Gerber Octane Question

Thisjk38 · **on:** February 08, 2013, 08:09:23 AM

Is it suppose to be One hand opening? I thought It was suppose to be but mine is not. There is a lock notch at the bottom of the slide rail. My MP400 and 600 don't have this notch only on the top. I handled another octane and don't remember it locking on the bottom. I just saw a video on youtube and it didn't have one as well. The first picture is mine and second one is a screen shot from YouTube.

kirk13 · **Reply #1 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:49:11 AM

The Octane is the tool I learnt to flick Gerbers one handed with.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #2 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:54:05 AM

Did you buy it secondhand? Did the previous owner mod it to stop it deploying in pocket?

You can still OHO it though, even if you can't flick it. Hold vertically, press buttons and shake handles downward. Handles drop down while plier heads stay in place. T be honest, that's my normal way of deploying them rather than flicking them

Thisjk38 · **Reply #3 on:** February 08, 2013, 09:52:03 AM

No I bought it new on eBay and it came in the original clam shell package. I opened it myself. I like the flick method Better but your way is no problem. I wonder if Gerber some models different.

Gareth · **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:02:30 PM

This was an idea that was talked about here on the forum a while back, the idea was to stop the pliers sliding open by themselves while in your pocket. Looks like Gerber might have been taking notes.

jerseydevil · **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2013, 08:14:23 PM

Huh, how about that? That's my one issue with the Octane, and even then it's so minor to me I never got around to taking the Dremel to it.

Thisjk38 · **Reply #6 on:** February 08, 2013, 09:05:42 PM

So looks like I need to find an older model I guess. Not really a fan of it. Any trades?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #7 on:** February 09, 2013, 12:31:18 AM

Quote from: jerseydevil on February 08, 2013, 08:14:23 PM

Huh, how about that? That's my one issue with the Octane, and even then it's so minor to me I never got around to taking the Dremel to it.

That's pretty well exactly the same opinion I have, and exactly the reason I never got around to doing it. I wonder where Gerber got the idea to implement this change from... ?

Def

jerseydevil · **Reply #8 on:** February 09, 2013, 02:28:44 AM

Well, if they're reading this, Dear Gerber, .....

Gareth · **Reply #9 on:** February 09, 2013, 09:45:24 AM

I wonder if the notch were more teardrop shaped it would offer enough resistance to stop it opening in your pocket, but still let you flik it open?

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #10 on:** February 09, 2013, 01:11:04 PM

Usually when I flick it open I do it by holding the sides and flicking the handle down rather than flicking the head out. It works just as well.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

rdub934 · **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2013, 04:53:57 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 09, 2013, 01:11:04 PM

Usually when I flick it open I do it by holding the sides and flicking the handle down rather than flicking the head out. It works just as well.

Def

Sent from a digital multitool

This is how I always open my MP400. I have it for 8 years and didn't know of another way to open it until I found this forum a year or so ago.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #12 on:** February 09, 2013, 04:57:52 PM

To me it's a simple matter of the "right way" being whatever works and feels natural to the user. I open all my sliding head plier tools that way.

Def

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #13 on:** February 09, 2013, 06:42:35 PM

Yup, me too

Thisjk38 · **Reply #14 on:** February 09, 2013, 10:33:00 PM

I've tried doing what you described but no luck.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #15 on:** February 09, 2013, 10:39:13 PM

Squeeze the buttons in and give it a good shake and it should pop open.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

Gareth · **Reply #16 on:** February 09, 2013, 11:00:02 PM

Imagine you are Keanu Reeves and you need to use your cell phone in The Matrix. That'll make the whole thing feel cool.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #17 on:** February 09, 2013, 11:12:20 PM

Just don't throw it it a bin and try to climb into a landline telephone ... or superglue your mouth shut ... or pick a fight with a computerised Elf lord ...

and remember .... there is no ~~slot~~ ~~spoon~~ cookies

No cookies!!

Hooray for peanuts

.... sorry, what were we talking about

Gareth · **Reply #18 on:** February 09, 2013, 11:20:50 PM

Or stick the pliers in your ear, you could do yourself an injury.

Grathr · **Reply #19 on:** February 09, 2013, 11:25:03 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on February 09, 2013, 11:12:20 PM

Just don't throw it it a bin and try to climb into a landline telephone ... or superglue your mouth shut ... or pick a fight with a computerised Elf lord ...

and remember .... there is no ~~slot~~ ~~spoon~~ cookies

No cookies!! Hooray for peanuts

.... sorry, what were we talking about

Also: Dont follow strange rabbits, or eat pills from strangers!
And dont try to dodge bullets!!

Did someone say cookies?

Goatlord666 · **Reply #20 on:** April 23, 2013, 03:52:42 AM

whatever you guys are taking or eating...probably cookies...i want some... well, i better put that octane on my acquisition list to see if it can put my old skeletool into my tool retirement drawer

bmot · **Reply #21 on:** May 06, 2013, 12:30:06 PM

Just for the record, my octane has the notches, too

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #22 on:** May 06, 2013, 01:14:09 PM

I guess that's the new standard. All the collectors who don't have an "old style" Octane are going to have to scramble to find one, and those that do have one are going to have to buy another for comparison!

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

Gareth · **Reply #23 on:** May 06, 2013, 06:50:39 PM

I can totally see why they'd do it. Feedback from here suggested that most owners had some issues with the pliers sliding open when in their pockets.

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on February 09, 2013, 10:39:13 PM

Squeeze the buttons in and give it a good shake and it should pop open.

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

Quote from: Gareth on February 09, 2013, 11:00:02 PM

Imagine you are Keanu Reeves and you need to use your cell phone in The Matrix. That'll make the whole thing feel cool.

I've realised that I do the "Matrix Drop" much more often that I first thought, actually much less effort than the "flick it out the front" method IMO.

dbeeks1 · **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2014, 03:04:35 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on May 06, 2013, 01:14:09 PM

I guess that's the new standard. All the collectors who don't have an "old style" Octane are going to have to scramble to find one, and those that do have one are going to have to buy another for comparison!

Def

Sent from my Motorola Atrix digital multitool.

Sorry to dig up an old thread, but I just ordered an Octane from Amazon this week, delivered today and it is the one without the notches to lock the plier head in the closed position...in case any one is interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Gerber-31-000441-Octane-Multi-Plier/dp/B002RIU3U0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390010098&sr=8-1&keywords=gerber+octane

jerseydevil · **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2014, 03:09:46 AM

Huh, interesting. Figured that would be the new standard, though I haven't seen a newer Octane in the wild. I still haven't bothered cutting the notches in mine, though I have to admit that the Balance has seen the majority of pocket MT time lately rather than my Octane. What do you think of yours dbeeks?

dbeeks1 · **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2014, 03:46:27 AM

It's my first Gerber so it will take some getting used. It certainly doesn't have the solid feel of a Leatherman but it seems plenty capable. I read a lot of the old threads here before pulling the trigger. I think I might like it. Only pocket time will tell though.

I've been carrying a Skeletool for almost 2 months and wanted to try something different. I think the sliding pliers will keep me entertained for quite a while.

Gareth · **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2014, 10:42:01 AM

Hope you get along with it. You are right in saying the Octane feels light, but I believe that is a deliberate decision to keep the weight down. For myself I just can't comfortably pocket carry heavier MTs like the Wave, even if it does have a pocket clip.