The gerberLMF!

CRossRifles2008 said:
The Tang on a LMF is a deep tang. Its not like some cheap Rambo hollow grip knife that only goes in a 1/2" with a nut and no lock washer. The tang goes deep enough to be as strong, or almost as strong as a full tang, but only break before the butt, because your hand over laps the steel butt. That way your don't get electrocuted. Like in the true story previously mentioned about a sniper who had to cut power lines. Though the voltage didn't take chunks out of the blade. In fact he almost completely removed the arch on the blade with a honing stone and continued to use the knife. You guys don't like the knife cause your not soldiers. Its a soldiers knife thus called the Infantry LMF.

It is understandable though what are the chances you have to punch through plexi-glass or saw through something to get to a pilot on camping trip or cut electrical wires. Just know though the knife has its place in the world even if you aren't a fan.
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and you'd know just who isn't a soldier on this site because? and ALL soldiers like the knife?? get real..

marcinek said:
You are right! If a knife has "Infantry" in its name, it must be a real soldiers knife. Just like a knife with "Spec", "Gov", "Ops", "Tec", "Mil", or "XTreme" in its name is used by real super secret high speed "operators." :cool:
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LOL
 
I bought this knife on 3 separate recommendations from army guys (none of whom knew each other) who used it in the field and kept it with them at home - if it wasn't on the belt, leg, or vest, it was in the glove-box or under the seat of the car. I actually don't know any other civilians (in person, besides myself) who own & carry it...

It's not my 'best' knife, and I don't need the serrations, but these guys were more than satisfied with the performance and actually liked the serrations. Go figure.
I should mention, 'bushcraft' was not a common use for the knife among these guys, but they did use the knife to chop, baton, and carve wood. One guy told me that the serrations are located correctly for right-handers when carving, that you want the scallops facing toward the wood - he seemed to think that it gave a cleaner cut and wore less on the more delicate serrations...? This guy also filleted a salmon with his - just one, and it wasn't very pretty, but it got the job done.
At home, they use the pommel to crush ice; the hammer for general tapping; they'd loosen dirt and dig holes with the blade like it was a spade, then clean it up and use it to cut some more... I got the impression that they used them similarly while deployed.

These were all 12C27 models, made in Portland. None of these guys had complaints about the knife, rather they were singing its praises, including on matters of durability. Two of them had dumped KaBars for these.

I'm not saying that this is the best knife these guys could have been using, but I guess that for the money they had to spend the LMFII gave them the performance and versatility they were looking for. They all claimed that the knife was specifically designed for them - maybe some Gerber-Rep held a sale for their units or something and fed them that line, but they didn't appear dissatisfied with the tool, so go figure.

In summary, the LMFII seems specifically designed for military personnel, with special features catering to at least some of their preferences, at an economical price.
 
chiral.grolim said:
In summary, the LMFII seems specifically designed for military personnel, with special features catering to at least some of their preferences, at an economical price.
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Price is probably the deciding point. Most military people aren't into knives, so the utility of a 200-300$ production, midtech, or handcrafted blade won't be significantly higher, regardless of the differences in quality and materials.
 
My son-in-law is out of Ft Campbell. He is a combat engineer and he's done 2 tours in Iraq. He carried one of these and loved it...until he lost it!

He is due to deploy on his 3rd tour in January, and when I took him shopping for a replacement knife to take with, he picked another LMF, out of several he had to choose from...that's the one he wanted. He carries an excellent folder for fine cutting chores, and the LMF does everything else for him.

YMMV
 
I think it is mostly the group of people that you talk to. Some groups REALLY like them, and hit 'em when they go on sale. If you see them and think they will work for you, then they probably will, while some see them and are totally disinterested, and they could be right as well.
 
Apec said:
Price is probably the deciding point. Most military people aren't into knives, so the utility of a 200-300$ production, midtech, or handcrafted blade won't be significantly higher, regardless of the differences in quality and materials.
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And, if I understand, they are readily available at the PX.

Thats what they seem to have going for them.

But hey, if I need to cut through a hot power cable, and I don't have one....I guess I'm outta luck.

Of course, if I need to cut through anything else, and an LMF is all I have....I guess I'm outta luck.
 
TheLastDaze said:
and you'd know just who isn't a soldier on this site because? and ALL soldiers like the knife?? get real..



LOL
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Wow sensitive much? I didn't say you can't be a soldier and dislike the knife. I was referring to people saying its not a great camp knife. It wasn't designed to be a great camp knife. There are better knives out there, but in my opinion this is one of the best soldiers knives. Why?

Not that expensive.

Most of the cutting you do as a soldier doesn't require finesse.
EX: It cuts 550 cord, and boxes just fine.

Its not a fancy knife or a finesse knife, but its a good knife. And it can take a beaten. Just today I used mine to cut into my wall locker. Not even a ding in the blade. Its a great knife to use and abuse. I wouldn't use a Bark River for that shit. They are to nice and expensive.

In summary I'm not saying who is a soldier and who isn't. I will say every soldier I have shown mine loves it. If you are a soldier you should probably have thicker skin though.
 
marcinek said:
You are right! If a knife has "Infantry" in its name, it must be a real soldiers knife. Just like a knife with "Spec", "Gov", "Ops", "Tec", "Mil", or "XTreme" in its name is used by real super secret high speed "operators." :cool:
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Well Gerber does have the most US Military Sales Slick Rick. :D

I am aware of however that the Army doesn't always go with the best though. Price plays a big role. ;)
 
Aren't KaBars and other knives also available at the PX? Are these also useless as cutting tools? Wouldn't someone who actually, say, uses one on a regular basis be most informed regarding the tool's durability and ability to cut? (I think we already know who the jerk is)

12C27 is a fine stainless steel, and I've heard many good things about its durability despite being a stainless non-super steel. I've had no problems with it myself, other than the edge compressing on my LMFII when I accidentally chopped into a nail. My understanding was that this knife was heat-treated in the USA (at least the 12C27 version) - does anyone have evidence to counter this?

My guess is, with military guys, give them a knife that does the job at an affordable price, and they'll use it to the extent of its capabilities. Give them a knife that does the job better at the same price and they'll switch to it. The guys I know switched to the LMF from KaBars and the like, so it must be a good enough cutting tool for them, the right tool for the job, and I'm guessing they like the versatility.

If ESEE offers these guys a model-5 at the price of an LMFII, maybe they'd switch to that... though I think they'd have more use for a hammer-pommel and electric-isolation, less use for a bow-drill socket ;)
 
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CRossRifles2008 said:
The Tang on a LMF is a deep tang. Its not like some cheap Rambo hollow grip knife that only goes in a 1/2" with a nut and no lock washer. The tang goes deep enough to be as strong, or almost as strong as a full tang, but only break before the butt, because your hand over laps the steel butt. That way your don't get electrocuted. Like in the true story previously mentioned about a sniper who had to cut power lines. Though the voltage didn't take chunks out of the blade. In fact he almost completely removed the arch on the blade with a honing stone and continued to use the knife. You guys don't like the knife cause your not soldiers. Its a soldiers knife thus called the Infantry LMF.

It is understandable though what are the chances you have to punch through plexi-glass or saw through something to get to a pilot on camping trip or cut electrical wires. Just know though the knife has its place in the world even if you aren't a fan.
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This soldier does not like it because it has such soft steel. I like my K-Bar better.
 
chiral.grolim said:
Aren't KaBars and other knives also available at the PX? Are these also useless as cutting tools? Wouldn't someone who actually, say, uses one on a regular basis be most informed regarding the tool's durability and ability to cut?(Thanks for quoting it)
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Its not like what is at the PX is driven by what the servicemen and women want/need, is it? If its the only fied blade available...sure...you gotta use it. That doesn't make it good.

Nice use of the "jerkit" by the way. You should use it more often.
 
CRossRifles2008 said:
Well Gerber does have the most US Military Sales Slick Rick. :D

I am aware of however that the Army doesn't always go with the best though. Price plays a big role. ;)
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Going with the LMF shows they don't even go with "good".

And you called me Slick Rick! That was quite a zinger! "Slick Rick". It's funny because it rhymes.
 
marcinek have you ever owned a LMF? What did you use it for, and how did it fail you? My guess you never owned one never used it, but feel the need to be a expert opinion on it.

"Of course, if I need to cut through anything else, and an LMF is all I have....I guess I'm outta luck."
Funny I just cut into my steel wall locker with mine with no damage. What cutting are you doing that it would fail at?

"Its not like what is at the PX is driven by what the servicemen and women want/need, is it? If its the only fied blade available...sure...you gotta use it. That doesn't make it good."
I have NEVER gone into a PX where the LMF Infantry knife is the only available.

"Nice use of the "jerkit" by the way. You should use it more often."
Where did he write "jerkit"??? I don't see that. He did however say "Jerk" which you prove yourself to be with every post. Though I'm not sure he was completely referring to you.
 
CRossRifles2008 said:
marcinek have you ever owned a LMF? What did you use it for, and how did it fail you? My guess you never owned one never used it, but feel the need to be a expert opinion on it.

"Of course, if I need to cut through anything else, and an LMF is all I have....I guess I'm outta luck."
Funny I just cut into my steel wall locker with mine with no damage. What cutting are you doing that it would fail at?
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I'm not talking about failing...I'm talking about failing to cut. Sure...its great for cutting though a steel wall locker (though I'm not quite sure why one would do that :confused:).

Like I said way earlier on in the thread. The LMF has the cutting geometry of a brick.

So I guess we agree.
 
marcinek said:
I'm not talking about failing...I'm talking about failing to cut. Sure...its great for cutting though a steel wall locker (though I'm not quite sure why one would do that :confused:).

Like I said way earlier on in the thread. The LMF has the cutting geometry of a brick.

So I guess we agree.
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No we don't, because it does cut.
 
I have never owned an LMF, but have owned two Gerbers in the past. They were constructed of poor materials and exhibited poor build quality. Perhaps, the LMF is at a disadvantage because of the maufacturers label and not because of its ability. I don't know. What I do know is that I use a knife hard and will not own another Gerber based upon my personal experience with the brand. The best tool is always the one you are most comfortable using so if it works for you go for it.
 
CRossRifles2008 said:
No we don't, because it does cut.
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Yes...like a brick.

But enough, before there's any more name calling, you have convinced me CRossRifles....

pete120...if you need to de-animate a steel wall locker...the LMF is the knife to get.


(I never did trust those wall lockers. :mad:)
 
This is what I am talking about ... people tend to get really emotional when talking about gerber on this site. I tend to think that it has less to do with the actual knife or company and more to do with the people on the board, who are here because they care about buying the best products on the market. The sales model of gerber seems to be maybe to sell a lot of okay knives to people who don't know or care much about knives that are in most cases not the best bang for your buck if you know what you are doing ... I think that is an offensive idea to most of the people on here and they want to distance themselves from it.

But despite the fact that you can get a better suited knife for less money, and despite the fact that a lot of people buy this knife for uses that it wasn't really desigend for (I agree with it being a big brick like hunk of steel used to bang and pry on metal and such, and of course the electrical thing), it still does "work." That is, if you need to cut something, it is probably about 95% better than not having a knife (whereas a Busse or whatever you think is the top of the heap is maybe 99% better). Also, I'm guessing it's much better than just about any knife available at, say, the 20th century, and better than most knives in, say, 1950 (i.e. it is all relative). And for what it is designed to do, there aren't a ton of options out there. So, I think it has its place.
 
marcinek said:
(I never did trust those wall lockers. :mad:)
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And you shouldn't trust them. That's why I have the knife that will mess them up.:D

I understand the anger against Gerber. They make a lot of poor products. I to have been failed by a Gerber. Out of all the knives and tools they make I like only three, and they are the three that are made in USA.

LMF Infantry USA Made

Covert Folder Applegate Fairbairn 154CM USA Made

Gerber Gator 154CM USA Made

I wouldn't by a Gerber unless it was proven to be good in person as these have.

Gerber makes a lot of crap, but I said it before and I'll say it again. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut every once in a while.
 
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