Gerber Crucials

[Chako]

As some of you know, I am not a big fan of the Gerber Crucial. My main complaint is that of handle geometry. My big paws just can't get a  handle around the curved shape. This hasn't stopped me from collecting them though. A new addition has just arrived today, and I thought some photos were in order.

This version of the Crucial came with a nice Tanto style Gerber frame lock knife with built in flipper. Both come in black.



The knife is rather nice, sharp, and a little too easy to flick open one handed. The frame lock does its job handily. These features make me think this was geared more towards the tactical folks.



This is the third version of the Crucial. My first being a plain Jane Crucial (green), followed by the Crucial F.A.S.T (red), and the just arrived Crucial (black). I sort of wonder why Gerber didn't call this something else to differentiate it from its older cousin. The F.A.S.T features a spring assist blade. However, the top and bottom Crucial's are identical if you look at the exterior only. Confusion to the buyer I guess...or is it that the new black tactical Crucial is a limited run for a limited audience and thus does not need to be given a special model name. I don't know.



If we look at thickness, all versions are pretty much the same thickness, with a slight increase in thickness for the F.A.S.T (got to make room for that spring after all). That increased thickness is put to good use with a 3D Phillips driver.



Another group shot of the 3 different Crucial models. This one showing the pliers.



If we look at what each has to offer, we can start to see the differences. The original Crucial model (green) features a carabineer, flat Phillips, flat driver, and knife blade. The F.A.S.T offers a longer flat driver, a 3D Phillips driver, and the usual knife blade but spring assisted.  The Tactical Crucial (for want of a better name), features a flat Phillips, flat driver, hook cutter, and knife blade. Because it is um...er...tactical, its all tastefully done in mall ninja black with only the bright shinny flat head driver surface to give away some stealthiness.



Well that concludes this quick tour of some Gerber Crucials.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Nice comparison Chako!  And thanks for the report on the new 'tactical' model...  I was playing around with getting that set since it's such a good deal, but I've really over extended myself this semester and need to pay down my CC before I buy any new toys, er, tools.    

I have to admit, I like the Crucial too... but admittedly it's a love-hate relationship at the same time...

I really like the sheepsfoot style blade, which is a great utility blade, but I hate the combo edge...

I like the compactness of the tool, but hate the stubby drivers and the shape of the handle; that little flair at the end always digs into the base of my thumb when I try to use the pliers.  I dislike how fat it is too.

While I like that it has a clip, it's a pain to use because it's not that well designed... not enough room under it to slide the clip all the way down on the edge of a pants pocket. 

And there is a fourth version actually... the one I had (but have since given to my mother).  Instead of the carabiner, it had a corkscrew and one of those funky combo cap lifter and can opener tools that closed over the corkscrew.  It also had a notch in the end so you could use it like one of the lever type cork extractors with the corkscrew, to help pull the cork out of the bottle.  I think they called it the "special" or something like that.

[Chako]

Ack...now I have a 4th version to try and hunt down!   

[J-sews]

Ack...now I have a 4th version to try and hunt down!   

http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,24825.0.html


The corkscrew one comes in North American and European flavors, and both styles are available in gray or green.

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

Cool... saves me from having to track it down! 

But I was remembering incorrectly, it's just a regular cap lifter, not one of the combo cap lifter and can opener tools.

Chako, I'm actually going to be seeing my mom next week; I'll see if I can swap the Crucial for a Suspension I have but never use, and then if you're interested, let's work out a trade.

[Beerplumber]

Nice review chako, I recently picked up the same combo. I find the knife odd, having no resistance to stay closed at all. The crucial I almost like, I really appreciate gerbers engineering and designs but when it comes to actually using the tools the crucial seems pretty awkward. Also just once I would like to buy a gerb with smooth and tight pivots instead of the usual loose and gritty. I use a skeletool all day and then pick up the crucial and think "gross"! Even the budget wingman makes an octane seem cheap. I guess its quality issues I have that prevent me from enjoying gerbers decent ideas. Anyways nice bundle for the price and I'm going to try to find use for them. Oh and I do like the deep pocket carry clips on both the crucial and evo knife!


Stay multi my friends

[jekostas]

Interesting package, but including the Evo makes it a "not ever going to buy" list.

[Chako]

Sorry Heinz, you probably don't know this, but I do not trade. Thanks for the offer though. I am going to see what I can dig up off of eBay.

[Chako]

Are the corkscrew models a little harder to get? Nothing for sale on eBay Canada or USA. 

[badwolf]

Couple on amazon UK Here and Here any good, probably work out bit expensive

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The one I had I got in a Target as an impulse buy, but that was a couple of years ago.

[Chako]

I think you should hang onto it. Looks like it is a limited edition run Heinz. 

That info does give me something else to look for though. Thank you. 

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I think you should hang onto it. Looks like it is a limited edition run Heinz. 

That info does give me something else to look for though. Thank you. 

No worries... glad to help.

I might just see if I can get it back from my mom... though I hate asking her to do stuff like that.  I could still offer her the extra Suspension I have though... the only way I'll ever actually use the thing is if all of my other tools got stolen first, even my Octane, and I had no other choice.   

[Mike 208]

I was just at my local Fry's Electronics (buying a new GPS unit), and I noticed they had the black Crucial/Evo knife combo (I believe it was priced at $39.99, but I could be wrong).  I also noticed that they had the "standard" Crucial in black and gray, as well as the usual green and gray.  They also had the Crucial F.A.S.T., but only in the red and black.  Later, I was at a Dick's Sporting Goods (first time I've been inside one) and I found a Leatherman Fuse in "Realtree," and I ended up buying that.

[J-sews]

Thanks for the heads up Mike, and congrats on the cool Fuse

[badwolf]

Chako, did you manage to get a corkscrew one, did pm some links

[Chako]

Sazabi was kind enough to get me the US version. I don't have it yet.

[Sazabi]

Sazabi was kind enough to get me the US version. I don't have it yet.

It hasn't arrived here yet, but it should arrive in the next day or two.

[Chako]

Guess what just arrived today!

I find it interesting that the shade of green is quite different between the two copies.


Flip them over and you can see the differences.


The corkscrew version is nice. I still am not that big of a fan of the handle geometry though. I must be in the minority, otherwise, why make so many different variants?
 

[badwolf]

Nice colour variation, until there side by side you'd probably not notice the difference. Its certainly an odd shape, looks nicer folded up than it does with pliers out. As much as I like a nice chunky screwdriver that rescue cutter hook is pretty neat, great pics

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

The question I have is if the parts are interchangeable between them for modding.

I too still very much dislike the handle geometry.  That's why I've never replaced the corkscrew one I had that I gifted to my mom.  The really crazy thing is that she likes it and actually uses it with her crafts project stuff!