[Kipper]

Hi,

Just wondering what your all thinking of Gerber quality these days? I always thought Gerber was supposed to be a "good" brand, however I seem to end up with nothing but junk from them. Below I'll list the Gerber items I have, and a 1 word summary of them:

Gator Saw pack: Mediocre
Folding Saw with switchable blade: Good
Gator Machete: Rubbish
Tracer Headlamp: Rubbish
Camp Axe (Ie Tomahawk): Mediocre
Some little multitool: Rubbish

Not mine, but on a Nutnfancy Vid:
Gerber Full sized axe: Rubbish

I know Gerber do make some good products, ie the LMF ASEK II (which I dont own..) however, it always annoys me when a company makes both good and bad products because I often feel its a lottery whenever purchasing something over the internet with their brand name attached to it.

Yes I know I could read reviews etc, but even they can be hit and miss.

So what do other people think of their Gerber products?

 

[Spooky]

I've had a gator for years and its held up pretty well. My multitool (original ) is my second due to I was prying on something and broke off one side of the plier jaws on my first pair. I cannot attest to anything they have put out recently, all my stuff is at least 6 - 10 years old.

 

[Wheelgunner]

Gerber

Many years ago, Gerber made some of the finest knives in the world.

Like so many companies now, they no longer make their products. They have a brand name, a CEO, some salesmen and office folks. The knives are made overseas where labor is cheap and there is no pride of workmanship.

It makes me sick to see Chicago Cutlery, Gerber and so many others sell out.

My most recent knife purchase was a Kershaw, made in America by folks who take pride in what they do. I treasure this knife.

 

[Dwind]

I have a Glock hunting knife, a Coleman (lol), a SMith & Wesson, and 2 Camillius. I'm most impressed with the Camillius blades.

 

[InIt2Live]

My most recent knife purchase was a Kershaw, made in America by folks who take pride in what they do. I treasure this knife.

Although your knife may have been made in the USA, Kershaw is just as much of a sell out. They do indeed sell many knives that are made in CHINA...

Gerber still has knives that are made in the USA, the price will usually reflect that. They actually have some knives that are the same blade, name, same everything, except where it was made! I buy a lot of my knives at the base exchange and have noticed that 2 exact same knives in slightly different packages, sell for 2 different prices. As I investigated it, it was due to the fact one of them was made in USA and the other in *insert child labor country here*. I decided to pick up every knife they had on the shelves and was shocked to see the Kershaw MADE IN CHINA on the back.

 

[zamadu]

i have a gerber clutch and in the first 2 weeks of using it lightly the plier part of it broke

Gerber = Rubbish

 

[badkarma]

I have is 3 Gerber Gators (2 serrators) and they have been great. Gerber is known for knives. They also sell headlamps, saws, fishing hook sharpeners, etc......i view buying those the equivalent of going to a rib house and ordering the stir-fry. Sure...it's on the menu, but you'll be better satisfied if you order the ribs, or go to an asian restaurant for the stir-fry.

Like my grandmother used to say, "you outta dance with the one that brought you".

 

[Wheelgunner]

oh crap

Although your knife may have been made in the USA, Kershaw is just as much of a sell out. They do indeed sell many knives that are made in CHINA...

Gerber still has knives that are made in the USA, the price will usually reflect that. They actually have some knives that are the same blade, name, same everything, except where it was made! I buy a lot of my knives at the base exchange and have noticed that 2 exact same knives in slightly different packages, sell for 2 different prices. As I investigated it, it was due to the fact one of them was made in USA and the other in *insert child labor country here*. I decided to pick up every knife they had on the shelves and was shocked to see the Kershaw MADE IN CHINA on the back.

Once again, I see a favorite knife company of mine, sliding into the vortex of Communist China. I had no idea Kershaw had sold out as well.

I could just puke.

 

[ljh824]

I've had my Gerber Gator since 1990 maybe? Went to Desert Storm with me and Kosovo. Great knife IMO.

 

[madcritter]

between the years of 1966,67,68 while in a tropical area my daily carry consisted of the two below knifes. Both served me very well and are now contained in a glass case marked "Break in case of Emergency". Now days I have a Gerber EVO I carry to work every day as well as when traveling.
Gerber Mark II

Camillus ASEK Survival Knife

 

[WYOmegaMan]

buy a CRKT and worry less. They are affordable, and a "step up" from your baseline crap knives.

Also not what they once were, but still pretty decent.

 

[combat doc]

I carried my Gerber to Lebanon, Panama, and the Gulf.
To know I carried one made overseas would sicken me!!
Glad mine are all at least 15 years or older!

Doc

 

[Crutch]

I took these quickly, so the quality wont be great.

However, my experiences with gerber is mixed.

Lets be fair. They are American made products, competing against Chinese products side by side at Walmart.

Will the quality slip? Yeah, as they cut costs. My Gerber Cost 59.99 and the knock off is about 9.00.

However, with most tools with in the last 20 years, the quality has really slipped. If you guys know of a better multitool let me know. However everything seems to be junk. Knifes without full tangs, saws with plastic handles, and emergency flash lights that can't hold a charge.

Everything is crap. However, I wont right off Gerber yet. This Diesel isn't that bad.

As you can see, I keep it on my gun belt. My version of a small day pack.

 

[Bighead]

I have several Gerber products, the mini shovel, a small knife, and the artifact. I think the shovel is built like a tank, the knife seems very sturdy, and the artifact is nice, but im not crazy abou the design.

 

[letsgetreal]

between the years of 1966,67,68 while in a tropical area my daily carry consisted of the two below knifes. Both served me very well and are now contained in a glass case marked "Break in case of Emergency". Now days I have a Gerber EVO I carry to work every day as well as when traveling.....

X1. All my knives were made long ago, when knives were made to last. Buck, Case XX, Uncle Henry, Ontario, etc. Many were handmade.

 

[PSYS]

http://www.survivalistboards.com/showthread.php?t=73725

I just bought my first fixed blade knife... a Gerber Profile Drop-Point. $22 out the door.

I've not put it through the ringer yet but I also have a Gerber folding knife that pretty much goes with me everywhere. I've had this one going on five years now and I've no complaints whatsoever. Hiking, camping, fishing... I've used it for everything and still has an edge on it.

 

[Hossmiester]

I own two (2) Gerbers purchased back in 96-97 Gators Grips they called them. I have a small and a large belt sheath. Both non serated. They have held up to almost constant daily use from peeling and apple to cutting rope, even speaker wire (Gasp) Say it ain't so! And have never had a complaint both say Made in USA on the blades.
Just my two cents,
Hoss

 

[Bravo1]

I have a few Gerbers that I got back in '94 while I was in the Corps.I have the multi-tool,camp ax, and the folding saw.They all work just as good now as back then.

 

[JedLMF]

I have Gerbers, in fact that's mostly what I buy, they are dependable and cost effective. Most of the product I bought from them are made in the US and I have no real complaints on the knives or tools themselves. The sheaths suck like a two bit new orleans hooker, but IMHO that's their only downside. Oh and the axes are good for the money, but they are LIGHT (the backpacking ones atleast)

 

[elgin]

Gerber makes knives??

Their babyfood is great.

elgin

the Leatherman is quality US made.