Thoughts on the Gerber Parablade I

[maroonandwhite]

I just bought one of the off online. Haven't got it yet but just wondering what you guys think of the cheaper Gerber knives. I'm just using it for cutting plastic bands on boxes at work mostly but I think it looks like a pretty sturdy knife if I had to use it in a defense situation. I bought the straight blade too.

[MacGyver]

I came up blank on the Parablade - I'm assuming you meant the Paraframe I?

For light use, you should be happy with it. They're not the greatest knifes you'll ever hold, but for most people's use, they'll do just fine.

Gerber is a funny company. They've got some great ideas from a design perspective. For me, though, I think they could spend just a little bit more on materials and quality control and have A LOT better knives. I buy probably one Gerber a year based on innovative design, and am generally disappointed. The one exception I would add is their Crucial multitool. It's not great, but it's served me better than anything else I've tried including multiple Leathermans and a few SOGs. It has been in my pocket for a couple of years now.

They don't need my advice, though, as they seem to be selling just fine.

So long as you don't abuse the knive, or use it for things it wasn't intended, you should be happy. If you find yourself limiting your use of the knife based on the difficultly of the job, then you'll know it's time to step into a higher class of knife.

[maroonandwhite]

Haha yeah I meant paraframe and thanks for the info. I was looking at the Vallotton but it seemed kind of gimmicky and cheap.

[MacGyver]

Haha yeah I meant paraframe and thanks for the info. I was looking at the Vallotton but it seemed kind of gimmicky and cheap.

Their assisted opening stuff works okay. I personally wouldn't buy based on that feature alone, but to each his own I guess. From my perspective, if I have to use the thumb stud to start to actuate it, why not just follow through with it? I know I am at least as fast, if not faster with my Spyderco Military.

Hope you enjoy your new knife..

[Moped]

I've had one for several years. Not a bad blade. I don't particularly like carrying it clipped to my pocket though. The button for opening tends to catch on my hand if I reach in that pocket for something else.