why does everyone hate gerber.

i just ordered a gerber ez out folder, blade is s30v.

i should have it this week.

it was under $40 shipped so i figure it was a good way for me to try that type of steel.
 
bryant R said:
i am just as much of a knife nut as anyone else believe me i would love to get higher end knives but they are not in my price point right now and as a budget option you get a darn good knife. but i hear gerber catch so much heat on this forum and i just dont understand it
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Have you read the other responses to this thread?
 
actually last i heard buck was making a knife in s30v that came highly reccomended for begginer knife guys and was a little under 50 dollars shipped i think it was the vantage.
 
Because they make this.
gerber-bear-grylls-suvival-series-ultimate-knife.jpg

That, and there are other companies that sell better knives at prices comparable to any gerber knife. It doesn't help that a lot of Gerber knives are imports. I prefer US made, if at all possible. I like Kershaw as an alternative to Gerber.
Yet, as I said in another thread; If Gerber came out with a really great knife that everyone loved, I wouldn't have a problem buying it.
 
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yes i have read all the other posts and can understand some of the reasons why you dislike gerber (yes the bg knife is stupid looking but its actually a good knife if you ignore the bear grylls stuff ) but overall i think they make a good product
 
I don't hate Gerber. Gerber just isn't on my radar. When I am looking for a new knife Gerber doesn't even enter my mind.
 
I don't hate Gerber. I just strongly dislike most of what they make right now, and have made in the recent past. I'm keeping an open mind about them. As a wise man once said "Don't burn bridges--just cross them carefully next time." :D
 
kreole said:
You have to realize this is a forum for people who have an obsession with knives and cutting tools. The mediocre isn't going to be overly popular in such a setting. Aficionados pretty much by definition want more than what is necessary.

Plus they have their own history working against them. Before they were bought out, they were higher quality, and it's hard not to compare what they are to what they were.
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I disagree. I am obsessed with knives. Most of the knives I own would probably fall into that mediocre category. But mediocre for who? One mans mediocre may be another's Grail knife. We all like what we like. There are a lot of knife nuts here that cant afford higher end knives, or don't want to spend that much on a knife, or maybe have the money but are content with Gerber's, Sogs, Mora's etc. People like what they like.;)

As for the OP, I like Gerber but as many have said they have gone down hill, and not as innovative as they once were. They have a few models that are still with it. The LMF for one.
Like what you like and don't worry about anyone else, they are your knives and you use them.;)

My Gerbers.:D
gerbercollection2.jpg
 
bryant R said:
why does everyone hate gerber so much i dont get it i have had nothing but good experiences with them. at their price point they probably arent the best but as long as you mantain them and dont expect too much of them . at there price point they arent going to have super steel they arent going to be as good as say a spyderco or a benchmade but they will work.
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I laughed a little. You answered your own question.

I'm going to make a huge leap here and say that most folks don't bother with gerber because, as you just said, most of their stuff is sub-par for the price point, you can't really expect too much from them, and, often, they just aren't going to be as good as a comparable benchmade or spyderco or kershaw product.

I've found that Gerber makes some good products and some absolute abortions. I have a Gerber Big Rock and a Yari 2 that I got on a closeout sale, and they're very decent knives. That said, I've also owned and used a few knives from them that were pretty awful, especially for the price - the newer production guardian boot knife leaps to mind, as well as a few of their generic tactical folders that buddies of mine use. Gerber isn't the worst company out there but imho you can do a lot better with other companies.
 
They have a few gems--you just have to sift through all the pieces designed for the "average user." :)
 
I dont mind gerber, was my first delve into "higher end knives" (coming from when i was a kid carrying a pep boys .50 cent knife
 
bryant R said:
yes i have read all the other posts and can understand some of the reasons why you dislike gerber (yes the bg knife is stupid looking but its actually a good knife if you ignore the bear grylls stuff ) but overall i think they make a good product
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Even if they do make a good product, you could probably buy a better product for the same amount of money elsewhere. The budget Kershaws are very nice, and actually disclose their steel. Just my opinion.
 
kreole said:
You have to realize this is a forum for people who have an obsession with knives and cutting tools. The mediocre isn't going to be overly popular in such a setting. Aficionados pretty much by definition want more than what is necessary.

Plus they have their own history working against them. Before they were bought out, they were higher quality, and it's hard not to compare what they are to what they were.
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I could not say it better. This is my exact thinking. People never forget a company's past no matter what. It's hard not to make that work against them. And ordinary just doesn't cut it around here.
 
Nobody really hates Gerber. They just don't make anything exciting or noteworthy. Yeah they are priced ok and they work, but there's nothing to really talk about.
 
I am influenced by design as much as by the steel used in my decision to buy a knife and I've always been attracted to Gerber's designs. The big knock I have against them is their mystery steel. Even so, they have some great looking knives in the $30-50 range that I would be eager to buy at a higher price if they used a high quality steel.

P.S. It seems like they're using 7CR17MOV which I understand is the equivalent of 440A. http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/7cr17mov.shtml
Kershaw is using 8CR17MOV on some of their similarly priced knives which seems to be the equivalent of 440B. http://www.zknives.com/knives/steels/steelgraph.php?nm=8Cr17&ni=856&hrn=1&gm=0.
 
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bryant R said:
i am just as much of a knife nut as anyone else believe me i would love to get higher end knives but they are not in my price point right now and as a budget option you get a darn good knife. but i hear gerber catch so much heat on this forum and i just dont understand it
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What exactly do you pay for a Gerber? $25-$30?
For that money you can get a Much better made Kershaw, Spyderco, Buck, Opinel, SOG, Victorinox, Case, GEC, Mora, on and on and on. There are many choices, a limited budget is not a valid excuse really. For me, I'd much rather have 1 really good quality knife than 3-4 knives that are not good quality. For the price of 2 Gerber knives you can own a terrific knife from any of the companies I named ealier. Simple call really.
 
They market and sell a lot of knives still , so something's working for them

I think they'd sell even more knives if they quit putting serrations on them. I doubt serrations were a big request from the buying public , but I could be wrong. I know that serrations plus the dubious blade steels they use are things that turn me off.
 
bryant R said:
yes i have read all the other posts and can understand some of the reasons why you dislike gerber (yes the bg knife is stupid looking but its actually a good knife if you ignore the bear grylls stuff ) but overall i think they make a good product
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I myself have heard otherwise.
(This mentions the tip bending)
(This mentions the handle breaking)
Not to mention it's made in China, and costs 40-$60. For that, you could buy a USMC Ka-bar, or a Becker BK2; both blow the "Ultimate survival knife" out of the water, and aren't quite so cheesy.
If you need a "Survival knife" which is doubtful, then try a Camillus jet pilot survival knife. I bought mine at a gun and knife show for $20. It has a pouch for a sharpening stone (Which some come with if you're lucky) a saw on the spine and it still has a steel pommel. You can even wrap the handle in para cord, and leave enough for a lanyard (I'll link instructions to anyone interested) What it doesn't have, is a mostly serrated edge, a whistle :confused:, fire starter, and Bear Gryll's personal guide to surviving in the wilderness. These are things I personally can do without.
 
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