GerberGear Fast Draw Pocket Knife Assisted Opening Folding Knife - EDC Gear and Equipment

There are two versions of this knife. The one built in Portland Oregon, and this one which is made in China. The better one is SV30 steel, push button, standard military issued, and around 250 dollars. It’s heavier. Built completely out of steel. I think they’re no longer available. Haven’t seen them around in a while.This is the cheaper version. The handle is made out of something that feels like graphite, and the steel is a lower quality. Instead of a button, there’s a switch, and the blade will Fast Assist from the side with pressure from your thumb. I have the better version, and I adore it so much that I wanted the cheaper version. I primarily carry this cheaper version around because one, it’s legal in my state whereas the latter is not, and two, I figure if I lose the inferior one, it’ll be an easier loss. I’m happy with it. I’m a big fan of this Tanto Gerber knife. I’ll include a picture with both versions. The better on the left, and this one on the right.Good luck…

My first one was given to me by my chief 20 years ago. It still works fine, just a bit weathered and now happily retired in my collection. New one same as the old. A beast I never leave home without. Does exactly what you need it too. Good for soft tissue or deep penetration.

Worth the money. used every day and it still has a sharp edge. safety switch is nice to have so knife doesnt open up in your pocket.

This knife is everything I was looking for in a backup weapon. To start it is heavy enough to make me feel I can rely on it even if I had to punch a few knots in an adversary should the situation go south quicker than me being able to overcome. The handle has no sharp edges and forms a nice hilt. The thumbstuds are oversized in length and circumference but doesnt hang up on pocket material. plenty of grip length still tall and wide enough to use closed as a roll of quarters. Heavy blade so it doesnt bend or break if bone is hit. All of this and still concealable. The pocket clip is low profile so it doesnt break the ideal left handed grip. I am left handed. I have Sog.Kershaw and the Buck quickfire and this Gerber is that much better. In deploying this knife there is a mechanical sound to it and a snap when in place locked. Reminds me of my Remington 870. Just not as loud but your opponent will hear it. The safety is adequate and is set to be a bit harder to deactivate. It is made that way and for sure wont fail while in your pocket. The safety means nothing to me I dont believe in the safety in a knife. Blade is thick and no play. I always liked Gerber and feel they are like Ruger pistols and revolvers heavy well thought out over engineered and never fail. As far as tactical I just didnt think they could get it right. I was very wrong and now I have a knife with all the features and benefits for something priced to get everyone into a fighting knife without breaking the bank. Buy this knife and see how you feel carrying something that wont let you down. As far as a working knife I am sure it will fill all expected of it. can you tell how I like this knife? Havent been this excited since buying my first Colt Combat Commander! LOL

I'm not a big fan of folding knives. The lack of a full tang tends to make them flimsy, the handles are usually terrible and lack any kind of crossguard, and the joints are usually either wobbly or too stiff.So, I usually swear by fixed blades, but I wanted something I could carry everyday and that would be legal. In my state, automatic opening knives are illegal. This is not an automatic opener, it's an assisted opener - you don't press a button, you nudge the blade to get it started and the spring takes over after a few degrees. The blade size is perfect too, as the maximum allowed size in my state is a 4" blade (this one's about 3.75").I bought this knife for the handle. It's the best handle I've ever seen on a folder. The checkering provides a great grip surface without irritating your skin. The fingering is nicely done and comfortable whether you hold the knife blade-up or blade-down. It gives a nice, firm, comfortable, and most importantly safe grip. Your hand will not slip off this handle when wet. The handle is perfection.The blade is good, if a little soft. I've had to sharpen it a bit more than I would like, but it's taken some abuse. I've batoned it to cut down trees up to 4" thick. I've used it all day, every day for about a year in a warehouse. I've used it for carving, whittling, fieldcraft, you name it. It's a good all-purpose blade. The finish will eventually show its age but it has kept its color nicely. It's still got a nice matte finish for no unwanted reflecting.The joint may need a little adjusting. I found it loosened up over time and I had to tighten it up once or twice. No big deal, but be aware that they use Torx (star head) bolts to hold it together, sizes T5 through T-9, I think. So if you don't own small Torx drivers, you may want to pick some up.Here's the big con - after about a year, the main spring broke in mine. The spring being broken meant the knife had to be manually opened, and with no tension, there was a risk of accidental folding. I was able to repair it myself by stretching the unbroken part in a few minutes, but I'm handy and I have the tools. Since then, I've had no problems with it.The clip is set up for carry inside the right hip pocket. You can switch it over if you're lefty, but again, you'll need a small Torx to do it.The locking mechanism is very nice and intuitive, clearly marked so you can tell with a glance if it's locked or not. It may be a bit awkward for left-hand use, but is nicely placed for use with the right thumb. It locks automatically.Opening is smooth and crisp. Closing is easy and natural.All in all, it's a great knife, but it loses a star for the amount of maintenance it's needed.As for my credentials, I'm a combat veteran and worked in shipping and receiving for a while. I abused this knife in both military and industrial applications. I've owned it for a few years now. It's still my go-to everyday knife, and I would buy it again.Summary:Pros: Great handle, decent blade, nice fit and finish. Legal almost everywhere.Cons: Needs maintenance (with uncommon tools), spring my eventually fail.