#Gerber automatic knife full size
#Gerber automatic knife full

The pocket clip is large, and doesn’t provide for particularly deep carry. All in all this is a comfortable handle that should work well for most people. However if you decide to choke up, the flared handle shape prevents your fingers from slipping forward. The knife is a little pommel heavy, and I find the most balanced grip is when I am choking back on the handle. There is some millwork in the handle for extra traction, but it seems that the 06 benefits the most from its simple and large handle shape. The anodized handles offer a little texture without being abrasive. The handle is generous and can accommodate larger hands and gloved hands. The ergonomics of this knife are quite good. I would not want to get hit with this thing. As far as impact tools go, this 06 Automatic means business. The big honking backspacer also provides room for a lanyard hole and an “impact tool”. You can also see Gerber went through the trouble of skeletonizing the steel liners. Some of the finish is a little crude, most notably the tool marks on the backspacer, but the parts all fit together nicely.

I find that to be fun and a nice change of pace from the blacked out regular edition. This Ten Year Anniversary edition comes with OD green handles. All the hardware has been given a black oxidized finish.

#Gerber automatic knife full

I think it would be a good choice as folding camp knife.Īs I mentioned before, this knife comes with hard anodized aluminum scales over full steel liners and a thick steel backspacer. It’s also a stout blade that should hold up well in harder use cases. It also whittles well, peeling off long thin strips of wood and bark. It’s an effective box cutter, tracking smooth cuts through cardboard and other packing materials. It doesn’t leave the house much, as I prefer to carry smaller lighter knives when I’m on the go, but I’ve carried it around the house and neighborhood, and used it on many cardboard boxes. I found that this 06 is easy enough to touch up on my Spyderco Goldenstone, so that’s good. Depending on the heat treat S30V can be stubborn to sharpen. It’s a fine steel that gets the job done, although these days there are more exotic steels available. Gerber runs S30V steel on their O6s these days. I suppose that could be ground out, but would prefer to see the edge completely sharp all the way to the heel straight out of the box. I’m not a fan of that as I find material can get hung up on the unsharpened portion. The grinds are clean and even and the edge has been neatly applied, the last 1/8th of an inch at the heel is unsharpened for some reason. The blade of my 10th anniversary edition has been given a simple stonewashed finish, but generally the 06 comes with a flat black blade coating. The blade is a handsome traditional drop point, with a saber flat grind and a long swedge. Here is a size comparison with a Spyderco Delica and an Endura. It’s not my top choice for an urban EDC knife, but if you are looking for a heavy duty piece this 06 feels like it can be used to bust through cinder blocks.

#Gerber automatic knife full size

This is a full size knife with a similar footprint to my Strider SnG or Spyderco Paramilitary 2, but it’s about twice the weight thanks to a thick blade, full steel liners under aluminum handles, and a chunky steel backspacer. The 06 Auto has an overall length of 8.625″, a 3.625″ blade, weighs 7.14 ounces and is made in the good ole USA. It’s high time we check this modern classic out. In fact, the 06 I have here happens to be the 10 Year Anniversary variant with an OD green handle. Knives like the Fastball have shown the company is committed to making high quality blades again, but the 06 has been around for 10 years. In the past few years Geber has attempted a turn around. But enthusiasts have referred to the USA made 06 as a “happy accident”, because the resulting knife was not an orange plastic encased turd best known for its propensity to break in half.

The bean counters were pissed when they realized this, and groused about the diminished margins. It’s an automatic knife, so federal law forced Gerber’s corporate overlords to produce the 06 in the USA. The 06 Auto is a standout for the brand because it is USA made piece geared towards military and law enforcement instead of mall ninjas and glampers. If there ever was a rock bottom for Gerber, that was it.

I’m not sure you could even saber open a bottle of Dom with it on the hotel pool deck, much to Bear’s chagrin. The poster child for that era of corner cutting was their plastic handled Bear Gryles Parang that would break in half if you tried to use it. A well worn trope in knife reviewing is to bag on Gerber for their decline from an American standard to a mass market, Wal-Mart oriented, overseas produced stuffed shirt of a brand. The Gerber 06 Auto has always struck me as a stand out piece for Gerber. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page.