Got a new Gerber 'Big Rock'

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Bought it on the big "A" and overall I'm very impressed.  I bought it for our camping kitchen box, thinking that it was going to be fairly light weight and flimsy, but I was wrong.  The blade is thicker than that of my old USA made Pro Guide, and wider as well.  I'd easily be willing to use it as a pry-bar if necessary.  The scales are very grippy and have some rubbery give to them, though I'm sure that hard use would damage them.  They're secured by torx screws, and the blade is full tang, so it looks like it could be made into a spear, but I haven't tried taking the scales off yet.  For now, it's going in with my gear and the Pro Guide is going in our kitchen box, but I may change my mind later.  Overall though, a good knife for the money.

[J-sews]

What's a Gerber Big Rock?




Hang on, I googled up a picture:




Can't tell how big it is though.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Blade is 4.5".  Very thick piece of steel; 3/16th" according to my ruler.

[J-sews]

Hmmm, interesting. Do you know what the blade steel is?

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I'm pretty sure it's 420A but I could be wrong.  I honestly don't know what the steel in my Pro Guide is, but I'd guess it's 440C as the blade on that one, though not as thick as the Big Rock has been pretty darn tough over the years yet sharpens up fairly easily.  The thickness of the blade on my Pro Guide is 1/8th".

The ergonomics of the handle shape and rubberized scales on the Big Rock are better than that of my Pro Guide, but it has a finger choil while the Big Rock does not.

I mean, I got it for $30 shipped, so I can't complain.  Eventually I'll buy something really nice made with 154CM or SV30 or whatever it is... but for now, for a budget utility knife, it's a good choice.

[jekostas]

It's 440A