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Is the Gerber EZ-out THAT BAD ???
- Thread starter RH
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 3, 1998
- Messages
- 883
Maybe it's because these knives are readily available at the big discount stores like Wal-Mart. To compete with Wal-Mart a small dealer would have to cut the price to a point where it's not worth the trouble to stock them.
Would any of you dealers like to chime in?
David Rock
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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
Would any of you dealers like to chime in?
David Rock
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AKTI Member # A000846
Stop when you get to bone.
- Joined
- Oct 13, 1999
- Messages
- 567
Nice points: it is light and thin, and it can be opened rapidly with a flick of the wrist. It is inexpensive. Fits the hand well. It can be purchased in ATS-34.
Bad points: the huge ricasso is unnecessary; the handle is too long and seems out of proportion to the blade; and the slot cut-out for thumb opening is difficult to engage. For those to whom it matters, it consistently fails the spine whack test.
Bad points: the huge ricasso is unnecessary; the handle is too long and seems out of proportion to the blade; and the slot cut-out for thumb opening is difficult to engage. For those to whom it matters, it consistently fails the spine whack test.
- Joined
- Oct 9, 1998
- Messages
- 1,767
Bad? No way! I carried one for two years. I could have sworn it was 425 modified and not 440A, but not really much of an improvement if an improvement at all. You just have to touch the edge up more often. The lock isn't the strongest, but it's a good utility knife. For 30 bucks or less, this knife is pretty good. I still think the CRKT Point Guard is a slightly better buy though.
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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 08-03-2000).]
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Chang the Asian Janitorial Apparatus
[This message has been edited by Comrade Chang (edited 08-03-2000).]
The EZ-out was like my 3rd one-hander. It is a good knife for utility work. I don't really carry it anymore, mainly because I have so many knives I like better. But for its price, it's not bad, and in fact is very comfortable to operate and hold. The lock is certainly not one of the strongest, but for simple cutting it, which is what it's for, it shouldn't be too big a problem. It's not a so-called "tactical knife."
I had bought mine at a sporting goods chain store for $20 + dolllars.
Jim
I had bought mine at a sporting goods chain store for $20 + dolllars.
Jim
- Joined
- May 26, 2000
- Messages
- 1,922
I had one of the EZ Out's, probably 4 years ago now, but found the whole thing clunky, especially the pocket clip which protruded and had one clunky screw attaching it, and the screw was always loose (I didn't bother with Loc-Tite).
I gave it to my brother as an el cheapo gift. He doesn't even appreciate nice knives, and he sent it back to me ... said he didn't like it either. Hah! He kept the little Spydie Baby Goddard though.
I sold it to a guy at work who was going to give it to his young son as a "first knife" present. Young kid. It's probably lost now. Or traded for a video game cartridge.
Worst aspect: The 425 or 420J or whatever took a lousy edge and then proceeded to quickly lose it. Never could get a real hair poppin edge... even for a single pass... just scrapy/barely-shavy.
I'm spoiled now that I know better. ATS-34 is kind of my minimum acceptable now. I even notice my AUS-8 stuff is pretty mediocre (Spyderco's, airport knife: Jess Horn).
So, depending on whether you "know better" or not, the EZ Out is pretty poor, and rises up a C@nt hair past "truly mediocre" if you buy ATS-34. I'd take a Benchmade Ascent over the ATS EZ Out in a hurry if I wanted something inexpensive.
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rdangerer@home.com
[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 08-03-2000).]
I gave it to my brother as an el cheapo gift. He doesn't even appreciate nice knives, and he sent it back to me ... said he didn't like it either. Hah! He kept the little Spydie Baby Goddard though.
I sold it to a guy at work who was going to give it to his young son as a "first knife" present. Young kid. It's probably lost now. Or traded for a video game cartridge.
Worst aspect: The 425 or 420J or whatever took a lousy edge and then proceeded to quickly lose it. Never could get a real hair poppin edge... even for a single pass... just scrapy/barely-shavy.
I'm spoiled now that I know better. ATS-34 is kind of my minimum acceptable now. I even notice my AUS-8 stuff is pretty mediocre (Spyderco's, airport knife: Jess Horn).
So, depending on whether you "know better" or not, the EZ Out is pretty poor, and rises up a C@nt hair past "truly mediocre" if you buy ATS-34. I'd take a Benchmade Ascent over the ATS EZ Out in a hurry if I wanted something inexpensive.
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rdangerer@home.com
[This message has been edited by rdangerer (edited 08-03-2000).]
Bottom Line Up Front: YES IT IS THAT BAD!
I have one and I think it is terrible! It was my first "tactical" folder (if you can call it that). I find that it is impossible to get sharp, and dulls quickly (or maybe it just always was dull).
Maybe the ATS34 model is better.
For about the same money you can get a Spyderco Endura--a MUCH better knife for the money. The Benchmade Accent (I think that is the one) is also about the same.
I will NEVER BUY A GERBER after my experience with this knife!
Sorry to be negative, and to burst some peoples bubbles about this knife.
Matt
I have one and I think it is terrible! It was my first "tactical" folder (if you can call it that). I find that it is impossible to get sharp, and dulls quickly (or maybe it just always was dull).
Maybe the ATS34 model is better.
For about the same money you can get a Spyderco Endura--a MUCH better knife for the money. The Benchmade Accent (I think that is the one) is also about the same.
I will NEVER BUY A GERBER after my experience with this knife!
Sorry to be negative, and to burst some peoples bubbles about this knife.
Matt
I had one in the junior size, half serrated. I gave it away. Replaced it with a SAK Tinker for $25. The SAK holds an edge better, longer, sharpens easier. Where I work we make urethane pipeline pigs. I was using the SAK (small blade)one day to trim the urethane cups. All the guys use fillet knives, lockbacks, gerbers, S&W and many more brands. They were hacking and sawing away, I was cutting about as hard as coring an apple. I was doing twice as many and when I was done, it would still shave the hair on my arms. I was totally amazed, before I trimmed the urethane, I figured it would be dull in no time, I just wanted to see how it would do. They even asked to see what I was using for a knife. None of their knives would shave at the start and for sure not at the end. I know this sounds like BS, but the more I use SAK's, the more I like them. My swisstool is also top notch.
Someday the knife's going to get discontinued though, and maybe then the ATS-34 version could be had for around $20? Couldn't be beat then. You all just keep saying how much it sucks and I'll buy up a few for beaters when it get's discontinued.
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You could put nacho cheese sauce on it...
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You could put nacho cheese sauce on it...
YES. BAD. At least for me - I had a junior and twice the lock failed me on minor tasks where I was using the point - totally unacceptable and unsafe - forget spine-wack, I could close the blade just by pushing on it. Not to mention it's bulky. Loser blade, and apparently not a fluke. I threw it away because it was too crappy and hazardous to give away!
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The beatings will continue until morale improves.
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The beatings will continue until morale improves.
The ATS-34 EZ-Out was my first knife. As far as price went, I thought it was a pretty good buy. I think I paid about $35 for it. It took an okay edge and cut fairly well. I didn't like how noisy the knife was, and I didn't care for the lockback that much. However, it was faily ambi (I'm a lefty) and there weren't many lefty knives in my price range.
Perhaps these days, there are better buys in the under $50 category. I'm not sure how many of those knives are ATS-34 though.
~Mitch
Perhaps these days, there are better buys in the under $50 category. I'm not sure how many of those knives are ATS-34 though.
~Mitch
To set the record straight, the blade was made of 440A, not 420J, 425m, or any other 400 series steel, at least according to Gerber. I've had two of them. My son used my first one to cut plastic liners for landscaping ponds, among other things. He used it heavily for a year and returned it to me for sharpening. I was amazed at how sharp it was still, after all that work, but touched it up for him anyway.
My only complaint was the clip. It was fixed to the pivot pin if I remember right, and had a flat pin that fit in a slot in the zytel to keep it from moving laterally. I snagged it a couple of times on my pickup and the pin must have enlarged the slot in the zytel because it would move a bit after that.
But for $24 it was a great knife -- no problem with lock up, etc.
I read somewhere once that Gerber had spotty heat treats. Some batches were better than others -- perhaps you who have had trouble got your knife blade from a less than optimum heat treat batch. Mine was great.
Bruce Woodbury
My only complaint was the clip. It was fixed to the pivot pin if I remember right, and had a flat pin that fit in a slot in the zytel to keep it from moving laterally. I snagged it a couple of times on my pickup and the pin must have enlarged the slot in the zytel because it would move a bit after that.
But for $24 it was a great knife -- no problem with lock up, etc.
I read somewhere once that Gerber had spotty heat treats. Some batches were better than others -- perhaps you who have had trouble got your knife blade from a less than optimum heat treat batch. Mine was great.
Bruce Woodbury
I bought the first EZ-out when it first came out and found that it did in fact open easily but the blade design wasted too much length and the steel took and held a poor edge. I then bought the ATS-34 version when it appeared and the steel was in fact much,much, nicer with better grinds and a nice edge but usable cutting surface is still small when compared to the handle length.
Ah yes, the easy out is a pile of Sh!t. I got one a long time ago and i could unlock it by squeezing it...and i dont mean squeezing the release bar where you are supposed to release it. It is very unsafe..beware of this one. Easy Out of my pocket and into the trash. I'm not always so negative
-Danimal
-Danimal