Gerber Flik

[J-sews]

Seems like the new Flik is taking a long time to reach dealers. A few websites I checked show January 2008 delivery dates. (This after being announced last February at the Shot Show) Oh well, pretty much the same schedule as Leatherman's Skeletool and SOG's PowerAssist, right?

Anyhoo, the Flik looks to be a downsized Freehand, complete with outside-opening blades. Wish they could give the screwdrivers a bit more reach. I do like the looks of that aggressive wood saw though.   

[Spoonrobot]

I, for one, am waiting with baited breath for the black oxide Flik.

It's going to be very interesting to see it side-by-side with the Freehand and compare the pros/cons or see if they made any little changes to the design to make it work in a smaller package. I do like how Gerber does their house woodsaws, slightly thicker than most other but more aggressive. The one on the Diesel is wonderful.

Hopefully it'll be as cheap on eBay as the Freehand was. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Now there is a gerber, I can get really excited about

Hopefully it won't suffer to many delays

[Grant Lamontagne]

Now that we have a dedicated Gerber advertiser I think we'll be seeing more Gerber reviews, and hopefully we'll have a fairly early look at the Flik when it comes out.

Def

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Here's hoping

[Roadie]

It does look like an interesting tool, quite like to get my hands on one at some stage.

[J-sews]

.......I do like the looks of that aggressive wood saw though.   

...plus it has a Wharnecliffe blade 

[I'm Still Bison]

 I'm kind of taken with the scissors;they look more robust than past Gerber offerings.

[Leatherman123]

I'm looking forward to the Flik.. Looks very interesting!

[NeitherExtreme]

I have to admit, that looks like a neat tool. Might be time to get a gerber...

Any idea on expected street price?

[prime77]

I had forgotten all about the Flik. It does look interesting thought. The Freehand looks way to big and bulky for my tastes. Maybe the Flik will be more for me.



I do HATE the skinny phillips driver on the new Gerbers though.

[J-sews]

I do HATE the skinny phillips driver on the new Gerbers though.

There wasn't anything wrong with the old square Gerber phillips driver. It was actually quite good. Wonder why they chose to replace it with the flat one?

[Viper]

Thinner tools= more tools.


Some people confuse quality and quantity.

[Grant Lamontagne]

It's more likely that if the tool is half as thick then it only costs half as much for raw materials.

Def

[WhichDawg]

I like it, I may have to give it a try, like the F-22 of MTs

[damota]

It's more likely that if the tool is half as thick then it only costs half as much for raw materials.

Def

Thats about right, half as thick, half the cost, ¹/₃^rd more tools (9 compaired to 6). Quality of drivers a bit iffy but as they cost very little and are the usual set I just changed them to the nine bits I mostly use from a decent brand. The adapter is IMO far better, with the ability to get more leverage from using a spanner at the base. Personally I love the new bit set especially when it has the new pouch that comes with it that has a lower pocket than the original that came with the US made chrome adapter. I stuff one of those small ratchet drivers down the side of it and have never been let down yet.
As to the Flik I hope they have found a way to hold the head in the storage position because the head on my Freehand slides out under its own weight as you put it in the pouch for instance.
A gripe I have with all the tool companies is why is it so essential to have a bottle and can opener on what are supposed to be tools. Let them have picnic sets for those that need them, I do not and would rather have something more useful.

Dave

[carl]

I totally agree about the near-useless picnic tools.  However, when you look at how those can/bottle openers are incorporated into a tool, usually in conjunction with a screwdriver,  its usually not taking up space that could be used for something else.  If it were, I'm like you, those can/bottle openers would be a very low priority.

[damota]

I totally agree about the near-useless picnic tools.  However, when you look at how those can/bottle openers are incorporated into a tool, usually in conjunction with a screwdriver,  its usually not taking up space that could be used for something else.  If it were, I'm like you, those can/bottle openers would be a very low priority.

Would a set of different size wire stripper apertures as on a single blade of the LM Squirt E4 instead of a tin opener be good and as they could be placed on both sides so you could get a few gauge sizes on even a small tool and you could still use it to couple with the bit adapter and have a screw driver shaped end. A decent grade wire with a wedge ground on the working end and a loop to go round the axle to form a simple brad to start screw holes is another gadget that would fit in place of either of those 2 items. the locking mech. might be difficult but could either be added by brazing or ground out of the wire if the wire diameter was large enough, the brad could be also used as a flat screw driver. I know I could find them of more use than the abundance of bottle and can openers.

Dave

[carl]

As you mentioned, there are other things that can be devised to take the place of bottle openers (I rarely drink out of those type of bottles any more - its very 60s) and also the useless can opener (if i had a can, it could easily be opened with one of the other tools no doubt).  Hopefully in the future we'll see more useful tools and less fluff.

[hawkchucker]

Side note on this tool. How do you sharpen th reverse serrations?

just hone it on the opposite side?