My humble apology

[Mercury]

I would like to apologize to both the designers at Gerber and to the Gerber fans here, for my comments on Gerber in the past.  I have said some things about Gerber products that I'm finding are simply not true.  I must confess that other than the original Gerber MP's that pinched my palms as a youngster, I based quite a bit of my thoughts on gerber on the Suspension, which has got to be the worst thing I have ever handled.  That aside, I recently acquired a BO MP600 in a trade here, and I am shocked.  I can't stop carrying it and it has handled so much more than I ever gave them credit for.  It actually pushed my LM off my belt.  I still love Leatherman products and use mine all the time, but after a week of carrying my MP600
I can safely say that I won't be putting it in a drawer any time soon.  It is my current favorite, and even when the Rebar comes out I will just carry both. 


So please accept my sincere apologies for speaking before actually thinking.  I was waaaay wrong and I am thrilled that a whole new world of Multi's has opened up for me. 

[jerseydevil]

Apology accepted  . I felt the same way about Gerbers before I got my hands on a decent one. I'd handled the Suspension a couple of times and thought to myself, "No way am I EVER going to get one of these POS things. Their other stuff must be crap too if this is their most visible design". I took a chance on trading a Leatherman with you, Sean, and getting an MP450. I now have three Gerbers, and that MP450 has to be my absolute favorite tool by any manufacturer next to my Vic Tinker. Glad that the MP600 is working well for you, I just got mine packed up to ship to Gerber for some TLC. I'm  also looking at getting a Diesel in the near future, and when my Dremel arrives the Octane will get a little mod, then into the pocket it goes! The rep that some of Gerber's cheaper tools has may be well deserved (though I love the Octane), but their top-of-the-line tools are ones that I'd put up against another maker any day.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I don't count the Octane as part of their cheaper designs- in fact I put it in with the other sliding head designs as one of the better ones.  I like sliding head Gerbers, although very few of their butterfly openers have done much for me, although I do like the Strata, MPT, MP800 and MP700.

I'll be the first to admit that while I love the Flik, it's not on the same level as the MP400 and MP600 models, but I think that's got more to do with the complexity of the design rather than the point of origin.

It bugs the crap out of me when people say Gerbers are garbage.  They simply are not, and as I've said before, the MP600 is the most successful multitool on the market (most variants, been in service the longest) and I'll put it against any tool from any manufacturer any day.  Ditto for the MP400.  While it may not win in every category, it will certainly place respectably. 

Gerber had some crappy models in the past, but then so has everyone- the Flair, Mini, Sportsratchet and Autotool are proof that even the top guys can fail.  The only difference is that Gerber's crappy tools were successful, so that haters can sit on that and twirl! 

Glad to see that you were open minded enough to take the chance, and man enough to admit you were wrong! 

Def

[Ombudsman]

My first MT was the original Gerber Multiplier, that said. I have always considered this brand better than the alternatives or at least equal.. Until i discovered MT.O and found a lot of people saying the opposite.. I accept that i am probably biased towards Gerber products but for me it is one of the best and most innovative MT companies. 

[Threeme2189]

ummm...

 

[jerseydevil]

I don't count the Octane as part of their cheaper designs- in fact I put it in with the other sliding head designs as one of the better ones.

Good point. I don't think it is either, actually.  I'm just bad at expressing my views in English, which is pretty pathetic when you consider that I have a degree in it...  I think that the Octane is great, and when I finally get around to cutting locking notches in it (my new Dremel will be here on Wednesday  ), it could very well become my EDC pocket tool.

[82brutus]

So tell us more about what you've liked about them?

[Chako]

Well, if you think the Suspension is pure junk, you haven't handled a Gerber Radius have you.

I like Gerber. Their designs can be hit and miss, but then that goes for everyone out there.
.

[Mercury]

Glad to see that you were open minded enough to take the chance, and man enough to admit you were wrong! 

Def

I'm not so pigheaded anymore, I used to be though.  I hate seeing people needlessly bash companies like  Leatherman and Victorinox just because of one bad experience, so when I figured out I had been putting my foot in my mouth regarding Gerber, I had to admit it, otherwise I'd be a hypocrite.  While I don't care for all of Gerber's designs, namely the Suspension, I just love the MP series now.

 

So tell us more about what you've liked about them?

What attracted me the most at first was the OHO pliers.  I love the sliding plier mechanism and being able to open them one handed made my job easier.  A lot of times I am receiving parts that are in large boxes or box assemblies(hoods, fenders, etc) and I just can't stand leaving packing staples in them because they tend to slice me open if I leave them there.  I used to put the box down, grab my LM, open it, and pick the box back up to remove the staples.  With my gerber, I just hold the box with my left hand and grab my gerber with my right, snap the pliers open and proceed to remove staples. 

The same principle attracted me for the rest of my job too.  Sometimes I have to remove parts or pieces of parts from cars in order to match them to what i ordered or to get part numbers off of them so that I can order them.  Having the Gerber open so quick is much easier on me.  And I can one hand close all the tools so putting it away is easier. 

I also like how close the plier handles are when gripping something.  Less hand fatigue and much easier to grip. 
The tools are useful, they are just as good as Leatherman IMHO.  I was using my gerbers can opener to pry yesterday and it was perfect for the job. 

This may seem odd, but I like the shape of the large flat screwdriver.  If you look at it, it's diamond shaped so it has a bit of grip when prying up small things.  I used it to pry a nameplate off a door so I could save it(our techs tend to destroy them during removal), and it held on to the edge so the plate didn't slap back down and break.



I know all companies have it, but I was really happy with the BO finish on my gerber.  It is perfect coverage and it doesn't rub off on my hands.  I think I want all my new tools to be BO from now on.

The tools are easy to get out without breaking your nail, and there is NO clumping.  The locks are simple to use and very effective.  I also like how comfortable the pliers are to use, much more comfortable even than my Blast. 

I also have to add that I really like the lanyard ring feature.  That's one thing about the newer LM lanyard ring I hate, it's too thin and seems like it's a "fluff" feature and I'd honestly rather they didn't even include it.  The one on my MP400 is thick and easy to get out, and I would have a ton of confidence in it if I were to use my tool atop a large ladder or over water. 

I guess that sums it up, I love my Gerber!

[Grant Lamontagne]

When talking about how crappy Gerbers are, remember that Terminators used Gerbers, so there's proof they are good! 

Def

[Mercury]

They did?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yah, dat ees affirmative.

Lots of info here:
http://forum.multitool.org/index.php/topic,32639.msg536055.html#msg536055

There were three (I think) T3 models issued- an MP600, MP400 and an MP700.

Def

[Mercury]

Nice!  I like the Mp600 version.

[Gareth]

Good of you to say so Mercury.   Gerber do indeed come in for some very undeserved flak IMO, and I'll admit to having been very snobby about them myself in the past.  Sadly my first experience with their MT's was a Suspension as well and it totally put me off, right up until I got a good look at a Diesel and though "these sliding pliers are a bit of all-right".  Got myself a MP600 in short order and then lucked upon a good second-hand MP400 for an excellent price and love them both. 

Like you I do love the comfort of the handles being far closer together than many of the LM designs, they're every bit of comfortable as my Spirit IMO. 

Gerber Octane is next up on my wish list.

[Chako]

You will like the Octane.

[Gareth]

Well I realised I've been thinking about an Octane for two years now, so I've just ordered myself one.

[jerseydevil]

You'll love it, I'm sure. I love mine. The Skeletool and I just didn't click, but the Octane did. Like I've said before, the only issue is the lack of notches to lock the plier head closed. It's a 2 minute fix, but I had no access to a Dremel, though I now have one coming. The first thing I'm going to do with it is the Octane. After that, I'm almost positive that it'll be my main EDC. I like the pliers, it has decent screwdrivers, and the knife lock really isn't a bad as some make out. I carry a dedicated folder anyway, so that's really not an issue. I thought at first that the clamshell opener was a waste of space. I was wrong. You never realize how useful it can be until you have one!  Once you get used to the bottle opener, it's a snap to use too. Overall just a well thought out light duty tool.

[Grant Lamontagne]

The Skeletool is a bit on the big side for being a "compact" tool.  Either that or the tool offerings are too minute for a full sized tool, so make your choice as to which category it fails in. 

The Octane on the other hand is a compact tool with a good selection of basic functions in a compact package.  The only real drawback to the Octane in my books is the plier head that slides out in your pocket, and as I understand it, Gerber's design team went back and forth on that for a while as they tried to determine whether it was more important to have the OHO pliers or ones that would stay closed.  In the end they made their decision and they stand by it- I do too as it's easier to mod this way if you want them to stay closed, but filling in slots if OHO is your choice would be much harder.

Another interesting thing about Gerber that may not be common knowledge is that they are perhaps the company that listens to MTO members more than any other.  They are well versed in the forum and it's members, often referring to some members by name when I'm talking to them, and they have responded to the feedback here.  They always make sure to point out the 3D Phillips drivers on all the new models knowing that we all hated the 2D drivers.  This year I pointed out that folks don't have any confidence in the relatively thin liner lock bars, so hopefully they will come up with a way to beef them up for future models.

After discussing it a bit I mentioned that while the current locking bar is probably more than strong enough for what the tool is supposed to be used for, some folks just don't have faith in it.  One designer's response was "Perception becomes Reality" and nodded- I am certain the message was received, and much more elegantly than I'm sure I was communicating it! 

I really am looking forward to great things from Gerber, and they have yet to really disappoint me, at least in the time they have been communicating with us.

Def

[82brutus]

That's awesome!  I recently got a mp600 pro scout and it's well made.  I can see where if you use pliers more than anything else it is a great design.  It can spring into action one handed and that is cool.

I like the replaceable blade as well.

I'm still waiting for a chance to really put it through it's paces.

And I'm looking forward to the new tools this coming year.

[Mercury]

I am getting more and more use out of mine every day.  I am looking forward to the release of the MP600 sight tool, though I really wish they would come out with a hex adapter for the actual sight tool.  That would be a godsend.

[scrappy]

Mercury
I agree, they have some great products! I am not sure the octane is one but there are many gerber tools that I think are quality tools.

[airballrad]

My first Gerber MT was an MP600. While Leatherman is my focus for both use and collecting, I still have great affection for the MP line. Now I'm starting to itch for one of the BO models. Why, oh why, do I hang out on this site? You're all enablers!   

[sawman]

With Gerber, it's love-hate, to me at least.  You can't ignore the awesomeness of a MP600 though 

[Mercury]

My first Gerber MT was an MP600. While Leatherman is my focus for both use and collecting, I still have great affection for the MP line. Now I'm starting to itch for one of the BO models. Why, oh why, do I hang out on this site? You're all enablers!   

Yes we are!

[MeadMaker]

Now you've done it Mercury.  I've avoided spending my money on Gerbers, but now you've taken away the excuse I've been using.  There is a used one at a second hand shop for about $20.  I'm not sure what model it is, its one of the bigger ones with big blunt pliers and its in pretty good shape. 

Your confession is costing me money, but for some reason, I'm smiling about it.   

[Grant Lamontagne]

If it's a sliding head, snap it up.  I'm sure if you decide you don't like it, someone here would be happy to take it off your hands!

Def

[Mercury]

Glad to be of service MeadMaker!  The blunt nose gerbers are really cool, because the tip of the pliers is not sticking out of the end like the needlenose version.  When using the drivers that can be a pain.  That said I really do prefer the needlenose versions for the pliers, but each has it's virtues.  Pics will of course be required!

[Heinz Doofenshmirtz]

I haven't had many Gerbers, but I really liked my Octane while I was carrying it regularly.  It was a great lightweight tool for my bike.  I haven't been biking much since fall semester started and I've been away from my family at my current teaching job, so I stopped carrying it. 

However, my wife took a shine to it and now keeps it in her bag all the time.  In the process, she chucked the SOG Salute and the PS4 I gave her for the Octane.  It does more, fits her hands better, and she's become surprisingly good at OH'ing the pliers and knife blade...     (Although, she says she doesn't care for the way the bottle opener works... had to show her how to really make it work.)

I've had a few disappointments with Gerber's stuff before though too... As neat as the idea of the Crucial is, I just never got along very well with mine because of the handle shape.  And I had a Paraframe II a few years ago that was pure junk metal.  Overall though, I've had a few Gerber fixed blades that I've been very happy with, and overall, I have a fairly positive opinion of Gerber's products, though at this phase of my tool obsession I'm much more into SAK's, LM's, and Spydercos.  Now I'm starting to look at some of the BM Mini-grips too, and some of those Al Mar gentleman's folders are awfully sweet...

[MeadMaker]

Glad to be of service MeadMaker!  The blunt nose gerbers are really cool, because the tip of the pliers is not sticking out of the end like the needlenose version.  When using the drivers that can be a pain.  That said I really do prefer the needlenose versions for the pliers, but each has it's virtues.  Pics will of course be required!

I picked it up.  It was in rougher shape than I first thought.  The serrated blade is broken, there is a nick in the main blade and the pliers jaws no longer line up.  There are other smaller issues.  When I pointed out the broken serrated blade to the shop owner he reduced the price accordingly.  After playing around with it I can say that this tool would be a useful MT if it weren't so beaten up.  I may have to check out some of Gerber's other offerings.

Pictures will follow soon.

I'm still a Leatherman fan first though.  If this were a Leatherman I could send it in and get a repaired or new MT in return.  Gerber's warranty is good for the original owner only and includes other provisions that let Gerber refuse to repair or replace the tool.  Leatherman's warranty is good for 25 years no matter how many owners the tools has had.  They also cover damage caused by abuse or neglect. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

Officially all warranty services have those conditions.  Gerber's warranty department is just as good as anyone else's, at least in my opinion.  Better than some I might add, but I won't say who. 

Def