gerber

[delicrazy]

i have taken to carrying my gerber camellion because it is cheap and tough. i tend to baby my delica cause it is so expensive. anyway is there a place i can send it to get a clip installed? i dont think there is but thought id check. and if there is could you give me prices? and it is really stiff opening and oil seems to make it stiffer! cant figure it out. any thoughts? also to anyone who owns this knife is the lock strong? dont wanna test it and lose a finger. thanks for the help!

[Sword and Shield]

Well, I know of no way to loosen up the Chameleon. Mine has tightened up to such a degree that it is unusable, though I didn't much like the knife anyways.

The lock seems fairly decent, except for the distance that it must slip for the lock to catch.

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[java]

I own a Chameleon II and a III. The III has tightened up so much that I too do not use it anymore. The lock seems secure enough on the II but right now I don't trust the III. Wonder if this is a common problem on the Chameleon. Any body ever hit the Gerber Forum? Do they even have one? Can't say anything about adding a clip. For heavy abuse on a cheaper knife, the S&W SWATs or a Cuttin' Horse at $10 fill the bill pretty well. Pick em up on e-bay.

Stay safe! Stay sharp! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Sorry I'm about to get long winded here. Went in and picked up my III and played with it a little more and it's getting tighter by the second. The lock does not snap positively into place either. Cleaning and lubing with White Lightning doesn't seem to help either. Feeling all the more nervous about the lock, I searched and found this post on BF

"I bought the Gerber Chameleon I, II, & III in plain edge from Mike's fire sale. The design had intrigued me and the lock appeared to be the old Blackie Collins Bolt Action system. When they arrived, I gave them each the spine whack test and all three failed! I took the II to work and messed around with it some during the day, flicking it, etc., and toward evening, tried the test again. It passed. I could not get teh blade to unlock! Do you suppose that the lock had to be seated? I don't know, but this weekend, I am going to work on the other two. I'll keep you posted.

BTW, the lock system does appear to be the bolt action, but, damned if I ever heard of a bolt action ever doing that."

Poor guy never got an answer. I like the concept and the feel of the Chameleon and although the III passed the spine whack test, I really don't feel comfortable with the lock at all. Also several others on BF complained aboout the tightening of the pivot and many wanted a clip. Nothing seemed resolved with either cocern there.

Again, sorry for the long winded post (Especially for a non-<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>co) but just trying to help a little.

S4<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>


Edited by - java on 6/24/2002 9:39:47 PM

[Zabrewolf]

Good &lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt;fans,

I have long sense stopped being a Gerber fan. In the mid to late 80's I noticed their quality was sliding down hill. I felt their pocket knives lost the edge too quick, they didn't have pocket clips, or one hand open designs, and their Multi-tools rust almost out of the box. Then I tried them again with the EZ Out line. Dropped one and the tip snapped off. I know people working at a hardware store that say the EZ Out is notrious for breaking. As far as Gerber goes, I'm not willing to risk it.

Delicrazy,

Don't worry about babying you Delica. Use is the blade can handle it and &lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt; will stand by it.

&quot;Ne vyklykaj vowka z leesoo, ..... bo tsej vowk maje <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .&quot; Don't call the wolf out of the forest, because this one carries a <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .

Edited by - Zabrewolf on 6/24/2002 9:59:27 PM

[SpyderNut]

What be wrong wid thee, mon? <img src="tongue.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> You need to stick wid dee Spydercos!

Don't sweat it, bro, I too have had my rounds with Gerber. They seemed to have a decent product at one time, but was ZWolf pointed out, they have seemed to have fallen in quality. (My old favorite skinning knife was a LST Magnum, which I used to field dress my first buck.<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>)

Anywho, if it has the Bug<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>, then buy it!

Mike

[Jeff/1911]

delicrazy,

Use that Delica as much as you need to, they are tough and very well made. To properly appreciate a Spydie is to use it...

Jeff/1911.

[java]

Fiskars bought out Gerber a few years back. May explain the drop in quality although Fiskars are pretty fair scissors. Found this post from Senpai on BF:

&quot;I agree about the Fiskars styling influence. Put an orange handle on it and the Gerber Chameleon would be right at home with all those Fiskars sewing scissors my wife likes. It has that minimalist European functional look, like a Krupps coffee maker. Not for me even if it was a one-hand opener, but it might find a place in the kitchen utensil drawer. The hole would be very useful preventing accidentally dropping the knife using it with wet hands there, and certainly stop them from slipping onto the blade. But the bolt-action mechanism might be harder to keep clean working around food, and there is really no reason to have a folder in the kitchen. I wonder exactally what market niche the Gerber people had in mind for the knife? Comes in three sizes... maybe it is a camping/fishing knife&quot;

Delicrazy,
If it continues to stiffen up just call it a fixed-blade with a special hole so you can twirl it around on your finger. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> I think it was Lady Glasshart who once said, &quot;Gerber is for babies.&quot;

Spydies are like Timexes! My Rookie's been through hell and back and has even taken an acid bath (nitric + hydrochloric). She got out, towelled off, dressed up, and was ready for a night cuttin' up the town!

Stay safe! Stay sharp! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[delicrazy]

thanks for the really fast responses guys. ive found that the only way to losten this knife is to put it in hot soapy water and rinse in cool. no oil! thats kinda weird sorry to post a non spydie thing but i didnt know where else to turn. gerber doesnt have a forum. now to pick up my delica and reafirm its place in my left pocket. (im a southpaw ya know)

Edited by - delicrazy on 6/25/2002 8:40:04 AM

[SpyderNut]

Delicrazy,

Ah, the Soap-water method....<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> I used to employ that method when I had an espcially stiff folder. Now, I just go to my family video store, and get about 3 videos to watch. Then, while the movie is rollin', I get out the knife in question and begin to do a ton of &quot;Spydie drops&quot; with it.<img src="wink.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> After about the 2nd video, that baby is about as smooth as a newborn's tush.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> (I also use a few drops of high-grade gun oil on the mechanism). Try it! Go rent &quot;Skulls 2, Saving Silverman, and Behind Enemy Lines&quot; this evening. This might just help ye, bro.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>


Mike

[java]

Delicrazy,

Never tried that one so I can't tell if your method &quot;holds water&quot; or is just &quot;all washed up&quot;! <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> I used to get my mouth washed out with soap and water and it had the opposite effect, tightening up my tongue until Mom thought I could swear no more! (Fer a lil' while). I played with the III a little more last evening and it's slightly more loose. Whatever is on the end of that springed rod (bolt) seems to drag on the blade as it rotates on the pivot. Pulling the lock back while rotating the blade decreases the friction but nowhere near where I can flick it open. Somewhat leery about dippin' an entire folder in soapy water, even if it is a Gerber.

<img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>nut's method sounds much better but add &quot;Blackhawk Down&quot; to the list and pray we never forget what these men accomplished in spite of the odds. They deserved better from the previous administration.

Stay safe! Stay sharp! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[Sword and Shield]

OK, fellow <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>Men and Ladies, attempt to explain this one. I was playing with the Chameleon the other day, around a week ago, and got the blade fairly loose, able to be thumbed open. It only did so with difficulty, but it would still one-hand open.

I put no oil, water, or any other type of lubricant on the blade. To be more specific, I loosened it up to the above state and it went back in sheath and cigar box on desk. Sounds simple enough, right?

Flash forward to today. I pulled that Chameleon out after reading the above posts, to see if my lock was as frail as some others. Surprise, surprise! The blade action had tightened up again, after no use and no change in temperature, humidity, et cetera.

Any clues? I believe the Gerber Gremlins snuck in my desk drawer and tightened the thing up on me! <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> Now, it is as useless as before I expended an hour on it.

Now, just so it does not seem that I hate Gerbers, let me say this as an appendix. I do like their multitools, far above Leatherman. I wish the wire cutters were a little stouter, but that's another day. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Keepin' it real...real sharp, that is.

[SpyderNut]

SS,

Right on, Bro! I always had this thing for Gerber Multi-pliers over the Leatherman. My uncle received both the Leatherman Supertool and the Multi-tool as gifts when he retired a few years ago. We compared them side by side and I pointed out all the better characteristics of the Gerber vs. the Supertool. Now, just to even up the odds a bit, let me say that I have TWO Leatherman Micras...*SpyderNut blushes a wee bit at this point* So, I too enjoy some of their products. (Just gimme' a Scout, or an 800 series Gerber, and I'll be happy.<img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>)

Mike

[delicrazy]

My chameleon does the same thing. it loosens up and then tightens up again later. im going to try the movie idea though i may need the entire jason series to loosten this thing up. okay thanks again guys

[java]

Caught me with my sheath open. I too, must profess a love for Gerber Multipliers - me writing all this seemingly negative stuff, all the while with my trusty 600 strapped to my side. <img src="sad.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> First multitool was an early black coated Gerber that I always wore - in uniform and off duty. Fell victim to the deep blue sea when I tried to carry it in a ziploc while diving at Carmel. Bought the Leathermans with the locking pliers for my guys at work and they still ask for my Gerber. Trust these babies over Leathermans any day!

Delicrazy,

Worked on mine most of last night. You'll probably need to get Jason X as well. <img src="smile.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

Stay safe! Stay sharp! <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0>

[Zabrewolf]

Guys,

I'd just stop wasting time with the Gerbers all together. We all know &lt;img src=&quot;spyder.gif&quot; width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0&gt; is a much better knife. Why not just chock the Chameleon up as a learning mistake in knife buying and move on. I say this mostly because if this much effort has to be put into a knife to make it passable then I wouldn't trust the knife at all. We not talking about just tweeking the pivot pin so it opens a little smoother to taste.

On the Multi-tools, I think Victorinox has the best one. All the tools (except the plyers) can be acessed with out opening the tool. All the tools lock. The handle is rounded for more comfort (Gerber did do that too) and I really like Victorinox quality (as started earlier I have issues with Gerber's extreme lack of quality). Now a days the only Leatherman I really support is the Micra. Paired up with a Photon or two, and it's a damn handy little thing for EDC.

&quot;Ne vyklykaj vowka z leesoo, ..... bo tsej vowk maje <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .&quot; Don't call the wolf out of the forest, because this one carries a <img src="spyder.gif" width=15 height=15 align=middle border=0> .

Edited by - Zabrewolf on 6/26/2002 10:43:51 AM