Gerber multi tools compared to other makes

[mtoolman]

I am a newbie in multitools, and adter reading about diffrent mt makes such as Leatherman, Vict, Gerber, and went for the Leatherman surge.

But I see posts about the Gerber, and passonate fans and users and collectors of Gerber.
I have never owned or used Gerber tools, and they look cheaply made than LM or Vict.

But maybe they are as strong, reliable and good working tools as others? I am not sure.

What are the some strong points and attractions of Gerber tools? Could gerber be compared to LM or Vict?

Thanks

[magentus]

Welcome to  !

The first multi I had was a Vic Spirit - pretty much perfect in every way  Only problem was here in the UK locking blades are illegal to carry.

Kev Davey senmt me a Gerber MP400 and Toolslinger sent me a '600. The tolerances are looser for the Gerbers over the Vic and LM, but this can be an advantage - They rattle and move but don't get clogged up. They are very tough and well made and the one hand opening with a flick of the wrist is both satisfying and handy.

The best thing about the Gerber though IMO is that they are easily modded. I have 3 MP400's now and all of them are bladeless -I can take them anywhere 

Also, the philips driver can accept a bit adaptor and increase your options for driver capability.

I still have my Spirit (in fact I've just used it to cut some wire coathangers down) but the Gerber, particularly the '400 is my fave. It's the AK47 of the multitool world.

Hope this helps! 

Pics:

[mtoolman]

Great info. Thanks.

Yes, I am also getting interested in the Gerbers.

I also have SWISSTOOL X, which I love, but the plier opening is not large. I Was trying to work on the seized handle of my magnifying glass with leaked batteries in it, and the SWISSTOOL X was not able to grab it due to too small opening on the pliers.

I had to go downstairs and get the Leatherman Surge, and it grabbed OK, and turned the handle to open seized part.

I feel maybe the Gerber MP600 would have done better.

[magentus]

Here's the Spirit against the '400 and BN '600:

[mtoolman]

My SWISSTOOL X was useless for this morning's job due to not large enough openings on the pliers.

It made me to go downstairs and search for the Leatherman, which was a pain.

I think I will order a couple of Gerber MP models, whatever is the best price, because they all seem capable and strong and lower priced than other makes.

[mtoolman]

The 600 seems a lot larger plier opening than the 400 ?

[magentus]

The only thing to watch out for is the replaceable cutters on the MP600 - they are terrible and will shatter very easily. If you have the option of going for an older, used '600 without the cutters I'd do that.

Might be worth putting a wanted ad on this forum  - it's where I got all of mine. 

[magentus]

The '600 is quite a lot bigger than the '400:

[AimlessWanderer]

I am a newbie in multitools, and adter reading about diffrent mt makes such as Leatherman, Vict, Gerber, and went for the Leatherman surge.

But I see posts about the Gerber, and passonate fans and users and collectors of Gerber.
I have never owned or used Gerber tools, and they look cheaply made than LM or Vict.

But maybe they are as strong, reliable and good working tools as others? I am not sure.

What are the some strong points and attractions of Gerber tools? Could gerber be compared to LM or Vict?

Thanks

Here are some of the strengths that I find in Gerbers:

Flicky pliers.
I don't tend to flick them, rather depress the buttons on the head, and let the handles fall down into position. They are however still quicker access pliers than most other tools.

Easy to mod.
My MP400, Diesel, and two MP600s all have modified toolsets.

Unimpeded main gripping area.
Leatherman tools tens to have an interrupted radius in the main gripping area. It's worse (IMHO) on the indexable cutter versions, but even those with integral cutters suffer from it too.

Better ergonomics.
With less handle splay, and less handle hotspots, I find Gerber to be more comfortable than LM tools in use, particularly over extended periods.

Bit driver compatibility.
The bit drivers that fit over the Phillips work well, and take full sized 1/4" bits. No having to buy full sets of bespoke bits if you knacker one.

Value for money:
Tending to be slighly cheaper, but still getting the job done.

I do still own and use other brands, including Victorinox and Leatherma - but the above reasons should highlight why Gerbers have remained part of my line up, and get regular use.

[mtoolman]

The only thing to watch out for is the replaceable cutters on the MP600 - they are terrible and will shatter very easily. If you have the option of going for an older, used '600 without the cutters I'd do that.

Might be worth putting a wanted ad on this forum  - it's where I got all of mine. 

Yes, I saw them breaking on youtube. That was my main reason going for the Leatherman.

[Sam Lim]

The only thing to watch out for is the replaceable cutters on the MP600 - they are terrible and will shatter very easily. If you have the option of going for an older, used '600 without the cutters I'd do that.

Might be worth putting a wanted ad on this forum  - it's where I got all of mine. 

Yes, I saw them breaking on youtube. That was my main reason going for the Leatherman.

On the other hand, I find that their carbide cutter works very well for soft copper wire. They are my go to for smaller gauge when I need to do wiring. I very seldom cut hard wires...

[magentus]

Sam! Show mtoolman some of your excellent Gerber mods! 

[mtoolman]

Yup I have ordered an MP600 bladeless and a Pro Scout with driver bits.
My wife will be very angry with me now.

[magentus]

  You won't regret it! Well, you might if your wife finds out!

There's a support group for that though.

[mtoolman]

The 400 looks nice but not much bigger opening than the Swisstool,X plier.

[Sam Lim]

Sam! Show mtoolman some of your excellent Gerber mods! 

Magentus! I didnt work much on Gerbers! But they are very mod friendly and I love to use suspension tools on them. I kinda of did "something" today... Will be putting it up in the Mod squad soon. 

[mtoolman]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

[magentus]

Sam! Show mtoolman some of your excellent Gerber mods! 

Magentus! I didnt work much on Gerbers! But they are very mod friendly and I love to use suspension tools on them. I kinda of did "something" today... Will be putting it up in the Mod squad soon. 

But the mods you did were brilliant!

Looking forward to seeing what you've done now. 

[mtoolman]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

Yeah I think Nutnfancy was very critical to the Gerber Diesel in his video review.
I thought the Diesel looks cool and seems a good tool.

I will see how it will perform when it arrives.

[mtoolman]

I feel that Nutnfancy's table top reviews are often full of prejudice and bias based on his feeling and imagination.

I prefer tool reviews done out in the field by real users and bushcrafters  and workers.

[mtoolman]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

This is a negative review of the Diesel.
Could it been lemon Diesel?

[gerleatherberman]

Here are some of the strengths that I find in Gerbers:

Flicky pliers.
I don't tend to flick them, rather depress the buttons on the head, and let the handles fall down into position. They are however still quicker access pliers than most other tools.

Easy to mod.
My MP400, Diesel, and two MP600s all have modified toolsets.

Unimpeded main gripping area.
Leatherman tools tens to have an interrupted radius in the main gripping area. It's worse (IMHO) on the indexable cutter versions, but even those with integral cutters suffer from it too.

Better ergonomics.
With less handle splay, and less handle hotspots, I find Gerber to be more comfortable than LM tools in use, particularly over extended periods.

Bit driver compatibility.
The bit drivers that fit over the Phillips work well, and take full sized 1/4" bits. No having to buy full sets of bespoke bits if you knacker one.

Value for money:
Tending to be slighly cheaper, but still getting the job done.

I do still own and use other brands, including Victorinox and Leatherma - but the above reasons should highlight why Gerbers have remained part of my line up, and get regular use.

One of the best sets of outlined reasons I have read for Gerber tools.

My first MT was a Multi-Plier (the pinchy one), and it served me well for over ten years. Only after it started having issues, I decided to find "something better". Now, with about 225 MTs and counting, I don't really think I found anything "better". Of course, saying that, I don't mean it literally. More so in the way I feel about it. No brand MT or model of MT has satisfied my usage requirements like the Pinchy did. I guess I am just smurf-spoiled rotten now. Too much of a good things isn't necessarily good.

Anyway. Sorry for the rant, mtoolman!
I hope you enjoy your Gerbers as much as I enjoy mine (ones I use and the copious shelf queens).

Edit: typo.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

This is a negative review of the Diesel.
Could it been lemon Diesel?

The Diesel has good geometry for effortless cutting on copper wire, but that more acute blade would make it weaker for harder metal cutting such as coathangers. It's not that the tool was a lemon, but it wasn't really set up for that task. As you see from the vid, it does do the task, but that "sharper" cutting geometry makes it a little more prone to bruising. Filing an inner section of the cutters to make a less acute harder wire cutting section would minimise this - or simply just repeating that task, and filing off the bruising on the inside, would produce a harder wire cutting area.

So it's not that the tool is a lemon, it's that the reviewer doesn't seem to recognise what effects different cutting geometries have. Just my opinion.

[AimlessWanderer]

One of the best sets of outlined reasons I have read for Gerber tools.

Thank you, GLBM 

[mtoolman]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

This is a negative review of the Diesel.
Could it been lemon Diesel?

The Diesel has good geometry for effortless cutting on copper wire, but that more acute blade would make it weaker for harder metal cutting such as coathangers. It's not that the tool was a lemon, but it wasn't really set up for that task. As you see from the vid, it does do the task, but that "sharper" cutting geometry makes it a little more prone to bruising. Filing an inner section of the cutters to make a less acute harder wire cutting section would minimise this - or simply just repeating that task, and filing off the bruising on the inside, would produce a harder wire cutting area.

So it's not that the tool is a lemon, it's that the reviewer doesn't seem to recognise what effects different cutting geometries have. Just my opinion.

Excellent points !!!
Yes, I think you are right. And I do see your points. 

I have seen now many Youtube videos on the reviews for Gerber Diesels.
Most of them are very positive.

I look forward to using the Gerbers when they arrive.

[mtoolman]

Here are some of the strengths that I find in Gerbers:

Flicky pliers.
I don't tend to flick them, rather depress the buttons on the head, and let the handles fall down into position. They are however still quicker access pliers than most other tools.

Easy to mod.
My MP400, Diesel, and two MP600s all have modified toolsets.

Unimpeded main gripping area.
Leatherman tools tens to have an interrupted radius in the main gripping area. It's worse (IMHO) on the indexable cutter versions, but even those with integral cutters suffer from it too.

Better ergonomics.
With less handle splay, and less handle hotspots, I find Gerber to be more comfortable than LM tools in use, particularly over extended periods.

Bit driver compatibility.
The bit drivers that fit over the Phillips work well, and take full sized 1/4" bits. No having to buy full sets of bespoke bits if you knacker one.

Value for money:
Tending to be slighly cheaper, but still getting the job done.

I do still own and use other brands, including Victorinox and Leatherma - but the above reasons should highlight why Gerbers have remained part of my line up, and get regular use.

One of the best sets of outlined reasons I have read for Gerber tools.

My first MT was a Multi-Plier (the pinchy one), and it served me well for over ten years. Only after it started having issues, I decided to find "something better". Now, with about 225 MTs and counting, I don't really think I found anything "better". Of course, saying that, I don't mean it literally. More so in the way I feel about it. No brand MT or model of MT has satisfied my usage requirements like the Pinchy did. I guess I am just smurf-spoiled rotten now. Too much of a good things isn't necessarily good.

Anyway. Sorry for the rant, mtoolman!
I hope you enjoy your Gerbers as much as I enjoy mine (ones I use and the copious shelf queens).

Edit: typo.

I liked your stories about the MPs. No problems at all. 

Thank you for your best wishes

[gerleatherberman]

Thank you, GLBM 

You're welcome, 50ft!

I liked your stories about the MPs. No problems at all. 

Thank you for your best wishes

Thank you and you're welcome, mtoolman!

[mtoolman]

Yup, the MP600s seem good size pliers.

I was also able to get hold of the Gerber Diesel in BO.

I think the Diesel is an excellent tool. Some folks are unforgiving of the slim Phillips, but I think the tool is a winner. It's also the only sliding head Gerber with woodsaw

This is a negative review of the Diesel.
Could it been lemon Diesel?

The Diesel has good geometry for effortless cutting on copper wire, but that more acute blade would make it weaker for harder metal cutting such as coathangers. It's not that the tool was a lemon, but it wasn't really set up for that task. As you see from the vid, it does do the task, but that "sharper" cutting geometry makes it a little more prone to bruising. Filing an inner section of the cutters to make a less acute harder wire cutting section would minimise this - or simply just repeating that task, and filing off the bruising on the inside, would produce a harder wire cutting area.

So it's not that the tool is a lemon, it's that the reviewer doesn't seem to recognise what effects different cutting geometries have. Just my opinion.

This vid seems confirming your points regarding wire cutters.