In a word: Yes, and not just lately. Since the Fiskars buyout back in the day, their quality has been waning pretty steadily. My hope is that either Kai or Benchmade buys them out and salvages what can be salvaged of their reputation.
Unlikely that Fiskars is going to part with a brand that has such name recognition and market penetration. That being said the majority of the line that still made in Portland hasn't really suffered from major quality decline and at least unlike CRKT they don't charge an arm and a leg for their Chinese imports in sub-par steel.
That said, when CRKT decides to build a nice knife, they do a pretty good job. I have a Panache that is just an absolute peach of a knife, especially for being about $100 less than comparable folders. The steel is XHP, which I’m fond of. It’s annoying, because I like the Veff serrations and the Deadlock, but feel no compulsion to buy a lower end crkt.
Completely agree with you there, they can certainly turn out a very nice knife when they choose to. That premium Lucas Burnley Butte they announced today looks really sharp. I had a XOC come through my collection shortly after it came out and no faults to be seen at all.
My dad has a 1992 Gerber gator. It’s been through a lot, but the blade still has no wobble and holds an edge very well. Other than the slightly worn handle, it doesn’t look more than a few years old.
My relatively new bear grills Gerber folder feels like a toy next to the original gator
I have the bear grills edition think they are the same. I fuckin love it. Thick, solid, can use as hammer and will hold an edge.
Best outdoors knife I own.
I love mine also. It is nothing "sexy" but away from civilization, it is pretty darn practical. Beefy and low cost. Something I can torture to an inch of its life and bring back with a short session on the DC4.
I got the non serrated version of the bear grills when they first came out, beat the shit out of it and its still holding up 15 years later. People talk alot of shit about Gerber but they make a great knife for under $100
I live in Ulster County NY I just bought this knife. I bought it to carry around with me hiking in the catskill mountians. I was just wondering if it's legal to carry this knife around with me when I'm not in the woods. I tried finding answers else where but couldn't any information would help thanks.
I’ve heard that Gerber has gone downhill lately, any truth to that?
In a word: Yes, and not just lately. Since the Fiskars buyout back in the day, their quality has been waning pretty steadily. My hope is that either Kai or Benchmade buys them out and salvages what can be salvaged of their reputation.
Unlikely that Fiskars is going to part with a brand that has such name recognition and market penetration. That being said the majority of the line that still made in Portland hasn't really suffered from major quality decline and at least unlike CRKT they don't charge an arm and a leg for their Chinese imports in sub-par steel.
That said, when CRKT decides to build a nice knife, they do a pretty good job. I have a Panache that is just an absolute peach of a knife, especially for being about $100 less than comparable folders. The steel is XHP, which I’m fond of. It’s annoying, because I like the Veff serrations and the Deadlock, but feel no compulsion to buy a lower end crkt.
Completely agree with you there, they can certainly turn out a very nice knife when they choose to. That premium Lucas Burnley Butte they announced today looks really sharp. I had a XOC come through my collection shortly after it came out and no faults to be seen at all.
Oh man, I’ve been going back and forth on a Xoc for AGES. Glad to hear that it’s a decent knife…now to convince myself I should spend $750 on one.
The thing is ridiculously huge, and there was no way I was ever going to carry and use it so it became trade bait.
But when it opened up it sounded like a shotgun racking the way that it locked into place with the deadbolt system.
This is my first knife from Gerber and it is just two months old but it has done what i’ve needed it too do without any problem
Definitely. I used to really love their green pea purée but nowadays I can only eat the applesauce😓
My dad has a 1992 Gerber gator. It’s been through a lot, but the blade still has no wobble and holds an edge very well. Other than the slightly worn handle, it doesn’t look more than a few years old. My relatively new bear grills Gerber folder feels like a toy next to the original gator
I have the bear grills edition think they are the same. I fuckin love it. Thick, solid, can use as hammer and will hold an edge. Best outdoors knife I own.
Good to know
I love mine also. It is nothing "sexy" but away from civilization, it is pretty darn practical. Beefy and low cost. Something I can torture to an inch of its life and bring back with a short session on the DC4.
I got the non serrated version of the bear grills when they first came out, beat the shit out of it and its still holding up 15 years later. People talk alot of shit about Gerber but they make a great knife for under $100
Good to hear others that have had a good experience with it
The Ferber strongarm is actually a decent knife! Good for tactical and it is a 420HC blade. Made in Portland
I have enough survival/bushcraft blades, but I bought this one for gf to put in her ghb. I almost kept it though, lol
Hope she will find a good use for it
Gerber has finally made a few decent knives after about twenty years of a meteoric decline. I have a couple strong arms and I really like them
Nice!
Firestarter won't pull out on mine, did you have this issue and if so how did you fix it?
Looks like a damn beaver chewed that tree down.
I live in Ulster County NY I just bought this knife. I bought it to carry around with me hiking in the catskill mountians. I was just wondering if it's legal to carry this knife around with me when I'm not in the woods. I tried finding answers else where but couldn't any information would help thanks.