK, which I had to go aftermarket to get a good sheath for) and offers a few different carry options. As far as folders, about the only thing that interests me is the aforementioned 06, but I have no hands-on experience with one yet.
 
Its a real shame, I do not own a single Gerber now except for one multitool that is like 25 years old, my Dad gave it to me and its decent enough to use. If the quality come back then I'll be interested certainly.
 
Only you and gerber can restore your faith. It seems like kershaw is following in gerbers footsteps.
 
EDCanAdamas said:
MANUAL 06 Combat Folder. I believe Gerber still makes these in batches, although they are listed as out of stock on the Gerber website. The 06 Manual folder is one of the few designs that Gerber actually put thought into engineering and producing. The 06 Manual folder is USA-made versus the assisted opening versions, which are overpriced trash produced in sweatshops overseas. You should have no problems with the 06 Manual, versus the non-auto propels, which are imported along with Gerber's other Chinese stuff.

Your thread reminds me of what irritates me so much about Gerber, the fact that this company could produce knives to compete with ZT/Benchmade/Spyderco/etc, and when they finally make a good design, like the 06 Manual Folder, they relegate it to relative obscurity behind a mountain of poorly built crap.
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The non-auto propel is made in the USA.
 
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