Review of the Gerber AR 3.25 Partially Serrated Lockback

Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Joined
Jul 28, 2003
Messages
2,790
I recieved my Gerber in July and have been EDC'ing it ever since.

Blade: The serrations are good, out of the box it can cut hair and paper. No blade play. The blade is beadblasted.

Handle: Very hearty, no clip, dissassemblable, the rubber grip inserts provide great grip.

I love this knife. The opening action is very smooth and it closes with the satisfying CLICK that the forumites all love so much. I have taken it apart, it's very easy to assemble. Since I've had it I've noticed a very minute amount of vertical blade play. Solid lockup, I can open and close it one handed by using the stud to open it and depressing the lock with my thumb and allowing the tang to hit my index finger then just closing it. No problems so far, and while Gerber seems to be falling behind very much nowadays, this certainly wouldn't indicate their shortcomings as far as technological advances go, it's one of their better knives and at a red-line price I'd choose it over most other blades at the $40 dollar range.
 
The AR is much much heftier. I like the Gerber better in some ways, but the grind on the Delica allows a much sharper edge and from what I've seen the out-of-box sharpness is in favor of the Delica, as well as edge retention.

I'll even give a Pros list :cool:

Delica:
Light
Has ambidextrous removable clip
Great grind, edge, retention
Spydiehole
You can Spydiedrop :D
A lockup that's as solid as a Ramones CD

Gerber:
Ergonomic
Awesome action
Good out-of-box sharpness, edge retention
Very full in the hand

It's really hard to explain :confused: After I play with the Gerber, the Delica's lightweightedness is relieving, but after I play with the Spydie, the Gerber's action makes me feel all warm and fuzzy :)

Guess you'll have to carry these babys in a pair

I wonder what would happen if I took the thumbstud off and drilled a spydie hole?

*Inserts safety key on drill press*

WHIRRRRRRRRRRR

;)

And Thanks Abe: You unknowingly saved my new pet! I read your reply and I got up to get the AR and Delica just to give em the run through when out of the corner of my eye I saw the emperor scorpion that I just got today struggling in his water dish. He almost drowned but luckily I was able to pull him out. Once again, KnifeKnuttery saves the day! :)
 
Nice review Needle.

Another Gerber that is a good one for the money is the SLG 3.25. I picked up a couple of these when eknifeworks.com was blowing them out a few months ago. ATS-34 steel, G-10 scales, very slim profile, and solid lock up for a liner lock. I gave one to my dad and he loves it.

gerber.JPG
 
That's a cool knife. How's the clip on that one? Contemporary design!

The only problem I have with gerber is that I think the blade geometry leaves something to be desired, it looks like just about any other knife. That must be one of the drawing factors to Spyderco.
 
I had it on my section of my dad's workbench in the concrete basement and I had left it there for a while because I was trying it without the clip. I wanted the clip back on so when I went to get it I realized it wasn't there. I told my dad to keep an eye out, and he ended up stepping on it and flattening it, and any attemp to reshape it leaves it hideous and weaker than before, and it's starting to fatigue so I think I'll just go for the replacement. Not sure how it ended up on the floor, but we do have a few cats, I'll just have to be more careful next time :)
 
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