Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife
by Gerber
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List Price: Our Price: $41.99 You Save: $40.41 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife
Customer Review: Decent survival knife
Summary: 4 Stars
To start, this thing is made for work. I was waffling between this and the bigger LMF, but i decided on this because of the weight. Upon picking it upI haven't really been able to beat it up and give it a good run through, but the small wood-working i have tried came out really nice. It does however lack the necessary weight to really chop effectively, but in a survival situation i believe it could get the job done. The blade delivered to me is made of the Sandvick (sp?) stainless steel which i understand to be decent steel. From what I've learned it does not hold a fine edge very long. That is not to say it doesn't hold an effective edge. I have sharpened it once and it is perfect my camp uses. The handles is made of a molded composite that i have really come to like. It is not pretty, but functionality of it is hit right on. I have bigger hands and would have preferred a slightly thicker handle, however. The handle sticks well in wet conditions and seems to me that it will be a very durable product. The sheath is without a doubt the part Gerber saved money. The Nylon parts are quite honestly only sufficient for stowage in a bag in my opinion. I do NOT ever see myself strapping this particular sheath to my body. The other composite components of the sheath are however top notch. The sheath is definitely a head scratcher. I would have preferred to pay 10 more bucks and got another leg strap (because it only comes with one)and a replacement material for the nylon components. Overall, I would recommend this product to a friend who isn't looking for a specific job for this knife. It seems to be best used as a well-rounded emergency knife. It can absolutely be used for combat and has fulfilled my role of camp knife and hiking companion quite well.Customer Review: Minor Disappointment but Still a Good Knife for the Price
Summary: 4 Stars
I've owned innumerable Gerber blades and tools over the years; I have had the greatest appreciation for the quality and reliability of the Gerber product line. And this knife, for the most part, would be excellent for use as a camping / backpacking knife. But the use of the word 'combat' in the description is a bit misleading.
The blade is sturdy,the spine is thick and the serrated portion extends almost half the blade length. Now, MY knife was actually not very sharp out of the box, which was unusual for Gerber. It took about five minutes with a hone to get a decent edge. The thickness of the blade combined with the modest width, creates a blade geometry that is not terribly conducive to 'razor sharpness', but this is acceptable for a camping knife. Overall construction is good, the sheath is well made and has a strong, positive grip on the knife. The knife is also a medium weight, hefty enough for chores that don't quite require a machete or hatchet. But...
the alternate designation of this as a 'combat' knife is not at all accurate. As a tool for use in combat theaters or as a last-ditch defensive weapon, the overall weight, blade configuration and size, would be absolutely last resort, and for E & E, SERE or even search and rescue operations, it would be marginally adequate.
I would prefer either the style and feel of the legend - KaBar - or, for slightly less military use, the hefty, razor sharp and almost indestructible SRK by Cold Steel. Both of these blades would be in the same general price area and would be much more well suited to combat-type applications. Still - the little Gerber is well made, reasonably priced and suited for almost any camping or backpacking requirements.
Customer Review: Great knife at great price
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife and I have to say this is a really impressive knife. Gerber is known for quality so I knew this one would be good. After a ton of research, I settled on this one. I considered buying the LMF II knife from Gerber but the differences are somewhat small and I felt this one was a better buy based on the price difference, all things considered.
In case you are comparing this to the Gerber Bear Grylls knife, buy this one. Some of the reviews on the Bear Grylls knife indicated that there are some quality construction issues there.
First, this is a full tang blade from Gerber made from U.S. 420HC stainless steel, so right off the bat it's designed right from someone who knows how to make a good knife. The sheath is impressive and holds the knife very securely. Strap is rugged and will hold up to serious abuse. Black oxide coating looks impressive and is a functional plus. Molle compatible. Feels very solid and secure in your hand. The over-molded handle feels very good. Window punch is solid and functional. This knife should handle pretty much whatever you need it to do. Based on the fact that it's a Gerber you know it is quality. Sharp out of the box. Highly recommend.
UPDATE: I took this on a winter survival camping trip recently. Works very good and takes a lot of abuse. Was able to use it for light chopping and cutting kindling. Had some fun whittling a stick for cooking with. Took it on the trail. The only downside, if there even is one, is that the blade length could lean a little on the short side. This wasn't really a concern or problem for me though.
Customer Review: Worth every cent
Summary: 5 Stars
The Gerber Prodigy came to me in shaving sharp condition - the first of any of my many blade purchases to do so. I bought this rather than the Gerber LMF because I had a need for a smaller utility blade as a back up to my Ka-Bar Bowie, and this fits the bill perfectly. I also have a borderline superstitious demand that my blades have a full tang.
It is actually a lot larger than I expected, particularly if all you have seen is comparitive photos between the Prodigy and the LMF models - but this a solid, good sized knife. I had expected the construction to be an economy version of the LMF, but again, I was mistaken. The sheath is a well-built system with no gimmicks. The sheath is also rubberized in the same way that the handle of the blade is, making it good to grip. People have mentioned elsewhere that the Prodigy's potential as a glass-breaker is inferior to the LMF because the impact point isn't as prominent... perhaps, but bear in mind that you are supposed to grip both models by the sheath as you use the tool in this way. Not much more chance of hurting yourself, although no doubt the LMF has slightly more heft to it if swung this way. A lot of people would rather have a plain edge - I would normally be one of those, but the nice, shallow serrations here are well done, in addition to the steel being of exceptional quality.
Overall I am extremely happy with this knife. The only thing I could nitpick on was that it came with some kind of black plastic swarf floating around inside the sheath - but that doesn't bother me a lot, to be honest! 10/10
Customer Review: Great knife...Shaky sheath
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought mine from a gun show and my first impression was "WOW ! I finally found the 'Perfect' tactical knife for Me"..It fits my hand Very well / Full Tang / Impact pommel / Well balanced / Great rubber grip thats what i like to call "Reduced Slip" in that its texture neither 'Smooth and Slippery' nor 'Bumpy or Sticky' feeling / Very nice Mddle-of-the-Road length; the blade measures right about 5 inches at the hilt which allows for a nice short pull from any angle I might end up in but is still long enough to "Encourage Retreat" / A real good price / The handle is flat like fighting knives are supposed to be / Made here in the U.S.; keeping people working.
The sheath leaves a little to be desired though...It only comes with 1 leg strap; this doesn't bother me though because I wouldn't use 2 anyway...The tension lip works great but that makes the (2) snap-button straps pretty dumb; 1 is more than enough; , I cut off the top 1 and snaped the bottom 1 into itself and that works great as it gives the handle a slight angle away from the sheath which makes for an easier grab
If you're considering this knife and don't have the luxury of doing physical side-by-side comparisons; know that my hand is 7 1/2 inches long from the tip of my middle finger to the bottom of my hand where it meets the wrist, my second knukles from the finger-tip are 3 1/2 inches wide in the 'Gripped' position, this leaves about 1/4 inch of space on both sides which is an awesome ft for a fighting knife--BUT--Sheath 'Made in China'...Shame on you Gerber