Gerber Epic

Reviewed 06/01/2014 by Liam

-Price Paid: $55.00
-Used for Light Duty/General
-Owned for Greater than 1 year

Comments:

Nice knife, it came out the box with a pretty lame factory edge and required a decent sharpen. I use mine for fishing, but my intensions were for everyday use around the house (not edc) but the ergonomics of the loose fitting sheath, small uncomfortable handle and the awkward drop point tip i believe, just made to put it aside. That aside it is a very tough little bastard and can open a beer, and get the fishing line ready and out, so overall I would say its a good knife if you don't mind spending the mullah!

Reviewed 06/02/2011 by B yond

-Price Paid: $30.00
-Used for Light Duty/General
-Owned for Less than 1 Month

Comments:

I bought this knife for home, garden, and workshop chores, and I think it will fit that role nicely. The construction of the knife feels solid. The sheepsfoot blade will be a workhorse that can handle most of the jobs I'm likely to have for it. The partial serration will be good for ripping and cutting stubborn materials while the fine edge will be good for slicing, carving, and more precise cuts.

The full tang construction is both a pro and a con, in that it adds strength but also weight, not that I'd call this knife heavy by any stretch of the imagination. The nylon scales do feel like plastic, as does the sheath, but that's mostly because of how lightweight they are. I have big hands, and would prefer the scales a little thicker, but they'll work fine the way they are and will be perfect for most people.

I've read a lot of complaints about the sheath. One that has merit is that the blade must be seated in the sheath just right for the locking mechanism to work. If you pay attention this shouldn't be much of a problem. There is an audible and felt click when the blade is seated properly.

The complaints about the clip on the sheath are unwarranted. This sheath is designed to lock onto the knife, and must be pushed off with the thumb to draw the knife. If you simply clip the sheath on your belt and try to pull the knife out, the sheath will come with it as the clip is not strong enough to overcome the locking mechanism of the sheath. This is not a design flaw. I actually like it this way because it makes it easy to remove the knife and sheath to use the bottle opener (trying to use that without the blade locked into the sheath could get messy, especially after a few beers).

There is a drainage hole in the sheath, which is a smart move by Gerber. The shape of the knife allows for an aggressive grip giving a lot of control over the blade. The bottle opener could also be a good point for attaching a cord or carabiner.

I give it a 4 out of 5, dinging it one star because you do have to put the blade in the sheath at just the right angle to get the locking mechanism to work. Other than that I think it's a great tool for light chores.