Starting to like Gerber again!!!

I can't say too much about 'knife snobbery', but I do know that there are many satisfied Gerber users out there. All one has to do is read some customer feedback posts from BassPro, Cabella's etc.

As for me, I like many of their designs and have found that the S30V folding Freeman Hunter and the 154CM drop point Gator are excellent knives. I would have no problem in taking either of the above Gerbers into the 'boonies'.
 
ive got a gerber that my grandpa carried since my dad was a kid. Couldnt tell you what it is but it has a drop point zero grind blade with a brass handle with black micarta inlays. It was actually the first knife that gave me my first serious bite.
 
I have about 4 of the LST's. They are good little slicers and don't hurt the wallet if you loose them or break them.
 
Back in the early Nineties, Gerber and Buck was my favorite knife companies. Buck still is and I had fallen away from Gerber. I have a Gerber Ez out jr from around 1991 or so and its still as nice as the day I bought it. The Gator that I traded for is a newer one and I was surprised at how nice it really was. I always wanted one and that is why I traded. I am glad I did. I am kind of a Hillbilly myself being I am from Mississippi and live in the country, so I guess I do feel at home carrying it. haha. I'm still not fond of every Gerber but for the few knives I have mentioned, I'm not gonna flame on them so much anymore. Honestly, that Gator has become my go to knife when I am in the woods on a 4 wheeler. That being said, I still have a Leatherman multi tool in my dry box. I carry my Spyderco Native for EDC and usually a Blast or SAK on my belt.
 
I cary a Gerber every now and then. I actually really like the AR 3.0, though I might get a plain edge version and get rid of the partially serrated one.
 
Tony95 said:
The Gerber EZ out used to be the best knife for the money 10 or more years ago
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That's because ten years ago, Gerber used better steel in their EZs and also there were fewer quality knives.

It's hard not to like EZs, even today. They're light and carry easier than most any other folder. But they need to be made with better steel blades. Although many people didn't like them, the Cold Steel Voyagers with the integrated clip made right from the frame is still one of my favorites. They're almost invisible and I haven't come close to breaking my clip off.

I don't like heavy knives. I recently bought a CRKT Thunderbolt because of the good price, but the thing is just too heavy. And the ones made now (in China) just aren't as good as the first ones. They're strong, but I just can't carry it.

I frequently carry the EZ clipped to my pajamas, and it doesn't bother me, even when I sleep with it.

GerberEZ-Outs.jpg


For the price, this knife ought to have a better blade. Gerber
just wants to maximize profits.

.
 
My EDC going on four years now is a Gerber LST. It replaced a Mini-Grip. I wanted something slimmer and lighter. Can't speak for any other Gerbers, but the LST is a good knife.
 
Anyone have a Swagger or Mini Swagger, both decent-looking recent models?

Inexpensive framelocks with G10 and stainless scales. Looks like they are made to compete with CRKT Drifter series.

Blade is a mystery "stainless steel."

Anybody know what steel Gerber uses?
 
flash900 said:
Anybody know what steel Gerber uses?
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My LST's are close to 15 years old. Over that 15 years I've seen it advertised as 420HC as much as I've seen it labeled "400 Series Stainless".

I don't know why they don't tell ya what it is. They're awful proud of their S30V offerings so they know steel types can sell a knife.

IIRC, the original LMF and BMF fixed blades were also marketed as 420HC.
 
The mystery steel is pretty shoddy on most folders (400 series/ surgical/ etc. Soft as my cheap butter knives.
I had a gator once.
They once made a great titanium handled folder with a liner lock. Rubber inserts.
That thing was great for the price. it was a wal mart special back in the day.
 
I had a Gator in the early 90's and a EZ-out that I probably bought very late 90's , both of them were terrible at edge retention.
My Brother got everyone in his Grooms party a Gerber MT with their initials engraved, I used that thing for years , the phillips took a dump pretty quick and I cant tell you how many times I pinched the **&*&*^^(*&* out of my hand using those damn things. They sit in my trucks toolbox now.

I'm not a steel snob and I'm not flaming the thread but in my opinion Gerber leaves a lot to be desired and have done so for quite a while.

That said I cannot help but be curious about the Gerber Torch 1 since I cannot afford the real thing but after my previous experiences my wallet wont allow me to do so.

:)

Tostig
 
GIRLYmann said:
the last gerber i bought was an artifact.
no regrets 'bout that
CBAP0X-A42276737_4a652135265ed

figure that pretty much says just how ancient the rest of my remaining gerbers really are.
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With you there (though I can't read the Asian print to say I agree w the ad.:D)! I have mine w me every day! Great all around little tool. Cheep cheep too!
 
BTW, you can't beat the STL for a keychain lock blade that is SSSSSSHHHHHHHARP! Stays that way too!
 
trimcut123 said:
The mystery steel is pretty shoddy on most folders (400 series/ surgical/ etc. Soft as my cheap butter knives.
I had a gator once.
They once made a great titanium handled folder with a liner lock. Rubber inserts.
That thing was great for the price. it was a wal mart special back in the day.
Click to expand...

BUt the value and performance compare. If you want better steel, buy a Benchmade for the same price..... oh yeah, you can't. Softer steel means easier to sharpen too. Not a bad thing. Remember, they are gearing toward knive users, not fanatic like most of us. They want two things, value, sharpness out of the package, and east maintenance. That is exactly why Wal Mart and Target sell them, and not Busse, Spderco, Benchmade, etc....
 
I bought a Gerber a few years ago...can't recall the name of the model. It not only had poor edge retention, it wouldn't cut through the hard plastic bubbles that came on some of the products that hang from the shelves of Target and other stores. It wouldn't even pierce that plastic, much less cut it. In fact, I thought further efforts to do so might result in physical danger. It was like poking a slab of steel. When I tried a Cold Steel Night Force, however, the 440A blade cut through the plastic with ease and was still sharp when I was finished. I polished the Gerber up until it looked better than new, sharpened the blade and gave it away.

Gerber doesn't advertise their steels anymore. They simply say, 400-series (which means they can use 420J2 or worse) or the dreaded "surgical stainless." Most people don't know that surgical stainless clamps, scalpels and other implements and tools are only used once, then they're disposed of. So steer clear of anything that says "surgical stainless." It's bound to be junk.

Gerber has decided to appeal to those who are ignorant about knives and steel. I wouldn't buy a Gerber of any type, and if someone gave me a Gerber, I'd either put it in my drawer or give it away. The only reason I use the EZ-Out is that it opens junk food and mail. I keep a sharpener handy as it needs frequent swipes. The steel is crap. I can get better knives from a Dollar Store, and that's not a figure of speech. The first locking knife I ever got was from a Dollar Store, and I still have it. It's junk, but it's not as junky as the stuff Gerber sells.

.
 
Confederate said:
I bought a Gerber a few years ago...can't recall the name of the model. It not only had poor edge retention, it wouldn't cut through the hard plastic bubbles that came on some of the products that hang from the shelves of Target and other stores. It wouldn't even pierce that plastic, much less cut it. In fact, I thought further efforts to do so might result in physical danger. It was like poking a slab of steel. When I tried a Cold Steel Night Force, however, the 440A blade cut through the plastic with ease and was still sharp when I was finished. I polished the Gerber up until it looked better than new, sharpened the blade and gave it away.

Gerber doesn't advertise their steels anymore. They simply say, 400-series (which means they can use 420J2 or worse) or the dreaded "surgical stainless." Most people don't know that surgical stainless clamps, scalpels and other implements and tools are only used once, then they're disposed of. So steer clear of anything that says "surgical stainless." It's bound to be junk.

Gerber has decided to appeal to those who are ignorant about knives and steel. I wouldn't buy a Gerber of any type, and if someone gave me a Gerber, I'd either put it in my drawer or give it away. The only reason I use the EZ-Out is that it opens junk food and mail. I keep a sharpener handy as it needs frequent swipes. The steel is crap. I can get better knives from a Dollar Store, and that's not a figure of speech. The first locking knife I ever got was from a Dollar Store, and I still have it. It's junk, but it's not as junky as the stuff Gerber sells.

.
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well my freeman folder would beg to differ,but to each his own. i suppose i'm just ignorant of knives and steel, alas somehow i will carry on...
regards
gene
 
I am a Gerber fan also.
My Yari, orignal, I've had for many years, is an excellent knife.
They make some good stuff and it's affordable.
 
IVANKERLEY said:
...
and my son has
Grylls Lockback...
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May I ask how the Grylls folder performs?
Both the larger (sheath) and the smaller (scout) folders started to grow on me since I've seen them, but I'd like to hear some oppinions from people who actually used them.
Thanks in advance.
 
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