Q re: Gerber Multi-Lock quality

J

James Y

Joined
Feb 18, 1999
Messages
6,504
I've heard much of this tool, some swear it's the best-performing, others mention that the knife blades are of poor steel.

It's my observation, if sheaths on belts are any indication, that Gerbers are the most-carried of all pliers-tools, at least in my area, followed by Leathermans.

Are the knife blades on this tool really that hard to resharpen? Is it the heat-treat, the steel, or...?

Is it a really heavy tool to wear for everyday attire? (currently, regarding pliers tools, my choice is LM PSTII for its light weight).
Just curious about the Gerber, though.
Jim
 
I see a lot of Gerber belt pouches. I wonder if some of them are holding knives, such as the Gator rather than Multi-Plier tool. Are these pouches similar in appearnace?

David Rock

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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.

[This message has been edited by David Rock (edited 08-03-2000).]
 
I don't know what the steel is on my Gerber Multi tool is. It is really easy to resharpen. Edge retention is not as good as the ATS-34 on a Benchmade or REKAT. I usually carry an one handed opening folder and multi tool. I don't use the multi-tool knife blade much.

Will
 
I've had the same gerber multi-tool for the past eight years and find that itz been totally indespensible.

The knife of course isn't the same quality as some of the knives that we in the forum are accustomed to using, but it sharpens easily and is an excellent back-up to my AFCK in my pocket.
 
Working where I work (a hardware store).....I use my gerber almost every day.

No.....the knife is not the easiest to re-sharpen........but it's still not a bad blade.......or for that matter a bad tool.

But I still use my AFCK when I need to cut things
smile.gif
.

If I had to buy another multi tool......I'd still go gerber.

And no......I don't find it heavy.

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SarcasmGuy

"fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering"
Yoda
 
The Gerbers are pretty good, but they have their problems. After cutting some fairly heavy wire with my Gerber Multi-lock, it developed some nasty burrs that I haven't been able to remove, making the pliers stick and difficult to open or close. I've heard that Gerbers new multi-tool has replaceable carbide blades on the wire cutters, which would help a LOT if they put them on everything else! I've also noticed that when I don't use it for a while and it's been in the pouch for maybe a week, it is covered in rust. And the lock isn't the best, I've had the knife blade fold on me several times. Luckily, my hand was saved since the blade just folds down against the other side of the handle. I'm not sure what I'll get next, the Gerbers are great for the pliers - very quick to open. That's why I got it, I'm sick of the Leatherman and clones that you have to unfold completely to use the pliers. But if you plan on using the blades very often, get something else - like a normal knife. BTW, the phillips screwdriver sucks! If you want a knife replacement and will probably use the blades more than the pliers, I would go with the Leatherman Wave. I'm thinking about getting one myself - shop around, 1SKS has them for $60 I think. I've seen them other places for $80 or so.

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John Rollins Jr KD7BCY
http://jrollins.tripod.com/
http://www.geocities.com/jrollins.geo/
 
Their bullet proof. And very user friendly. After handling leatherman style pliers that my friends carry I can't beleive they put up with them. Its so much nicer to just flick them open. And all the tools are on the inside of the handle when you using the pliars, and when your using the tools, which means theres nothing to pinch your hand or stop you from gettting a good tight grip on it.
The blades aren't the best buit they are far form the worst. They perform much better a with a slightly coarse edge than if you try to polish them down to a shaving sharp edge. And they hold it reasonably, not the best edge retention, but they don't get nicked or chipped easily.
jrollins must have been cutting some very hard wire, or had a defective multi lock. I use mine on a a farm where we bale about 17,000 bales of straw and 10,000 bales of hay every summer. I cut lots of baling wire and the teeth have very little wear on them if any at all. And I have used it to cut heaver wire too, I think the heaviest was 10 or 12 gauge romex, and their fine. one fo the guys that I work with has a multi lock too and his is in good shape also. He bought his after breaking his leatherman pstII and handling my gerber.
I seriously doubt you would be sory if you got one.

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It'll feel better when it stops hurting.
 
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