Gator musings

[Northern Geek]

So.. maybe this should've gone in the Edged Tools forum, but we do have a Gerber forum after all and they're their tools so.. here goes. 

I want a Gator folder (and probably not the Gator 2).. they look like nice and very comfortable knives, I just can't decide what model to pick. (there are a few after all  )

So.. my main candidates are the drop point 154cm steel version and the clip point 420hc one. I haven't decided on whether I'd like serrations or a plain edge either yet but I figured I'd pick a blade steel and shape first.

So.. What do you guys think? Which one would be the better option?

The drop point has the better steel I suppose, but how big of a difference would it make?

Visually I think the clip point looks a lot better, but I'm not sure if that should be such a an important factor (but then again.. who am I kidding, looks do play a rather big part in some knive purchases after all) but I'd be interesting in hearing thoughts about the blade shapes as well.

Do you prefer clip or drop points?

Help me out here, which one should I get? You know you love to be enablers!

Edit:

Some links to the candidates:

The 154CM drop point
The plain edge 240HC clip point
The serrated edge 240HC clip point

[Steinar]

Clip point for precise manipulation with the tip, drop point for strength. 420HC for a very acute edge angle, 154CM for abrasion resistance. Yes, the difference between those steels is huge, but as the Leatherman crowd will point out, 420HC will make perfectly fine users, and less prone to microchipping than 154CM. And remember, high abrasion resistance is true both when sharpening and using the knife...

Oh, and serrations are evil.

[Northern Geek]

Thanks for your thoughts mate!

So the 154cm might be a pain to sharpen then?

Hmm.. still can't decide to be honest.

There's something more appealing about the clip point version.. maybe I could get along with that one as long as I just sharpen it a bit more often.

And the serrations.. yeah.. a bit torn about them myself as well.

I do kind of wish they made the clip point in 154cm then, but then again.. maybe I'd be ok with the 420hc as well.. decisions decisions..

[AimlessWanderer]

Not familiar with the Gator knives, but from a personal perspective faced with the two blade steels I'd go for the 420HC every time.

On the whole I think they make better knives than the higher stainlesses, which in many ways for me is a marketting gimmick. You'll always get the guys that want better and better steel, but the chipping factor and abrasion resistance on sharpening (remembering you need to take more metal away if there are any chips) is a compromise that turns me off those materials. I want something that works efficiently and that I can easily maintain. The steel snobs are welcome to their powder metallurgy - I'll stick with the time served traditional steel that I can sharpen on the spot.

Serrations are job specific - some people benefit, others don't - you'd need to make that call based on your cutting needs 

[Steinar]

Whether sharpening 154CM is a pain is subjective, but it will at least require more effort to sharpen (when it's needed) than 420HC.

Also, 50ft-trad has an excellent point about stock removal after chipping.

If both steels are "acceptable", I'd personally simply go for the knife with the blade shape I wanted. That makes a bigger difference than the choice of steel anyway.

[Northern Geek]

Thanks guys

I'm leaning towards the clip point one then.. I'll decide on the serrations after I've received my Sanrenmy 913p and tried it out a bit. I've actually never owned a partially serrated blade if you don't count the Vic Forrester, but those serrations are rather different in comparison after all. A lot moer subtle and towards the tip of the blade (makes more sense to me tbh).

Oh and is it just me but aren't most serrated blades ground on the "wrong" side? At least if you aim towards right handed people.. feels like the serratiosn ought to be cut on the right side of the blade to get the best angle while cutting things? That way you'd keep the flat end down toward the surface of the material?

[Grathr]

I never quite understood why they grind the serrations on the "wrong" side. I guess there is a reason for it. Personally I don't like half serrated blades one bit, and the blades  with the grind on the "wrong" side are very frustrating to use in my experience. However, some people love the half serrated blades.
 I guess you will have to find out wether you like halfserrated blades or not yourself. Maybe try a cheaper halfserrated knife first?

[Northern Geek]

I never quite understood why they grind the serrations on the "wrong" side. I guess there is a reason for it. Personally I don't like half serrated blades one bit, and the blades  with the grind on the "wrong" side are very frustrating to use in my experience. However, some people love the half serrated blades.
 I guess you will have to find out wether you like halfserrated blades or not yourself. Maybe try a cheaper halfserrated knife first?

That's actually exactly what I did.

A Sanrenmu 913p for about $18 shipped.



Figured it'd be cheap enough to play around with first.

And about the serrations.. yeah.. It would be interesting to see them made like Victorinox does theirs on their 111 mm knives.