New Gerber MP400

[Backwoodrebel]

I recently replaced my MP400 as my old one now resides at the bottom of a lake.
I bought my old one about 5 years ago, and the new one today.

I wasn't super impressed with the sliding releases that lock the tools in place, they seem like a really light plastic, and visually it looks a little cheaper.

Is this something they did to make it lighter? Anyone else notice these subtle changes? And has anyone noticed a drop in quality or durability between the older ones and the current ones?

Cheers

[AimlessWanderer]

 

What did your old one have?

[Backwoodrebel]

What did your old one have?

Now I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the underside of the pliers being a bit more bulky, and perhaps the tool lock releases were metal

[SteveC]

Welcome to the forum Bwr   

[Backwoodrebel]

Welcome to the forum Bwr   

Thanks, brother

[gerleatherberman]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

[Backwoodrebel]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

[gerleatherberman]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

[Backwoodrebel]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

Here's a couple shots of the one I picked up the other day.
Exact same tool layout as my previous one.

[Backwoodrebel]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

Here's a couple shots of the one I picked up the other day.
Exact same tool layout as my previous one.

I also noticed on this one where it says "Gerber" all of yours, and my old one, have the smaller "Gerber USA".

[gerleatherberman]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

Here's a couple shots of the one I picked up the other day.
Exact same tool layout as my previous one.

I also noticed on this one where it says "Gerber" all of yours, and my old one, have the smaller "Gerber USA".

Then there is a distinct possibility that the "newest" Gerbers have gotten a bit less quality. Looks like the Gerbers with USA removed are the newest ones being sold right now. I will have to pick one up next week and do a comparison on it and the ones I have marked USA.

[Backwoodrebel]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

Here's a couple shots of the one I picked up the other day.
Exact same tool layout as my previous one.

I also noticed on this one where it says "Gerber" all of yours, and my old one, have the smaller "Gerber USA".

Then there is a distinct possibility that the "newest" Gerbers have gotten a bit less quality. Looks like the Gerbers with USA removed are the newest ones being sold right now. I will have to pick one up next week and do a comparison on it and the ones I have marked USA.

 
That would be great if you did that and let me know what you figure! I might be crazy, but they seem a tad lower quality wise

[gerleatherberman]

Hey backwood.
I have three mp4** series tools from the early spear point blade mp400, mp400 w/ corkscrew and a new mp450 (file instead of scissors).
The locks are all the same rigid plastic and feel the same to me. Maybe the years of use made them feel smoother or something to that effect?
Also, sometimes we are so fond of something we had lost, we tend to think it was better than anything you can buy today and is irreplaceable.  Like, many people swear antique Case knives are leaps and bounds better than new ones, even if it not really true.
There is also the possibility the seller you got it from was selling factory seconds or even a fake mp400 without knowing. But, I do know the MP600 is highly faked!
Would you mind posting a couple of photos of the tool in question? There are a lot of MP experts on this board. Perhaps they'll chime in.
Here is a pic of the three side by side.
Hope this helps.

That helps tremendously. I believe I had the model on the far right of the pictures you posted.
Perhaps you're right though, I may be remembering it sweeter than it was.

As for being fake, I bought it at a bass pro. I reckon that would make it legitimate. Just different haha

 
Bass Pro would definitely be genuine(I would live there if I could. ).

The new MP400 will get better once it is broken in and feels proper! 

Here's a couple shots of the one I picked up the other day.
Exact same tool layout as my previous one.

I also noticed on this one where it says "Gerber" all of yours, and my old one, have the smaller "Gerber USA".

Then there is a distinct possibility that the "newest" Gerbers have gotten a bit less quality. Looks like the Gerbers with USA removed are the newest ones being sold right now. I will have to pick one up next week and do a comparison on it and the ones I have marked USA.

 
That would be great if you did that and let me know what you figure! I might be crazy, but they seem a tad lower quality wise

I really hope Gerber hasn't crapped up the MP400, because it is superb function vs. weight. IMHO

I do have the newest MP600 that has the USA removed and is called a "multi plier". It seems to be fine compared to the USA marked 600s, but that is a more expensive and heavy model.

The packaging now says "made with USA labor with Global materials".
They've been foreign parts assembled in the USA for years, but I think the law says that it has to be a certain percent USA parts to be stamped "USA" now.
The only tool that is now made 100% in the US with USA parts is the Gerber Center- Drive I believe. It is pretty awesome, but with a pretty "awesome" price tag as well.

[Poncho65]

Welcome to Bwr Hope we can get confirmation one way or the other about the new MP400 series It is a nice tool and one of the few Gerbers I have Be a shame to see that the quality has dropped on them

[rdub934]

Lock tabs look the same as on my old MP400 - which is 13 years old now. Rose colored glasses?

[gerleatherberman]

That has been the hypothesis rdub, but we would have to have a new one like his and an older one to see if the feel and action is the same.
Just because it looks like a duck, doesn't mean it is a duck.

[Backwoodrebel]

Lock tabs look the same as on my old MP400 - which is 13 years old now. Rose colored glasses?

This is 100% possible, my friend haha. But like many of us, I'm particular about my tools, and I just had to know for sure