Just a moment, pal …
A worthwhile purchase, and more than doubly so at the recent sale price. The edge is well done, free of any burrs or uneven grinding. The thickness of the blade just behind the cutting edge is a reasonable compromise for an outdoors knife. Not too thick, and not invisibly thin, but a good melding of rugged sturdiness and eager keenness. A rather scooped hollow ground profile occupies most of the width of the fairly broad blade. This usually translates into a very good slicer, aided by the drag reducing bead blast finish. The overall shape of the blade of the knife is a classic form that has been popular for decades; Gerber’s advertisements in hunting and fishing magazines from the 1960’s featured a photo of an outdoorsman proudly holding aloft his prized Gerber in some wilderness setting. The trend more recently has been to offer hunting knives that are near the four, or four and a half inch blade length, with the philosophy gradually shifting from the traditional larger Bowie style as the epitome of a hunting knife to the shorter more modern type associated with bushcraft activities and general outdoor use. So much so that “hunting” as a designation has been replaced by the more neutral term “fixed blade” in reference to such a tool. Times change and public opinion changes as well, and yet the basic usefulness of a well made tool remains. In practical terms, the grip, as others have mentioned, is very tactile and secure. The scales do not flex away from the full tang, but feel firm yet grippy. The balance is just right, where one’s index finger naturally holds the handle. If it was necessary to baton the knife to split wood, the thick spine and rugged full tang construction would likely stand up to such a task. The length of the handle will accommodate even larger hands, while the somewhat triangular shape puts the meat of the grip in one’s palm, and the slender part of the handle is securely held by the fingers. So this is different from the usual flat or slab sided handle or even a round or oval handle shape, as on a classic wooden handled Mora. The generous amount of jimping gives excellent stability for the thumb, and is not too aggressive or rough to the touch. Just right. The additional feature of a lanyard slot, rather than a round hole is interesting, although I wonder if the inside corners of the slot would chafe a lanyard. An easy enough fix, with a Dremel tool or suitable file work. Especially since the scales can be removed for cleaning or maintenance, and quickly reattached. Retention in the sheath is good, provided that the securing strap is snapped in place. If left open, the sheath will not hold the knife once it is tipped point up. The sturdy plastic lining prevents the tip or the edge of the blade from cutting through the fabric sheath, but it does not grip the blade. At the back of the sheath, the retaining strap is folded back upon itself and stitched to form the belt loop. I can’t help but wish that the belt loop was made differently, so as to be more robust. If one is used to stowing their camping knife in a backpack, rather then constantly wearing it on their belt, then this likely will not matter. The sale price was an absolute bargain, and even at the regular price, it still represents very good value. According to a Wikipedia article on blade steels, the material used by Gerber for this model is an equivalent to Krupp 4116, which is used by top German cutlery manufacturers, such as Henkels, for their famous kitchen knives. All in all, Gerber offers a capable and well made item with this Moment model. Delivery from HH was, as ever, exemplary.
