My Gerbers have landed

[Smaug]

 

The two aforementioned used MP400s and a new MP600 blunt. Here are my first impressions of them.

I gave the BO MP400 with the needlenose tips intact to my son. He likes it, put it right into his treasure box. We'll need to work on it a bit, as the small flat screwdriver has a chipped off corner. A few seconds on a bench grinder will cure that. The wire cutter isn't abused on it, but it needs a few minutes on the Sharpmaker to Be All it can Be.

The bead-blasted MP400, with the ground down pliers tips, I may keep for myself; not sure yet. I tuned that one up with a sharpening and a drop of oil here and there. I love the plier head action and the compact-but-usable size. I think it's more usable than the Leatherman Juice series, for example; those are kind of between light and medium duty. The MP400 is more of a medium duty tool.

I don't mind the combo blades on the MP400s at all. The size is good, and the grind is better than most. They chisel-ground the serrated part, but the plain edged part out toward the tip is ground on both sides. Well-done, Gerber. 

***********

The MP600 with the blunt nose, I just love it. Hand-filling, almost like a Surge, but with an equally heavy-duty plier head. It's easier to hang onto than a Surge, and a lot lighter too. I cycled it all evening, while we were watching MacGyver on Netflix. Oiled it a bit, touched up the wharncliffe blade.

I LOVE that wharncliffe blade, by the way! It has a thick spine, so it'll be strong for most of its length, but with a properly pointy tip for some precision work. To add to the precision ability of it, it is not too long. On an MT knife blade, I don't need more than about  a 2" blade anyway. (this seems like about 2.5") File seems basic but good. Miles better than the one on the Wingman, for example.

They could've put a little more thought into the nail nicks of the flat drivers. I can get 'em out, but it takes a bit of planning. They should've also put at least a small nail nick in the side of the can opener. I can pinch it out, but I shouldn't have to.

I'm going to hit the top edges and corners of the pliers head with the bench grinder, I think. Yeah, I get that they look tough in the pix like that, but there's no need for them to be sharp like that; it's going to tear up the inside of the sheath.

Speaking of the sheath, they didn't quite get the velcro aligned right; it just barely grips where it should. They got a little cheap on material, and the fold-over part is about an inch too short.


Here are a few shots of the haul:

MP400 (with the ground-down tips) in the hand. It's a perfect size for a compact MT: large enough to use the whole hand, but small enough to be really handy:



A few of the MP600. I like how the pliers head is mostly contained inside the handles when closed:



Tool fan:



Next to my Surge. It's about the same length. A bit shorter, because of the blunt tip vs. the needlenose. I line up the hinge point of the plier head for these two pix, so you can see how they compare. Also note the much bigger the gripper area is and how much coarser the serrations are in the blunt Gerber head. It's nicely done.





My prediction is that we're going to start seeing more blunt plier head options for Leatherman soon. Everyone has kind of been following Leatherman's lead w/regards to using a needlenose pliers head as the basis. But I think a reasonable-size blunt plier head is just as useful, at least for my kind of usage.

[Monrogue]

Nice ones Smaug   I dig my MP600 Pro Scout, and I like how light it is compared to other heavier duty MTs. 

[SAK Guy]

Very nice!!!

[Crow]

  good ones. I recently got BN MP600,  and really liking it. I am with you on opening some tools. It can be little painful to open some of them.

[Gareth]

Nice write-up Smaug.   Good to hear you are getting along with them.

[jerseydevil]

Great write up Smaug.    The MP400 and 600 are both great tools.  Glad to see that the 600 in particular has gotten your approval.  You might not have noticed, but I like that tool a bit..... 

[Monrogue]

Great write up Smaug.    The MP400 and 600 are both great tools.  Glad to see that the 600 in particular has gotten your approval.  You might not have noticed, but I like that tool a bit..... 

Really?  I didn't know you were a Gerber fan >

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[AimlessWanderer]

Nice write up Jeremy. Sounds like you're off to a good start  your comments about the sheath make me think you ended up with a 400 sheath for the 600. Have you tried the 400 in it? While you're at t bench grinder (or any other sharpening tackle) you might just want to spend a little time on the smaller drivers. Often they can arrive a little "fat" and when you come to need them, they don't quite sit properly in some screws. Fully agree with the comments on the main gripping area too. Gerber tend to be a lot better at leatherman in this regard, both on the gripping area (without the wire cutters impeding) and in the extent the handles flare (or don't) when gripping larger items

[rdub934]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

[Demel]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

What he said

[Gareth]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

You might like the Diesel as well.

[Monrogue]

Yes, the Diesel is a good one

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[rdub934]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

You might like the Diesel as well.

I intend to get a beater Diesel to transplant the long tools into my 600. 

[jerseydevil]

How the hell don't I have a Diesel?   

Plenty of OT this past week will fix that. 

[zoidberg]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

You might like the Diesel as well.

I intend to get a beater Diesel to transplant the long tools into my 600. 

 

[Demel]

The Diesel should be the next tool that is blunt nosed. But beside that, it is a beast of a tool.

[Monrogue]

How the hell don't I have a Diesel?   

Plenty of OT this past week will fix that. 

That's a damn good question man   I would have thought you'd have one, although now that you mention it, I don't recall you ever talking about the Diesel.  So I have a Gerber that you don't have, and am trying to convince you to embrace the flicky Diesel faith

[Smaug]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

If it is, they sure don't prominently picture the 'USA' on the artwork like they do with the MP600:

MP600:
http://www.gerbergear.com/Industrial/Tools/MP600_07500

Diesel:
http://www.gerbergear.com/Industrial/Tools/Diesel-Tool_22-41470

[rdub934]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

You might like the Diesel as well.

I intend to get a beater Diesel to transplant the long tools into my 600. 

 

Oh, I'll post pics when it happens. Rest assured. But you may have OD'd on popcorn by then, lol.

[zoidberg]

Great assessment, Smaug. I love my 400 and 600. Only complaint is with the 600 - the base tool load-out is really basic for such a heavy duty tool. Small knife, no saw, no scissors. The ProScout addresses these complaints. At any rate, I agree with your assessment that more blunt-nosed plier-head tools are needed and should be coming. Really, for the heavy-duty tools, such as the MP600, Surge and Supertool, and especially the PowerLock/Assist, a blunt-nosed plier makes more sense.

You might like the Diesel as well.

I intend to get a beater Diesel to transplant the long tools into my 600. 

 

Oh, I'll post pics when it happens. Rest assured. But you may have OD'd on popcorn by then, lol.

Haha, okay I'll put the popcorn down. 

[rebel]

Good on ya, Smaug. Sorry I didn't reply sooner but I am strangling myself with paracord. This stuff doesn't look like it but when you start trying to organize it it behaves like 10 pound test.

[rebel]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

According to the downloadable PDF catalalog it is. I find looking through that easier than dealing with the site itself.

BTW I have noticed some packaging doesn't show the US flag when the tool is supposed to be American made. Not sure what the deal is whether something changed or whether their packaging is wierd or what but it would be nice to see the actual package say "Made in USA" before buying.

[Sazabi]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

According to the downloadable PDF catalalog it is. I find looking through that easier than dealing with the site itself.

BTW I have noticed some packaging doesn't show the US flag when the tool is supposed to be American made. Not sure what the deal is whether something changed or whether their packaging is wierd or what but it would be nice to see the actual package say "Made in USA" before buying.

Diesels are made in China, however a number of members here feel as if it is a more refined younger brother to the US-made MP600.

[Monrogue]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

According to the downloadable PDF catalalog it is. I find looking through that easier than dealing with the site itself.

BTW I have noticed some packaging doesn't show the US flag when the tool is supposed to be American made. Not sure what the deal is whether something changed or whether their packaging is wierd or what but it would be nice to see the actual package say "Made in USA" before buying.

Diesels are made in China, however a number of members here feel as if it is a more refined younger brother to the US-made MP600.

I agree with this.  The Diesel is a solid MT, and I somewhat prefer the feel of it in hand to the MP600. 

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[Smaug]

Seems like I might have to get a Diesel and grind down the pliers into a "semi-needlenose."

...or maybe I'll leave the Pinocchio nose and make it my desk drawer MT. 

[Monrogue]

The main issue I have with the Diesel is that it doesn't flick as easily as the MP600.  Oh, and it's .5oz heavier.  I have a hard time choosing between them.

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[Demel]

The main issue I have with the Diesel is that it doesn't flick as easily as the MP600.  Oh, and it's .5oz heavier.  I have a hard time choosing between them.

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I agree it doesn't flick as well but it has a better tool set than the 600 imo.

[rebel]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

According to the downloadable PDF catalalog it is. I find looking through that easier than dealing with the site itself.

BTW I have noticed some packaging doesn't show the US flag when the tool is supposed to be American made. Not sure what the deal is whether something changed or whether their packaging is wierd or what but it would be nice to see the actual package say "Made in USA" before buying.

Diesels are made in China

If so there is a big problem in the PDF catalog unless I am hallucinating again. Anybody downloaded the catalog and can confirm/deny?

[Demel]

I like the tool load, but Diesels don't appear to be US-made.

According to the downloadable PDF catalalog it is. I find looking through that easier than dealing with the site itself.

BTW I have noticed some packaging doesn't show the US flag when the tool is supposed to be American made. Not sure what the deal is whether something changed or whether their packaging is wierd or what but it would be nice to see the actual package say "Made in USA" before buying.

Diesels are made in China

If so there is a big problem in the PDF catalog unless I am hallucinating again. Anybody downloaded the catalog and can confirm/deny?

The catalog does say USA. Not sure why try emailing gerber to get the answer

[Smaug]

If so there is a big problem in the PDF catalog unless I am hallucinating again. Anybody downloaded the catalog and can confirm/deny?

Seems like they started production in the US, then outsourced to China, and neglected to update the catalog.

The lack of 'USA' on the photos of the tool, along with some bad user reviews on Amazon, are a couple of the reasons I went with the MP600 blunt instead of the Diesel.

<soapbox>
In my line of work, we work indirectly with Chinese manufacturers. You need someone constantly watching them, or they will swap materials without engineering's consent to make the production schedule or to try to save money without anyone knowing. What happens is that the customers are often the first ones to find out, and it slowly ruins the manufacturer's reputation. The manufacturers don't care about this, as they usually have more than one customer, and it's not THEIR brand name that gets ruined. If it does ruin their reputation, it's not a big deal. They formally close that company name, and create a new one. That's why there are so many long and complicated company names over there, like: "Lucky Dragon Shenzhen Industrial Manufacturing Co. Ltd."

We actually have a special set of rules for inspecting Chinese manufacturers, because they cheat at every opportunity.

The thing that's surprising to me is that the Chinese-made Diesel costs the same as the US-made MP400/600.  Chinese production costs about 1/3 of American production. Where is that savings going? Right into the executives' pockets? Or into really beefed-up quality control to keep the manufacturer honest? Or maybe a bit of both.</soapbox>