What's Wrong With Gerber?

One of the things that bugs me is Gerber's propensity to do combo edges on nearly all of their knives. Doesn't add any value to me at all.
 
As already mentioned, Gerber's older USA-made knives were quality products. They also used to have their Silver Knight line manufactured in Seki, Japan, which were high quality knives as well.

Jim
 
orezona said:
One of the things that bugs me is Gerber's propensity to do combo edges on nearly all of their knives. Doesn't add any value to me at all.
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But that shouldn't take away from the overall company image...it's an opinion. I happen to love partially serrated blades; doesn't mean I'm going to knock a company that decides to only make plain edges.
 
Let me rephrase: I like some of their designs but would actually purchase them if there was an OPTION to have a plain edge or combo.

Also, I don't like mystery steel...

Overall though the deluding of the brand with so many crap knives out on the market, it hurt the models that actually are decent, IMO.
 
All of their current lineup that appeal to me are remnant designs from the 1990s, like the EZ-Out and Gator. They're all right knives, especially when compared to other knives in the 1990s but they fall flat today, both in performance and design. No new interesting designs at all. Plus, I still have my Gator and EZ Out and have no need or desire to buy another.

The best Gerber knives of all time, in my experience, were the Silver Knight series. They weren't made by Gerber at all, but were contracted from a quality maker in Seki. Excellent fit-and-finish, beautiful materials, and classy design. Too bad Gerber can't actually learn to make something like this themselves.
SilverKnights.jpg
 
orezona said:
Let me rephrase: I like some of their designs but would actually purchase them if there was an OPTION to have a plain edge or combo.

Also, I don't like mystery steel...

Overall though the deluding of the brand with so many crap knives out on the market, it hurt the models that actually are decent, IMO.
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The company's relatively recent Strongarm I received this week is offered in both plain edge and partially serrated edge.
It's made entirely in the U.S.A.
The steel is no mystery, nor is it exotic snob steel which affords a purchaser its current price point.

I would not hesitate to give one to someone deploying overseas.
A hard use fixed blade for military, law enforcement, border patrol applications or even back yard usage.
Not a designer folder, no exotic steel and far from a crap knife.
I would be confident depending on this knife in another Hurricane Katrina or Sandy.

Those that hate based on the period the company fell below production quality will usually continue to hate.

This knife is 100% made in the U.S.A. with a full lifetime warranty.

[video]https://youtu.be/OLCmrDI0MKI[/video]

Basic specs:

[video]https://youtu.be/d5c0tz9xny0[/video]
 
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I dunno, Bob... the Silver Knights were good stuff, not arguing that, but they had some decent stuff back when.

Had a Mark II from the Vietnam era that I wish I had back.

Buddy had a Frisco Shiv... I keep looking for one of these also, as it was good stuff.

Had a Gerber Bolt Action designed by Blackie Collins that was awesome. Same for the early EZ-Out I completely abused.

I might try this Strongarm. I hold out hope that someday somebody in some cubicle at Fiskars will realize that making a quality product trumps endorsements by TV personalities, and hence is better for their bottom line. Slim, glass-is-half-full hope, but hope nonetheless.

But such hope didn't work for me with Camillus... perhaps my optimism is nothing more than senility.
 
And perhaps we've stumbled onto the answer: with so many recalls, horror stories, breakages, stale designs, and unhappy customers, when Gerber does come out with something decent, people don't believe it or trust it.
Gerber has a tarnished reputation, entirely of their own doing, and not even a new survival knife in 420HC :rolleyes: is going to overcome that.
 
Bob W said:
And perhaps we've stumbled onto the answer: with so many recalls, horror stories, breakages, stale designs, and unhappy customers, when Gerber does come out with something decent, people don't believe it or trust it.
Gerber has a tarnished reputation, entirely of their own doing, and not even a new survival knife in 420HC :rolleyes: is going to overcome that.
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"when Gerber does come out with something decent, people don't believe it or trust it."
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I agree.
Like I said, hater's are gonn'a hate, in some case's rightfully so.
The only Gerber I own other then the new Strongarm, is a little (10 year old) 'Mini Paraframe' it's duty is relegated to opening letters and packages.
I like the design of it, inspired by the bridges of Gerber's hometown in Portland, Oregon.
I purchased the Strongarm after viewing every "Gauntlet" video on Y.T., had I not... I never would have purchased it.
For me, the Strongarm is a winner.
 
If someone were to give me a strongarm then I'd give it a fair and unbiased chance to prove itself. Like said I'm rooting for the company...

It would be a long time, like 100 more positive reviews, before I ever actually pay for one; three strikes and you're out... Gerber done struck out with me.
 
I received my Gerber USA made Strongarm a month ago. Till now I am very satisfied with that. As Bobby3326 mentioned already "That knife can take some major abuse, and still holds it edge. It takes a wicked sharp edge and is dependable. What more do you want for a budget fixed blade". I fully agree.
I am satisfied also with Gerber USA made LMF II (I have it since 2010).
I am satisfied also with my two Freeman folders (both models are fine, of course the USA made one , with S30V steel, is better).
What else can I add?
Oh yes, I have forgotten the old legend (USA made of course) Gerber Mark II Double Edged. Beautiful and excellent piece.....
What else have I to add, as far Gerber is concerned ?
 
strategy9 said:
If someone were to give me a strongarm then I'd give it a fair and unbiased chance to prove itself. Like said I'm rooting for the company...

It would be a long time, like 100 more positive reviews, before I ever actually pay for one; three strikes and you're out... Gerber done struck out with me.
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If you have some time, take a look at the six or so "Gauntlet" videos on YouTube where "one" Strongarm was passed around between several different users/reviewers, they all put the knife to their own individual "tests".
The outcomes were impressive enough for me to purchase one for less then $50.00.
I decided not to base my decision on past Gerber company history.
 
hunter55 said:
I received my Gerber USA made Strongarm a month ago. Till now I am very satisfied with that. As Bobby3326 mentioned already "That knife can take some major abuse, and still holds it edge. It takes a wicked sharp edge and is dependable. What more do you want for a budget fixed blade". I fully agree.
I am satisfied also with Gerber USA made LMF II (I have it since 2010).
I am satisfied also with my two Freeman folders (both models are fine, of course the USA made one , with S30V steel, is better).
What else can I add?
Oh yes, I have forgotten the old legend (USA made of course) Gerber Mark II Double Edged. Beautiful and excellent piece.....
What else have I to add, as far Gerber is concerned ?
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I have an lmf2 and while it is a well built knife I don't particularly care for it anymore. I bought it when I was going thru my "tactical"knife stage lol. It's a good knife for it's intended purpose, however too many people buy it for it's "survival knife" label and complain when the rubber hilt breaks when they smack it repeatedly with a baton. It's not a wilderness survival knife period.

Where the lmf2 will shine is in a urban survival scenario, or the battle field. If you need to smash windows or cut live wire then it'll serve you well. In an urban shtf environment I'd definitely grab the lmf2.

The strong arm thou bridges the gap between urban survival knife and Bush knife.
 
Sunyata said:
Made in China crap using an old name.


Even their new stuff isn't all that new.
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When's the last time you've actually used one of there quality offerings that are usa made? Rather than talking crap on a topic you haven't experienced go out and use one.
 
i really like the gerber usa made applegate folders. i carry the 154CM gerber covert all the time, its a nice slim folder. the american made gerber 06 plunge lock knife is ok too, but other than those everything else of theirs seems like garbage.

i have scored some of the older gerber stuff on ebay which was great, like the gerber guardian daggers and whatnot.
 
strategy9 said:
Indeed the bear grylls endorsement may have done them little favors in the knife knut community, but it's certainly done them some good in the larger (and knife ignorant) general public community, who those orange packages in big box stores like Walmart... Shoot, I bought one some years back myself as I was still all too ignorant, and much as it sucked it was my primary beater work blade up until recently.
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I was given one of the Bear survival knives as a gift. I was very skeptical given my experience with Gerber knives lately but I was pleasantly surprised. It holds an edge and is well constructed. I understand the first version of my knife was recalled but I haven't had any problems.
 
Yar said:
I was given one of the Bear survival knives as a gift. I was very skeptical given my experience with Gerber knives lately but I was pleasantly surprised. It holds an edge and is well constructed. I understand the first version of my knife was recalled but I haven't had any problems.
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I got one of those a few years ago and the blade snapped in half after about 30 mins of use...My Gerber Freemans snapped about half inch down from the tip when I accidentally dropped it..several other Chinese Gerbers I've owned broke as well..The only Chinese Gerber that's proved reliable is my big rock, great knife.
 
I carry an 06 FAST, for a $50 I've beat the hell out of it. It stays sharp long enough, no blade play in any direction. If only they made this model without serrations I'd be good to go.
 
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