Gerber 06 FAST

Ideal for general purpose work. Described by Gerber as a large and solid tactical knife and I'm not going to disagree.

I use a variety of knives for Forest School and bush-craft as well as general tasks around the house. I struck lucky at a car boot (swap meet) and paid a fiver for a £80 knife!

Folding knives have their pros and cons. They are never going to be a strong or robust as a knife with a full tang. The hinge is its weakest point. Furthermore, the metal handle, whilst it is ergonomically shaped, its narrow profile is not as comfortable as a wooden handle when it comes to prolonged and/or heavy use, especially with the belt clasp in place (it can be removed).

The blade is a Japanese "Tanto" design which is designed for piercing and the back part of the blade is serrated, ideal when you need to cut through high-fibre materials such as cardboard and rope, the reason I use the knife the most. The blade has a safety button—an essential element as it prevents the knife from accidentally closing and doing some serious damage (loss of fingers, etc).

Due to its short non-serrated blade section, it is not so good for carving or whittling. In that respect it is not a good choice for my students who need a full-length blade for better control. Also, the serrated edge and angled point mean I am not looking forward to sharpening it, so it is definitely not a knife for a novice who has no experience of knife sharpening.

Though I have no need of a "full tactical knife," as a general purpose tool that can be folded away and kept safe, this is a good choice for general purpose knife work including butchery (though I have not used it for this) thanks to its Tanto design. Just keep in mind that it will be challenging to sharpen if you are not experienced in the dark art of knife sharpening. I enjoy using it simply because I can look smug knowing I only paid a fiver for it.

Background

Bush-craft, Forest School, and general purpose tasks around the house.