Gerber Instant. No smurfs where hurt in the making of this article.

Chako · **on:** December 03, 2014, 03:13:29 AM

This knife came bundled with a Gerber Gator Kukri Machete. I say that because I probably wouldn't have bought this knife alone. One look at this knife, and you can tell there are some issues. For example...you know things are messed up when the all important thumb stud...the part that you the user interfaces with, was suplanted for a freaking Gerber logo.

Right off the bat, my eye gravitated towards a very badly placed thumb stud. The location tells you that opening this knife is super difficult...and guess what, I wasn't wrong. My biggest complaint is that I cannot open this smurfing knife with only one hand. To compound the issue, there are no extra nail nicks or anything to allow you to grasp the freaking blade with your other hand. @#$!!$#!!!

Now the badly placed thumb stud is an issue...but this knife takes a turn for the worse. Gerber states they have their "Assisted Opening 2.0 Mechanism" on this knife. Frankly I am fearful to see what version 1.0 was like. As it stands, all it does is make it hard to open this knife, as it fights you all the way past a certain point, and then the assist kicks in...flicking the smurfing blade quickly open. Sounds great, except by this time, you have a second hand on the smurfing blade and when that powerful spring decides to let go, it opens the blade...secondary hand or no hand in the way. So, not only is this a real piece of junk, it is a dangerous one.

Now because I feel I should say something positive about this smurfing knife, here goes. The handle is very comfortable, and the G10 makes the grip positive. There, so much for the positive phrases.

Should you get one...only if you are a masochist. If you get one as a gift...you can bet your bottom dollar the gift-er is a sadist.

It will look pretty with the other Gerber items...never to be opened again if I have any say on the matter.

Smurfing piece of @%&$!!!

captain spaulding · **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2014, 04:05:54 AM

Now tell us how you really feel.

Kampfer · **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2014, 05:01:36 AM

Not a fan of any Gerber stuff...expect EAB

ba-ta · **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2014, 05:19:46 AM

I have a Gerber f.a.s.t draw knife that I use for work. The assist mechanism is the 2.0 like on your knife and I find that it resists opening up till a certain point and then it flies open with a good kick. Closing it one handed I have to watch out that the blade is closed all the way or it will occasionally open back up again. This is what I have observed after using it for over a year.