Why Gerber?

Will Power

Will Power

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Jan 18, 2007
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American knife enthusiasts please help! I can't understand why the Gerber folding freeman has won this knife of the year gong back in 2004? It seems very unremarkable to me and I'm just thankfull I got it cheap on e-bay and didn't pay the fortune demanded by EU knife dealers.So American friends,why is it so hyped up? The average Buck is a lot better so too are our Marttiini folders we make here in Finland. Responses?
 
What award?
Awarded by who?
Who is saying that it was won by Gerber?
Never heard of that Gerber model.
 
I also found the Freeman series unimpressive (fixed and folding), and have never of any award. IMO, every knife from Finland I have ever seen is superior to the current Gerber offerings (although there were some great older products).
 
You can find both the fixed, and folding versions at Dick's Sporting Goods stores. Honestly, I thought they were older Gerber knives that just didn't sell well. Found them to be unremarkable. Sad how Gerber has generally gone downhill. :(
 
I finally found a reference that says that the Gerber Freeman won the 2004 IWA "International Knife of the Year Award". The IWA website that I found did not have too much info. It looks like some European outdoor sport marketing group.

Here is what they had to say about the award:
IWA International Knife Award

Products a “cut above the average”: A critical jury of experts judges functionality, innovation, engineering, material combination and workmanship and presents the coveted, noted awards at the opening ceremony. All knives entered are presented on a special area in hall 5.

:confused: Uh...Hey willgoy, why are you asking the Americans about this? That's a german organization isn't it? Doesn't look to me like Americans gave the silly thing any type of award.:eek:

Go ask the Germans.
 
Well alright,but information is power...I ask you Americans because the knife comes from your country.

Marttiini makes folders in 3 sizes and 2 finishes, polished stainless with waxed birch handles and matte finish with rubberized grips,the later being good for fishing,wet use etc.skeleton construction making it easy to clean up.I think it's an honest knife,well-made for the price (about 35Euro in EU)fits well in the hand but it's not a knife for the connoisseur collector but a decent work-knife to have in your collection. www.marttiini.fi has an English and other langs site too.

While we are about it,that remark about Germans makes me ask "what is a decent German folder?" Most of the Herbertz examples I've seen have been rough and ready and non too well finished.Any more views from knife-ists in America Europe or Anywhere?
 
willgoy said:
I ask you Americans because the knife comes from your country.
Click to expand...

willgoy,, as you know Gerber is owned by Fiskars. Fiskars is a Finnish company. The knife itself is made in Taiwan. I think we should ask some one in Finland or Taiwan. :D
 
I have a Martiini folder. It's crap and I can't use it because of that.

It's a shame that Martiini company establishes itself as a low quality folder manufacturer(the folder is actually made in China)
Looking pretty is pretty much the best part about it, cheap dangerous liner lock and slippery handle. Not for use.

I'd rather take the Gerber folder.
 
Patriotdan(dare?)your reply is odd:"a low quality folder(even though)" Means? Means inconsistent.Gerber has a wooden handle as well and it may be a little more gripworthy simply because of the rough finish of the wood.

I wonder if Gerber really makes it out of pear-wood?

Are there so many pear trees in the US for commercial wood carving purposes?
 
My reply is now rephrased for clarity.


willgoy said:
Patriotdan(dare?)your reply is odd:"a low quality folder(even though)" Means? Means inconsistent.Gerber has a wooden handle as well and it may be a little more gripworthy simply because of the rough finish of the wood.

I wonder if Gerber really makes it out of pear-wood?

Are there so many pear trees in the US for commercial wood carving purposes?
Click to expand...
 
I find your reply odd aswell. Comparing handles includes more than just the material or it's finish. And I'm not debating what material is best for knife handles. I'm not on a crusade against Martiini, I'm voicing my opinion about the said Martiini folder since it was brought up as a better alternative to the Gerber folder.

In my opinion Martiini is poorly designed and manufactured. Worst part is the dangerous liner lock that's too flimsy. It will release the blade when stressed or spine whacked. In effect making the folder unusable. The handle is rather poorly shaped for actual work. Slippery and not too good ergonomics. The blade steel is 420c. Overall it reminds me of S&W folders. Anyone can take this info as they please.

I have no experience with the Gerber Freeman.


willgoy said:
Patriotdan(dare?)your reply is odd:"a low quality folder(even though)" Means? Means inconsistent.Gerber has a wooden handle as well and it may be a little more gripworthy simply because of the rough finish of the wood.
I wonder if Gerber really makes it out of pear-wood? Are there so many pear trees in the US for commercial wood carving purposes?
Click to expand...
 
I have yet to handle a Gerber knife that I liked because of its "quality". They probably make a few nice ones, but I haven;t handled them, probably because most of their stuff isn;t up to snuff so I avoid picking them up.

Willboy, you complained about the Gerber winning an award. You inferred the Gerber wasn't worthy, and you are right. Then you said it's not even as good as your Finnish made Marttiini. That's not saying anything at all. Just because the Marttiini is better than the Gerber doesn;t make the Marttiini a nice knife. A friend has one and I wouldn;t buy it from him even for a good price. It's upscale-Gerber-crap. Even Gerber's multi-tools, as nice as they look, are made foreign and can;t compare to a Leatherman or a SOG. Where's your Marttiini made?

We have tons of companies in the U.S. that have all their stuff made in China or Taiwan. I'm not going to defend them just because they are U.S. companies. They suck for the mere fact that their product is not good enough to be made here. They might as well be foregin companies to me. Just like Benchmade....instead of calling their red class "Red DNA", they ought to just call them Chinese class..... or Taiwanese class..... or better yet "Too cheap really to put our name on...but we do it anyway"

And yea...there are a few pear trees in America. We don;t harvest them for the wood, but the wood gets used when the tree has to come down. I use pear wood for small projects like handles on a small cabinet, inlays, etc. I would use them for knife scales if I were a knifemaker.
 
most of the awards you read about in the forums are from the once a year blade show held in late June in Atlanta. Booth holders (mostly manufacturers) vote on each of the awards. You can look this up at the blade magazine web site. all the best, A. G.
 
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