Let's talk about the Gerber Paraframe...
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ต.ค. 2024
- Today, we're going to talk about the Gerber Paraframe, which is a lot of people's first knife, but which ultimately, doesn't perform that well, and we'll talk about some other great budget-friendly options which are a great choice for an upgrade.
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Not sure what this dude is talking about but I have the same exact knife and I love it. It's not hard to open, not hard to close. Sharpens extremely well and I seriously cut through rope with no problem at all. I highly recommend this knife to anybody. I had a guy cut through a ratchet strap and he looked at me and said "I don't think I even touched the rope when I cut it"
And weights half than Ontario Rat...
i was observing the same thing, enthusiasts seem to hate on these knives, i have one of these a bit bigger, and it is ok, i paid 15 bucks and it didnt break, it didnt disappoint in any way, it is very compact and light and is always ready to go, i know there may be better quality ones, but i think they would be overkill for me.
Besides, i dont know what they want to do with a super hard steel, i mean, have cut rope, prepared meals, carved wood, and it never felt insufficient. What are these dudes doing? digging ditches with their knives?
Not gonna lie a paraframe got me into knives about a year or so ago.
I think there is a place for this type of knife in the world. Maybe not our (knife people world) but the larger one we all inhabit. This is the type of knife my mom would throw in her purse. She would pull it out every once in a while to open a package or cut off a tag from something and pop it right back in purse. For her its as good as knife could or would ever want to be. I could give my mom my RAT II and she would use it but never notice the difference ( she probably wouldn't notice if it was sharp or not!). The nuances, subtleties and craftsmanship these tools can offer are (bewildering to me), appreciated but to a very few.
I've got the paraframe. And I never use it except for cutting shit open. It's a good knife. But you can only do so much with a damn knife it's kind of a old tool in today's world of gadgets and machines.
I've carried these for years in and out of the military, maybe I don't qualify as a knife person, I'm so ashamed
@@tytytyme33 yeah my dad loved the paraframe knifes gerber made he still uses it after years. There not amazing knives but they get the job done.
I remember my first paraframe being pretty good, all the tolerances were nice and tight and it opened and closed nice and smooth, I loved how light it was and it took a great edge. the one I picked up recently just because was junk. Maybe it was just because I was a knife newbie but regardless it was better to some degree.
My first folding knife was a $1 Ozark Trail from waliworld. It lasted me longer than id like to admit.
4:43 "no person in their right mind would buy this, except me". But you're not in your right mind Nick, you know this.
Alexandre Aubrey, what a facebook comment, clearly a sad middle aged man in a bad marriage
@@lukebacchetti8672 why do you have to insult people he’s just making a funny comment
I have over three dozen knives (including a pre-Fiscars belt knife), ranging from low to high end. Yet this is the knife that most often ends up clipped to my back pocket when I go to work. It's a cheap knife, but it delivers. Blade geometry isn't the best, but it is workable. I want to hate it, but I can't.
It is priced like a throw away truck-stop knife, but it has never failed me. It punches well above it's weight, even when abused. It's a ten dollar knife that performs like a thirty dollar knife. It's a "good enough" knife. Sure, I like my "Jesse Horn" Spyderco a LOT more, but I don't carry it. I leave it at home because I'm afraid of losing the premium knife. Not so the Gerber. If I lose it, no regrets. It is easily replaced. Yet it would also be my FIRST purchase of I lost everything and were starting over. This knife has always done what I asked, and I can't ask for more.
Nick, thank you for posting this video. It’s Dec 31st of 2019 and this was the year my wife and I resigned from our regular 9-5 jobs. I found myself needing to cut things about 10 or so times a day. Almost everyday. I had the Gerber Paraframe but didn’t know much about knives. I went to buy a decent knife and was surprised at the high prices. If I lost or destroyed it I would lose sleep. So in my quest to educate my self I came across your channel with clear easy to understand information on blade metals and handles with quality and low prices!
Bought one with a thumb stud for a week-long canoeing trip last summer... Just needed an edge that I wouldn't feel bad about losing if it sunk.
Honestly I love this knife.
I mute be a little late to the video but same I do love this knife in my opinion he's talking about it like it's supposed to be some big durable hunting knife and that's not what it is I use this knife for my tackle box or boxes I carry 3 knives I carry this one on my belt kinda hidden i carry a buck 110 as a normal day to day everything knife and I use a buck trio for Widlling
@@Termin8or18-onXbox Given a buck 110 is quite dated and uses mediocre steel... If that's your high point of knife ownership could be why you think this k ife is acceptable.
Honestly anything below D2 isn't acceptable anymore.
BeautifulBladez snob.
@@TheGamerGuy1981 Maybe there are NORMAL people out in the world that have the “if it works, it works” mindset and dont need to have a reason to spend stupid amounts of money on something that cuts boxes open or does minute things.
He's hating
Bought a Gerber M16 clone when I was a teenager. First knife I ever bought. Found out like a month later that it was a clone and never bought a Gerber again.
Can't say I've ever regretted that decision
The only way I would carry one of these would be if someone stabbed one in my back.
West Senkovec hahahahqhhhahajhqhq
West Senkovec holy shit, i almost pissed myself from your comment 👍🏼
West Senkovec I agree but suddenly there seems to be a line forming to do me the deed!!! 😃
Thats only if someone would use it to stab you with lol
West Senkovec I died when I read this. It’d rust away pretty quickly
So, when will we get a "How to disassemble and maintain" on this one?
Mike L. Nick has to buy a hammer first.
Probably not happening. These screws may as well be loctited with super glue
haha that's a good one lol
NitrousFox nah I think they are welded together lol
50 shades of "Nope" on that one.
I am a walmart support manager and when people ask me about a basic budget knife I will recommend Kershaw Hotwire at 10$ 100% of the time vs. Paraframe.
Heck, we still have the Ozark Trail Tan Flipper in stock for 2$ and even that gets my vote over this.
Night Squats Most people probably get knives at a store like yours. How often do people buy the expensive knives compared to the cheapos?
stark Parker We do carry some options most of us knife nerds would admit are great from a mass retailer selection - rat1, tenacious, resilience, cryo, link, leek, fossil, etc - but to answer your question; if they discuss their needs and wishes with me I can get them into the right tool, but about 60% of the time their mind is made up and they're just buying something either for the looks or because it is the most expensive thing in their budget so they assume it is the best they can afford. The looks thing I can live with, everyone has different priorities, but the latter reason sucks because so often they could do so much better even at a lower price if they would slow down long enough to understand what they are getting.
Night Squats u are 100% correct. People would look at this gerber for 15 vs the hotwire and take this because it's more expensive. Just like hour ozark trail shit that you sell vs. Say.... yeti... the tumblers you sell hold ice longer than the yeti version. And the big coolers are even better.
I have a question regarding the knives you sell, are they some kind of second? My 110 is a Walmart special and it came with a nylon sheath and a clamshell package
Kershaw cheap knives > Gerber cheap knives
Cheap knives have come such a long way that there are no excuses for the garbage that some companies produce. I cringe when I see an MTECH or a TACFORCE or whatever pocket clip in someone's pocket especially when first responders have them. There's so many better and safer options out there, it's damn near criminal that there are companies charging $15 - $20 for something that's not even close to being worth a damn.
I digress, just a random jackass in the TH-cam comment section; ranting to no one.
TheMawsJawz TM Kershaw cheap line is objectively superior to anything else if you're on a Walmart strict budget
Gustavo Hernandez Easily. And if you only got $4 grab an Ozark trail guy. Gerber is just such a waste now it unfortuneate
We hear you buddy!
TheMawsJawz TM totally agree. 98% of what Gerber makes is gas station quality.
TheMawsJawz TM it’s funny man I feel the same way. I always keep a couple rat-1’s around for gifting purposes. But some guys just don’t get it. I had a utility worker come to my house to trim some trees near a power line. I noticed a pocket clip, asked him to see what he was carrying, and he pulls out a WHOOPED gas station knife. I thought “oh perfect! I’ll shoot him a rat, and get him on the right knife path” lol. I go in the house, grab a brand new rat1 with od green scales, handed it to him and said “let’s trade” (I didn’t want to just say “take it” and seem like a high and mighty dick) I thought he would be all over it. But he looks at it, opens it a couple times, and with a straight face says “nah, mines better, it has a spring that shoots the blade out, it’s more tactical” and handed back the rat. I was flabbergasted. Some guys just want to live in the dark
I have both models of the para-frame. The smaller one is carried regularly. Most pocket knives are used to open boxes. So this little knife is perfect for that.
Since it’s not carried everyday. It does stay sharp.
I have a grey TiNi serrated paraframe, and it's usable. The action is smooth, lock timing is 100%, but smooth unlocking, the blade takes a decent edge and holds it for about as long as 8Cr13MoV. The original thumbstuds, which were about twice as long as the knife was thick (which put them right into the path of your pocket when clipping it) I replaced with the thumbstuds from my cryo II, which I prefer without the studs anyway. The frame portion the clip sits on forms a hook that catches on your pocket when trying to clip it as well, but since there is not much ramp you need to lift the clip a little anyway. One thing I will say though, the grey TiNi looks great with a homemade blackwash, made with different grits of sandpaper. I mainly use the knife to scrape stuff or cut something that will ruin the edge.
I bought that almost 10 years ago and it’s still insanely sharp and has an excellent click when I open and close. The only thing I don’t like is the blade has a little wobble now
i heard that in the fine print of your Gerber Paraframe warranty, if you abuse the knife by taking the edge and sliding across an object using slight force, it voids the warranty.
so basically using it at all will void the warranty? better not try to open a letter with your gerber paraframe, because if something goes wrong it's out of warranty!
Well played
I bought one, because, I didn't have one, and why not. The plus, it cuts stuff, and its neat looking. Minuses: Its heavy, in your pocket; if you clip it in your pocket, the thumb studs (if you have them, mine does) tear the hell out of your hand, they stick out so far. And worst of all, if you aren't careful when closing this sucker, and your fingers stick thru the skeletonized frame it will act as a mini guillotine, trimming all the excess padding from your fingertips.
Hey all bs brand loyalty aside.... I’ve been edcing this guy for about two years and I love it. I’ve got a bench made that doesn’t fit my hand so I bought three of these in case I loose one. I do touch up the edge often and that lock mechanism gets to the point where it’s good to go.
I have an older paraframe. Didn't pay a thing for it. Found it on the ground when I was a teenager. So, I guess it was my first knife. Plus it's been sort of a good luck charm. Every time I lost it, I managed to get it back every time. But I'm glad I have better knives now. Don't carry it anymore.
Arsenal 616 me too man I found mines in the floor of a gas station outside tho
Wow. Talk about a blast from the past. This was the first pocketknife I bought, about 12 years ago when I was around 16. You are absolutely right about everything you've said here about why people buy it and put up with it. It was awful, in retrospect. It dulled very quickly and I tried sharpening it with the electric grindstone my grandma used in the kitchen. That didn't end well. A while back I bought a $3 Winchester knife out of curiosity, and even that is miles better than the Paraframe was.
However...a few years later I bought a Gerber Suspension multi-tool, because it was the best I could afford. It's actually held up very well. The flathead bit is a little damaged because I used it as a prybar and a chisel, but it's still just fine. Blades are still sharp, very good design, and I've had it for a very long time. I can't find another tool that can do everything it does either, let alone for the same price. I haven't exactly put it through torture, but I wouldn't be hesitant to recommend it.
It's got locking bits, spring-loaded pliers, rubber on the plier handles, two different main blades that both have thumb studs, even spring-loaded SCISSORS. Incredibly handy little thing.
This video couldn't come at a better time. A relative of mine just bought a paraframe and cannot move the lockbar over to close it. I tried to explain why it was so cheap but this you've gone and done it for me!
I’m glad you made this video. I think by trying to influence the market towards investing in higher quality tools, manufacturers will take the hint and start producing higher quality tools as their baseline. Thank you Nick!
Thanks for this! I’m trying to decide on what to buy for my first knife and I was really considering Gerber because I’m on a very tight budget... but I’ve decided that I’m going to save up some and buy the Rat 2 as my first knife
For $20 you could get the original Kershaw Cryo
The Cryo II was my first actually reasonable knife, and I've been thinking about buying one again for nostalgia.
I had a paraframe, and it was actually my first knife. I really loved that knife and I found it very fun to sharpen it to a scary sharp edge. It was very useful to have such a small knife that can cut just about anything due to how sharp you can get it due to how cheap the steel is. It is a great knife, and the liner lock loosens up a lot after you break it in which takes a while. I lost mine, but I want another one.
I don’t think it deserves the bashing it’s getting. It’s all true, but it’s tiny size and easy sharpening make up for it trust me. You can get it scary sharp very quickly.
The paraframe wasn't my first knife, but it was the first knife I carried every day. I eventually lost it and because I'm crazy, I purchased another for my collection. I also do not recommend it. Glad to see more of these videos focused toward the people who don't have a problem (Yet). The more informed people become, the more likely we are to add members to our support group.
very informative and interesting video with a nice attitude and i really like that he didn't just bashed the one knife and praised the others, but gave a reasonable comparison
Buck vantage, bantam, Kingsman are all great inexpensive options for edc knives for those who aren't into knives. Especially considering the availability and the bos 420. Bought a Kingsman for $12 Canadian while this paraframe is double that at the box store. Just ordered a rat 1 for something a little bigger for work at $50 Canadian to the door.
I have to thank you. I was looking for a budget knife for general use. I was looking at the Paraframe, but thought it would be prudent to watch some reviews before actually getting it. As you can imagine, the consensus was overwhelmingly negative. But you mentioned the RAT II as an alternative. After looking more into that one, I’ll be getting that instead for only a few dollars more.
Edit: After some consideration and more or your videos, I ended up going with the Spyderco Para 3 instead. A considerable jump in price, but it will probably be the last knife I'll ever need.
My brother in law had that same little paraframe. I bought it for him as his first knife 3 years ago not knowing if he would like a knife. He did, so next year it was a kershaw. This year, I bought him a rat 1. His first comments were how much nicer it was. Who knows, maybe someday he will get a syperco or benchmade from me.
I have a US made Gerber Edict in 154CM. Tanto blade in black, tremendous ergos, she's one of my two garage workers. Very happy with that knife.
Thanks, you sold me on the lock bar problem!
The Gerber Strongarm is possibly the best fixed blade knife under 100. So not everything they do is bad.
I’ve had my gerber mini for about 10 years and it’s my edc I take it hiking camping even bushcraft and it’s done everything I need and I’m still using it to this day
i have benchmades and all the good stuff now but i started on usa made schrade/imperial and victorinox slipjoint hand me downs as a little kid. i had one of these paraframes in my teens, and now (34) just bought another to use strictly as a beater knife because theyre easy to clean/disassemble, easy to sharpen, one hand opening on the model i grabbed and have a pocket clip. honestly they arent bad as a beater if you know how to sharpen a knife and enjoy doing so. and these can be had really cheap on ebay
Gerber/Fiskars has a big presence in sporting goods/REI type stores. A lot of hikers go for the Paraframe since it's small and lightweight and has a distinctive look. All non-knife people really want is a cheap sharpened metal bar they can open packages with.
Grey Holm To be fair, many “knife people” don’t do much more than that with their expensive, quality knives.
Astronaut FX That there is a factual, fact.
i was gonna say, haha
I just love when those people then try to act like they know what they're talking about. My Girlfriend carries my Boker Kwaiken Damascus and pulled it out at work one day to open some boxes. One of her coworkers commented on how pretty it looked, but apparently continued by mentioning that he thought it was probably not a very good knife and that it was only for looks.
We're talking about an incredibly commercially successful knive, by one of the most well known knife making brands in the world, in (as far as I know) the best possible materials it was manufactured in.
I owned a couple of paraframes when i was a kid, i had the version from this video at first then got the bigger version with thumb studs when i got a little older, both were decent for a kid/young teen that didnt know much about knives, im in my twenties now and have bought and used many different knives, the holes are big enough for a fingertip, especially the bigger version, the steel is a little softer than most 8cr13mov blades. Like nick said, the tip isnt great for slicing because of the grind, but they are decent starter knives, overpriced for what you get, Kershaw and Buck have better options for the price. I still carry Kershaws and Bucks mostly but got my first ZT last year and am looking to get more when they put out the right design for me, btw the new ZT 0393 looks like it would have a very close feel to the paraframe but obviously much better materials, craftsmanship, and design.
juday chop yup just got my hands on they're zt 999 loving it lol got it for a decent price check it out
I would recommend the Gerber us1 for someone who wants a budget knife, but decent quality. The steel is acceptable if you don’t beat on your knives and way it is designed is very slim and easy to carry. Look it up if you are interested. I will tell you that it is decent and made in the USA by Gerber. Nick the us1 is a much better knife so don’t hate on it damn it.
My opinion by the way a person like nick Shabazz might disagree with me. By the way nick if I need a review on a knife I just usually go to your channel your channel is so reliable to provide info on knives I might be buying.
Sorry for the rant.
I wasn't informed with the buy out. It makes sense now. I had a Gerber that I absolutely loved and when I lost it I did the only sensible thing and bought a Paraframe. Man I was so disappointed.
my first "decent" knife was the large Gerber paraframe. and by "decent" I mean it was better than the mtech type knives lol. and I really just thought knives didn't get much better. oh boy was I wrong lol. and here I am 2 years later with a $220 zt in my pocket and over $1500 worth of knives at home
I had a paraframe for quite a while, bought it about 15 years ago if I remember right. Loved that knife until it fell apart, I have much better taste now.
I hear people say it’s too hard to close but I’ve never had a problem with it
Before "The Nick", I had four of these over time: All donated to various airport security. You can absolutely grab the blade while closed.
It's not terrible. I actually kind of like it. It's a cheap adequate option for most daily tasks that I don't care about losing. I don't always need a knife that costs hundreds of dollars that I can butcher an elk with.
This is the "take a penny leave a penny" of the knife world
Gerber paraframe was the knife my granddad bought for me at a gas station when I was a kid. This is odd how that thing managed to get me into knives. But here I am, a developed steel-snob pillock nonetheless
I love this knife for $6 lol I mean what would you expect from a $6 knife? I use it every night to cut boxes and tape and this $6 knife is perfect.
I was gifted this one. It stays in my garage rolling toolbox. Works fine for a drawer knife in a pinch. I open my mail with it.
I have got one
Just use it for day to day as it is so low profile.
It’s just a down to basics simple knife.
It’s not meant to be good it’s meant to be cheap and usable
I also own an opinel and that was my first knife
However it’s got a much larger profile
A coworker asked me if I could sharpen his pocket knife because he knows I'm into knives. It was a Paraframe and I could not get that thing sharp. The edge was so soft it was like trying to sharpen putty. Every time I was getting close to shaving sharp the edge would roll over, drove me crazy. I've sharpened everything from grandpa's old toolbox mystery steel knife, to S110V and M390 on my sharpmaker, but this thing was shockingly bad. Maybe it was a fluke (bad heat treat), and I'm not a super good sharpener but still. When I was a kid, if one of my friend's had a Gerber it was like a hallowed object. They were well made and had good materials. Wish they would try to get back to that.
Nathaniel Graham buy him an atmos and tell him you threw his junk knife away
Hey, Nick-
Nice advice for the new collectors out there. We all were there once.😂
Wishing you & the Fiancee the best possible wedding and a long & happy marriage together!!
Great video for beginners. You hit the nail on the head. Hope you deconstruct some more of the popular suckiblades.
I know it sucks, but I still like using this for cutting packages, and boxes at work. I wear scrubs, and even carrying a 3oz knife will eventually make the pants sag. This knife is sheeple friendly, only1.5oz, and $7.99 (Walmart). Perfect!
I typically avoid carrying little knives (less than 3.5").
I have over 200 knives. This my 2nd Gerber. I like the diminutive size of the 'Dime', as well.
I had one for a minute, it was a secondary to my other knives because it fit in my coin pocket easily. I would say that the day I stopped carrying it with me, along with ever having two knives in me again, was after I used it to cut roofing shingles when I ran out of razors.
I had one, slightly larger. I own many knives. To this day the only lock that ever failed me was my Paraframe. The lockbar/handle is much softer than the steel and wears down very fast. It wore down so far it wouldn't reliably lock open. Also the edge is not protected and it was easy to reach in my pocket and manage to slice the tips of my fingers when closed. Finally my keys kept poking through the handles holes while in my pocket, and would pull out the knife when I would go for my keys.
for $18 in 2022 it is a great little pocket knife... light weight and easy to carry
I've been using this to grip skateboards for the last few years. After about 50 boards it still works great, just had to roll the edge back a few times.
I like the honest review, I like the para but it's a secondary knife. Cheap effective and I carry a leatherman which is, say no more a leatherman hard to beat
I been having one of these knifes for 12-14 yrs..besides needing to be sharpened its still going!!!
i have a soft spot for gerber because my earliest days of edc-ing was with gerbers back when I didn't know any better. my paraframe did the job though. the dime saved me quite a few times. still wishing gerber could make a comeback one day.
I got a Paraframe Mini bundled with the Gerber Shard. I now know why they do, you need to use the pry portion of the Shard to operate the frame lock to close the knife.
How can anyone complain about spending $7 and change on a knife? My usual OTF EDC knife broke yesterday after a few good years of use, and I'm the type of guy that feels like I'm naked leaving the house without a knife (my cell phone and a firearm). The need for a blade pops up almost every day, but I didn't want to spend an arm and a leg on a frickin knife (if I had to save up, I'd rather save up for my next firearm than a knife). So I stopped by Walmart and spent $8 with tax and walked out with a blade. I picked the Gerber Paraframe Mini because I had one for many years before. That one I had found and paid nothing for. It served my needs for several years until I somehow lost it one day. Bottom line is, you can't beat this knife for what it cost. Even if you had to buy a case of them to keep a good working day to day blade on you, it would be worth it to me. All I need a knife for is opening a box or envelope and if necessary self defense, and for those purposes, this serves me just fine for many many years. I'm just saying that for the cost of this blade, you did not do it justice in your review. Hell, I spend more than $8 on a single glass of wine or a burger meal. Now, when it comes to my firearms, I do not skimp!...LOL
Had this same knife many years ago, the frame torx bolts fell out of the frame and it wouldn't sharpen. Gerber basically threw qc out the window, same thing can be said about Sog. I have a Leek in D2 composite blade, really like it.
Could this "tool" be made better for the same price it was purchased at ($15)?
There are many other Chinese knives in the $7-$15 price range that are much better. Look at Sanrenmu, for instance.
That’s the Paraframe MINI, for little more Gerber has the Paraframe, which open and close easily.
The mini is a great knife, because is very comfortable to carry in the pocket and gets the job done.
Gerber was issued to soldiers deployed to Iraq back in the 2000s. I thought that meant they were good so I bought a paraframe. Every gerber multitool used by an actual "working soldier" broke (pliers usually) before we got back and I lost my paraframe in a poker game. I bought a Benchmade at the px and I still use it today!
Not this fucker... this is the one that put me off gerber forever. I was carrying it when unbeknownst to me, the detent ball fell out and the blade popped open in my pocket. When I reached into my pocket it sliced into my finger to the bone, causing nerve damage.
I bought it to take it to Mexico and carry it. In Mexico cops tend to take your knifes no matter the size, so the price made it a good option for a potential loss that won’t really hurt me.
My last cheap knife was Frost Cutlery special, which developed a self-loosening pivot after less than a week of carry. Went to grab it one day and was horrified to find it open in my pocket, blade swinging freely at the pivot. That knife went directly from my pocket into the trash can. Then I bought my first Delica.
Gerber is improving slowly but surely. They have a few good fixed blades like the strongarm and the gator premium. And almost all of there auto knives are pretty decent. But there regular old folding knives are still the worst out there.
Idk man I loved my full sized paraframe from Gerber back in my high school and college days. It definitely is what got me started on knives and now I edc a Benchmade 940 or a Spyderco manix 2 but I still love my Gerber paraframe as a beater knife to keep on the car
Fantastic concept for a video! Well done!
Great knife you sorta going in a circle I’ve had the paraframe for years holds up well holds a good edge i don’t know what planet you parachuted in from it’s a basic knife, good utility knife I’ve collected Gerber knife’s for years and on the same token my favorite knife by gerber is the fast draw & the swagger model!!!
Hey Nick I like that you did this type of video. I know when I first started getting into knives I could of used some of your wise advice. 👌✌
I just got one of these from my aunt i really like it
Am on my 2nd paraframe warranty. The bigger one. Use it on my tunaboat and everything else. Bearing wiggles. The opening mech will crack and break, invariably. The studs in the grip corrode fast. Its mostly rustproof. The bigger one holds an edge ok.
Buy a fixed blade. There is really no serious use case for a folding knive. Gerber was kind enough to replace with a fixed blade.
"That's right, the scissor people" (Shabazz).
Bought this at a PX for some reason. What a terrible mistake. Undoubted its worst feature is the holes that are JUST large enough to allow your fingertip skin to sneak through and catch the edge of the tiny, ineffectual blade. That and the ridiculous undersize which is really my own fault for not thinking about, the clunky opening and closing and the bad quality materials.
Great video. No more Gerber knives for me for sure.
A friend of mine asked me to sharpen his paraframe a few years ago... not only does the steel dull very fast but is also impossible to sharpen and the edge lost massive chips for no reason I refused to give it back and got him a nicer knife
I agree with pretty much everything in this video but want to add an inexpensive recommendation: the Sanrenmu 7010. About the price of a paraframe but 10 times better quality.
I really expected Nick to take a fat dump on this knife, and I’m pleasantly surprised by what you’ve had to say. A buddy of mine bought me this knife a few years back and I guess I’d consider it my first knife. (Still have it too) Everything you’ve said is true, I think it works just fine as a starter knife, but if you want a reliable long lasting tool, you’ll need to look elsewhere. Great video my dude 🍻
The Paraframe has been in my pocket for one year, even till now. I sharpen it on a ceramic cup. It's hair-shaving sharp but dulls after a week. I'm too addicted to pens to upgrade my knife, but honestly Nick I think it's just enough to go by.
Gerber's issue is QC and mainly QC. Mine has zero blade play even after a year. And I never tightened any of the screws. Perhaps some get good ones and the rest get flukes?
Thanks for the upload I had the most difficult time trying to close it
I know this is an old video, but the current version of this knife specifies high carbon stainless steel. Does that change your mind at all?
I got a crkt squid for cutting down cardboard and plastic at work. Still sharp
I'm not much of a knife guy, and bought my Paraframe Mini for $8 on a whim. I was really enthusiastic when I first got it but after using it a while that faded.
I'd like to find a tiny knife to replace it, but none of the knives you showcased in this video really spoke to me.
The Gerber LST Ultralight is a great little knife. It is a US made Gerber. The Regular LST is good, too. Also the Kabar small Dozier is wonderful. All under $20.
I've carried this knife for 10+ years I live this thing
The Best knife under $12.00 I ever used was a Sanrenmu 710 , hands down .and they have a bunch of other styles and designs . Too bad you can't get them at your local hardware store . After that , its the Rat 2 in aus8 , for $23.00...
I JST copped me this knife! I love it!!!! ITZ fiyahhhhh
Gerber's higher end stuff isn't bad (the Gator Premium and the 06 Auto come to immediate mind), but they need to step up their budget game bad.
Nick, I feel the same should be said for Boker's 'Magnum' series. I have a very pretty little Blue coloured blade with a Rosewood embellishment that looks beautiful but feels really, really cheap. But then, at about $30 Australian, I shouldn't have expected anything different to what I got. Oh, I'm an Opinel tragic. I have an Opinel No7 in Carbon, a N08 in the Black Edition, a No 10 in Stainless...AND...the Number 13. The No13 makes me smile every time I remove it from the box LOL.
Most of the Magnum stuff is completely and utterly ok, and no more than that. Some of it is junk, but the stuff that seems like it'll be decent from them usually is. I carry a Magnum Damascus Duke as a backup knife because it's small and reasonably decent looking (if you don't look too closely at the "wood" and realize it isn't sized correctly), and the carbon steels they use are decent and relatively standard. It's not a great knife, and I wouldn't say it's worth the $30 I paid for it, but it's a reasonable knife when I feel like I need a prybar or someone asks to borrow a knife and I have the weird feeling that handing them $400 worth of steel and titanium isn't the best idea.
The mini is nice I think since it could fit in your fifth pocket plus it was $8
My OG, trash, MTech has pride of place in my main case- it’s where I started and has many good memories attatched. I’ve had at least two paraframes and I dont know where they are, nor care lol
Why would you want a thin blade? How are people supposed to pry with it? In real news Gerber is making knives out of s30v in the US again, even a couple of nice autos.
I'm going to be all nice and friendly to ya. And I'm going to say this very clearly. So before you go and kill any more of your companions for life:
YOU DON'T USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO A KNIFE WITH A MECHANISM.
Only solid pieces of steel with an edge can be used for prying and twisting and throwing and splitting and all kinds of feats of strength. Okay? Some people go as far as saying that you shouldn't do those things with any type of knife solid or not, which I disagree with. Fixed blades with a full tang construction will take a beating. But anything with moving parts or separate pieces of steel will not handle the pressures coming from different angles at once. Got it?
I came to learn how to take this knife apart to clean it, and now I'm looking for a better knife. I'm not even a knife guy.
nick. you really should do some videos on the SRM 710 and the Land (SRM) 910. the 710 is without a doubt the best value knife that exists. full stop. I have two and they are both super solid lock ups, and the non coated one falls shut when the lock is depressed - for 10 australian dollars. The 910 is also fantastic, great fit and finish, superb centring, bit better steel (its china steel either way but eh you cant win them all) and again falls shut on caged ceramic bearings. for 20 Australian dollars. If i had to ever recommend a knife it would be the 910 - it has a better action than my spydercos and its 20 dollars - its durable as hell but quite pretty and well detailed. sorry to shill but the 910 is a bit too under the radar.