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Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, Serrated Edge by Gerber
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List Price: $79.99 Our Price: $36.50 You Save: $43.49 (54%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details
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Product DetailsManufacturer: Gerber Model: 31-000751 Product features: - Molded rubber grip and knurled striking surface butt cap
- Saw ground back blade
- Integrated fire starter with integrated diamond sharpener
- Key ground-air communication patch
- Emergency micro lanyard whistle
Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, Serrated EdgeCustomer Review: I challenge you to find a more complete knife for this price! Summary: 5 Stars
I received this knife in the mail today. Upon first glance of the package, you'll see a picture of Bear Grylls, looking like he's taking a dump. I can't say that I am the biggest fan, but I do believe that he has teamed with Gerber (Guubah, as he would say it) to produce an incredible knife. Onward with my review:
This knife is full-tang, so you are purchasing a solid piece of steel. On some knives, you get a feeling of top-heaviness, because the blade stops at or near the base of the handle. You won't experience this with this knife. It feels perfectly weighted, and my hand feels very comfortable gripping it. The handle is rubberized, which some are going to scoff at, but I disagree with them. I guarantee when you are in a mess of a mess, this knife isn't going to slide out of your hand. The handle has two holes in the neck, that will allow you to attach the knife to a stick to make a spear. If you are reduced to hunting for your food, a spear can be an invaluable tool in the pursuit of survival. The butt of the handle is a stainless steel pommel, which is ideal for hammering. It has a patterned design, similar to a real hammer. This handle will come in handy whenever blunt-force is needed. People are going to complain about the colors, but I think when it comes to smaller items like knives, you want to be able to locate them, so the bright color doesn't bother me. If I drop an all black knife in the middle of the night in the woods, I'm not finding it until the next day. If I was in a military situation, of course I'd want a different color, but I'd also be using a different knife. I don't think the NCO's will be too happy when you put this orange thing on your MOLLE gear. You could always wrap the handle in paracord, I suppose.
The blade is half-serrated, so it is like having two different blade styles within a single knife. There are many "experts" that say a serrated blade has no business in a survival situation, but I don't think they are looking at all the scenarios that you could get into. In general, the serrated edge will work better than the plain edge for slicing cuts, especially through hard or tough surfaces, where the serrations tend to grab and cut the surface easily. Some of the cutting power of the serrated edge is due to its format alone; thus, even a dull serrated edge knife will often perform competently at slicing jobs. The serrated edge gets its slicing ability from a number of factors. The high points on the serrations will touch the material first, and this gives those points higher pressure per area than if the same pressure was applied to a plain blade; this allows the serration to puncture more easily. In addition, serrations are normally chisel-ground into the blade, which means they are thinner (and thus cut better) than the comparable plain blade.
The plain edge will work better for applications like shaving, skinning an apple, skinning a deer. All those applications involve either mostly push cuts, or the need for extreme control. Serrations work really well on things like tough rope or wood, where the serrations bite through quickly. Generally, the more push cuts are used, the more necessary it is for the plain edge to have a "razor polished" edge. A knife edge becomes more polished when you move to higher and higher grit stones. Generally, 1200-grit is considered polished; a 6000+ grit Japanese water stone would polish the edge further.
One interesting case is cutting a tomato. In theory, you can just push a blade through a tomato, so a razor polished plain edge would work fine. However, the tomato is soft, and unless your plain edge knife is very sharp, the tomato will simply squish when you start pushing. You can (and many people do) use a slicing motion with your plain blade, but if it's even a little dull it won't cut well and it may not even break the skin. Use a sawing motion with a serrated knife (even a dull one), and your tomato will slice fine.
Alas, if you demand a plain edge, I've read that a Gerber is releasing a plain edge version of this knife in February of 2011, when all of the other products are released. Don't quote me on that one, though. I suggest purchasing this knife, and having the best of both worlds.
Now to discuss the accessories that come with the Ultimate Knife. The knife has an emergency whistle attached by a lanyard. The whistle is seems fairly loud indoors, but in a true survival situation, you want to be heard from as far away as possible. I suggest removing this knife and replacing it with JetScream Whistle by Ultimate Survival Technologies which comes in an orange color that is identical to the one attached to the knife. I own the Jetscream, and it is deafening loud!
The rest of the accessories are attached to the sheath, so I suppose that is what I'll describe next. The sheath is rubberized, and consists of hardened plastic and metal. The back of the sheath is made out of fabric, and it doesn't feel like it will tear easily. There are three different places on the back that can be used to attach the knife to your gear or person. The sheath has a piece of firesteel that detaches from the front, which is obviously used to start a fire. If you have never used firesteel before, I suggest picking some up, you'll feel empowered when you start a fire without using matches or a lighter. The blade has a small, unfinished spot on it that is used for striking against the firesteel. When you undo the Velcro from the sheath, it unfolds to a sharpening stone for the blade. I know there are better stones for sharpening a blade, but in a survival environment, this will suffice. On the back of the sheath, is a rescue signal chart, for signaling any aircraft that passes. The knife also comes with a fold-out survival guide, that was written by Bear Grylls. They could have just slapped whatever they wanted on a piece of paper, but Grylls himself took the time to write the survival guide, which despite my views of the man, was a nice touch. The survival guide isn't too detailed, but if you stare long enough at the pictures, you'll understand what they mean.
If you are looking for a multi-purpose knife, but don't feel like breaking the bank, I suggest purchasing the Ultimate Knife. I don't think you'll find a better knife for the price, and I think that Gerber was able to meet such a remarkable price point because they know they'll sell thousands of these things over the next few years. I'm going camping in December, and I'll be sure to update my review with a field test.
Description of Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, Serrated EdgeFrom Gerber, the 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife is designed to help you endure in the toughest environments. It features an ergonomic grip for comfortable handling and a dependable stainless steel blade with a versatile serrated edge. Additionally, the knife and military-grade nylon sheath are packed with innovative survival tools, including a fire starter, a diamond blade sharpener, an emergency whistle, and a pommel. | 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife At a Glance:- 4.75-inch half-serrated drop-point blade for quick, versatile cuts
- Full-tang, stainless steel construction for durability
- Ergonomic, non-slip rubber grip for comfortable, accurate handling
- Lanyard includes loud emergency whistle
- Military-grade, mildew resistant nylon sheath
- Sheath includes fire starter and diamond blade sharpener
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 This survival knife includes an emergency whistle, pommel, and sheath with fire starter and blade sharpener. View larger. |
 The included "Priority of Survival" pocket guide by Bear Grylls includes experience-based survival advice and instruction. View larger. | Sharp, Durable Blade Handles Tough Survival Tasks Built to offer the versatility that adventurers, backpackers, and hunters need in the wilderness, the Ultimate Knife features a versatile 4.75-inch drop-point blade. This blade is half serrated to make quick work of cutting rope and other fibrous materials. It features full-tang construction for overall durability, and it is crafted from hard stainless steel, which allows for excellent edge retention.Innovative, Ergonomic Design Delivers Versatility Survival tools are only useful if they're easy to handle, so this knife features a comfortable, rubberized grip that's textured to prevent slippage. And because being a true survivor means making innovative use of your tools, the knife's handle features two holes for securely lashing it to a stick for use as a fishing spear--or whatever other bladed tool your situation calls for. In addition, the handle base features a stainless steel pommel that can be used for pounding or hammering. A lanyard cord helps you keep track of the knife, and the lanyard features an integrated emergency whistle that can be used to attract attention--so others can keep track of you. Balanced for optimum handling, this Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series Knife has an overall length of 10 inches and weighs just 11.2 ounces--14.72 ounces with the included sheath. Military-Grade Nylon Sheath with Smart Details Just as versatile as the knife it protects, the included sheath folds open to reveal a diamond sharpener. The sheath also has a life-saving fire starter rod locked into a water-tight holder. This ferrocerium rod produces a shower of hot sparks when scraped against the rough surface of the striker notch that is incorporated into the back of the knife blade. For further versatility and functionality, the sheath includes a waterproof "Priority of Survival" guide tucked into a protective pocket on the back of the sheath. The nylon sheath is crafted from lightweight, military-grade materials that are mildew resistant for long-term use in harsh climates. It includes a Velcro closure to keep your knife secure. About the Gerber Bear Grylls Survival Series Bringing together the 70 years of expertise behind all Gerber Legendary Blades and the survival and adventure experience of the renowned Bear Grylls, the Bear Grylls Survival Series is a one-of-a-kind line of knives, tools, and gear. A former member of the British SAS, a prolific adventurer, and the daring host of Discovery Channel's Man vs. Wild, Bear Grylls is no stranger to extreme situations. Each item in the Survival Series is thoughtfully designed by Bear and Gerber to offer features that can help keep a smart adventurer alive in the wild. These dependable tools come with Bear's "Priorities of Survival" pocket guide, so you can check your instincts against his experience-based advice. What's in the Box Gerber 31-000751 Bear Grylls Survival Series Ultimate Knife, nylon sheath, and "Priorities of Survival" pocket guide.
 From the highest peaks of the Himalayas, to the rainforests of South America, if world renowned outdoorsman Bear Grylls is on an adventure you can be sure he's equipped with the most durable outdoor gear Gerber has to offer. |
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