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Gerber Fastball S30V Folding Knife
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Gerber Fastball S30V Folding Knife
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104 requests
Product Description
Like any good fastball, this Gerber knife is quick enough to leave you stunned. The knife gets its name from the B.O.S.S Read More
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reswright
3851
Aug 4, 2019
I'm passing on this one.
When I was younger Gerber blades had a bit of a cachet about them. There was this ad campaign -- Gerber: Legendary Blades -- with a picture of a knife stuck in stone like Excalibur. Growing up I figured they must, like, make knives for British commandos or something.
Gerber actually started out as a department store in the Pacific Northwest where the guy that owned used to give gifts at Christmas to his biggest customers. He wasn't a knife guy, he was a salesman. And the knives didn't start out as pocket knives or daggers or what have you. And he didn't sell them at first, either. They started giving out kitchen knife sets that were locally made, just as little salesy thank yous to his big spenders. And after a while it got to the point where people asked him more about the knives than the stuff he was actually selling them, and it became obvious that those were the thing he was providing that people wanted more than anything else, so he decided to get into that business instead. The rest is history. I don't know who the original dude was who made those knives for him but Gerber owes everything to that knifemaker. The irony is, nowadays almost all of their work is contracted out to third parties, mostly overseas, so they're almost back to the point where they make no knives themselves anymore.
Because of this wide range of OEMs, Gerber has a wide range of quality in the present. The top quality ones that cost a hundred, a couple hundred bucks, are usually pretty good -- but my Auto 06 wasn't even adjusted correctly when I got it, the pivot was crazy tight and the blade would stall on deploy. Not what you want on a switchblade. I was able to tune it into trim again. And that's an Auto 06. These days Gerber is releasing a lot of models of knife with comparatively weak steel and handles that scratch up if you breathe on them and selling them at the bottom end of the market, and the reviews demonstrate that pretty clearly. Drop has offered several and the community is lukewarm at best. I think Gerber has fallen fairly far from being the sort of blademaker they once were, even if they originally lucked into the role in the first place. They appear to be coasting on the strength of their reputation. I don't see innovation and I don't see leadership.
Looking through reviews, the Fastball doesn't sound like it's one of the better QCed knives Gerber makes. It looks like a nice knife, it has expensive steel, it's got a good name, so I was thinking about maybe giving this one a go... but waaaay too many people are complaining about build quality. At this time and place in history, that's pretty screwed up. If you're going to be a 'Made in America' company that waves that flag, at least act like you still think it means something. Build good stuff, build stuff that pushes the market back toward well made gear again, don't just cash in on a brand name in decline.
(Edited)
Ali61
3
Aug 3, 2019
Kershaw Dividend with M390 for about 80 dollars is, IMHO, a better choice, but, if you don't like the speedsafe system of the dividend, the fastball is also good for this drop price
ponagathos
512
Aug 3, 2019
I already have the Dividend in M390 and I do not think I would want a knife even smaller than it.
massdrop01
783
Aug 3, 2019
Gerber needs to do better with the pricing. There’s too many better options out there. Kershaw link m390, blur s30v, cold steel Lawman, code 4 etc.
Narq
914
Aug 3, 2019
Or... go get you a Kershaw Dividend or Link, in M390, for 80 bucks at BladeHQ. Did I mention the M390?
14themoney
1395
Aug 3, 2019
NarqI don't know if you mentioned it, but I already have done this. Very nice knife. The Link.
Gaurdian23
10
Aug 3, 2019
I really am sorry.
$77 on Dvor. You need to log in to get that price but you get free shipping too (one that I assume is quicker), only lasts for 2 more days though - so get it while you can!
EDIT: Link: https://www.dvor.com/gerber-fastball-3in-folding-knife.html?promotion=gerber-knives-and-more-69-2019-07-30&options[]=2218-57-94778
(Edited)
Dermott
267
Aug 3, 2019
Gaurdian23Assuming shipping from Dvor is faster is a bad plan. They often sell more than they have in stock. I spent 9 months waiting for a knife (CRKT Dragon) to ship, that Amazon had in stock the entire time. I don't recall them being particularly timely even when product was in stock, and their shipping was slow as mud.
(Edited)
Brett919
128
Aug 4, 2019
Gaurdian23I'm sorry too.
I won't buy from DVOR anymore, because of their shipping. I never knew when, if ever, stuff was gonna show. I have yet to buy from DROP but my purchases from MD were delivered within the specified timeframes.
massdrop01
783
May 12, 2019
Too many good options at this price, no reason to get this unless you really really love Gerber.
Mini griptilian, native 5, delica etc.
nathan.coulombe
387
May 10, 2019
It's going to take some doing for Gerber to lose the 'godawful crap' association in my mind.
14themoney
1395
Aug 3, 2019
nathan.coulombeThat's an achievement that they worked long and hard for.
Don't want your knives, any more
Won't buy your folders, that's for sure
And Gerber's rep has sure been sunk
Because they sell that Cathay junk.
Showing 15 of 37
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