Gerber firestorm F/E Tanto blade.

[John]

Hi guys after some sleepless nights waiting for the Gerber firestorm to run the Uk customs gauntlet   my firestorm finally arrived but wait I have one gripe with Mount pleasant first   after checking the knife was legal to import they decided to tempt light fingered postal workers(most are honest BTW) almost i enticing a theft to occur    

Instead of placing the knife back in the box and sealing it back up,they plonked it in a see through bag with the knife clearly visible  

You can see the box is stamped cleared customs,


Oh and I almost fainted when I saw this  



And this is how I received it talk about tempt the tempted!  




There that said I'll proceed(rant over)

The Gerber firestorm is a large heavy duty folder overall length is just over 8" the blade being 3.5" and weighs just shy of 6oz.
In the hand it gives you a sense of putting up with some heavy cutting work as it's very well built IMO solid lock up and no blade play in any direction  

Lets have some pictures and less talk  

The Gerber firestorm,


The blade almost centred at rest pretty good for a sub $100 knife  


Jimping could be a little more course IMO but there is lots of it,I sure a file could make this a lot grippier  


The spacers are what I would describe as cotton reel type very well made,you can see it's a straight through design i.e no solid one piece spacer, perfect! no gunk can build up here  


The liners are SS not skeleton frame i.e no cut outs -to save weight,this doesn't bother me I like heavy folders  


The clip feels very secure when clipped to a pocket but! this can only be tip down again not a problem for me but YMMV  


The scales is what may let this down just a little they don't seem that grippy mind you the size and shape of the handle could compensate for that,made of glass reinforced nylon I would've prefered G10 but! that would push the price up,that said it's a nice enough knife I may look for some custom scales later  


The flipper works very well and you can open it one handed with a combination flip and flick   there's that dreaded word again "flick"  





Anyway guys I'm very happy with this knife and would recommend it highly especially at the price I paid for the knife $19.95 well I think I robbed Cabela's IMO  

Enjoy the pics guy and if you would like any requests for a certain picture let me know  





 

 

[Benner]

It's good to see such a knife inspected and customs cleared. 

[John]

It's good to see such a knife inspected and customs cleared. 

Hi Ben yeah  it was a relive for me too 

Now this is just a theory of mine and JMO,what they do is either hold it by the handle and wrist flick it if the blade deploys= FAIL!
or and they give the flipper a quick flick(one motion) you know with your forefinger! if the blade deploys= FAIL

again this is just my opinion they don't hold the blade and flick as I've read on other forums,also it has nothing to do with thumb studs or flippers or even what type of lock the knife has but rather the first impressions on test by the officer concerned,of course if the blade is that loose any knife would fail IMO 

[Benner]

They hold the handle and wrist flick as that's the only way to test it really.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

[jzmtl]

Anyway guys I'm very happy with this knife and would recommend it highly especially at the price I paid for the knife $19.95 well I think I robbed Cabela's IMO  

Wait, cabela sold you a knife? They wouldn't sell me any because they "don't ship deadly weapons outside u.s.".

[John]

Anyway guys I'm very happy with this knife and would recommend it highly especially at the price I paid for the knife $19.95 well I think I robbed Cabela's IMO  

Wait, cabela sold you a knife? They wouldn't sell me any because they "don't ship deadly weapons outside u.s.".

I had it shipped to a US address   

[Benner]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

I see

All a little random though isn't it

[John]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

I see

All a little random though isn't it

The worry is do they compile a list once they seize a particular model,so then it becomes more a visual inspection rather than practical testing hmmm! 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

I see

All a little random though isn't it

The worry is do they compile a list once they seize a particular model,so then it becomes more a visual inspection rather than practical testing hmmm! 

I'd off thought that approach would be too time consuming with something so trivial as knives

At least i hope that's the case

[Benner]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

I see

All a little random though isn't it

Well no not really.   The testing is actually pretty consistant, it's the package search in the first place that is random.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I'm glad you finally got it mate

Although I'm surprised you did, when Ben didn't

On the positive side, that's a lot of knife for the money

If the pivot is tight enough then they have no reason to take it.

I see

All a little random though isn't it

Well no not really.   The testing is actually pretty consistant, it's the package search in the first place that is random.

I meant about the pivot, rather than the actual testing

[Benner]

What, from the manufacturers you mean?  I think all similar blades we buy should have the pivots tightened up quite tight to prevent aggro.

[John]

I think all similar blades we buy should have the pivots tightened up quite tight to prevent aggro.

Yes  that would put almost an end to the madness IMO   

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Maybe there could be an option in the checkout ''If from the UK, please tick the free locktite pivot option''  

[John]

Maybe there could be an option in the checkout ''If from the UK, please tick the free locktite pivot option''  

[ari6126]

So my packaging was for nothing? That's sad. Great you finally got the knife.

[John]

So my packaging was for nothing? That's sad. Great you finally got the knife.

Ari nothing wrong with your packaging  rather the incompetent UK customs repackaging    Hey! a new smiley   

[John]

Hey guys I did a little mod my first   well maybe not so much a mod   but more a finish job Gerber could've done IMO as it offers loads more grip  

Anyway I got out my needle files and made the jimping a little better I think it looks better too  

Before and after pictures,

before







and after!








give it a more pleasing line in my opinion  

[Benner]

If I didn't know better, I would have said thay they hadn't finished those scales off.

Great work. 

[John]

If I didn't know better, I would have said thay they hadn't finished those scales off.

Great work. 

Hmmm yes maybe that's why they were on offer perhaps 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That's damn good work mate