New! Gerber Center Drive

[Padre]

Wave is 8,5 oz? Right?  So one ounce more. Not quite Surge for sure, and thats a good thing.

[parnass]

The center drive is 9.5oz  ...

FWIW, the SOG Power Assist weighs 9.5 ounces and the Leatherman OHT weighs 9.6 ounces.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The center drive is 9.5oz  ...

FWIW, the SOG Power Assist weighs 9.5 ounces and the Leatherman OHT weighs 9.6 ounces.

Good to see you still kicking around man!

Def

[Monrogue]

The center drive is 9.5oz  ...

FWIW, the SOG Power Assist weighs 9.5 ounces and the Leatherman OHT weighs 9.6 ounces.

I have a OHT, and it's too heavy for pocket carry, so the CD would also be too heavy for me.  Thanks for that comparison though.  I had forgotten how much the OHT weighed.

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[Gareth]

Thanks for all the effort that's gone into those pics gents.  

[Grant Lamontagne]

Guess what arived today? 

Here are some comparison photos with the Surge and an MP600:





And a couple with just the Center Drive an Surge:



Obviously no comparison in driver size.  Ii also prefer the standard bits to the flattened bits, which I have always hated.





It's interesting that the Center Drive plier head is smaller than the Surge's, but manages to open slightly wider.



And the blade is every bit as big as the Surge's blade.



The prybar/bottle opener thing really fascinated me.  I was amazed to see how thick it was until I flipped it over and realised it was cut out.  It still feels plenty strong enough to do anything you may want it to do.



The serrated blade and file are typical MP600 versions, and that is about all the typical Gerber components in the Center Drive.



The awl isn't anything special, but is also solid enough to poke a hole in pretty much anything.



It doesn't have a sharpened edge on it like some awls do, but I really wouldn't worry about damaging it when carving a tunnel out of a gulag.

I really like the on board bit carrier.





It functions as a handle stop when the Center Drive is closed and opens up to reveal a spare bit, in addition to the one that lives in the big driver on the outside. Oh yeah, and speaking of bits....



The Center Drive comes pretty well ready for anything, if you get the version with the bit set.  Additionally, there is space in the sheath for the bits as well.  And here are some general pics just for the fun of it.







Initial impressions of the Center Drive are good.  The sheath isn't as good as the (good) MOLLE sheaths from Leatherman or SOG, but it is a far cry better than the cheapo MOLLE sheaths from Leatherman.  It's not a MOLLE sheath, but it does allow for horizontal or vertical carry, and seems like it would hold the tool and bit set quite securely.

Def

[dks]

that should be on mto minute, if you want to get some hits.

[Grant Lamontagne]

that should be on mto minute, if you want to get some hits.

It will be by the end of the day. 

Def

[irona]

that should be on mto minute, if you want to get some hits.

It will be by the end of the day. 

Def

I'm excited for it!


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[jerseydevil]

Thanks for the pics everyone! I like what I see. I sheath carry, so the weight is not an issue for me. Besides, in case you never noticed, I'm a bit of a Gerber fan. I'll be getting one of these quite soon.

[PhlowJaxx]

I let my coworker and friend (who is ex-military) hold my GCD and asked for their opinions and impressions on it. My co worker said it felt flimsy compared to his multitool which was a vintage Gerber 600. Although it really surprised me but at the same time I felt like my tool was tougher than his so I think we were just biased for our tools. My friend (ex military) held it and was immediately amazed. He said he had a Gerber while out in the field and he's a fan of the tough builds Gerber makes. I asked if he would take the GCD out on the field if he were to go back and he said no only because he don't know if its really been field tested by the military yet. I still love my GCD though 

[PhlowJaxx]

Thanks for the pics everyone! I like what I see. I sheath carry, so the weight is not an issue for me. Besides, in case you never noticed, I'm a bit of a Gerber fan. I'll be getting one of these quite soon.

You won't regret it. I promise!

[Etherealicer]

Thanks Grant,

those images give a much better impression of the tool. How comfortable is the tool to use?

[jerseydevil]

Thanks for the pics everyone! I like what I see. I sheath carry, so the weight is not an issue for me. Besides, in case you never noticed, I'm a bit of a Gerber fan. I'll be getting one of these quite soon.

You won't regret it. I promise!

I'm a big fan of the MP600, and have used mine quite hard. I guess I'll have to be careful with the driver though when using this tool as a hammer.....

[PhlowJaxx]

I would like to talk about the carbide cutters and peoples frequent complaints. I personally have had no problems with them. I've see pictures of people doin ridiculous tests on them and mid using them on purpose. How often are we going to be cutting screwdrivers and ice picks? They are wire cutters and meant to cut small, hard or soft wire. Oh, and I thought I had faulty cutters on my GCD after trying to cut a power cord but turns out the wire was just flattening out beyond where the cutters were cutting. Does anyone here have problems with Gerber's carbide cutters?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks Grant,

those images give a much better impression of the tool. How comfortable is the tool to use?

I'll let you know after I use it a bit.  It doesn't feel bad in the hand though.  With all of the bumps and things on it (cutouts, lanyard loop on the lock tab etc) I was expecting to feel bits of it poking me slightly, but so far nothing like that.

That having been said, I also have not really used it for anything just yet, and I hate saying things until I have.

Def

[PhlowJaxx]

Thanks Grant,

those images give a much better impression of the tool. How comfortable is the tool to use?

I know you were asking someone else but I still have a input on the subject though. With gloves on there's no problem at all, not even when you're squeezing the tool through cutting a copper wire. But bare handed, Its still not bad but just like with any tool, more torque, more force, more discomfort. Especially when its cold.

[Padre]

So ergos are good? Doesnt look like that... can one of you at least squeeze the tool hard with every tool open? Its hard to believe that this thing would not have hot spots all over it.

[Monrogue]

Thanks for the pics and comparison Grant

The darn thing is still tempting, but I know I wouldn't carry it.  It would be a good junk drawer tool though, as I have a few MTs placed strategically around the house.  The driver with bit set would be handy around the house.  Maybe someday I'll succumb to my curiosity and get one.

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[parnass]

I would like to talk about the carbide cutters and peoples frequent complaints..... Does anyone here have problems with Gerber's carbide cutters?

The chief complaint about carbide cutters is that squeezing the plier handles requires more force when cutting than normal cutters without the inserts. See: http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,62630.msg1183543.html#msg1183543
 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks Grant,

those images give a much better impression of the tool. How comfortable is the tool to use?

I know you were asking someone else but I still have a input on the subject though. With gloves on there's no problem at all, not even when you're squeezing the tool through cutting a copper wire. But bare handed, Its still not bad but just like with any tool, more torque, more force, more discomfort. Especially when its cold.

Different opinions and input are always welcome! 

Thanks for the pics and comparison Grant

The darn thing is still tempting, but I know I wouldn't carry it.  It would be a good junk drawer tool though, as I have a few MTs placed strategically around the house.  The driver with bit set would be handy around the house.  Maybe someday I'll succumb to my curiosity and get one.

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I'll let you know after some use but I am finding it very nice to handle so far.

I am carrying the Center Drive on my belt and I am finding it is very comfortable to draw like this.  The small lip on the end of the locking tab really makes it easy to pull out.

Def

[PhlowJaxx]

So ergos are good? Doesnt look like that... can one of you at least squeeze the tool hard with every tool open? Its hard to believe that this thing would not have hot spots all over it.

I did what you requested and I'm going to be honest with you. I held it the way you requested right side up and upside down. It took a while before it started to grow uncomfortable in my hand but I now know the hotspots you're curious about. The area that surrounds the knife and the thin sheet of metal that stops the center drive are hotspots. And the bottom of the unlocking slider mech gets uncomfortable to. BUT!! It only got uncomfortable because I forced it. With regular use its comfortable in my hand and I never use the GCD with every tool open.

[WoodsDuck]

So ergos are good? Doesnt look like that... can one of you at least squeeze the tool hard with every tool open? Its hard to believe that this thing would not have hot spots all over it.

I did what you requested and I'm going to be honest with you. I held it the way you requested right side up and upside down. It took a while before it started to grow uncomfortable in my hand but I now know the hotspots you're curious about. The area that surrounds the knife and the thin sheet of metal that stops the center drive are hotspots. And the bottom of the unlocking slider mech gets uncomfortable to. BUT!! It only got uncomfortable because I forced it. With regular use its comfortable in my hand and I never use the GCD with every tool open.

I think he meant one tool at a time.

[AimlessWanderer]

Thanks for all the pics and insights folks  It does look like a tool with some potential if the loadout fits your needs.

I'm still going to reserve judgement on that plier head though, and the prytool looks investment cast too. Hopefully someone will be giving this tool a thorough long term exposure to some proper hard labour, and will be able to report back on it in a few months. 

[Padre]

So ergos are good? Doesnt look like that... can one of you at least squeeze the tool hard with every tool open? Its hard to believe that this thing would not have hot spots all over it.

I did what you requested and I'm going to be honest with you. I held it the way you requested right side up and upside down. It took a while before it started to grow uncomfortable in my hand but I now know the hotspots you're curious about. The area that surrounds the knife and the thin sheet of metal that stops the center drive are hotspots. And the bottom of the unlocking slider mech gets uncomfortable to. BUT!! It only got uncomfortable because I forced it. With regular use its comfortable in my hand and I never use the GCD with every tool open.

Thanks for this sir!
Seems that it still has less problems than some new SOGs around.
 

[bftx]

Note,  I REALLY like the tool and design, but I have received another flawed Center Drive.  For those that have one with no issues, I'm super happy for you. 

The tool I received today had the worst edge/grind of any knife I've ever seen brand new, and one of the carbide cutter screws were stripped out.  I've emailed Gerber Customer Service to let them know.

Like I said guys, it's great, just some teething issues with the ones I've received.

Also, I've noticed the Center Drive's I've had, and the one Grant posted does not have the Gerber logo stamped on the plier head like PhlowJax's.



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[babola]

Note,  I REALLY like the tool and design, but I have received another flawed Center Drive.  For those that have one with no issues, I'm super happy for you. 

The tool I received today had the worst edge/grind of any knife I've ever seen brand new, and one of the carbide cutter screws were stripped out.  I've emailed Gerber Customer Service to let them know.

Like I said guys, it's great, just some teething issues with the ones I've received.
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(Image removed from quote.)

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You really need to change your 'supplier', three unlucky strikes on the same tool all within almost a single week is mind-numbing.

It's surprising that carbide cutter screw past the QC, what a mess that one is. :-(

[bftx]

Note,  I REALLY like the tool and design, but I have received another flawed Center Drive.  For those that have one with no issues, I'm super happy for you. 

The tool I received today had the worst edge/grind of any knife I've ever seen brand new, and one of the carbide cutter screws were stripped out.  I've emailed Gerber Customer Service to let them know.

Like I said guys, it's great, just some teething issues with the ones I've received.
(Image removed from quote.)
(Image removed from quote.)

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You really need to change your 'supplier', three unlucky strikes on the same tool all within almost a single week is mind-numbing.

It's surprising that carbide cutter screw past the QC, what a mess that one is. :-(

Two from MidwayUSA and 1 from Gander Mountain.  Two from MidwayUSA came in a box, while the one from Gander came in a blister pack.

Grant, where did you receive your Center Drive from?

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[Aloha]

The pry tool is interesting. At first glance it looks like a shard modified.  Great pics Boss. 

[TazzieRob]

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It's interesting that the Center Drive plier head is smaller than the Surge's, but manages to open slightly wider.

The pivot points aren't lined up in your first picture, another overlap of the handles makes the head look a lot smaller than it is