Gerber MP1 IMO complete failure

21productionz · **on:** July 22, 2013, 11:46:22 PM

I ordered the MP1 from Amazon with overnight shipping (cause I couldn't find a review)
When I opened the package I was first struck by the shotty craftsmanship. The labels didn't line up, the metal edges were not polished. All this and I hadn't even opened it yet.

Upon opening the tool it was gritty like there was dirt in the plier joint. (background, I use my MT to cut 2" screws at work for cabinet hardware. About 20-30 screws per job average of 1.5 jobs a week. So at least 40 screws per week easy.) There was a 1/32" gap between the pincher type cutters. I thought I received a fake or knock off so I called Gerber to voice my concern. They asked for pictures and videos which I sent (attached at bottom of this review.) I then called Amazon (awesome customer service) and they over nighted me a replacement. I received the next one the next day and everything was exactly the same.

It wasn't a horrible experience. The pry bar seems like a great idea, and the chisel cutter was sharp as hell.

21productionz · **Reply #1 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:49:02 PM

Some pictures

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21productionz · **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:50:19 PM

More pictures

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21productionz · **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:53:29 PM

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21productionz · **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:54:55 PM

Its only letting me add 1 pic per post

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21productionz · **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:55:35 PM

Body not tight

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21productionz · **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:56:28 PM

Rough edges

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21productionz · **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2013, 11:59:14 PM

Broken out of the box

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Bensasupertool · **Reply #8 on:** July 23, 2013, 12:09:39 AM

Quote from: 21productionz on July 22, 2013, 11:53:29 PM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gA1cpTERYD0&feature=youtube_gdata_player

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Yer video is set on private. Cant watch with the link provided

21productionz · **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2013, 12:11:18 AM

I changed it. Sorry about that.

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Bensasupertool · **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2013, 12:21:25 AM

That sucks you got a bad tool. It sounded like you threw it on the deck at the end of the video. What are your plans for it now that you got another dud for a replacement.

21productionz · **Reply #11 on:** July 23, 2013, 12:36:03 AM

Ups picked them both up today. I am getting a refund. Thinking about ordering a freehand. My perfect tool would be a slide to open with outboard tools. And compound leverage. But we all know that won't happen anytime soon.

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Goatlord666 · **Reply #12 on:** July 23, 2013, 02:54:37 AM

so sorry to hear about the bad experience. I hope the Freehand serves your needs well. I'm also expecting one in the next few weeks we'll all see. and btw welcome to mto 21productionz

21productionz · **Reply #13 on:** July 23, 2013, 03:19:13 AM

Appreciate the welcome. I haven't ordered it yet, but will probably pull the trigger tonight along with a leatherman mut.

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Goatlord666 · **Reply #14 on:** July 23, 2013, 03:52:16 AM

enki_ck · **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2013, 04:23:56 AM

Sorry to hear that.

BTW, I embedded the video for easier viewing.

Hope you don't mind.

21productionz · **Reply #16 on:** July 23, 2013, 05:49:58 AM

Thanks enki. I don't mind buying it and finding out. Its amazing how much Gerber has changed. There was a noticeable quality difference between my OG 600 and my diesel. But the MP1 was just ridiculous.

I just ordered the freehand. I will be getting rid of all the ones I don't like soon.

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Lynn LeFey · **Reply #17 on:** July 23, 2013, 06:44:16 AM

It's kind of sad to hear this. I had some issues with a SOG product (a Crosscut) which was a Chinese made replacement for an earlier American made one (which managed 15 years of service). I know the deep sadness of seeing quality drop. So, I can sympathize.

There are still good tools out there, even some of the Chinese made ones. Just keep trying, and ask around here to get a good heads-up before you buy. That's what I do.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #18 on:** July 23, 2013, 10:51:29 AM

This is rather disappointing. As I mentioned in the heads up thread when we first got wind of this, it seems that Gerber are almost going back on their recent efforts. They went through a really crappy tool era with the Suspension and all it's variants, and then fought back to recover from this with the likes of the Strata, Octane, Balance, and Dime which were far better tools than before.

Now though it seems they've drifted away from the "lets make a good tool" philosophy to sell on gimmicks and buzzwords like "forged pliers" and "G10 scales", instead of putting the effort into ensuring good hard working tools are produced that people want to carry and which boost their image and reputation

... and Gerber .... if your listening ... if you want to make sprung pliers, that's fantastic - but could you do it without weakening the pliers with the internal spring please. Not only does it weaken the cross section, but also increases the wear rate due to the reduced contact area and thus higher force per area on the pivot. Thank you

21productionz · **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2013, 12:16:44 AM

Yeah I used to swear by Gerber for many years. Not impressed with my last two purchases.

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Goatlord666 · **Reply #20 on:** July 24, 2013, 03:44:29 AM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on July 23, 2013, 10:51:29 AM

This is rather disappointing. As I mentioned in the heads up thread when we first got wind of this, it seems that Gerber are almost going back on their recent efforts. They went through a really crappy tool era with the Suspension and all it's variants, and then fought back to recover from this with the likes of the Strata, Octane, Balance, and Dime which were far better tools than before.

Now though it seems they've drifted away from the "lets make a good tool" philosophy to sell on gimmicks and buzzwords like "forged pliers" and "G10 scales", instead of putting the effort into ensuring good hard working tools are produced that people want to carry and which boost their image and reputation

... and Gerber .... if your listening ... if you want to make sprung pliers, that's fantastic - but could you do it without weakening the pliers with the internal spring please. Not only does it weaken the cross section, but also increases the wear rate due to the reduced contact area and thus higher force per area on the pivot. Thank you

NICELY PUT!

Gareth · **Reply #21 on:** July 25, 2013, 08:14:37 AM

really sorry to hear about this.

J-sews · **Reply #22 on:** August 04, 2013, 02:10:15 AM

Hmmph. This is odd. I also bought a new MP1 through Amazon, but I am quite happy with the quality of mine. The anvil wire cutters meet up with each other perfectly, there are no rough edges, and there are no "gaps" between the G10 handle scales and the frame. It was slightly gritty when I first took it out of the box, but after a little bit of opening-and-closing it is smooth as can be. Honestly, this tool is the best Chinese-made Gerber I've ever seen.

Too bad you received a couple of duds 21z. It must be that the quality control at the factory is not being monitored closely enough. $:-\$

Goatlord666 · **Reply #23 on:** August 04, 2013, 02:12:54 AM

CAN'T WAIT FOR THAT EPIC REVIEW!!!

Gareth · **Reply #24 on:** August 04, 2013, 12:28:43 PM

Quote from: J-sews on August 04, 2013, 02:10:15 AM

Hmmph. This is odd. I also bought a new MP1 through Amazon, but I am quite happy with the quality of mine. The anvil wire cutters meet up with each other perfectly, there are no rough edges, and there are no "gaps" between the G10 handle scales and the frame. It was slightly gritty when I first took it out of the box, but after a little bit of opening-and-closing it is smooth as can be. Honestly, this tool is the best Chinese-made Gerber I've ever seen.

Too bad you received a couple of duds 21z. It must be that the quality control at the factory is not being monitored closely enough. $:-\$

That is rather reassuring Bob, at least we know that there are good examples out there. Lets hope that 21productionz's ones are the exception, rather than the rule.

21productionz · **Reply #25 on:** August 07, 2013, 04:35:19 AM

I hope so. I won't try it again. But I truly hope so.

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metasyntax · **Reply #26 on:** September 11, 2013, 12:40:38 AM

I got mine today (just couldn't say no after I started reading the positive reviews on here) but unfortunately I was in the same boat as 21productionz. Some of the same problems, and some new ones too. For sure I had some manufacturing problems, but I also now agree with some other folks here that there are some serious design issues too. I wrote a rather lengthy review for Amazon. Although I feel bad about giving it only 1 star, I also think it was justified (especially for the price you're paying). At least my poor MP1 will have company when it heads back to Amazon.