why does everyone hate gerber.

I think they sold out for cheaper quality !!! the only gerbers I like come only in serrated blades which I don't like.
 
I don't have any gerbers other than a lmf 2, which I think is a nice blade. Wish they had a model with no serrations though. I believe it is made in the USA, instead of china or where ever else. I like kershaw folders as well. I'm about to venture into the busse and kin waters in the future. I may never return. Just kidding, I love knives and think if you like it buy it. If you don't end up liking it in the end, lesson learned. I try and stay away from anything china makes as far as blades go. I'm also to young to know anything about what gerber use to be. Different strokes for different folks. Buy whatever makes you happy.
 
Like a lot of once great knife companies, the older stuff is always best.
Check the center of the pic: Gerber Mark I Presentation (dagger), Gerber Gaurdian II (camo).
Both used but still HOT AS HELL!
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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.

Ayup, gotta make sure everyone loves it before you buy it.
 
I gotta admit, I like the Gerber Profile, both fixed and folder. Carried the folder for a good while, helluva knife, best twenty clams I ever spent. I even stashed one of each still in (clam shell) packaging.
Other than that one design, though, I haven't bitten.

- OS
 
It is not accurate to say that a lot of people hate Gerber. Judging by how many Gerber knives I see in everything from REI to lots of big box sporting goods store, I suspect they sell more knives than Spyderco or Bemchmade. They just appeal to a different segment of the market than the Bladeforums audience.
 
I own an older EZ Out, a Bolt Action and 4 LSTs (both old & new designs) all are American made take and hold a good edge. The LSTs are great especially considering the $20 or less price and are great for stuffing someplace so you always have one available.
 
I remember at one time I sharpened an older Gerber gator for someone using a lanskey. I belive they were 440A at that time which is better than 420HC in my opinion. It was plain looking, well used, and a little beaten but a well made tight no nonsense folder nevertheless. The knife was dull from lots of use and took a very long time to sharpen but when all was done it had a keen razor edge so I can attest to that it was heat treated quite well.

I have had the displeasure of handling a few modern imported Fiskar (supposably Gerber) folders although I don't remember offhand which ones I left with the impression they were loose, chinsey, tourist trap crap. The blade edges had that borderline dull/semi sharp ragged edge that is often felt on cheap badly tempered 420J2 import blades. I do distrust their current heat treat prove me wrong.

Companies that won't name the steel they use piss me off. I am not a steel snob and I never had much trouble finding out the blade steel used in older Gerbers which in a lot of cases was 440A. From the time I had getting an edge on that older Gator combined with past good reviews on Gerber knives I can guess the heat treat used to be done right which is the most important thing regardless of the grade of steel.

Bottom line I don't trust them especially the imported line. If I did choose to I would give the domestic Gerbers a go but I am not too optimistic.
 
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I dont care much for the China-made stuff. Its not because im a China hater, but because ive had bad experiences with them.

But the Gerbers made in Portland, Oregon are good quality which i have no qualms buying/using :thumbup:
 
I love the Gerber, but made in the USA.
Compare model 06 assist and 06 auto (S30V), and feel the difference.
Still quite good older models, such as Parabellum.
 
I think you will find that there are many satisfied Gerber users out there, that don't want to hear smack talk by admitting they like them. There are a number of Gerber designs that I like and own, such as the S30V Freeman Folder and the 154CM Gator. That said, I won't buy any but the US made models.
 
I have a Gerber Prodigy. The only reason I keep it is because I couldn't get much out of it if I tried to sell it.
 
Ayup, gotta make sure everyone loves it before you buy it.
Have you ever heard of ANYONE liking the "Ultimate survival knife?" Obviously I don't care if no one has an opinion on it but if the majority of people say a knife sucks, and I don't read any good reviews, then I'm going to stick with something that people like. That's one reason why this forum exists; to hear other people's opinions on knives, so you can make educated decisions.
 
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Hi everybody. My name is B Yond, and I'm a Gerber fan.

It's like admitting you're addicted to crack around here. Most will look down on you. Some will empathize. A very few will admit they are too.

It's like saying you like Hi-Point pistols in a gun forum. People will snicker.

Personally, I've never regretted purchasing a Gerber product, and I've never had one not live up to my expectations. That said, I've heard others have had poor experiences with Gerber products, so I may just be lucky.

My Gerbers, all of which I can whole-heartedly recommend:
LMF II
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Mk II
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FAST Draw
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Mini FAST Draw
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Covert FAST
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EAB
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River Shorty
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Epic
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The mashed sweet potatoes aren't too bad either.
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Hi everybody. My name is B Yond, and I'm a Gerber fan.

It's like admitting you're addicted to crack around here. Most will look down on you. Some will empathize. A very few will admit they are too.

It's like saying you like Hi-Point pistols in a gun forum. People will snicker.

Personally, I've never regretted purchasing a Gerber product, and I've never had one not live up to my expectations. That said, I've heard others have had poor experiences with Gerber products, so I may just be lucky.

The mashed sweet potatoes aren't too bad either.
images

Okay, I laughed. Well played.
 
I have two Gators (440 and 154CM), a camp axe, and some PRC-made framelock thing from Gerber. One of these four refuses to take an edge...care to take a WAG at which one?
 
The reason I hate Gerber, is that every thing I've owned of them seemed cheap and poorly made. I've seen many Gerber folders that have failed and nearly tok someones fingers off. I myself had a Gerber whose linerlock wouldn't even engage after only owning it for 3 weeks. Every Gerber blade I've dealt with has not only held an edge poorly, but was barely able to take an edge at all. The only good Gerber I've handled was an s30v Freeman, and even then the s30v didn't seem nearly up to par with s30v heat treated by other companies.
 
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