16.2.2011

I am writing this for the most part because I see a lot of negative/mixed reviews for this product, and though I can understand some of them, I also want to point out, that by numbers, the overwhelming number of reviews as of Feb 2011 is positive. I also want to point out that though there had been complaints with the handle, there seems to have been some sort of recall that must of have fixed the problem, because I sure have put my knife to the test without fail. I also want to point out that I am in the military, and though teh quality of this knife is up to military standards, I want to point out that this was not the purpose of the knife, and does present some of the problems that I have had with it.The first one that all my friends point out is teh color for the knife. The bright Orange makes it just stand out and as one of my friends pointed out, makes its user look flaming. I can imagine that it would stick out some in the field, but its small enough that I fit it on my belt and my blouse covers it. The second and biggest complaint that I have with the knife is that it is hard to attach to mollie gear, and though I do realize that is not teh purpose, it is an inconvienience. That being said the feel, grip and functionality of this knife has made all of my friends jealous, and made a good friend give up his seal pup to replace with this after i let him borrow mine for a mission. All around great knife.I'm adding this because of some flak that I have gotten for this review, and as to whether or not this is full tang or not. Some people have said that the knife has come apart on them, and I want to point out that the people who responded with this did so almost on top of my review in February, and probably had a problem with the product before them. From the other reviews that complained that the knife came apart on them, that there was only one screw holding things together with rubber and plastic, I can tell you that I use this knife all the time, and have never had a problem with it breaking or any structural problems. I am not going to comment on the place that the knife was made, because while I do understand that there is sentimentality for American goods, avoiding products that are made abroad just does not seem practical in this day and age. The product should be judged souly on its quality. I can understand why someone that has been burned by a previous model of this product would not want to repurchase it, but it does not mean that previous faults were not corrected. I would be the first person to complain about a product that I have purchased, and that is not the case. I do agree that the density and carbon in the seal pup is a great knife. The only reason I do not have the pup with me on this deployment is because it was rapid after a PCS and was not able to get a lot of things delivered before I had to ship out, and while I will admit that it is a really good knife, it seems to be a little heavy in the handle and not quite weighted right, also its edge is not as sharp. In terms of using the knife to pry things or cut through trees or branches, not sure that is something that I use the knife for, and it does come down to preference. I use the hammer often and no bends or cracks. the blade holds up well, and I will agree that there are better sheaths out there, not the reason you buy a knife for, as you can get after market variations realatively cheap if there is an issue. Some people just hate gerber or bear gryls, and while I am not a fanboy, there are plenty of gerber products that I would not reccomend, this happens to be a good one.

25.6.2012

This knife sells for $50 here in town, but the one I got on Amazon for $32 (delivered!) appears to be identical. I haven't seen a knife of this quality for so little money before. First the good news:PROSAwesome grip of soft rubber, well shaped. Butt end is a hammer, but be sure to hold the sheathed knife by the hard plastic sheath to hammer. If you hold the handle and miss a nail, your hand will hit the nail. The handle guard area has two holes that go through the handle and the tang, so the knife can be tied to a pole or stick (spear), plus there is a hole in the butt end.The blade is well shaped, though I prefer no serrations for more work area on the blade edge.It's sharp out of the package.The Sheath is cleverly designed. It has two parts: the sheath itself, hard plastic, holds the blade facing either way, and the guard snaps in to a large clip at the top, holding the knife in solidly. To remove the knife with one hand without lifting the sheath, press against this clip with your thumb or forefinger and the knife pops out - cool. The other part is made of black webbing and holds the sheath and knife to itself via Velcro straps.The fire starter slips into a slot upside down and stays there. There is a half-inch area on the back of the blade which has been ground flat, with sharp corners. Scrape this area against the fire starter and you'll get lots of usable sparks.There's more - There are three Velcro straps holding the knife, sheath and webbing back together: one at the top of the handle; release it to take the knife out. The second holds the plastic sheath to the of black webbing. Release this middle strap and the sheath will swing down on the third strap, like on a hinge, at the bottom edge of the webbing. This reveals a diamond sharpening block mounted to the back side of the sheath. Release the bottom (third) strap and the sheath will come off its webbing, for use as a hammer, for example.CONSThere is a cord (wrist strap) in the hole of the handle with a cheap whistle on the ends. The whistle works well enough, but I prefer not to have anything 'pendular' flopping around on the wrist strap. I removed it, shortened the cord and tied it to the fire starter. I can now remove the fire starter from its slot by tugging on the whistle. I replaced the original wrist strap/cord with 1/8" polyester cord.The handle is soft rubber which stinks when you open the package. I was ready to return it, but I decided to let it air out for a few days, and that was enough. It has a slight smell now, but not too bad.There are a few sketches on the back of the package; one shows how to hold the knife and sheath to use the butt end as a hammer. That's all, no instructions, nothing. I think a few words about the knife, how it was designed, how to use it, etc. would benefit users. To their credit, Gerber includes a folded 'survival guide' of sorts. Don't expect it to save you, it's brief. I would prefer no survival guide and instead a user guide.SUMMARYThis is the best knife I have seen anywhere near the price. The cons are not really cons, except the smell, which is a small matter. I didn't buy the knife for the whistle. I gave it five stars. Take away the serrations and I'd give it six. By the way, a survival shop here sells just the fire starter for $21. Great knife.

28.12.2013

The Gerber Bear Grylls survival knife is a really fantastic value. For how much money you're paying for this thing, it's mind boggling that so many people are complaining so much. It doesn't have a full tang. It's made in China. The end pops off after I beat the crap out of it. Blah, blah, blah...I tell you what. If you want a Ferrari, buy a Ferrari. This is more akin to a Hyundai. FOR THE MONEY, it's a hell of a fantastic value. Some of these reviewers are failing to take into consideration that this is a mass produced, made in China, inexpensive knife. So take it for what it is and stop trying to hold it to the same standard what you would for a boutique knife maker.Will this thing function in the outdoors?Absolutely. The blade holds it's edge relatively well. And if it dulls up (as ALL knives do), a few minutes with a sharpening stick and you're back in business. The Gerber knife comes with a ferro rod that clips into the sheath. And it throws sparks better than any other knife in my collection. (I think part of it has to do with the geometry of the spine being a perfect 90 degrees and having quite sharp edge, which allows it to have a very positive contact with the ferro rod).What about batoning wood? That seems to be where everybody's getting their panties tied up in a knot. Here's the deal folks. If you need to split wood, go get yourself an axe. Wood splitting is more a job for an axe anyway...and trying to convince people that if a knife is worthless if it can't baton wood without suffering any damage whatsoever... It's just a really dumb argument. I must reiterate something. This is a very inexpensive knife...so don't obsess over the batoning thing. If push came to shove and I was out in the wilderness and the ONLY thing I had to split some wood was this...do you actually think I'm going to worry if the end pops off? That would be the least of my concerns. I think far too many survivalists obsess about minutia too much.One of the things I REALLY love about this knife is the ergonomics. The handle is really comfy in my hands, has a non-slip surface and the whole knife has excellent balance. I was able to do a lot of work without suffering any hand fatigue - always a good sign.For use as a cutting tool, it's held up just fine. My preference would have been to buy the fine edge version (as opposed to the partial serration). But when I got mine, I wasn't aware of the full fine edge model. Had I known, I would've bought the fine edge - and the reason is because it's just easier to sharpen. But other than that, I can't complain too much. The serrated edge does a fantastic job at cutting cordage, rope and other stuff.I've had my Gerber knife for over two years and have never had a single problem. I think it's a very good product, priced at a point where anyone can afford it and offers quite a bit of versatility. If buying a USA made product is a primary concern for you, don't buy this knife. If having a full tang knife that will survive endless and relentless beatings while batoning wood is important to you, don't buy this knife. But if you want a really good, every day knife for camping and general outdoor use and you don't want to spend a lot of money, I can't think of too many other knives which are a better bang for the buck.

21.4.2012

As a devout fan of Bear Grylls and an avid watcher of Man Vs. Wild, I decided to take the plunge and buy this knife (admittedly much later after its release). After browsing on Amazon and reading some reviews, I found that the knife received some mixed reviews with a generally positive incline (presumably after the knife's redesign in 2011[?]). Interestingly however I found that there seems to be a strict dichotomy of reviews. The first group will say that the knife is more or less garbage and won't stand up to normal use. The second, however, will say that they have put this knife through some pretty serious abuse and it has held up just fine.My thinking is that either the first group may still be using the knife prior to the redesign and do not realize it, or they are simply abusive to their knives for the sake of being abusive.In my experience, which truthfully wasn't as in depth as I would've liked, I found that the Bear Grylls knife has held up pretty well and I'm definitely pleased with its performance. I was able to chop through some branches for firewood with relative ease, as well as try some sawing and whittling. The blade seems to have retained its edge and I can't find any real signs of wear. I also own the Gerber LMF II which is a great knife, and although it has some nicer steel and is American made, I haven't found an instance where I've seen that the blade/steel on the BG model was inadequate.As far as other features are concerned, the fire starter is a real pleasure to use and works like a charm; definitely a worthwhile feature. In addition to this, I've found that if your fire steel wears away or some other tragedy befalls it, replacements are available on Gerber's website for five bucks.The sheath is also fantastic. It has enough bulk to be substantial, but it is thin enough to not get in the way. I like it a lot better than the sheath for the LMF II. That one has too many straps and buttons for me. Maybe necessary for some, but not for me.Finally, I think the best thing about this knife is the handle. It has to be one of the most comfortable and grippy knife handles I have ever held. Whether your hands are wet or greasy, you should still be able to maintain a fine grip on this knife. It is yet another feature that I like better on the BG model than on the LMF II. In fact, the only thing I really like better about the LMF II (besides its manufacturing origins) is the pommel. That thing will get you out of any situation you can think of.All in all, this knife is solid and reliable, and for under forty dollars, you can't really go wrong. I'm glad that Gerber (1) was able to collaborate with Bear Grylls to make such a nice survival/camping tool and (2) was able to recognize a problem in its original design and actually redesign the knife to fix it.

17.12.2011

I was apprehensive about buying another item promoted by a television personality. However, this knife is very well made. The problem with pommel hammer end has been fixed by Gerber. Glad to see Gerber is listening to the feedback. This is a lot of knife for the money at $38. The knife is comparable to a $90 knife.ProsThe handle is amazingly comfortable and sticky enough to keep the knife secure in your hand. But not so sticky it feels cheap. A really pleasure to work with. Unlike, the hard rubber found in the SOG seal pups handles. SOG handles are ok, great ergonomic form, grippy but very hard. Yes, I know the knifes are for two very different uses. The SG is a survial knife and the SOG is a defense/attack knife.This knife feels secure, well balanced and allows the user to weal it confidently. The blade is ~1/4" wide along the top edge allowing for a durable pummeling knife that can take a beating. The bottom of the handle has a steel like hammer end to it. Great idea, that will come in handy when breaking down things like nuts or whatever needs smashing. The blade also has a high Rockwell hardness value so holds and edge a long time. I will not go into the numbers you can look those up. I like the idea of holes on the handle to make a spear. Placing a scraping section for the flint on the knife was genius. The sheath is a combination of a type of kydex attached to a type of corduroy. This great because the knife fits into the kydex like sheath where water can run off and keep you knife from rusting. The included booklet is just ok.Cons (Well not really the knife is very good. More like could be better)The serrated grooves run pretty far long along the knife allowing for less cutting surface from the non-serrated part of the blade. That means with use you will eventually need to put an edge back on those serrations. Which will prove difficult to sharpen? I prefer to have less serrations. The file is a nice touch but you can't sharpen the serration with it. On the good side the knife has a good Rockwell hardness value which helps keep the edge for a long time. Adding the flint was also great. But the user is limited to a Gerber flint, not cool. With use it will wear out and need to be replaced. I know if Gerber put some thought into it they can come up with a generic method of holding any flint. The cordura sheath only allows for a vertical installation but forget using it with molle horizontally. "Gerber come on," you guys make plenty of gear for the military it couldn't have cost you that much more to include the capability. The whistle is loud and functional but not as loud as a whistle with a ball in it, its is still better than nothing.In short this is a great knife for the price paid. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

2.12.2012

I have never been a fanboy of well anything actually but this knife has started me down the path.I have had a love/hate relationship with Gerber for years. The quality of their products seems to be hit and miss. Some excellent some horrible. This is the former.I have to say I have the same relationship with BG. I have seen his show and I like some of the stuff he says and does and just hate other stuff. Again this knife is the former.If you could make a perfect camping hiking knife (which on a side is impossible) then it would look very much like this.I will go over the features and you can see where I get my opinion.Blade: Good steel, nice edge with a serrated section for sawing. Thick base,

25.2.2011

I recently received this knife, as I am an avid fan of Man vs. Wild and of Bear Grylls(though admittedly, most of the stuff he does on his show would more likely put you in danger if you are not trained to do them). After first unpacking the knife from its container, I have to say, the weight is pretty hefty. There are heavier ones out there, but this once certainly has a bit of weight to it. It feels pretty durable in my hand, and though many people say it feels cheap because of the rubberized handle, I kind of like the feel of it. It is more fleshed out than the SOG Seal Pup that I usually use, and actually a little more sturdy. The blade of it is nice and thick,

10.11.2010

UPDATE 2: Sent the knife back to Gerber and it was replaced, no questions asked. Don't know if the new one is any better than the old one, but I'm done "testing" it. Overall, it's a good knife. Money well spent (and not much at that). If you don't believe me, take a gander at "JC's" review from a few weeks ago. He says he's a Marine 0311 which is Infantry. If he likes the knife, then it should be fine for anyone not in a Marine Infantry unit.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------UPDATE: Well, it happened. Just like others in this product area, mine broke as well. I will be sending it back to Gerber, and hoping the return product is indeed FULL TANG,

9.4.2011

Purchased Use:I will be storing this in one of my Emergency Packs.Shipping/Packaging:Received the item in a timely fashion in good condition.Initial Product Impression:Although the item is made in China it appears to be well made. Only had to snip a few threads from the sheath to clean it up. This is the new version which can be identified by the larger orange stripe towards the lower end of the handle and pommel (1/4 inch compared to 1/8 inch of previous model). I am not sure that I like how awkward the handle feels in my hand due to the index finger notch. But it will suffice for emergency use. I do like the rubberized texture which will come in handy during wet weather and sweaty hands.

24.7.2011

OK, I'm not going to "review" Bear Grylls, or the packaging. Just the knife/sheath. A lot of folks say that the steel used isn't as good as ??? (whatever they prefer) BUT, At one time I am sure it was state of the art steel for knife blades. I find it more than adequate for a survival knife. No, I didn't go into the back yard and try to cut down any 18" oak trees or split 2 cords of firewood for the winter. I have a chainsaw and a log splitter for that. I didn't frame an apartment complex with the pommell driving 16d nails into 2x4's. I have hammers for that too. I did start a small fire with the Ferro rod and knife notch. The whistle is a bit cheesy, but better than nothing.

10.3.2011

As an avid outdoors person who has utilized all types of Sporting, and a few Military type Knives for decades, I am impressed with this new Bear Grylls/Gerber Sheath Knife system. The Stainless Steel Gray (Anti-Coro Treated) Blade is half serrated, super sharp, a nice "grinding" and shaping job by the manufacturer, rubber handle, Cordura Nylon Sheath with Velcro Bands, an enclosed/attached Fire Starter, and Metallic Sharpener are all top quality. The Plastic Whistle is a bit humorous, but I think it may be "pitched or intended" more for a Rescue Dogs hearing vs. Human ears, and is not very loud. The color scheme of International Orange and Gray are a bit unusual, however, after looking at it for awhile,

28.7.2012

Come on people. Yes it's a gimmic. Anyone over the age of ten can figure that out. The old version got released too early. That happens when engineers get pressure to get products done and on the shelves. These products are designed to get more people interested in bushcraft, camping, being outdoors. I bit, and bought it and came as the new version. I dont have a problem with at all. I wish I would have seen the straight blade as I would have ordered that one instead. I touched up the blade and it shaves. I also touched up the serrations. Hate them. I have used every function and have not had a problem with it at all. In fact starting a fire with it with my nephew was a cool experience.

19.12.2014

We've bought four of these since Christmas 2013. Back then, there was a special price on it -- I believe it had a coupon last year -- so my wife bought me one, then her brothers liked it so well we bought both of them one. Shortly after giving them their knives, my father-in-law said, "What, you didn't get me one?" So this year we ordered one for him.Here's my thoughts: I'm not a hunter or even a person who does a lot of camping, but we live in and around the Appalachian Mountains these days so the outdoors and being outdoors is just part of life. We hike some, we go on trail walks and I do like to fish. My wife's brothers aren't hunters or campers either, but her dad is a hunter.

24.2.2012

I'd always wanted a firestarter. Partially for the survival aspect, and partially because I'm a guy and I like toys and fire. But it was always sort of a backburner issue for me until a friend of mine showed me this knife, and how cool and effective the firestarter really is. You have to see it to understand (watch the video in the product images).So I immediately went online to look for a knife with a firestarter. I avoided this particular knife at first for several reasons. First of all, I didn't want to just copy my friend. Second of all, it's a little pricey and I figured you were just paying for the Bear Grylls name.I was wrong.After a lot of looking with not much success in finding a good knife with a firestarter from a brand I trust,

13.8.2012

I have been using this knife for over a year now and there's good news and bad news. The bad news is that if you're looking for a serious lifetime survival knife this knife is not the one and I'll explain why. First of all it is serrated which makes it easy to dull and hard to sharpen in the field. second it is not full tang (Full tang is when the knife steel goes through the entire width and length of the handle) so it is not as strong as a survival knife that is full tang construction. The good news is that if you are looking for a light duty camp knife this one is hard to beat. It is reasonably priced, it has a built in fire steel, diamond sharpening stone, whistle,

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife - Reviews

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