Gerber's Applegate covert... for $150.oo?

M

Monocrom

Joined
Feb 1, 2006
Messages
2,115
I have a chance to pick up this folder. I examined it.... and must admit I wasn't very impressed. The knife had been in a glass display case for probably a few years. The amount of surface rust on the blade was extreme, at least for a knife that sat in a display case and was never used. The handle looked and felt like zytel, thin zytel. Not sure what the liner-lock was made out of, but I doubt it was titanium. When locked open, the blade's tip pointed at a slight upward angle. Nothing extreme, but noticeable.

When I first checked the price, I thought it was $49.95
Then I saw the one in front of the four! :eek:

I believe the blade is ATS-34 and the knife is discontinued. Still, even with those two things, is this model really worth $150.oo?

Am I missing something here?
 
Knife is still with us ! You can find them cheaper online.



Gerber Applegate-Fairbairn Covert
As legacies go, a man could do worse than being survived by the famous knife he designed. Such is the case with the late Colonel Rex Applegate. He was one of this proud nation's top authorities on close-quarters combat in particular, and fighting knives in general. The Applegate-Fairbairn Covert stands with the Applegate-Fairbairn Combat as lasting symbols of the colonel's dedication, expertise, and sense of purpose.

It should come as no surprise that these two knives are known internationally as best-of-class among folding tactical knives. They've rightfully earned a reputation for unmatched strength, durability and balance.

More than that, tactical professionals have high regard for the high carbon stainless steel blade. As well as the Glass filled nylon

Glass filled nylon
Glass Filled Nylon Material: Many of today's thermoplastic materials are improved by adding chopped glass fibers. Often as much as 40% of a product may be glass. Adds great strength.
handles, and the patented rotolock. The Combat has the added convenience of a hearty Pocket ClipPocket Clip
Pocket Clip: A clip intended to keep a knife or other tool at the top of the pocket for easy access.
.

Features154CM154CM
154CM Metal: An American made premium grade stainless steel originally developed for turbine blades in jet engines. The predecessor to ATS-34, which has now seen a strong resurgence in the knife market. Good corrosion resistance with excellent toughness and edge quality.
double bevel blade
Reinforced handle
Patented Roto-Lock
SpecsOverall Length: 8.7"
Closed Length: 4.87"
Blade Length: 3.79"
Weight: 4.2 oz.
Blade Material: 154CM154CM
154CM Metal: An American made premium grade stainless steel originally developed for turbine blades in jet engines. The predecessor to ATS-34, which has now seen a strong resurgence in the knife market. Good corrosion resistance with excellent toughness and edge quality.

Blade Style: Spear
Blade Type: Double bevel
Handle Material: Glass filled nylonGlass filled nylon
Glass Filled Nylon Material: Many of today's thermoplastic materials are improved by adding chopped glass fibers. Often as much as 40% of a product may be glass. Adds great strength. Price: $84.85
 
I've heard the first release was a little different and I think I paid around a hundred bucks for mine but think it was a cheap knife IMO.
If I wanted a good Appelgate folder I would look for one of the customs Butch made.
 
i have a 1st production run myself, i'll take $100 for mine lol. imho mine is worth ~ $50 or so.

they are "ok" i suppose but there is lots of better stuff around (ie a spyderco endura would be one)
 
I much prefer the fixed version by Boker and that is not as good as the original mark 1 or 2 SF dagger. I actually read the first half of the knife fighting section of Kill or Be Killed by Applegate tonight and it is an exellent book and much better than more current teachings. I don't understand why poeple keep trying to improve the SF it is perfect and they just make it worse. When the US and Canada designed the V42 they screwed up the balance by adding that gawdawful skullcracker and even the brits screwed up the later SF's by changing the exellent handle to a ringed design that twists in your hands. Here it is the worlds greatest fighting knife the original Sykes Fairbain
 
I carryed a "Covert" as an EDC for a few months but unfortunately I lost it. It is one of the very vew double edge capable folders on the market, and in this context it is great to have a LAWKS safety on this knife. I really liked the knife and it carried well. But although I like the design, in my opinion it lacks a handguard. I don't trust the two little grooves on the handle to keep your hand from slipping on the blade. The end of the handle isn't really designed to place your thumb on it in reverse grip eighter (well, you can), and the grip surface is too smooth to give you the "grip" I would like to have on this knife. I think somebody didn't think this through to the end, which is very sad because it could have been much more than just a "nice knife". All in all, it doesn't make sense to me.

When I heared that there will be a new design of it, I hoped that they would redesign the grip and give it more of a handguard, but they only gave it a new color. So, if you simply like the design and don't mind the serrations, it's a nice knife in a good EDC size. And now you can get it with OD handle too if you want. But keep in mind that for both applications, weapon and tool, there are better suited knifes out there. If I would find mine again, I'd carry it from time to time, but I wouldn't buy another one.
 
They sell them here for 87.95 at the MX or whatever it is called. They also have the original which is like 83.95 if I remember correct. It's an ok knife with 154cm blade steel. Liners are paper thing compared to, well almost any other liners and I'm not a big fan of plastic, zytel whatever handles. Still my friend bought one and it came extremely sharp. Probably on of the better gerber folders right now which isn't saying much.....
 
I picked up a used single edge from AG Russell a few years back - $30. I like it - great ergonomics in use, good edge, deep carry clip. About the best redesign of a fixed blade to folder I've seen, and a landmark in knife production housing a potentially double edge blade in a folding knife handle.

You do know that it was never originally a folder?


As for the Sykes, I've had one - I never got around to using it enough to break the tip, but the round handle and lack of index told me it wasn't the end-all be-all knife of all times, especially compared to the Gerber Mark II. I don't have much use for thick double edged fixed blades when many others do utility chores better, cheaper, and more reliably.
 
I appreciate your comments regarding this folder. It's obvious that no one here would shell out 150 bucks for one.
 
Not, generally, a knife guy...but I bought one those Gerber/Applegates and really liked it. Note the purchase replace a cheap chinese copy of a budget taiwanese rip-off of a dinky little swiss army knife tradeshow freebie.

Several things I really liked about it. First, the blade took an extremely good edge. Second, I liked the locking mechanism and this was a big deal because my previous knife wouldn't cut squat but 3 times a year was good for slicing the back of my grip fingers. Third, good edge retention. Fourth: length. It was probably too long, scared my cubemates, but I could dissect a mango at lunch without getting my hands grody which was a big plus.

2 Years later, I lost it. :mad: So I bought another. 3 years later I lost that. :mad: :grumpy: But while cleaning my closet of the clothes I was then too fat to fit in, I find a pair of pants in the back that had the first one! :D

Now I've lost that one. Was going to buy another...but then I saw this thread and was wondering what you guys like BETTER? One plus, if someone makes one like this, would be to have the clip placed such that when you pull it from your pocket, your thumb is already in the proper location to open the blade and you don't have "shift" the knife in your hand. I guess that would mean the clip would have to be on the "butt" end of the handle instead of the blade end.

Something I HATED about the SAK was that I could sharpen the blade and the next time I'd open it...it would be dull. I think this was because the blade actually rested on the spine when closed. One note: while not a knife aficionado, I do lots of handtool woodworking in difficult species so I can and do appreciate wickedly sharp edges and steels capable of taking that edge are primary concern.

Anyway..clip, takes a razor edge, keeps that edge, less than $200, avoids the "mall ninja" look. Whaddya think?
 
some knives i prefer to the applegate folder.........

*just about any BM

*most all spyderco

*any MT.

*lotsa kershaws.

*any emerson on the planet.

*a lot of CRKT's.
 
The Applegate folder is a great knife design - the problem isn't the design, it's the maker of this knife. Something happened to Gerber knives in the early to mid 90's and as far as the knives go, whatever it was - wasn't good.

I love the concept of the Applegate folder and I would buy one given the following:

1. The quality control was significantly better, for example, like that of Benchmade or Spyderco.
2. It was offered in a plain edge.
3. Better materials were used (Vanadium chrome steel, full bushing, etc.)
 
What happened was Fiskars.

What should happen is the Applegate family stopping Gerber production and getting it done by someone else, in S30V and G10, bull pivots, and Ti furniture, Assisted Opening.
 
For the same price you can get the Boker Applegate Fairbairn fighting knife and it is way better IMHO.


B-A-F-12B.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top