Best Gerber Knife: Hands-on With Four of Our Favorites.

Knives have been used as tools for eating, cutting and sharpening, and also as weapons for hunting since prehistoric times. Nothing much has changed since then. Just the progress of men in science has opened ways in technology, and this progress is perceptible in tools as small as a knife as well. However small they may seem, knives are the basic requirements for a household as well as for protection. Knives have become more resilient, sharp, and handy. They can serve purposes as small as cutting an apple to breaking glasses, hammering nails, processing wood, and saving your life.

One of the best brands for knives prevailing in the market, Gerber, gives us a vast assortment of knives to choose from. The company started in 1939 and became a well-known brand, for its quality, around the 1960s. Soldiers also used Their knives in World War II. The knives are either fixed or folding and either assisted or automatic. They have a different range of designs invented for different purposes like defense, exploring, fishing, hunting, surviving, work, and, of course, everyday use. This makes it a tall order to single out any one of them. But I took this task on my shoulders and did a field test on all the top-rated Gerber knives, and as a result, I present you my favorites. So, I am here with my 8 top picks from the inventory of Gerber collection.

Best Gerber Knives:

We are going to take you through the actual specs of all the four knives, along with the minor details.

1. Gerber Lmf Ii Infantry

Design based on the experience of a former military man, Jeff Freeman, the Gerber LMF II Infantry is a multipurpose, fixed blade knife made with a combination of resilience, resourcefulness, and life-saving features, which can aid ruthless wars and may help you live to tell the tale. Designed especially for the air force and army personnel, it has a Black Oxide Coated Blade made from American Steel that can cut a hole even through the fuselage of a plane. The sharp-edged knife blade, which is 5 inches long and weighs around 11.5 ounces, is partially serrated, which can help us with the detail work and can serve as a pommel or a spear. We observed in our all field tests that the tip of the blade could stab and tear a hardwood log without chipping or bending or rolling and also easily chopped the woods without getting dull. The 3/16 inches’ thick blade has an impressive Rockwell hardness C scale rating of 58 and is highly retentive and durable.

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The rubberized handle of the blade has a comfortable, versatile, and safe design which ergonomics your hand. It has a striking pommel for breaking your way out, even though the shatter-resistant plexiglass. The distal end of the blade has a sprucely designed lanyard hole to hammer nails and also three lashing holes so you can make a spear with it. There is a recess between the tang and the butt cap of the handle that serves two purposes. Firstly, the break along with the non-conductive handle (made of glass-filled nylon with TPV overmold) provides insulation while cutting a stray wire and prevents you from getting electrocuted. Secondly, it absorbs the shock from hammering the handle on a hard surface. These properties make the Gerber knife very user friendly. The knife comes with a sheath, which is one of the best sheaths available in the market. The sheath is made up of ballistic nylon and has a fire retardant coating. The webbing of the sheath has a rubber stitching which helps to grab the knife firmly onto your uniform and provides stability.

There are multiple mounting options available as different kinds of lashings are present in the sheath to lash the knife to your lower leg, your thigh, your belt, etc. Also, it is MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-Carrying Equipment) compatible if you are not comfortable with traditional belt style lashing. There is an in-build, small size blade sharpener made of Carbide V that comes attached to the sheath itself. It helps resharpen the knife on site after prolonged use. The field tests that we did on the knife-like stabbing, cutting, batoning, and other processing of the woods showed that the knife has high retention power and durability. The blade performed very well without getting damaged or dull. The only drawback was that after striking the spine of the sturdy knife while batoning, the rubberized plastic got chewed up on guard. Although it hasn’t loosened up the handle, heavy batoning with this Gerber knife is not recommended. It can damage the front end of your hilt.

2. Gerber Prodigy Serrated Knife

Design cues taken from our top pick, LMF II Infantry, the Gerber Prodigy, is a much smaller but equally potent to Gerber knife engineered by Jeff Freeman. It is also much cheaper, and I got it at almost half the price of LMF II. Prodigy is a survival knife but can also be used for other purposes as well. It also comes with a black nylon sheath, which is a fair bonus. The fixed blade, made of 420 High Carbon Stainless Steel, is relatively thick and partially serrated just like its predecessor. It is also coated with black oxide to increase corrosion resistance and reduce visual signature. The blade performed amazingly well in all field tests. It did all the stabbing, cutting, and batoning without any damage to the blade or handle. The serrated edge proved to be very helpful, especially in the sharpening of the woods for making arrows or cutting small chippings for making a fire. The length of the blade is not much compensated and has the same drop point style. The knife can be your perfect camping companion.

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The handle is real unlike the LMF II Infantry, lacking hammering or shock-absorbing abilities. It just has a single hole at the back end for lashing the knife. It is made of the same material as the blade and is also corrosion-resistant. The grip felt soft and comfortable as I held the knife and allowed swift wrist movements. The rubberized plastic didn’t come off while processing the wood and held the blade tightly. The handle is MIRS compliant. Finally, the sheath is a complete masterpiece. It is MOLLE compatible and can attach to your backpack. It has a leg strap and two other straps for attachment for, I guess, extra security. The sheath molded soft-grip coating, which is also MIRS compliant and dampens the noise while using the sheath.

It has a friction release thumb lock design, which gives a better hold and retention. Also, there are two straps for the handle, which are not necessary but extra security? Why not? So, no worry if your running or jumping or flying, the knife won’t even buzz a little. Moving the knife in and out of the sheath is smooth and kind of fun, and it makes a little “click” sound as the knife fits into the cover. Overall, the knife is a cheaper and more relaxed version of LMF II, which is made for a commoner rather than a professional. So, if you are not a military man but looking for a knife to protect yourself without emptying your pockets, then this is it.

3. GERBER FLATIRON

Looking for a Gerber knife that could be your pocket companion and does almost all your jobs without tantrums? This is what you need. The Gerber Flatiron Knife is a multipurpose knife that will fit in your back pocket and has a quick single hand deployment ability. So, no worries if your one hand is busy holding something for you, the other hand will very well carry out the job. There is rising popularity for cleaver blades nowadays, and Gerber dropping a cold, low-cost cleaver style blade quickly became Flatirond version of flatiron was not very popular. Still, the manufacturers realized their mistakes and upgraded the design. The Flatiron Redemption! The new design was so impressive that it became difficult to get your hand on one. The blade is made out of 7Cr17MoV stainless steel and is pretty tough and corrosion-resistant. The blades dull comparatively fast but sharpen easily.

It has a thumb hole that helps in the unfolding of the knife single-handedly. The shape of the blade is unique and versatile, with a large finger choil designed for tight control and easy one-hand engagement. Overall, as we noticed in a period, the blade is right for heavy kitchen work like cutting the flesh off the bones and can also be used for other works like opening cardboard boxes or cutting ropes. The blade has a hollow grind, which is highly uneven and irregular, and some people are not big fans of this design. The handle of the blade has a different design from both sides, but it’s still unexpectedly comfortable. One side of the handle is a grip panel made either of textured g10 composite or grey anodized aluminum, and the other side is made of stonewashed aluminum, which has a frame lock and a pocket clip.

The frame lock keeps the blade stable and ensures safety while working on a hard surface. When you squeeze the grip, the blade is locked in concrete. The pocket clip is very robust and held on to my pocket nicely while I carried it around with me. So, overall this Gerber knife is very pocket friendly, yeah I meant both ways. It’s cheaper than most and using it was a good experience. The knife is not particularly useful in any one of the tasks but can perform multiple tasks with ease. If you are not looking for a big show-off but a real knife for your daily use at a low price, then you won’t regret buying this one.

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4. GERBER DECREE FLIPPER

For four decades, Gerber is designing tactical knives that have provided a wealth of knowledge regarding operators and their needs. The decree is the result of combining all the knowledge and delivering it as a single package. The Gerber Decree Foldable Tanto style Lock Liner knife is an all-rounder. It has all the cutting options along with life-saving or rescue applications.
The Blade is made of premium S30V stainless steel with a ceramic coating that resists corrosion. It gives more of a drop point design along with all the benefits of a tanto tip. The tip of the blade gave a better stabbing and piercing experience, and the rounded edge at the bottom allowed the sharpening of the blade while maintaining the blade’s geometry. The blade also has Partial serrations offering additional cutting power.

The glass-filled nylon handle of the blade provides a very ergonomic grip-enhancing with safety and control. The diamond shape and rubberized inserts make the operation of the knife extra user friendly. The foldable knife deploys rapidly because of the Thumb studs and finger flip feature, which is a boon in emergencies. The back end has a tempered steel glass breaker in the pommel, which can make your rescue mission easier. It also has a lanyard hole and a pocket clip to carry your favorite knife with you everywhere.

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5. GERBER PARAFRAME I

Gerber Paraframe is a US-designed, and China made folding open frame knife is one of the eight knives of the largest Paraframe series. It is simple yet beautiful in its way. The blade is made up of high carbon stainless steel and has a Titanium nitrate coating as well. Needless to say that the knife is corrosion resistant. Gerber is well known for the durability of its products. The blade has a drop point style and is very efficient in its tasks. It is available in both straight and serrated style; this is one’s personal choice.

What’s different is the handle of the knife. It is an open frame stainless steel design with a unique look. The knife effortlessly sets in your hand and has a feathery light feel to it. The handle is not too ergonomic but not uncomfortable as well. Like many other knives, it also has a frame lock design. Yes, initially, the lock felt a little tight, but then I realized that tilting the knife 45 degrees to the handle and pushing the blade works like a charm. The handle is not suitable for hammering but can be used to scrape out a nail from the wall or open a bottle cap.

Yes, heavy-duty knives are high quality and all, but sometimes we just need a cute little puppy to hold rather than a flesh-tearing Doberman. Gerber Paraframe is a cute little puppy who can be your perfect travel buddy and will do the small things for you.

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6. GERBER GATOR

Standing by its name proudly, the Gerber Gator has a crocodile’s teeth like sharp blade croc’s skin like athletic build. The knife is a silent predator and is made for emulation of anything which comes beneath its edge. The saber grind blade of the knife has a very high level and is razor-sharp. The knife is foldable or comes with a nylon sheath if you buy the fixed blade type, so the edge is not exposed, and you are safe while it’s not being used.

>Also, the sharpness of the blade remains for a long time; it doesn’t require frequent re-sharpening. So, if you are a hunter, add this to your list. The handle of the blade is glass-filled nylon with a rubberized alligator skin cover design. The grip felt very comfortable, and deploying the blade is also easy.

There is no pocket clip or lashings in the sheath to hold the blade, so traveling with the knife was a bit clumsy. But the overall performance of the knife is very impressive. The fixed blade version comes with a nylon sheath, which covers only the blade of the knife and has a small strap to hold onto the handle.

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7. GERBER E-Z OUT SKELETON

This Gerber knife very well deserves to be on our list and not because it has any unique features or a cool design but because of its very durable nature and rugged design to survive the hardest of conditions. I have owned this knife for years now, and it has been a part of my EDC for a long time. I’ve tried to find something similar to replace it but failed.

The blade is made of stainless steel just like others and has three thumb holes, which make it very easy to unfold the knife by using only one hand. The handle is slightly curved, which, by all means, gives the most comfortable grip. Additionally, the knife is the lightest of all, and you can work at lengths with this knife, and it wonts crack your wrist. There is also a sturdy pocket clip which makes sure that even if you run or jump or roll, the knife won’t fall out.

As I said, this Gerber knife does not have many features, but you can grow old with it. And even if it gets damaged, the exceptional Gerber limited lifetime warranty will make sure that a brand new knife arrives at your doorstep.

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8. Gerber Covert FAST

Gerber has skillfully combined the design of Applegate Fairbairn and F.A.S.T technology to give us a reasonably sharp knife, the Gerber Covert Fast and Covert Fast Mini. It is a folding knife with the quickest deployment of all and very easy to use. The blade of this gerber knife is serrated and sharp but not very sharp. The spear point style makes it even handier. Titanium coating on the blade makes it corrosion resistant and protects from damage.

I went fishing with this Gerber knife, and it was a pleasant experience, but the blade was a little tight while opening. Although this Gerber knife is easy to carry. The handle of thid Gerber knife has a pretty distinctive and tacky design, but Gerber never disappoints in the designing of its products. It is narrower at the front end for a better grip, which works, indeed.

A small button is present at one side for the opening of the knife, which is lightning fast. Emergency? Here’s your blade. The other side has a long pocket clip, and you know its use now. Gerber Covert Fast is the right choice for the elderly section who cannot take the tight locks of the folded knives anymore and need a smooth and quick deployment.

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Buying Guide – How to Choose the Right Gerber Knife

Purpose

The first and foremost objective we need to fulfill before buying a Gerber knife is to make sure that the knife that we buy is designed according to our needs and purpose. There are thousands of varieties of knives available in the market, and you have to take your pick wisely so that most of your work is done by a single multipurpose knife along with serving your main requirement. If you are just a housewife, then an average quality, a cheap knife is enough for you. If you are a hunter, fisherman, explorer, and any other professional who needs a knife 24/7, then you need a high-quality knife to wish average strength and high durability. You have to make sure that the Gerber knife is a one-time investment and will serve you for an extended period. If you are an army or military personnel, then you need a very high-quality Gerber knife with other athletic build and retention. Compromising in the quality here may mean compromising your life.

Blade

The blade is the essential part of the knife. It can have various shapes and sizes and can be single bevel or double bevel (mainly for defense purposes). The surface of the blade could be straight or could have serrations. Some knives are partially plain and partially serrated. If you don’t have to cut any hard objects, straight knives can give you a smooth finish, but most of the heavy-duty knives have serrations for cutting through hard surfaces or batoning woods, which can also help in detail work. From stainless steel to titanium alloys, blades are made of different materials and could have different styles like tanto point, clip point, hawkbill, etc. You can choose according to your needs. Sharper and stronger blades are needed for defense and survival purposes. Durability is the main factor in everyday use.

Handle

The handle is required to keep the blade stable and give the user a holding space. The handle should be comfortable and stable. The handle is generally made from plastic and should allow a smooth movement of the wrist while working so that the task doesn’t become very inconvenient. Handle plays a significant role while cutting through a hard surface as it has to be very strong to hold the blade tight. Some handles have electrical insulation to prevent electrocution. So, if you are an electrician, these knives are made for you. Lanyard holes are present at the back end of some of the handles for hammering nails with shock absorption ability to provide safety and stability. Holes are also present in some handles for converting the knife into a spear.

Sheath

Some knives come with a carrying case known as a sheath, which has lashings to mount the knife, so that it is easily reachable whenever needed, especially in emergencies like self-defense. Sheaths are given with heavy-duty knives, which are mainly to be used to tackle nature or for defense purposes rather than inside four walls. One should prefer a sheath with multiple lashing options and quick knife disposing ability. Some sheaths also come with inbuilt knife sharpeners, which increase the life of the blade.

Most Frequently Question Asked About the Gerber Knife

Q. How often should I resharpen my blade?

A. It depends on the intensity of your usage and the type of knife you are using. If your knife gets dull comparatively faster or if you do heavy work with your knife, then you’d have to resharpen it at smaller intervals than usual.

Q. Are the Gerber Knives completely corrosion free?

A. The Gerber knives are corrosion resistant, but this doesn’t mean that they are 100% corrosion-free. You have to take proper care of your knife to avoid rust formation on the blade. Wash, clean, and oil your knife regularly. Cause if you take care of things, they last!

Q. I want a knife to carry everywhere in my pocket.

A. Light-weighted knives like the Gerber Paraframe mini and Gerber E-Z Out are undoubtedly the best knives to carry around everywhere without even noticing their presence. If you an elderly, then I’ll recommend you the Gerber Covert Fast mini for a more comfortable deployment.

Q. There is an alpha-numeric number on the product I ordered. What does that mean?

A. The alpha-numeric number you saw on the product identifies the period your product was produced (from 2013 and forward).

Q. What is the return policy on Gerber products?

A. You can return a product purchased from the Gerber site within 30 days of order. Either for a refund or replacement. But the product must look like new. And the shipping charges are nonrefundable and return shipping costs are also taken from the customer only.

Q. I don’t know how to resharpen my blade. What should I do?

A. You have two options. Either purchase the carbide sharpener and then it’s straightforward. Just move the edge of the blade against the surface of the sharpener until the blade gets back to as good as new. Or you can simply call the ‘always ready to help’ Gerber Customer Service who’ll resharpen your blade just as the rate of 5$.

Q. I am a housewife, and I need a sharp knife that is durable and can help me in my kitchen and outside kitchen, plus it must be pocket friendly.

A. Ma’am, the knife made for you is the Gerber Flatiron Cleaver Blade, which will help in all your chopping and cutting and your cleaving and tearing work with ease.

Q. I lost my sheath somewhere. Can I buy a new sheath?

A. Yes, you can buy a new sheath on the original Gerber site, i.e., www.gerbergear.com. You will also find different new types of sheaths there.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed my detailed review of the few among the vast range of Gerber knives and also learned something new today. The summary is that the choice depends on your requirements. For military personnel, LMF II Infantry is recommended. For a person with a non-military background who needs a tool for self-protection, Prodigy will improve your survival statistics. For chefs and homemakers, Flatiron is the best choice. For anglers and hunters, Gator will change your life. And for someone looking to add up to your EDC gear, Paraframe and E-Z out won’t disappoint.