Gerber is stepping up their game

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daniel craig

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I filed a warranty/replacement request for the pocket clip on my Gerber Propel Downrange Auto knife. I just wanted a new clip and screws. Indicated that the screw holes on the knife are stripped (screws needed constant attention on their older knives) which isn’t a big deal because they have 3 options for carry on these knives so I’d just change the clip location when it came.

They sent me an entire new knife! It’s not auto opening like the one it’s replacing most likely because of where I live (bough the auto opener in a freer state) but it is assisted opening.

I had fully expected from Gerber to just get a pocket clip or not even get one at all. Their customer service wasn’t great in the past but now....I do what changed but l like it!
image.jpg
 
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I can’t decide if I want to keep it as is or skeletonize it for the parts I need for the Auto or if the auto will just become the car backup knife.
 
Looking at the lock and the button on the pictured knife - Are you sure that the knife shown isn't merely an auto without the spring?

Perhaps you could merely transfer the spring or buy a replacement spring from Gerber?

Todd.
 
ApacheCoTodd said:
Looking at the lock and the button on the pictured knife - Are you sure that the knife shown isn't merely an auto without the spring?

Perhaps you could merely transfer the spring or buy a replacement spring from Gerber?

Todd.
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Well it’s assisted opening so it could probably be made full auto.

Given the area I live in, perhaps it’s wise to just carry the assisted when I’m out and about. I could probably make a sheath for the other one, in the absence of a pocket clip.
 
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daniel craig said:
Well it’s assisted opening so it could probably be made full auto.

Given the area I live in, perhaps it’s wise to just carry the assisted when I’m out and about. I could probably make a sheath for the other one, in the absence of a pocket clip.
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What exactly, in the least number of words possible, does *assisted opening* mean?

Todd.
 
ApacheCoTodd said:
What exactly, in the least number of words possible, does *assisted opening* mean?

Todd.
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The blade has to be manually pushed out of the handle part way before the spring kicks in and opens it the rest of the way. It skirts the laws against auto openers (switchblades) as they're written in most places that still have them on the books.
 
ugaarguy said:
The blade has to be manually pushed out of the handle part way before the spring kicks in and opens it the rest of the way. It skirts the laws against auto openers (switchblades) as they're written in most places that still have them on the books.
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Interesting. I have been seeing that term for some time and never really found cause to know exactly what it means.

I appreciate you taking the time.

Todd.
 
ApacheCoTodd said:
Interesting. I have been seeing that term for some time and never really found cause to know exactly what it means.

I appreciate you taking the time.

Todd.
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You're welcome. Are you familiar with flippers or flicking the knife open by the thumb stud or thumb hole? I'm of the opinion that with the speed of opening from those methods that's been enabled by the better detents and smoother pivots we've seen come about in the past decade that assisted opening has become superfluous.
 
ugaarguy said:
You're welcome. Are you familiar with flippers or flicking the knife open by the thumb stud or thumb hole? I'm of the opinion that with the speed of opening from those methods that's been enabled by the better detents and smoother pivots we've seen come about in the past decade that assisted opening has become superfluous.
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You bet, those I am familiar with and truly enjoy them in general and in particular due to the evolution in the concept.

I always kind of assumed that *assisted* was PC for auto and further assumed that the holes, slots and tabs were merely window-dressing.

I guess too, it should be noted that I bought my first factory-new knife in some 20 years only this year.:D

Todd.
 
I’m no fan of assisted openers. I like the concept but in reality they suck. The only times I have managed to cut my thigh has been when something unintentionally assisted the spring loaded legjabber. Autos have a safety for that purpose. Flippers don’t need one if you wear it right. Stud flippers especially can be quick and almost as safe as a push button auto. The knife shown above is the first assisted opener that I have seen with a safety. I would carry that knife or it’s auto cousin. I will not carry a kershaw or similar.
 
WestKentucky said:
Autos have a safety for that purpose. Flippers don’t need one if you wear it right.
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Those are mitigations to having a knife open when you don't want it to. Not all autos have safeties either. AOs can have light "trigger pressure" or heavy. It depends upon the manufacturer's intent (as opposed to detent).

One issue a lot of people have with detent flippers is that the pressure required is too much for some users. I've flipped a lot of knives open with detents after having someone who couldn't hand them to me claiming something was wrong with them. How easy an AO or flipper is to open is a function of design based on how easy they wanted to make the knife to open vs. the speed they wanted the blade to move to locked open. There are a lot of factors involved, but the result is a knife too easy for some but too difficult for others to open.
 
I own all five types, fixed, slip joints, flippers, assisted and autos.
My favorite are the Spyderco's with the hole to open, followed by some A/O 's with a lock.
 
WestKentucky said:
I’m no fan of assisted openers. I like the concept but in reality they suck. The only times I have managed to cut my thigh has been when something unintentionally assisted the spring loaded legjabber. Autos have a safety for that purpose. Flippers don’t need one if you wear it right. Stud flippers especially can be quick and almost as safe as a push button auto. The knife shown above is the first assisted opener that I have seen with a safety. I would carry that knife or it’s auto cousin. I will not carry a kershaw or similar.
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This assisted opening had the same safety mechanism as their auto version. I prefer autos and assisted because I often have gloves on that make finer dexterity difficult.
 
daniel craig said:
They sent me an entire new knife! It’s not auto opening like the one it’s replacing most likely because of where I live (bough the auto opener in a freer state) but it is assisted opening.
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The highest court in the state you live in ruled that assisted openers are switchblades, and thus just as illegal.
 
*shrugs*

It’s one of those “illegal but not enforced” things. As such, I don’t really care. I do appreciate the looking out though, thanks!

Plus, Gerber is one of those companies that dislikes shipping blatantly illegal items (can’t buy autos in this state) but they sent an assisted.
 
ugaarguy said:
You're welcome. Are you familiar with flippers or flicking the knife open by the thumb stud or thumb hole? I'm of the opinion that with the speed of opening from those methods that's been enabled by the better detents and smoother pivots we've seen come about in the past decade that assisted opening has become superfluous.
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Totally agree. In the last 1.2 years I bought 12 premium knives, 10 of which are frame lock flippers. One is a Spyderco with the flick hole, and the other is a manual thumb stud opening knife that can be flicked, but rides on washers and isn't as smooth. My observation is that with the high quality bearings and detents out there, the ease with which they open makes autos and assisted openers pretty irrelevant. But that is based on my particular needs and my age and lack of hand issues of any kind.

Some day I may change my attitude if arthritis injury alters my ability to open them.

By the way, very cool of Gerber to replace the knife. That's great service.
 
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I'm an Emerson wave fan for pocket carry. The knife opens as you withdraw it. Doesn't run afoul of the "switchblade" laws
 
Gerber is stepping up their game
I've had a few Gerber knives over the years, and I have not been impressed with their blade steel, it's crap IMHO. I've had better luck with cheap D2 knives from China sad to say.
I do realize where cheap Gerber knives are made and Gerber is no longer on my radar, because they have sold their soul to China.
 
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Used to love Gerber knives. Not so much anymore. But my favorite multi tool is still a needle nose Gerber Multi Plier.

Talking about AO. I own BM Barrage and BM Violi. Had them both for several years. Both are assisted opening knives and I like them both a lot. Neither has ever offered to open unintentionally. Both have locks that prevent opening if the lock is actuated. My new favorite BM is the 940 Osborne and it's not the Auto version. I like it just fine too. I slightly lightened the tension on the pivot and it opens and closes with the greatest of ease.

My biggest issue with locking folders is not so much the opening method but the lock design and the ergonomics that flow from that. Won't carry a liner lock knife. Don't really care that much for frame locks either. I've got a CRK Inkosi which I'm going to try harder to get used to and like. For ease of use and security for now my preference is an axis style lock or a back lock - which is probably due to the fact that's what I'm most used to.
 
Whiterook808 said:
I've had my Leek open in my pocket, but then I did disable the lock. I just find that the locks make the knife harder, and in some cases impossible, to deploy one handed.
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Do you happen to know if the Leek can be modded to get rid of the open assist aND Mae it a flipper with just a little bias to keep it closed?
 
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