My thoughts on the Artifact.

[max6166]

And while an argument on the internet is indeed a silly thing, a forum without a healthy discussion of different viewpoints is kind of pointless!

I disagree... 

[hawkchucker]

Well I for one surely dont see it as issue. For instance. Where does it stop. The Clippoint was done on blades before LM, G10 was used by custom Makers. Demascus steel used for centuries.

Did all these steal design no It is the natural progression of invention.

If Atwood has an issue make more reasonably priced tools.

[Poncho65]

I know of a little tool called the PST seems to have been ripped off more than once if you go by that standard

But I don't so it doesn't really bother me

Just thought I'd throw my 2 cents worth in

[Gadget Guy]

Not to be a stickler here, but the Artifact is more of an expanded idea, while the Shard is more of an Atwood copy since, as mentioned above, it doesn't have a blade.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

And while an argument on the internet is indeed a silly thing, a forum without a healthy discussion of different viewpoints is kind of pointless!

Def

There was a guy on EDCF(Jaybee or Jaybee64) who did a mod on a Prybaby. He added a blade by drilling a hole in the Prybaby and that is where Gerber stole the idea. Go look for yourself. I don't believe that any company or maker should steal another persons design. Expand on an idea?  Would it be fair to have a Multitool1.org? I think Peter Atwood should make a production Prybaby so everyone would be happy. If I was him I would quit altogehter. If any of you had an idea as good as the Prybaby you would be pissed off to see the Gerber artifact!  I bought one and it a nice tool, but still not an original design. Like I said I'm not here to argue with anyone so I will not say anything else in this thread.

I just found the pix:







Let the pix speak for themselves!!

[Freudian Frog]

I think that's so obscure it's more likely that Gerber came up with a #11 exacto blade in their Artifact all on their own.

I don't really think the prybaby is a good idea. Not the way he went about it. Praising how good of a tool he designed then making limited quantities and selling them for vast amounts... constant (and I must say sometimes pointless) revisions and addons, never finallizing anything. He tried to make it out to be art.

It's a tool. It's supposed to help people. It'll help more people if there are more of them. More people would have them if it cost less.
I could care less if Gerber took the design from him or not, we're a competitive market and I don't remember anyone holding a patent to a prybar keychain tool.

EDIT: Don't take too much offense, just my personal opinion.

[Gadget Guy]

I think that's so obscure it's more likely that Gerber came up with a #11 exacto blade in their Artifact all on their own.

I don't really think the prybaby is a good idea. Not the way he went about it. Praising how good of a tool he designed then making limited quantities and selling them for vast amounts... constant (and I must say sometimes pointless) revisions and addons, never finallizing anything. He tried to make it out to be art.

It's a tool. It's supposed to help people. It'll help more people if there are more of them. More people would have them if it cost less.
I could care less if Gerber took the design from him or not, we're a competitive market and I don't remember anyone holding a patent to a prybar keychain tool.

EDIT: Don't take too much offense, just my personal opinion.

[Freudian Frog]

I think that's so obscure it's more likely that Gerber came up with a #11 exacto blade in their Artifact all on their own.

I don't really think the prybaby is a good idea. Not the way he went about it. Praising how good of a tool he designed then making limited quantities and selling them for vast amounts... constant (and I must say sometimes pointless) revisions and addons, never finallizing anything. He tried to make it out to be art.

It's a tool. It's supposed to help people. It'll help more people if there are more of them. More people would have them if it cost less.
I could care less if Gerber took the design from him or not, we're a competitive market and I don't remember anyone holding a patent to a prybar keychain tool.

EDIT: Don't take too much offense, just my personal opinion.

So apparently after producing the flat piece of steel... it takes him a full total of 4 minutes to finish the piece.

Minus the heat treating I suppose.

EDIT: I guess I'm putting out the wrong thing here. I don't mind that he produces these custom pieces. Just that nothing has ever gone to production. A lot of custom makers design production knives, I just don't see why he won't.

EDIT2: Which is why I like the Gerber Artifact! Okay, my three cents are in, I'm done.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Not to be a stickler here, but the Artifact is more of an expanded idea, while the Shard is more of an Atwood copy since, as mentioned above, it doesn't have a blade.

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

And while an argument on the internet is indeed a silly thing, a forum without a healthy discussion of different viewpoints is kind of pointless!

Def

There was a guy on EDCF(Jaybee or Jaybee64) who did a mod on a Prybaby. He added a blade by drilling a hole in the Prybaby and that is where Gerber stole the idea. Go look for yourself. I don't believe that any company or maker should steal another persons design. Expand on an idea?  Would it be fair to have a Multitool1.org? I think Peter Atwood should make a production Prybaby so everyone would be happy. If I was him I would quit altogehter. If any of you had an idea as good as the Prybaby you would be pissed off to see the Gerber artifact!  I bought one and it a nice tool, but still not an original design. Like I said I'm not here to argue with anyone so I will not say anything else in this thread.

I just found the pix:

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

(Image removed from quote.)

Let the pix speak for themselves!!

So it's ok that this guy used a SOG component to modify an Atwood?

By the way, there is a copycat site of Multitool.org out there, and like it or not, there's really not much I can do about it, despite it being a complete rip off of the ideas that built this site, and even the name. 

I see the Artifact and Shard as being different enough from Atwood to make it ok.  Yes, there are similarities, but no more so than there is between the PST and any other butterfly opening tool from any other manufacturer.  The Artifact and Shard are different enough that they are on their own, and lets face it, they probably aren't taking sales away from Atwoods, as anyone willing to pay $100+ for a bottle opener is not likely to buy anything less.  And, anyone after an Artifact probably wouldn't have spent that kind of money on an Atwood anyway.

It's kind of like Harley Davidson- despite cheaper bikes being far superior, everyone still pays more for a Harley, simply because it's a Harley.

Def

[max6166]

Some people buy their tools at the dollar store, while others want better quality. Hopefully there will be enough of the latter so that Atwood can keep doing what he likes.

[Zack]

I don't think Peter Atwood has anything to worry about.  Its the same difference between a Sebenza and some generic one hand opening framelock.  They will both do the sam thing, which is cut, but they are priced totally differently.  I have an artifact and its nice for what it is, but I have no desire to pay 50+ dollars for something to open my beer bottles with.

[Benner]

I have no comments about the copying issue, but like Def said I don't think Peter has much to worry about.  Those who own his work appreciate it for what it is and will quite often go back and buy more as they want the quality and the rarerity of the tools.  Guys that buy the Artifact are a different group of people altogether IMO.

[Freudian Frog]

Agreed. I really don't think he'll lose any of his fan/buyer base with this. In fact, it may help bolster sales as those who weren't interested in paying $50 may change their mind after playing with the Chinese version.

[SoDak]

Agreed. I really don't think he'll lose any of his fan/buyer base with this. In fact, it may help bolster sales as those who weren't interested in paying $50 may change their mind after playing with the Chinese version.

I would have to agree there. I don't see how the artifact is superior to the atwood other than maybe the price and addition of a knife. To be honest, I'm not terribly impressed with the artifact. The flathead screwdrivers are ground so unevenly I can't imagine actually having to rely on using them and I have my doubts on how well the phillips will perform and stand up to use. However it will work as a pocket prybar and scraper with a handy little knife, which is backed up by a core and my other edc items. I will say that if I could only carry around a small prybar tool, I would pony up the money for the atwood, primarily for what I would guess are better screwdrivers.

[Sea Monster]

There was a guy on EDCF(Jaybee or Jaybee64) who did a mod on a Prybaby. He added a blade by drilling a hole in the Prybaby and that is where Gerber stole the idea. Go look for yourself. I don't believe that any company or maker should steal another persons design. Expand on an idea?  Would it be fair to have a Multitool1.org? I think Peter Atwood should make a production Prybaby so everyone would be happy. If I was him I would quit altogehter. If any of you had an idea as good as the Prybaby you would be pissed off to see the Gerber artifact!  I bought one and it a nice tool, but still not an original design. Like I said I'm not here to argue with anyone so I will not say anything else in this thread.

I wonder where we'd be if Victorinox or Leatherman just quit 'cause someone else started making similar tools?


(It was after this point that Nomad decided to read the rest of the thread and realised half a dozen other people had already made this argument...)

[Apollo]

Interesting opinions on this thread. I bought an Artifact a couple of days ago (found it @ a local Target store). Fit and finish is typical of inexpensive China-made products, but I can't complain considering it costs just under $10 U.S. dollars. It's a pocket sized prybar which means it'll be used to pry and open everything from stubborn soda cans and bottlecaps to small nails. I'm still not sold on the usability of the X-Acto style blade. If I need to cut something, I usually reach for a proper knife or use the knife blade on my multi-tool, but otherwise I think the Gerber Artifact is a neat tool.

I've seen and read several threads on the net about Peter Atwood's custom Prybabies and I've looked at his wonderful creations on his website. I'm sure their fit and finish is second to none, but on a tool of this type I appreciate a certain level of expendability. In other words: I won't loose any sleep if I loose a $10 mini prybar or worry about it getting scratched up, scuffed or nicked. The overall fit and finish of the Artifact isn't all that to write home about, but for the moment it works for me. Now, if Mr. Atwood would collaborate with a knife company to produce a higher quality, yet affordable production version of one or two of his models, I'd really be interested.

[SoDak]

Now that I've been carrying the artifact around for a while, I'm not sure that I like it all that much. The prybar function hasn't been as helpful as I had hoped(the prybar design isn't that great). The knife blade hasn't seen much use outside of being a handy letter opener. However I do carry a utility knife and a leatherman(wave or core) so the utility of the artifact is already diminished, but it hasn't really fit into the niche I hoped it would.

[Pacu]

Now i want an Artifact after reading all four pages. I don't even know how i got sucked into reading all four pages but i think an Artifact or Shard would be handy at work. Might have to go to Target later.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I have to say, I like the lil buggers.  Good luck finding a Shard though- it seems I have one of only two in existence.

Def

[Pacu]

Seems after searching around a bit the Shard was a gimme that was given away as a promotional for the Artifact.

How'd you aquire yours...ifnya don't mind me asking.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I got mine from Knives Illustrated Assistant Editor Abe Elias, who got two from the Gerber booth at last year's SHOT Show.

Where did you find the info about the Shard being a promo item?

Def

[Pacu]

http://edcforums.com/index.php?topic=23009.0


"Thank you for contacting Gerber Blades. The Shard was never intended to be available, but for a promotional give-away for knife shows in 2008. It was to bring awareness to the newest tool, Artifact.

http://www.gerbergear.com/index.php/product/id/325

Unfortunately, there are no plans to manufacture the Shard further, nor offer it up for retail. We apologize for any inconvenience. "


I can in no way validate any claims from this postings--Pacu


Thanks Google!

[max6166]

Now that is bad news. I like the Shard but am not really into the Artifact... 

Maybe Def could talk to them about it at the SHOT Show? 

[Benner]

That really sucks as the Shard would be great for us guys here where the knife laws are so strict. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That's what put's me off

I'd certainly remove the blade from mine if I had one

[Benner]

Can I please put out the request again for someone with an Artifact to take some picks of it with the whole blade assembly and lock bar removed.  I'm keen to see what it is like with all that removed. 

[NeitherExtreme]

That news deserves a .

That's really too bad... I thought the shard was a much better idea than the artifact.

[hawkchucker]

I still love my artifact. i actually carry the thing everywhere, and found it perfect for opening shackles! I use the bottle opener and just twist away!

[WH867]

Can I please put out the request again for someone with an Artifact to take some picks of it with the whole blade assembly and lock bar removed.  I'm keen to see what it is like with all that removed. 

This is the best I can do.  I don't have a torx small enough to remove the lock bar screws. Smallest I have is  an 8.

[glorn]

Okay, crazy idea time...

One of you skilled machinists ought to take an Artifact, remove the blade holder and blade, and then manufacture an awl that will fit on the mounting post instead.

Now that would be an item I would want. It makes the Artifact into the perfect EDC knife companion.

[glorn]

In fact, it seems like a lot of things could be cut from flat stock and made to fit on that post. Ideas?

A can opener?

A small hook blade?