TimM
Member
Gerber knives... are they any good?
Gerber?
- Thread starter TimM
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bigfatdave
Member
I have found them to be well-constructed, very sharp, easy to hone, and made out of an overly brittle steel for my taste.
Big Daddy Grim
Member
+1 for Gerber I have the Gator series very good and my Trident is the best knife I have ever owned.
+1.
The tip of my Gator snapped like a twig when I was trying to pry a staple out of a 2x4. I know a knife is not a prybar, but a staple? I used to buy Gerber almost exclusively when I was doing construction because of the price point, but I finally realized that I could buy a decent knife for what I was spending on replacing those Gerbers over the years.
I don't really buy Gerber anymore. I'm really happy with my Benchmade though.
YMMV.
Jason
i love gerber. the LST and gator are my favorite, i have the gator folding knife and the hatchet with the fixed blade in the hollow handle. like everbody said they are not pry bar's. but when it comes to cutting and edc their hard to beat.....oh i also have the clutch (small muti-tool) that goes everywhere with me. only gave $14 for it
TimM
Member
Thanks for the info guys.
13.45
Member
i've always had good luck with the made in USA models
greyling22
Member
I've always found the steel to be too soft. easy to sharpen, easy to dull, easy to notch. the designs aren't to my liking either, but they are cheap. exception: one of my favorites is the EAB box cutter. $10 at walmart and you never have to worry about blades.
They are now.
paratroop23
Member
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2008
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- 115
Mine too! I've had two gerber gators chip in the past 11 years. I've upgraded to a Benchmade.
mljdeckard
Member
I have a Gerber Mk II dagger I bought, let's see....17 years ago, and it has been my carry-to-war knife. I have knives by CRKT, Buck, (including a Buckmaster) and lots of multi-tools, etc, but the Gerber has been the most consistent. (Not to mention a lot lighter on my gear than the Buckmaster.) When I was working survival, and I needed a knife to strike against to make a spark, it was always the most consistent. For fighting, skinning, general utility work, it's the one I reach for first.
lightbulb0413
Member
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2009
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- 30
I have a Gerber for EDC and have never had a problem I also like their LMF knife, http://www.botachtactical.com/gelmfiiaskns.html now thats a knife.
Claude Clay
Member
2 e-z outs
about 8 & 10 years old. last week the pivot screw went missing and i phoned them. left a message. next day they left me a message. and the day after that also. on the 3rd try they got my wife and told her they would send out 2 sets of screws and new clips for both. package arrived yesterday.
thats service that shines.
as an aside-- my daughter [i gave her one of them 3 years ago] and i use them every day ; perhaps 3 or more times a day. still sharp enough to slice paper.
about 8 & 10 years old. last week the pivot screw went missing and i phoned them. left a message. next day they left me a message. and the day after that also. on the 3rd try they got my wife and told her they would send out 2 sets of screws and new clips for both. package arrived yesterday.
thats service that shines.
as an aside-- my daughter [i gave her one of them 3 years ago] and i use them every day ; perhaps 3 or more times a day. still sharp enough to slice paper.
Colton White
Member
Gerber make quality knives i find they dull out a lil earlier than id like but they dont fall apart
Smith
Member
While the steel does seem pretty brittle, they are pretty good for the price IMO. Sure it isn't the best, but it's a relatively sturdy knife for a (usually) low price.
Carl Levitian
member
I've used the LST and Gator series as beater knives for many years, as did alot of the guys I worked with in the machine shop. Gerber makes a good quality tough knife for a very resonable price. Stick with the made in U.S.A. models and you'll be fine. I've yet to have one break on me.
Depends on the knife. In 1966 Ibought a Gerber Mk1 at the benning PX. for the next 2 1/2 tears it was my best and last friend. 8 years ago a kid I helped train for search and rescue came back to our house wearing 3 Army stripes and a ranger badge. He wanted to tell my wife, myself and a couple of deputy sheriffs thank you for getting him started. I gave him the Mk1, the leg sheath and a hundred in cash to pay an instructor. Then he left for Afghanistan. Is Gerber a good knife? it was then. It is not the same knife now. There are other knives I would bet my life on now, but not gerber.
blindhari
blindhari
bikerdoc
Moderator In Memoriam
Good on you for mentoring and passing it on!
I have a Applegate covert folder... somewhere. I loved that knife, but it went AWOL at Christmas.
offroaddiver
Member
+1 on brittle tips
I have a couple of Gerbers. One was a longer assisted opening model a friend bought me for xmas. The tip broke. I had a friend put a kind of tanto point on the blade to where it broke. Took him enough time that i had to give him a case of beer to do the work. If i ever remember to dig it out of backpack and take a pic i will post.
I have a couple of Gerbers. One was a longer assisted opening model a friend bought me for xmas. The tip broke. I had a friend put a kind of tanto point on the blade to where it broke. Took him enough time that i had to give him a case of beer to do the work. If i ever remember to dig it out of backpack and take a pic i will post.
Stainz
Member
I bought a US-made Freeman Stag/S30V drop point fixed blade - great buy for <$100 delivered. I believe Amazon - and some evil-bay sellers still have it at or close to that. Sharp, even bevel, decent leather sheath. A quite decent 'bushcraft' knife, too. My son gave me an LMFII last summer... nice, if I ever find a use for it!
One small lockback FRN US-made folder here, too. I just haven't carried or used it much. I think it was <$10 on closeout at a discount house. It fits an 'Altoid' boxed PSK. I'm a Buck & Kershaw sort.
Stainz
One small lockback FRN US-made folder here, too. I just haven't carried or used it much. I think it was <$10 on closeout at a discount house. It fits an 'Altoid' boxed PSK. I'm a Buck & Kershaw sort.
Stainz
The tip of my gerber snapped as well, I had no idea it was a common issue.
Gerber knives are great, compared to other knives that you can buy at Walmart.
Cold Steel and Gerber were my "gateway" knives, that lead me to higher quality knives like Spyderco and Emerson.
For Gerber money you can buy the lower end Spyderco knives and have a much more usable knife.
Gerber knives are great, compared to other knives that you can buy at Walmart.
Cold Steel and Gerber were my "gateway" knives, that lead me to higher quality knives like Spyderco and Emerson.
For Gerber money you can buy the lower end Spyderco knives and have a much more usable knife.
p35
Member
The USA made Gerbers were excellent knives- I still love the Bolt Action I've had for 25 years.
These days they're coasting on their reputation and selling stuff made in China. While there are good knives made in China, these aren't near the quality the old Gerbers were.
These days they're coasting on their reputation and selling stuff made in China. While there are good knives made in China, these aren't near the quality the old Gerbers were.
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