Gerber knives have made some outstanding, forward thinking choices in knife design this year. One of those great choices has been the alliance between Gerber and famous knife designer and trainer Ernest Emerson. The collaboration of Gerber and Emerson has culminated in a very specialized and durable automatic opening combat folder.
At first glance, its not difficult to immediately detect the Emerson influence that went into this knife. The blade and handle design are very similar to Emersons past designs that went into his own incredible line of combat folders. The handle of the knife is designed to allow great comfort and a super positive grip purchase. Once you deploy this knife in a solid hammer type grip, its there to stay. The construction is superb with the handles being constructed of heavy duty 6061-T6 aluminum and the handle slabs are held together with five Allen head screws. The blade is made of high grade 154CM steel. With pre machined pocket clip holes on either side of the knife for individual carry tastes this knife leaves little to the finicky knife critic to pick apart. Coming razor sharp from the factory, the blade comes either in a half serrated or full straight edge configuration. The blade is also finished in a non reflective black oxide finish. I have carried this knife on duty now for some time and the fit, feel, and function are all first rate.
The Gerber-Emerson is an automatic opening knife which gives it true one hand deployability. I am a big fan of one hand opening and closing knives for law enforcement or special operations purposes. There are to many instances in which you will be forced to get a knife out of your pocket or vest while having one hand tied up (figuratively, but hopefully never literally, speaking of course) on another mission. This knife solves that problem splendidly.
The vitals on this knife are as follows: It weighs in at a manageable 5.1 ounces, the length of the blade is 3.5 inches, and the length closed is a comfortable 5.35 inches. I carry this knife in a strong side pants pocket, blade up configuration and have had no problems deploying it either out of uniform pants, BDUs, or blue jeans. The dull black finish masks its appearance nicely on darker uniform pants and the pocket clip is positioned so that only a half inch of the butt end of the knife sticks out of the pocket
allowing for great concealability.
The knife comes equipped with a manually operated cross bolt style blade locking mechanism. The mechanism is deployed by depressing a button on the handle which is located slightly lower and forward on the knife handle then the opening button. I found that if needed, you could engage the lock with the blade closed to avoid an accidental opening. I tested the lock mechanism by attempting to defeat it by hitting the back of the knife blade against objects. The lock held up to any and all attempts at breaking it or getting it to the point of catastrophic failure.
The Gerber Emerson folder is in my opinion, an excellent choice if youre looking for a high quality, relatively inexpensive tactical folder. I have stated in articles past that I test tactical folders for law enforcement duties (Patrol, SWAT, Special assignment ) for what I have seen, or believe, are going to be there primary duties. Those duties being as an everyday use cutting tool, an escape tool for both citizen (accident scene or suicide situations, etc.) and officer (officer as hostage), also as a supplemental weapon to be used to aid in weapon retention, escaping a motivated physical attack (suffocating rear choke hold, etc.) or lastly, in extremis gravest, as a primary offensive weapon to save your life or the lives of others. From what I observe, The Gerber-Emerson could more then holds it own in any of these categories. For more information on the Gerber Emerson alliance folder or any of Gerber Blades or Ernest Emerson products, you can check out http://www.gerberblades.com or http://www.emersonknives.com
At first glance, its not difficult to immediately detect the Emerson influence that went into this knife. The blade and handle design are very similar to Emersons past designs that went into his own incredible line of combat folders. The handle of the knife is designed to allow great comfort and a super positive grip purchase. Once you deploy this knife in a solid hammer type grip, its there to stay. The construction is superb with the handles being constructed of heavy duty 6061-T6 aluminum and the handle slabs are held together with five Allen head screws. The blade is made of high grade 154CM steel. With pre machined pocket clip holes on either side of the knife for individual carry tastes this knife leaves little to the finicky knife critic to pick apart. Coming razor sharp from the factory, the blade comes either in a half serrated or full straight edge configuration. The blade is also finished in a non reflective black oxide finish. I have carried this knife on duty now for some time and the fit, feel, and function are all first rate.
The Gerber-Emerson is an automatic opening knife which gives it true one hand deployability. I am a big fan of one hand opening and closing knives for law enforcement or special operations purposes. There are to many instances in which you will be forced to get a knife out of your pocket or vest while having one hand tied up (figuratively, but hopefully never literally, speaking of course) on another mission. This knife solves that problem splendidly.
The vitals on this knife are as follows: It weighs in at a manageable 5.1 ounces, the length of the blade is 3.5 inches, and the length closed is a comfortable 5.35 inches. I carry this knife in a strong side pants pocket, blade up configuration and have had no problems deploying it either out of uniform pants, BDUs, or blue jeans. The dull black finish masks its appearance nicely on darker uniform pants and the pocket clip is positioned so that only a half inch of the butt end of the knife sticks out of the pocket
allowing for great concealability.
The knife comes equipped with a manually operated cross bolt style blade locking mechanism. The mechanism is deployed by depressing a button on the handle which is located slightly lower and forward on the knife handle then the opening button. I found that if needed, you could engage the lock with the blade closed to avoid an accidental opening. I tested the lock mechanism by attempting to defeat it by hitting the back of the knife blade against objects. The lock held up to any and all attempts at breaking it or getting it to the point of catastrophic failure.
The Gerber Emerson folder is in my opinion, an excellent choice if youre looking for a high quality, relatively inexpensive tactical folder. I have stated in articles past that I test tactical folders for law enforcement duties (Patrol, SWAT, Special assignment ) for what I have seen, or believe, are going to be there primary duties. Those duties being as an everyday use cutting tool, an escape tool for both citizen (accident scene or suicide situations, etc.) and officer (officer as hostage), also as a supplemental weapon to be used to aid in weapon retention, escaping a motivated physical attack (suffocating rear choke hold, etc.) or lastly, in extremis gravest, as a primary offensive weapon to save your life or the lives of others. From what I observe, The Gerber-Emerson could more then holds it own in any of these categories. For more information on the Gerber Emerson alliance folder or any of Gerber Blades or Ernest Emerson products, you can check out http://www.gerberblades.com or http://www.emersonknives.com
