Unless you're a knife expert, buying a knife for yourself or as a gift can be a daunting task. You have so many aspects of the purchase to consider. Knife quality, the blade style, the steel, construction and warranty, the grip and handle, the locking mechanism if it's a folder, the tang, the sheath and much more.
Be Aware
And in today's world of knock-offs on everything from beauty products to shoes, you want to be sure you're getting the real deal and not a counterfeit. Thankfully, there are some pretty simple ways to ensure you're getting an authentic knife made by the authorized manufacturer.
Where to Buy
First off, buy from a reputable dealer. Avoid the guy on the street corner who set up shop out of the trunk of his car. At least, if you want to be sure you're getting an authentic knife. Remember that old adage that if "something seems too good to be true, it probably is"? Well, that applies to knife purchases as much as anything else. The first step to take to ensure you're not buying a counterfeit knife is to consider who you buy from.
What's the Brand
Another way to ensure you're buying an authentic knife is to look for the "brand." Not just the brand of knife, but the brand ON the knife. Gerber knives, for instance, proudly carry the name "Gerber" emblazoned on the blade. That lets you know that the knife you're buying is a real Gerber original. You don't have to worry that you may be getting a knock-off version or cheap imitation.
Study Beforehand
Also, know what the knife you're buying should look like. Visit the manufacturer's site. Learn about the design. Read up on the knife's features and properties. If you're looking at a Gerber LMF II, for instance, you'll see that the handle is either brown or green. If you're offered a knife with a blue handle and someone tells you it's an authentic LMF II knife, you'll know to question its authenticity since you did your homework.
Be Cautions
Sometimes when a counterfeiter or an agent is trying to sell you a fake knife, they'll go on and on about who owned it, where they got it, how much it cost originally, and more. If the seller is offering too much information or trying too hard to convince you of the authenticity of a knife you're considering, you might want to be weary. That's not to say that a seller is necessarily trying to sell you a counterfeit knife just because he's chatty, but that, coupled with other questionable aspects could help you determine if a knife you're considering is the real deal.
Get Out There
When you're buying a knife, especially as a gift but for yourself as well, you want to know you're getting your money's worth. You want to get a real, authentic, brand name knife that is what it claims to be. Keeping these few simple tips in mind will help you in that situation and you can know that you're getting a knife you can be proud to own, use and display for years to come. And you'll never have to feel you've "been taken" or duped into buying a counterfeit knife that you're ashamed of.
Posted by: SWGK Admin on Aug 13, 2012
Article taken from Southwest Gerber Knives
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Simple Tips for Knives Maintenance
Each Gerber knife comes with a special edge: An edge hand tested by knowledgeable employees with years of experience. Sure, it's old fashioned. But it's how we ensure that each knife arrives with the proper edge and sharpness. The high carbon stainless steel we use helps us achieve the superior cutting edge and standard of performance you expect. Exposure to wet conditions, however, corrodes even high performance steel. Proper care and maintenance of your knife will provide a consistent, dependable cutting edge.
Simple Tips for Knives Maintenance
Each Gerber knife comes with a special edge: An edge hand tested by knowledgeable employees with years of experience. Sure, it's old fashioned. But it's how we ensure that each knife arrives with the proper edge and sharpness. The high carbon stainless steel we use helps us achieve the superior cutting edge and standard of performance you expect. Exposure to wet conditions, however, corrodes even high performance steel. Proper care and maintenance of your knife will provide a consistent, dependable cutting edge.
Stay clean. Stay sharp. Remove any salt water, dirt, fibers, etc. from the tool by rinsing it in fresh water. Use a cotton swab to clean the inside of the handle. Allow your tool to dry thoroughly. Coat it with a light oil (3-in-1 or gun oil), making sure to lubricate the hinge area of the tools and the slides for the one handed opening.
Sharpen early and often.
The most important factor in sharpening your Gerber knife is maintaining a consistent angle with the sharpening device. A varying angle will result in a rounded edge, which dulls quickly. Gerber knives are sharpened with a uniform 15° angle on each side for a total of 30°. Gerber has an extensive line of sharpeners designed especially for Gerber products.
Article taken from Gerber Tools website
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Three Things that Make Knives Collectible
Having a collection is always fun. You can show it to others that come to visit and when you need extra money you'd be surprised at what you can get for some of the items you've had for years. Gerber knives are perfect for any type of collection.
It doesn't matter how young or old you are collecting knives can be awesome and so much fun. There are so many knives to choose from that are cool and either are already collectible or will be in the years to come. So don't be afraid to do some research before you buy.
The most important factor in sharpening your Gerber knife is maintaining a consistent angle with the sharpening device. A varying angle will result in a rounded edge, which dulls quickly. Gerber knives are sharpened with a uniform 15° angle on each side for a total of 30°. Gerber has an extensive line of sharpeners designed especially for Gerber products.
Article taken from Gerber Tools website
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Three Things that Make Knives Collectible
Having a collection is always fun. You can show it to others that come to visit and when you need extra money you'd be surprised at what you can get for some of the items you've had for years. Gerber knives are perfect for any type of collection.
It doesn't matter how young or old you are collecting knives can be awesome and so much fun. There are so many knives to choose from that are cool and either are already collectible or will be in the years to come. So don't be afraid to do some research before you buy.
What Really Makes It Collectible
There are so many knives to choose from, but do you know what really makes a knife collectible? Here are three things to look at when you're deciding if a knife is a collectible.
1. Demand
Supply and demand is huge when it comes to collectible knives. If there's no supply for the knife you want, that means it's collectible and the demand is probably high. You may have to search high and low to find it, but when you do, it'll be perfect for your collection.
2. No longer made
More likely than not, if a knife goes out of production it'll become a collectible. This isn't always the case, but it does happen often. People think they can continue to get them whenever they want and then when production ends, they realize they lost out so the search begins.
Supply and demand is huge when it comes to collectible knives. If there's no supply for the knife you want, that means it's collectible and the demand is probably high. You may have to search high and low to find it, but when you do, it'll be perfect for your collection.
2. No longer made
More likely than not, if a knife goes out of production it'll become a collectible. This isn't always the case, but it does happen often. People think they can continue to get them whenever they want and then when production ends, they realize they lost out so the search begins.
3. Unusual or original designs
There are times when a knife has a low production count for whatever reason and when this occurs it makes it unusual or original and that makes it collectible. When you have 20 knives made and that's it it's more collectible than one that had 20,000 made.
You May Have Seen This One
There are a number of Gerber knives that are collectible, but one knife that stands out is the Gerber Mark I is one that's hard to find. This knife has been discontinued and as you know from the above information that makes it a collectible. The stainless steel blade makes the quality good and that's another feature of a collectible. If you can find one of these knives, it's definitely one you should add to your collection.
Happy Collecting
Having a collection at your home is appreciated. You'll be able to look at them and search to find more as time goes on. Having a knife collection is great, but it's important to know what's collectible and what's not and with this information you'll know what to look for when you make a purchase.
Article taken from Southwest Gerber Knives
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Blade Geometry
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Blade Geometry
The way a knife blade is shaped determines its overall functionality. For example, a chef’s knife is shaped in such a way that it is perfect for slicing tomatoes or dicing garlic. That same knife however has no business out in the woods. The same holds true for the double-edged spear point and tanto-style knives. These knives are built for fighting and are perfect for thrusting and stabbing but do not hold out well in a survival situation.
Instead you’ll want to choose a clip point or a drop point style blade. These blades are suited well for the tasks required in a survival situation.
A clip-point blade’s tip is formed by a slight concave curve at the top. When slightly curved these tips are perfectly acceptable and strong. Clip points with exaggerated curves are susceptible to breakage if your pounding the spine while chopping wood.
The drop point blade is the best all-around blade style. It is formed when the back or dull side of the knife slopes downward at a slight angle beginning at around the half-way point and meets the blade edge slightly above center. This blade geometry is best suited for the various tasks required out in the field.
Article taken from Tactical Intelligence.net
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Steel Type: Carbon Steel or Stainless Steel
Most knives are made from two broad classifications of steel: Carbon Steel and Stainless Steel. As a general rule stainless steel is more rust resistant than carbon steel but can be more brittle (less tough) and more difficult to sharpen compared to the average carbon steel. Carbon steel on the other hand can be made extremely sharp, is tougher when being used for splitting or chopping, is easier to sharpen, but if not maintained it will easily rust.
It’s important to know that most of these differences disappear as you go up in terms of price and quality of manufacture. Here is a list of steels that I recommend:
E.g Stainless Steels:S60V,BG-42,S90V,CPM S30V,CPM 154,VG-10 etc
E.g Carbon Steels:D2,A2 ,O1,Carbon V,CPM 154 etc
Conclusion:
Carbon Steel-Pro
- better edge characteristics
- feel better on the stones
- harder
- don't actually require much more care than stainless, but they do require it more or less constantly and right away
- better balances of toughness and strength
- Easy to sharpen
Carbon Steel-Cons
- if not maintained it will rust
hat works for you.
Source from Tactical Intelligence.net, Blade forums,, zknives.com
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Hate Serrations? Read This…
I get a lot of comments in my reviews from people who just don’t like serrated blades… mostly because they find them hard to sharpen when dulled.
Regardless, most survival and many combat and tactical knives today are designed with the inclusion of a serrated edge because… in a pinch… a serrated edge is likely to be sharp long after the fine edge of the knife is quite dull.
Plus, a serrated edge will cut things like rope, vines, branches… and much more… faster than a straight edge…
Sharpening Serrations is Easy
So let me calm all fears and say that sharpening the serrated edge of your LMF II is actually pretty easy with the right tool…
You need a diamond sharpening rod like the one found on Gerber Diamond Knife Sharpener Pocket Clip (RM 59 at skl diy online store) or Gerber Survival's Bear Grylls Field Sharpener @ RM 150 . Usually a few strokes is all it takes to restore a banged up serration to full cutting power.
Article taken from ultimatesurvivaltips.com
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What is AUS-8A steel : Stainless Steel (Cold Steel & SOG knives)
AUS-8a is almost the same thing as AUS-8. It is often called 8a steel as well. What differs AUS-8a from AUS-8 is that it has been heat treated. They are the same steel with the same makeup of metals however. Both AUS8 and AUS8a are very similar to the 440 line of steels. The 440 line is made by an American company whereas the AUS line is made by a Japanese company. Some AUS steel is made in China.
Strenghts and Weaknesses of AUS-8A Steel
AUS-8 Steel is similar to 440 steel. It has Vanadium to give the steel more hardness. AUS-8a steel is very easy to sharpen to a razor edge but it will dull fast. Some reviewers online say that it’ll dull by just being out in oxygen. Others say that they have used it daily at work and only sharpen it once a week. The quality of the blade does depend a lot on use and tempering techniques from the manufacturer. AUS-8a will withstand rust very well. It is similar to 440 steel in this regard as well.
Knives that Commonly Use AUS-8A Steel
SOG Knife company use AUS-8 steel regularly. Kabar uses it in their dozer series of knives. Cold Steel uses it in the SRK series. CRKT uses in their Van Hoy series as well as many other knives. Some Gerber knives use AUS-8a as well.
Conclusion on AUS-8 Steel
8a steel is great if you are looking for a good quality knife. It won’t perform as well as high end tool steel and you won’t find it from knife makers like Benchmade. However, it does give you a great bang for your buck. It is very similar to 440 steel and is often used in many mass produced knives. 440 steel is also used in machetes.
Do you have any other questions about steel types? Please refer to
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What is AUS-8A steel : Stainless Steel (Cold Steel & SOG knives)
AUS-8a is almost the same thing as AUS-8. It is often called 8a steel as well. What differs AUS-8a from AUS-8 is that it has been heat treated. They are the same steel with the same makeup of metals however. Both AUS8 and AUS8a are very similar to the 440 line of steels. The 440 line is made by an American company whereas the AUS line is made by a Japanese company. Some AUS steel is made in China.
Strenghts and Weaknesses of AUS-8A Steel
AUS-8 Steel is similar to 440 steel. It has Vanadium to give the steel more hardness. AUS-8a steel is very easy to sharpen to a razor edge but it will dull fast. Some reviewers online say that it’ll dull by just being out in oxygen. Others say that they have used it daily at work and only sharpen it once a week. The quality of the blade does depend a lot on use and tempering techniques from the manufacturer. AUS-8a will withstand rust very well. It is similar to 440 steel in this regard as well.
Knives that Commonly Use AUS-8A Steel
SOG Knife company use AUS-8 steel regularly. Kabar uses it in their dozer series of knives. Cold Steel uses it in the SRK series. CRKT uses in their Van Hoy series as well as many other knives. Some Gerber knives use AUS-8a as well.
Conclusion on AUS-8 Steel
8a steel is great if you are looking for a good quality knife. It won’t perform as well as high end tool steel and you won’t find it from knife makers like Benchmade. However, it does give you a great bang for your buck. It is very similar to 440 steel and is often used in many mass produced knives. 440 steel is also used in machetes.
Do you have any other questions about steel types? Please refer to
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_blade_materials
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Counterfeit Product Alert
The success of the Gerber brand and products in the international marketplace has made Gerber a major target for counterfeits.
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Counterfeit Product Alert
How to identify counterfeit Gerber Bear Grylls Knives
There is an increasing awareness on the counterfeit Bear Grylls product that are available on the online market recently. There is no doubt that counterfeiting knife is a hot topic at all time.
All Gerber products are designed and engineered in Portland, OR where many are also manufactured. However, there are unknown and unauthorized individuals and companies creating and distributing fake Gerber products, known as counterfeits, which do not meet Gerber exacting quality and safety standards. The success of the Gerber brand and products in the international marketplace has made Gerber a major target for counterfeits.
In regards to above matter, we decided to post a topic regards on how to identify counterfeit Gerber Bear Grylls Knives in the market. Please do not get me wrong, i found some company selling BG knives at remarkably low price $ 7-10 USD for a folding sheath knife and it is too good to be true, isn't it?
Counterfeit Bear Grylls knives are common China websites at a fraction of the cost of authentic items. This knife is offered at $5.88 with free shipping. These counterfeit products are often sold on eBay and other auction sites as authentic items.
This Bear Grylls Scout folding knife from China is just $9. Can you identify it as a fake from the photo?
Here is some tips on how to identify the original and replica copy of Gerber BG Ultimate:
1. Color
The original BG Ultimate comes with brighter & sharp orange Color as compared to the replica copy. However, it is very hard to tell at the first hand as the color of the replica copy only faded after some time.
2.Packaging
Usually authentic BG Ultimate comes with its original packaging which is seal in Bear Grylls Business card packaging which is in clamshell blister packaging ; Knock-off copy normally is sealed in a box.
3. Sheath
The original BG Sheath has a land to air rescue instruction which attached to the sheath whereas the replica copy doesn't has this instruction.
4. Handle
The original BG ultimate has Ergonomic Textured Rubber Grip - Maximizes comfort and reduces slippage whereas the handle of the replica uses the normal cheap rubber handle. There is tons of flex in the handle and the folding movement is terrible for replica BG sheath folding knife You will feel the difference when you hold both of the knife in your hand.
other visible difference are quality of the knife, steel, blade style, sharpener and warranty.
My suggestion is always buy it from a seller that has a good reputation or it is advisable to check the product first before you bought it. Price always matter, do not consider price that are too low ( too good to be true
). I saw some seller even selling it @ RM 190 (BG Ultimate)?? Too Good to be true. Hohoho. I also found some good youtube video comparing the fake and original BG knives. Feel free to check it out when you are free.For your information, we only sell authentic and original Gerber Bear Grylls knife and it is comes with Gerber Legendary Warranty. Our customers are welcome to come to our outlet to have a better grasp on the product itself.
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