Gerber knife opinions

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I own a Freeman Guide from the 80s with the pear wood scale. Steel is AUS8 and made in Taiwan. I like the knife a lot. Great ergonomics and fits my hand like a glove. Not so sure about later versions, I have heard that quality dropped off significantly. Mine is identical to the one pictured below.

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I’m venturing a bet by your username that you’re a fan. You are aware there are other brands besides Gerber and Buck to choose from, right?

While I really liked their classic stuff up to the 80’s, there isn’t much they’ve put out since the Fiskars acquisition that has really interested me much. In recent years, it seems to me other companies are lapping them in regard to design, materials, and quality. That’s not to say their products are bad, inadequate, or unfit for use, but they certainly aren’t one of the brands I think of first anymore.
 
Their newer USA made stuff looks very nice and intriguing. The Gerber Mk1 35th Anniversary edition is my favorite blade in my collection. I hope they can recover and become "Legendary" blades again.
 
Centermass said:
I’m venturing a bet by your username that you’re a fan. You are aware there are other brands besides Gerber and Buck to choose from, right?

While I really liked their classic stuff up to the 80’s, there isn’t much they’ve put out since the Fiskars acquisition that has really interested me much. In recent years, it seems to me other companies are lapping them in regard to design, materials, and quality. That’s not to say their products are bad, inadequate, or unfit for use, but they certainly aren’t one of the brands I think of first anymore.
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Oh I got all sorts of brands in my collection such as Kershaw, old timer, and many more. It’s just that I live on a farm and the my Gerbers that I have have outperformed both Kershaw, buck, and other good brands I have.
 
Gerberbetterthanbuck said:
Oh I got all sorts of brands in my collection such as Kershaw, old timer, and many more. It’s just that I live on a farm and the my Gerbers that I have have outperformed both Kershaw, buck, and other good brands I have.
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Gotcha. If they work for you, great! That’s really all that matters.
 
Gerberbetterthanbuck said:
Oh I got all sorts of brands in my collection such as Kershaw, old timer, and many more. It’s just that I live on a farm and the my Gerbers that I have have outperformed both Kershaw, buck, and other good brands I have.
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Could you share with us which Gerber models you found to be such good performers? Are they old/vintage or newer models?
 
This is just my opinion. Gerber was very good until the mid '90s. The QA went down, and their reputation followed. I have several Gerber knives from the early '80s. They are good. I personally would not own any newer ones until someone can prove that they have gotten better.
 
Gerber used to be pretty legit.. nowadays, not so much. I have two Gerber currently.. an older Gator that i got circa 2001 for ~$35.. no complaints there.. it was a solid knife 20 years ago and it's a solid knife now. My 2nd and newest Gerber is a Fastball that I got maybe a year or two ago.. I think I paid ~$100 for it and remember thinking that was too much.. would have been a decent knife at mayyyybe ~$75. At whatever nonsense they're charging for them now.. not a great deal, imo.. the fit and finish just isn't there vs the competition.. Gerber is a tough sell these days..
 
I've got 2 Gerbers: an Empower auto, and a Sedulo.
I REALLY like the Empower. It fires hard, and locks up nice and tight. The ergos even fit my paws nicely.
The Sedulo: meh...
At least it wasn't expensive!
 
Greggy said:
I own a Freeman Guide from the 80s with the pear wood scale. Steel is AUS8 and made in Taiwan. I like the knife a lot. Great ergonomics and fits my hand like a glove. Not so sure about later versions, I have heard that quality dropped off significantly. Mine is identical to the one pictured below.

eyJidWNrZXQiOiAiZmlsZXMua25pZmVjZW50ZXIuY29tIiwia2V5IjogImtuaWZlY2VudGVyL2dlcmJlci9pbWFnZXMvODQ2NC5qcGciLCJlZGl0cyI6IHsicmVzaXplIjogeyJ3aWR0aCI6IDc2MCwiaGVpZ2h0IjogNDI1LCJmaXQiOiAiY29udGFpbiIsImJhY2tncm91bmQiOiB7InIiOiAyNTUsImciOiAyNTUsImIiOiAyNTUsImFscGhhIjogMX19fX0=
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I've been trying to get my hands on the cabelas exclusive freeman folder with coco Bola wood handle for sometime now. Everyone price gouges though.
 
What do I think about gerber... they have a range from junk to decent. I don’t bother with the ones not made in the USA. I’d like a vintage gator like I had previously. I’d like a intake boot knife and probably others. But I find that other knives fill the roles I have at a lesser price point than most gerbers.
 
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