Gerber EZ-Outs: Still In or Out?

C

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While digging around in my knife collection today, I came across two of my Gerber EZ-Outs, one serrated and the other plain. These aren't the earlier knives, but one of the later ones. Still, I thought, they seemed to have a great deal going for them in the way of weight, ease of opening and overall toughness. Not elegant, not beefy, and the blade a frosted, smooth bead blast. And I wondered how many of these things are still kicking around, whether people are still buying them and how they hold up to everyday cutting chores.

With the quality of Gerber dragging as it is, I wondered, too, if people are still buying them and what type of uses they're being put to. On cold days bumming around the house in casual wear, I find it a perfect knife to have on me for routine cutting jobs. The knife is one of the lightest in its weight category and it somehow doesn't seem as crappy as the Paraframes, which I detest.

Does anyone know what kind of steel is in these blades nowadays and does anyone carry them on a daily basis? Also, does anyone use them extensively for anything but extremely light cutting?

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I have a 425 USA that I keep in an inside jacket pocket. It's light and shaving sharp. I never take it off except to wash the jacket. Because the blade is thick, it took a while to get the edge right but that jacket and that knife are a team.
 
I keep a 450 (USA made part serrated) in my PFD (personal floatation device... that's "life jacket") ...it's OK, but actually not that easy to open one handed... I put it IWB when on the river for easier access. Funny... the knife actually belongs to my ex girlfriend. It brings on fond memories for me because my best friend carried one exactly alike back in the day... He lost it at a Green Day concert on Halloween '97 at "Liberty Lunch" in Austin.. I crawled around on the floor until I found it... I also found like three watches! good times... great oldies!
 
You know, I've had this knife for at least 5 years, and NEVER upkept, or cared for it at all. I've left it in my wet PFD daily, never drying or lubing or anything, and it has REALLY held up well... This thread got me to pull it out and actually take a look at it and inspect it, and, you know, it is a nice knife! It is bead blasted, which I don't care for, but the grind is really perfect. The handle is ergonomic, and the clip is quite well executed. THANKS for starting this thread! Anyone know what the steel is on the 450??
 
The EZ Out was my first clipped pocket knife. Very light. Easy to carry clipped to the pocket. Easy to flip open. And pretty solid. The steel on mine is ATS 34. I used the heck out of this knife. The lock up is still solid. The clip is a little loose, but not bad. The handle has a couple rubber inserts for better grip.

Compared to the knife I carry now -- a Military CF BG-42 -- the EZ Out is way outclassed. But in its day, I loved it. I had to smile when I dug it out of my drawer.


And, oh yeah, it passes the spine-whack test EZ.

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I have an older full-size one, and had two minis (gave one away). IMO, the full-size if actually pretty nice for its price range. It's very comfortable. It was one of my first clip knives, and I carried it for a while (about 10 years ago). Mine was not the ATS-34 version; mine was probably made of 440A or 425M.
Jim
 
The new EZ-Outs are extremely disappointing. The one I bought a while back had a gritty, reluctant action and just lacked a lot compared to the feel of the original.

And, oh yeah, it passes the spine-whack test EZ.
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You're lucky there -- the EZ-Outs almost always failed that test in their original incarnation.
 
I have a real old part serrated one with single hole like Twindog's. I wear it with gym shorts or sweats because it's so light. Got one nick in the blade but it's easy to keep sharp. Easy to open and locks up tight. Nice knife.
 
To Twindog:
If your clip is loose, look at how it's attached. The head is hex that can be tightened, the corners are just rounded off.
 
I had one of the first ones, back in what-'97?, that thing took a lot of abuse. Carried it for years. Never folded when it wasn't supposed to. Gave it to a girl at school who used to go jogging at night.

Frank
 
The first "tactical" folder I ever bought was one of the old EZ-outs (mid 90's). It was the knife that started me out on knife collecting, I still have it. I carried it for a long time, and it performed well. The thing that really bugged me about it was the pocket clip. The pocket clip SUCKED on that knife. It was one of the first generation of knives to have a clip and they really didn't have it figured out yet. Damn thing digs into your hand, and wiggles all over the place. The knife performs adequately, and is nice & light, but the ergos are terrible. The thumbhole is awkward, the handle is uncomfortable, and the rubber inserts feel cheap- like they could peel off at any second.

I wouldn't even consider buying one of the new ones. There's way better stuff on the market now.
 
I would like to see one made with an S30V blade and will have to check it out. Gerber's no longer advertising their blade steels other to say that they're "surgical stainless" or "400-series," which really can be anything.

The EZs are very good to use when weight is even slightly a factor. It's certainly not something you'd use for batoning, but it does have some endearing qualities. Neither of mine are gritty or difficult to open. The rubber inserts make the knife fit very comfortably in the hand.
 
Like some others it was my first clip style knife (partially serrated). I used it for about 10 years doing mapping work in the field, campling, canoe/kayak trips, etc. I lost it eventually, but it held up well, was fine in wet environments, etc. Not fancy and kind of a beater knife, but well worth the money.

Years later (5 or so years ago) I bought a total beater yellow handled ez out utility knife. It was fine for the garage, but full serrations have limitations. It sits in my center console as an emergency seat belt cutter/beater knife for the car.

I cannot say much about the newer models and probably wouldn't buy a gerber product again given other choices, more knowledge, etc. but for 30 bucks, they aren't a bad deal.
 
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I just sold two of the EZ outs to the same guy today, i for one and im not a big fan of Gerber knives live the EZ outs
 
The EZ out was my first pocket knife. My dad bought it for me back when I was in high school I think. Around 1998 or 1999 i think. I loved that knife but lost it one day in a gym locker room. I dont know if that was the era of good gerber knives or not but I dont really want to buy the new ez out knives.
 
popcornpicker said:
Could we consider them to be "old school cool"?
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Ask that same question in 20 years. Then the answer might be "yes". Right now, I don't think so.

Some of the older Spydercos might be considered "old school cool" now. The 1st generation Endura with the molded FRN clip- that's cool. I really wish I stll had one of those.
 
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