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120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2

Grathr · 70 · 4103

no Offline Grathr

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120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
on: May 24, 2015, 06:19:53 PM
I just finished carrying a Spyderco Ambitious and a G10 Dragonfly for 120 days each.
You can read more about that here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php?topic=53977

Now Im going to carry a Gerber Bear Grylls Compact II for 120 days.

The Compact II is a fairly cheap knife with a MSRP of about $25, and can be found for as little as $10 on Amazon.




I havent unpacked it yet. I will do that this evening and give you my first impressions.




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-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


00 Offline kirk13

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #1 on: May 24, 2015, 07:26:08 PM
 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:
There is no beginning,or ending,and for this we are thankful,cos now is hard enough to understand!


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #2 on: May 24, 2015, 07:35:04 PM
First impressions:





The handle is made from glass filled nylon with a TPE overmold, with no metal liners, atleast not visible. Wich make it very light, but also makes it feel a bit cheap. But it is a cheap knife, so thats OK. The grooves in the handle make it quite grippy.
It has a 2,6 inch fine edge blade, made from 420HC steel , and is made in the USA. It came nice and sharp right out of the box.

I was a bit worried a about it beeing a lockback knife. Cheap lockbacks have a tendency to have a lot of bladeplay, but the Compact has none of that. :tu:

Both the Ambitious and Drafonfly showed very little signs of wear and tear after 120 days use. Im not so confident that the Compact will do the same. Time will show.





Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


fi Offline Crow

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #3 on: May 24, 2015, 07:36:53 PM
Yes.

 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

could you take picture of it in your hand, to see its size... No one ever does so. I find it useful comparison...


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #4 on: May 24, 2015, 07:43:36 PM

Yes.

 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

could you take picture of it in your hand, to see its size... No one ever does so. I find it useful comparison...

Here you go:



Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


fi Offline Crow

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #5 on: May 24, 2015, 07:46:59 PM

Yes.

 :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

could you take picture of it in your hand, to see its size... No one ever does so. I find it useful comparison...

Here you go:
(Image removed from quote.)


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

Thank you. This tells me so much more, than those other pictures..


ro Offline Corwyn

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #6 on: May 24, 2015, 08:42:42 PM
From Dragonfly to BG Compact 2 sure feels like a huge step down. Poor Gerber looks like it fell hard from the Ugly Tree.
Then again I have a Gerber LST2 and it's a pretty nice little knife so the orange brick might not be as bad as I fear  :popcorn:
Corwyn of Multitool, the First of His name, King of Victorinox, King of Leatherman, Gerber and the First Generation SOG, Lord of the Seven Wrenches, Protector of the Forum, Khal of the Bushes, called Corwyn Toolborn, the Unsharpened, Father of SAKs.


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #7 on: May 24, 2015, 09:04:05 PM

From Dragonfly to BG Compact 2 sure feels like a huge step down. Poor Gerber looks like it fell hard from the Ugly Tree.
Then again I have a Gerber LST2 and it's a pretty nice little knife so the orange brick might not be as bad as I fear  :popcorn:

I like the way it looks.  Its a simple functional design.


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


za Offline shark_za

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #8 on: May 25, 2015, 07:42:07 AM
My condolences.
We should stage an intervention, friends don’t let friends Bear Grylls.


fi Offline Crow

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #9 on: May 25, 2015, 01:11:52 PM
My condolences.
We should stage an intervention, friends don’t let friends Bear Grylls.

Didn't you have something from Bear Grylls?


za Offline shark_za

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #10 on: May 25, 2015, 01:36:40 PM
I have a fake Bear Grylls scout knife if that counts.   >:D


ro Offline Corwyn

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #11 on: May 25, 2015, 02:10:40 PM
I have a fake Bear Grylls scout knife if that counts.   >:D

Yeah, I talked a friend in getting a fake one as well... I was just learning about multitools and I advised him wrong  :twak:
The fake knife feels really poorly made and looks terribad.... so it is a pretty faithfull replica of the original  :P
Corwyn of Multitool, the First of His name, King of Victorinox, King of Leatherman, Gerber and the First Generation SOG, Lord of the Seven Wrenches, Protector of the Forum, Khal of the Bushes, called Corwyn Toolborn, the Unsharpened, Father of SAKs.


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #12 on: May 25, 2015, 02:15:59 PM
Seriously? Are we are bashing on Gerber Bear Grylls knives, based on owning or having played with a fake one?


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #13 on: May 25, 2015, 02:36:55 PM
Good on you for doing this test mate :tu:

For a lot of non knife people this would probably be the only knife they'd ever buy, largely thanks to the show. It'd be nice to think that it'll hold up and that the people buying them in camping stores will get the knife bug :)
Give in, buy several Farmer's!!!!!!


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #14 on: May 25, 2015, 03:50:19 PM

Good on you for doing this test mate :tu:

For a lot of non knife people this would probably be the only knife they'd ever buy, largely thanks to the show. It'd be nice to think that it'll hold up and that the people buying them in camping stores will get the knife bug :)

Thanks!

I figured that this would be a knife sold in sporting goods stores all over the world, and bought by, like you said, a lot of non knife people. Some might even go camping with it as their only knife.
I am curious if it is any good.


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


gb Offline Mike, Lord of the Spammers!

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #15 on: May 25, 2015, 04:03:44 PM
It's no good to me being a locker (stupid uk law!) but I'm keen to know what your findings are mate :)
Give in, buy several Farmer's!!!!!!


fi Offline Crow

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #16 on: May 25, 2015, 05:20:57 PM
I have a fake Bear Grylls scout knife if that counts.   >:D

Yeah, I talked a friend in getting a fake one as well... I was just learning about multitools and I advised him wrong  :twak:
The fake knife feels really poorly made and looks terribad.... so it is a pretty faithfull replica of the original  :P

 :facepalm:

Seriously? Are we are bashing on Gerber Bear Grylls knives, based on owning or having played with a fake one?


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

We will give you a chance. Interested to see your results.


ro Offline Corwyn

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #17 on: May 25, 2015, 05:43:26 PM
Yeah,. don't mind us, we're just a bunch of grumpy old men ready to hate on everything with rubber on it and lined in orange plastic. Looking forward to your test  :tu:
Corwyn of Multitool, the First of His name, King of Victorinox, King of Leatherman, Gerber and the First Generation SOG, Lord of the Seven Wrenches, Protector of the Forum, Khal of the Bushes, called Corwyn Toolborn, the Unsharpened, Father of SAKs.


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #18 on: May 25, 2015, 07:02:52 PM
Day 1:
I went on a short hike today, and did a few tests on the Compact.

I cut this branch of a pine, that was felled last summer. Normaly a lockback without liners, would flex a little and have some movement in the blade, when putting this much force on it, but the Compact did none of that. Well done Gerber! :tu:

And heres a scenery shot:


I also feathered a little firewood when I got home, wich it did OK.  The Compact is however a little thin to grip, so it was a bit tiring to hold on to.


All in all the Compact has so far been a positive surprise.



Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


ca Offline Syph007

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #19 on: May 25, 2015, 09:28:19 PM
Im actually surprised its made in the USA.

How centered is the blade tip on closed?
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00 Offline kirk13

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #20 on: May 25, 2015, 09:39:14 PM
We should all know by now not to judge a tool or knife by its brand,or country of origin,but by its performance in the field.

And we all know Grathr will put the BG through its paces :tu:
There is no beginning,or ending,and for this we are thankful,cos now is hard enough to understand!


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #21 on: May 25, 2015, 09:51:06 PM

Im actually surprised its made in the USA.

How centered is the blade tip on closed?


We should all know by now not to judge a tool or knife by its brand,or country of origin,but by its performance in the field.

And we all know Grathr will put the BG through its paces :tu:

My point exactly. And thanks Kirk! :salute:


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


za Offline shark_za

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #22 on: May 26, 2015, 07:34:05 AM
Bias aside, I'm also interested to see how this works out for 3 months. It is the knife of choice for many first time buyers.


ps, the knock off is a good knife, equal or better than the real deal.
I'll take photos of one put to use by a friend.


us Offline ducttapetech

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #23 on: May 26, 2015, 01:39:36 PM
Nice Grathr! Love your 120 day reviews. I do like the shape and profile of the knife.

Nate
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no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #24 on: May 26, 2015, 04:21:32 PM

Bias aside, I'm also interested to see how this works out for 3 months. It is the knife of choice for many first time buyers.


ps, the knock off is a good knife, equal or better than the real deal.
I'll take photos of one put to use by a friend.

:tu:

Nice Grathr! Love your 120 day reviews. I do like the shape and profile of the knife.

Nate
That's us mobile

Thanks Nate! :salute:


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


za Offline shark_za

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #25 on: May 27, 2015, 07:16:57 PM
Seriously? Are we are bashing on Gerber Bear Grylls knives, based on owning or having played with a fake one?


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

No, friends have used them hard and they are not the best knives out there.
I think the fake may be better than the original.

My friend carried this scout knife for a while and used it everyday.  He has to sharpen it a lot and eventually the rubber soft bits fell off. He now has a Spyderco Resilience I gifted him.

You may not use it as hard in your 120 days, lets see how it holds up.




no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #26 on: May 27, 2015, 08:17:10 PM

Seriously? Are we are bashing on Gerber Bear Grylls knives, based on owning or having played with a fake one?


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk

No, friends have used them hard and they are not the best knives out there.
I think the fake may be better than the original.

My friend carried this scout knife for a while and used it everyday.  He has to sharpen it a lot and eventually the rubber soft bits fell off. He now has a Spyderco Resilience I gifted him.

You may not use it as hard in your 120 days, lets see how it holds up.




Time will show :)


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


mx Offline Dragon Lord

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #27 on: May 27, 2015, 10:37:01 PM
 :popcorn:

I want to know who does it performs.  I have use the fist model (lightly) and I can´t complain at all.


no Offline Grathr

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #28 on: May 28, 2015, 05:53:52 PM

:popcorn:

I want to know who does it performs.  I have use the fist model (lightly) and I can´t complain at all.

Now that I think about it, I think I have the original compact somewhere. I should do a comparison if I find it. :think:


Sent from a device made from star dust using tapatalk
-Knívleysur maður er lívleysur maður.
 "A Knifeless man is a lifeless man" old Faroese proverb.


us Offline getahl

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Re: 120 days with the Gerber BG Compact 2
Reply #29 on: May 30, 2015, 04:23:56 PM
How do these compare to the LST, other  than being orange?


 

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