Small sheath knives are in vogue at the moment. With less weight and smaller dimensions come supreme portability and versatile carry options. Neck knives are also popular these days, the term referring to the method of carrying where the sheath is threaded onto a dog tag type chain or a cord. And, of course, the minimalist concept appeals to many. Gerber’s Stowe model fixed blade readily ticks all of these boxes. The weight of the knife and its leather sheath are not a noticeable burden. To be honest, mine has been carried around the house in a breast pocket without any real notice, and the sheath has not proven to be all that bulky. While the sheath is soft and flexible, the strap has so far kept the diminutive Stowe firmly in place. Again, this is only with pocket carry; so I cannot as yet comment on other methods of carrying the Stowe. Being a fixed blade, it is of course only to be carried away from home for outdoor activities such as bushcrafting or camping, etc. Not for carrying around town; its nearly puny size notwithstanding. The knife does not exactly completely fill one’s grip. Its almost delicate feel took a bit of getting used to. The petite size includes a handle that offers a good three finger grip, at least for me. The scales are Micarta, which is generally a good thing. Micarta is essentially progressive layers of fabric and resin. It is renowned for being durable, sturdy, unaffected by temperature or humidity, and in normal use, quite wear resistant. Multiple layers of fine fabric in the composition of Micarta scales, as on a Buck model 124 Frontiersman, becomes a lovely and subtle handle material with the appearance of glossy black watered silk. Linen is sometimes used as the fabric layers for Micarta, usually resulting in a fine - grained look. The material can easily be shaped and finely sanded or even polished, and with its inherent dimensional stability and strength, is a time tested choice. The material of the Micarta scales used for the Stowe is, as I understand, burlap. Obviously this fabric is very coarse. One valued feature of Micarta is the excellent grip texture, whether wet or dry. In this regard, the Stowe does well, up til now. I had wondered whether the loosely grained burlap would absorb water and moisture generally; but it has remained unaffected and intact. The scales on my example arrived just barely loose; they shifted ever so slightly. Tightening the threaded fasteners instantly fixed this. This system of scale attachment also means that disassembly is possible, for thorough cleaning, or replacement of the scales. Likely someone could easily craft some different Micarta or other materials, such as exotic hardwood, into a striking customised refurbishment. The short stubby blade is broad, almost like a leaf blade, with a full flat grind and a smooth and utilitarian stone washed finish. The cutting edge is fine, free from burrs, and not overly thick. It offers excellent slicing capabilities, and quickly comes back to close to razor sharp with just a little stropping. 440A stainless is fairly easy to maintain, gives good corrosion resistance, and, although it may not keep a fine edge as long as many other blade steels, 440A does sharpen very easily. Stropping on leather, cardboard or even paper with a bit of “tooth” or suitable roughness, makes for a keen edge. Fine buffing compound accelerates and improves the stropping process. The sturdy tip would easily tackle most piercing tasks. Although Gerber’s Stowe is a little knife, it can easily cope with food prep duties for fruit and veg, spreads butter like a champ, quickly and cleanly cuts through meat or a sandwich, and will even serve as an alternative dining implement. The balance is quite good for such a small knife, the scales are tactile, and a lanyard hole is provided, with the thoughtful touch of small channels from the lanyard hole to the butt of the handle. This minimises any bulk that would otherwise accompany the addition of a lanyard. All in all, the Stowe is a great little user, lightweight and compact, simple to maintain, and certainly at the present time, in fashion. Gerber as a company is very good to deal with, in my experience. As indeed is the fan favourite of online retailers, HH. Cheers!
