Please Restore My Faith in Gerber!

Nephron44 said:
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.
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you can get a Kershaw blur same style without safety but speedsafe dosent really need it.
 
Have a Covert from the early 90's. ATS 34, well made, a quality piece in its day. That being said, Gerber today is at the bottom of the heap.
Don't waste your time and money.
 
Of recommend finding older Gerber models on fleaBay. The newer stuff is (in my opinion) adequate for light duty EDC work, but not for heavier work. Definitely go with older Gerber for that.

ETA: I should clarify that not all of Gerber's modern offerings are mediocre. I have a Gerber 06 auto tanto, S30V blade steel, USA-made, and I'd put it up against any hard-use knife produced today. It's usually Gerber's import models that seem to get a bad (and IMHO, well deserved) reputation.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

~Chris
 
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If it helps, I'm quite satisfied with my Gerber Evo Jr. It's like a poor man's CRKT M16-01S.
 
I used to love Gerber knives. They were the better ones available and in my price range in places that I could find them as a young teenager. Many of the scout leaders I had owned the "good" gerbers as well.

I had an Gerber gator from the mid 90's that seemed well made (and was later stolen :/). I also have a USA made multitool from the late 90's that is of respectable quality.

After that, I had a multitool (suspension?) from the mid 2000's, that is just awful. Then a paraframe from that same time period that is definitely "sub par". I'd not buy either of those again. They turned me off of Gerber. Haven't tried them since.
 
Etna said:
If it helps, I'm quite satisfied with my Gerber Evo Jr. It's like a poor man's CRKT M16-01S.
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Same.

Gerber LST, EVO, and EVO Jr were my EDC of choice for years.

But then I discovered Kershaws and then Spydercos and the Gerbers have been in storage ever since.
 
Nephron44 said:
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!

Edit: Title Change
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Seems like you've already figured this out. Why ask us to restore your faith when you clearly have got your own opinion through your own experience? And if you only want to hear nice things about a company go to their own forum or their subforum. I'm afraid if you only want to hear nice things the internet will be a difficult place.

I've only handled gerber folders in stores. I came to the same conclusions as you. I've had a few Gerber Prodigies. The were well made and inexpensive (bought on the exchange, doubt I would pay new price). The Gerber Strong-Arm looks great but I already have pleanty of knives in that price range and even more with far better materials that will perform better. As a complete knife nut, Gerber does not interest me.
 
craytab said:
Seems like you've already figured this out. Why ask us to restore your faith when you clearly have got your own opinion through your own experience? And if you only want to hear nice things about a company go to their own forum or their subforum. I'm afraid if you only want to hear nice things the internet will be a difficult place.

I've only handled gerber folders in stores. I came to the same conclusions as you. I've had a few Gerber Prodigies. The were well made and inexpensive (bought on the exchange, doubt I would pay new price). The Gerber Strong-Arm looks great but I already have pleanty of knives in that price range and even more with far better materials that will perform better. As a complete knife nut, Gerber does not interest me.
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Maybe this:

Nephron44 said:
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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K.O.D. said:
Gerber was seduced by the dark side, as many have been, now making cheap crap overseas.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
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THey are actually making a lot more in Oregon now. They still have an offshore presence, but their USA made stuff is there.
Applegate Combat Folder
Gator
Ghost Strike
CFB
Strongarm
Freeman (S30V folder might be hard to find)
 
Can't help you. I have been pissed at Gerber since they stopped making the Mk1 and Mk II out of L6 in 1980 or so. ;)
 
The only Gerber knives I have are old ones, an EZ out folder & a drop point Gator (I think it is.) They've seen a lot of use & have held up well. I think there are better choices out there now, though.
 
jdm61 said:
Can't help you. I have been pissed at Gerber since they stopped making the Mk1 and Mk II out of L6 in 1980 or so. ;)
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Interesting coincidence - of the two Gerbers I own, one is a Mk II made of L6 steel. :)
 
My gerber harsey air ranger is still going strong. I dont think its available anymore. Also my harsey hunter fixed blade is going strong. Not sure if thats selling any where either.
 
Velitrius said:
Maybe this:
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The problem is he already gave really good reasons through his own experience to not have faith in them. He wants us to tell him his experiences are wrong based on our experiences. Sort of a strange thing if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, I think he is correct. I mean talking about the gerber of old is one thing, but the current stuff from overseas wouldn't get me to open my wallet and I have limited experience with their US stuff. Perhaps folks can chime in on the stuff Rev listed. Then we can talk Material, Manufacture quality, Fit/Finish, and Price. That seems like a worth while discussion rather than "I've been disappointed by gerber for reasons X, Y, and Z. Persuade me why I'm wrong! No hating on Gerber though. 1, 2, 3, GO!"
 
I love my S30v Freeman Folder (Cabelas exclusive).

Not my pic:
gerber-usa-freeman-s30v-cocobolo_1_f05ded7d92ba13d5837a1473f73e2f66.jpg


I also love the ugly-as-@#!*# Crusader. I bought a couple for around $10 years ago and they have been great project/garage beaters. Unfortunately, I think that's their focus now.
 
craytab said:
The problem is he already gave really good reasons through his own experience to not have faith in them. He wants us to tell him his experiences are wrong based on our experiences. Sort of a strange thing if you ask me. Don't get me wrong, I think he is correct. I mean talking about the gerber of old is one thing, but the current stuff from overseas wouldn't get me to open my wallet and I have limited experience with their US stuff. Perhaps folks can chime in on the stuff Rev listed. Then we can talk Material, Manufacture quality, Fit/Finish, and Price. That seems like a worth while discussion rather than "I've been disappointed by gerber for reasons X, Y, and Z. Persuade me why I'm wrong! No hating on Gerber though. 1, 2, 3, GO!"
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I see your point, Cray. And I think that guiding him to the USA stuff is a good start, as I'm in complete agreement with you as to the import crap.

And if there's hating on Gerber, it's well deserved hating. Some of the Fiskars junk / Bear Grylls toys just leave me SMH.

But I see Nephron's point as well. I grew up on the Gerber of old, and I'd LOVE to see their Portland made stuff restore SOME faith in the company. I think the Strongarm is a great offering. Is it the end-all-be-all fixed blade that saves the world? Nope... but it's $50-ish, so I think it can be seen as a quality piece at a good value. And I'm willing to give the rest of Rev's list a go as well, and hope that my "faith" in the company is given at least a bandaid to stop the bleeding.

Despite the thread title, I think this can turn into the worthwhile discussion you mentioned.
 
I grew up on gerber as well, but after Fiskars bought them back in 2011 I believe, they quality tanked and I have never bought another gerber since.
 
As many said, go and search for good old stuff fromt he brand. As suggested by many here, the Gator is an excellent knife.

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Lightweight, extremely nicely HTed 420HC, hard to beat ergonomic handles, quality stuff right there.

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Their Multitools (old USA made ones, not Chinese newer ones which definitely have issues) are as solid as a tank, they're military issue for a reason.

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The AK47s of the multitool world.

Can't go wrong with any of those either.

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Am¡nd for really inexpensive folders, their current catalog has some decent options, a bit above the 90% of junk made in that price range. Get away from their new stuff, maybe the Strongarm being one of the rare exceptions...
 
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