My thoughts on the Artifact.

[Spoonrobot]

Picked one of these up from Target yesterday for $10.79 with tax. Here's my thoughts so far.

It's an excellent value; fit/finish are fair and the functionality is good. There are obvious manufacturing marks, an moderate amount of blade play and slightly rough casting but I feel this is all in line with respect to the price. Functionally all the features work; the flathead drivers are functional but somewhat limited due to their placement. The knife blade is small and somewhat delicate but does cut well and is easily replaceable. Although the phillips driver is of the flattened variety it handles most common sizes well enough but care should be taken to avoid rounding out the fastener by torquing out of line, an easy thing to do with a driver in this location. Bottle opener is functional and has been reported to be able to act as 1/4" wrench lever.

Regarding safety: Most of use are familiar with the recall for the Gerber EAB last year, conscious of this there has been some chatter about the safety of the knife blade and accidental opening. As near as I can tell from my example and what others have been reporting, this is not an issue. The ball detent located in the liner-lock is extremely strong due to high tension from the liner. It takes a lot of well placed torque to overcome this detent and as such I feel it is a very safe design with little chance of AO when carried or used. The addition of a 90 degree stop on the movement arc adds a small measure of safety but often gets in the way once the user has become accustomed to the tool. Spare blades and a small holder are included in the package, a nice thing to see in modern economic times.

*soapbox*
There has been a bit of flak put up over this tool; mainly by fans of the Peter Atwood keychain tools. Charges of IP theft, blatant "copying" (not sure what that means either) and so forth have been fired from the fan base. I don't think the charges stick, although Gerber has had incidents in the past with blatant design theft and other sundry activities I think the Artifact is not an item that can be placed among these incidents.

Any item produced into the single-piece/prybar keychain tool area is going to share similar characteristics. This is the same as every other industry, there are hundreds of different products that have the same function but have small differences introduced into them in order to differentiate them in the marketplace. I feel the Artifact has enough differences that it cannot be reduced to any negative term or degraded for it's existence. The Artifact design is organic; rounded and soft. While most of the similarly equipped Atwood tools are mechanically styled; angular and sharp to the eye.

I think the issue was actually more of a "gather as much information as possible before speaking ill" issue than anything else. The keychain prybar market has basically been pioneered by one man and when a large company releases an item into the market their is going to be cries of discontent. I think it can be summed up simply that; if one wishes to cry IP theft on the Artifact in regards to the Atwood tools they should at least recognize that, as near as I can tell, the Mr. Atwood has yet to release a tool with a folding knife with replaceable blades. Would it still be IP theft if new features are introduced? 

[SwimP]

One more point on safety:
SAVE THE THUMBS. I love my Gerber Artifact tool, but there's one issue. The blade arm is difficult to swing out from its safety position for use. After weeks of daily use, I learned the hard way and sliced my thumb to the bone trying to open it. As I type this, my thumb is hovering unused and bandaged over the keyboard. Since then, I think I've figured out a safe way to open the blade arm and I wanted to share it to try to spare the thumbs of others -- use a coin to pry the blade arm out from its safety position. A quarter fits perfectly in the slot near the key chain loop on the tool. Stay safe.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Thanks for the write up Spooney , I still want one, but it's finding one for a less than stupid price

Welcome to the forum SwimP , and sorry to hear about your thumb mate

[I'm Still Bison]

 Thanks for the review and heads up about the blade.I'm going to get one for my keyring.I had planned to lay in a small stock for quick last minute gifting,but I suppose the blade opening wouldn't be for those that aren't very adept with tools.

[MultiMat]

I am hanging out for the MultiTool.org shop to open  & I hope to get a etched one.

[J-sews]

Thanks for your thoughts Spoon. I've had an Artifact for a few months now but haven't really carried it. (no reason not to, I've just been carrying other tools instead) Thanks for the link to Parnass's observation about using the can opener as a 1/4" bit wrench. However I think this is simply an accident, not an intentional design feature. The application of very much torque would woller out the opening IMO.


Also, I agree entirely with your statements about Artifact -vs- Atwoods. 


And welcome to you SwimP! It sounds like you got a horrible thumb-slicing there. Pry the blade out with a coin? Mine clicks out of position easily with just the right amount of thumb pressure. Is yours particularly stiff then?

[Leatherman123]

I think he is talking about the half stop, perhaps?

[Poncho65]

Great review Spoon as usual 

and welcome to the forum SwimP thanks for the safety tip and sorry to hear about your thumb

[gafftapegreenia]

I really like the Artifact.

I just haven't started EDCing it yet.

[Grant Lamontagne]

I think I'd be a lot more supportive of the Atwoods if they were more reasonably priced.  It's hard to pay over $100 for something like that.  I think I'd also be hard pressed to pay over $40 for one really.  As works of art, or collectibles I can see higher prices, but let's face it, unless you get the snakeskin anodized titanium model (and I've bought cars for less than those go for!) then I really don't see the artsy/collectible thing to them.

Quite honestly I think Gerber has really done something good with the Artifact and the Shard, and I'd like to see it continue into other, similar type models.  While I have no doubt that the Atwoods are higher quality, one doesn't really need titanium or precision manufacture to open a bottle or tighten a screw.  I also don't see why Atwood himself didn't think of a production version of his tools sooner.  Maybe he didn't want to devalue the regular models?  Even so, it wouldn't have been hard to contact a local machine shop or water jet company and crank out 10,000- 100,000 of them.

Def

[max6166]

Countycomm makes a decent cheap prytool, but I don't think they will ship to Canada... 

[NutSAK]

I am hanging out for the MultiTool.org shop to open  & I hope to get a etched one.

Why wait? http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Artifact-Multitool-org-exclusive-22-01770M.htm

[SoDak]

I just got one today and I have to admit that it is pretty neat. The only thing I have my doubts about is how effective the flathead screwdrivers will be. I plan to carry it mainly for the prybar ability and for a scraper for cleaning gunk out of stuff. I can see the sheeple friendly blade being an asset in the college I go to since it won't look as menacing as my wave.

[MultiMat]

I am hanging out for the MultiTool.org shop to open  & I hope to get a etched one.

Why wait? http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Artifact-Multitool-org-exclusive-22-01770M.htm

$32us postage 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I am hanging out for the MultiTool.org shop to open  & I hope to get a etched one.

Why wait? http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Artifact-Multitool-org-exclusive-22-01770M.htm

$32us postage 

Is almost that to the UK as well

[NutSAK]

I am hanging out for the MultiTool.org shop to open  & I hope to get a etched one.

Why wait? http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Artifact-Multitool-org-exclusive-22-01770M.htm

$32us postage 

Ah well, yeah that throws a wrench in the works, dunnit?

[Gadget Guy]

 " *soapbox*
There has been a bit of flak put up over this tool; mainly by fans of the Peter Atwood keychain tools. Charges of IP theft, blatant "copying" (not sure what that means either) and so forth have been fired from the fan base. I don't think the charges stick, although Gerber has had incidents in the past with blatant design theft and other sundry activities I think the Artifact is not an item that can be placed among these incidents. "

I don't agree at all with the above statement. I think Gerber saw a Prybaby XL and and said "We can make that in china for nothing!"  You guys will pay good $$ for a custom knife, but not for a custom tool?  I have known Peter Atwood for longer than most and he is a true craftsmen. His prices have gone up because of supply and demand, but he still makes a quality tool worth the $$. I miss the days when I could email him and have him make whatever I wanted.  I do agree that the new tools are expensive, but the Prybaby used to sell for $35 which was a very fair price.

No two ways about it, Gerber ripped off Atwood and stole a great design! 

[Gadget Guy]

Here is part of my collection before I sold it:



What do you see on the bottom left?  Yes, it's an Artifact, uh..... I mean Prybaby XL! 

[Benner]

I like the one top right! 

[Gadget Guy]

I like the one top right! 

Ben, that one is really cool!  Check out the Keyton in the middle picture. It's 1 of 2 made and Peter said he shoudn't have made it. Probaby one of the more rare Atwood pieces.

[Benner]

I like the one top right! 

Ben, that one is really cool!  Check out the Keyton in the middle picture. It's 1 of 2 made and Peter said he shoudn't have made it. Probaby one of the more rare Atwood pieces.

TBH they all look pretty sweet  .

I know they are costly, but after Gadget Guy giving me my first (many thanks again pal  ) I'd certainly like to get another.

[Gadget Guy]

I like the one top right! 

Ben, that one is really cool!  Check out the Keyton in the middle picture. It's 1 of 2 made and Peter said he shoudn't have made it. Probaby one of the more rare Atwood pieces.

TBH they all look pretty sweet  .

I know they are costly, but after Gadget Guy giving me my first (many thanks again pal  ) I'd certainly like to get another.

Ben, what I sent you was from the Atwood budget line. I might be able to find you a regular model when I get home. The budget line is really cool, but they are much thinner than the regular line. It is titanium though! 

Glad you like it!   

[Benner]

I like the one top right! 

Ben, that one is really cool!  Check out the Keyton in the middle picture. It's 1 of 2 made and Peter said he shoudn't have made it. Probaby one of the more rare Atwood pieces.

TBH they all look pretty sweet  .

I know they are costly, but after Gadget Guy giving me my first (many thanks again pal  ) I'd certainly like to get another.

Ben, what I sent you was from the Atwood budget line. I might be able to find you a regular model when I get home. The budget line is really cool, but they are much thinner than the regular line. It is titanium though! 

Glad you like it!   

I do indeed.    Has been carried ever since it arrived.

[Spoonrobot]

No two ways about it, Gerber ripped off Atwood and stole a great design! 

What do you see on the bottom left?  Yes, it's an Artifact, uh..... I mean Prybaby XL!  Roll Eyes

You can't be serious. They look nothing alike, and, as mentioned earlier; the Artifact has a folding knife blade. Something no Atwood has ever had. It makes no sense to call foul when one company expands upon a given concept and even introduces new ideas to said concept.



 

ETA: To clarify: When I hear the term "ripped off" or "stolen" in relation to manufactured products I think it an issue of stolen measurements, design parameters, patented appearances and so forth. I don't think the Artifact is guilty of any of these things.

[Gadget Guy]

No two ways about it, Gerber ripped off Atwood and stole a great design! 

What do you see on the bottom left?  Yes, it's an Artifact, uh..... I mean Prybaby XL!  Roll Eyes

You can't be serious. They look nothing alike, and, as mentioned earlier; the Artifact has a folding knife blade. Something no Atwood has ever had. It makes no sense to call foul when one company expands upon a given concept and even introduces new ideas to said concept.

(Image removed from quote.)

 

ETA: To clarify: When I hear the term "ripped off" or "stolen" in relation to manufactured products I think it an issue of stolen measurements, design parameters, patented appearances and so forth. I don't think the Artifact is guilty of any of these things.

I don't join forums to argue with people, so we will just have to disagree on this one. You have your opinion and I have mine.

[Freudian Frog]

I this case I think it's pretty blatant, though allowed. And I'm all for it, that dude charges way too much.

[Gadget Guy]

I think case I think it's pretty blatant, though allowed. And I'm all for it, that dude charges way too much.

Good thing you don't like to argue.    Just kidding!!   

[cgk]

Hey spoonrobot, you should hear what gadgetguy is saying about you..

Fight,fight,fight

[Freudian Frog]

I think case I think it's pretty blatant, though allowed. And I'm all for it, that dude charges way too much.

Good thing you don't like to argue.    Just kidding!!   

I do like to argue! Only when there's facts to argue on though.

[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.





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