Best Gerber Knives of 2023 – Complete Buyer’s Guide

The Prepper Insider is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

The Gerber Knife Company was founded by Pete Gerber in Portland, Oregon in 1939. For the last 80 years, Gerber has provided some of the best knives in the business. They have been known for creating custom-designed knives for their customers.

Today, they make knives that are durable, sharp, reliable, and quite useful in so many ways. If you need a Gerber knife for your collection, you should consider taking a look at the list of characteristics and features that makes these knives great.

We’ll also be unveiling five of the hottest Gerber knives currently on the market right now.

Comparison of the Best Gerber Knives

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Best overall Gerber knife
  • Handle made from glass-filled nylon
  • Blade made from really tough stainless steel
View Latest Price →
  • Nylon sheath included
  • Ergonomic rubber grip
  • Serrated blade made from carbon steel
View Latest Price →
  • Lightweight design
  • Pocket clip included
  • Best Gerber Knife for the money
View Latest Price →
  • Weighs 2 ounces
  • Measured at 5.75 inches
  • Best Gerber Folding Knife
View Latest Price →
  • Best Gerber Survival Knife
  • Blade from high-quality steel
  • Available in fine edge or serrated edge blade
View Latest Price →

How to Choose a Gerber Knife 

If you are looking for a Gerber knife, it’s important to know which one from our list will work the best for you. Not all of these knives are created equal. Each has their own distinct design and is made from high-quality materials. But one might excel at a specific purpose, while another excels at a different application, like hunting. Here’s how what to look for when you choose a Gerber Knife:

Price

Yes, you can get a great Gerber knife for an affordable price if you’re on a budget. Be sure to find the best knife you can afford in terms of quality and performance. You should never sacrifice quality just to save a few dollars. It might be fine for a short time, but you'll find your knife needing replacing sooner rather than later.

Find a Sharp Enough Blade

Yes, each blade on a Gerber knife is sharp. But some might be sharper than others right out of the box. The sharper the blade, the better the chance you’ll be able to experience the best cutting abilities of these knives. 

The Right Length

Gerber knives come in different lengths. Shorter knives will be a lot better if you plan on concealing it and carrying it around regularly. Be sure to know the measurements of the knife before you consider the idea of purchasing a supplemental sheath for EDC carrying.

Review of the Best Gerber Knives

The following is a list of the five best Gerber knives. As you go through each one, take note of the features and characteristics that stand out. Know which features are make-it-or-break-it for you. That way, if you come across a knife that will fit your perfect knife, you’ll know it’s a winning choice. Now, let’s take a look at the best overall choice on our list: 

Best Overall:
Gerber LMF II

Pros

  • Excellent durability
  • Ergonomically-friendly
  • Super-sharp right out of the gate
  • Great for survival and EDC purposes
  • Tough enough to cut through an aircraft fuselage

Cons

  • May be a little weighty
  • Sheath quality might not be the best
  • Rubber handle may wear and tear over time

What Recent Buyers Report

New users of this knife were quick to remark on the sharpness of the knife. They said they were happy with the ability to cut through a lot of soft materials like butter. However, they were also able to cut some hard materials. One user said this has become his EDC knife of choice. He is confident that in a dangerous situation, he’ll be able to rely on this tool.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This knife is designed to be a survival knife. It was made for airplane cabin staff to get themselves out of harm’s way after a plane crash. The knife is tough as nails and can get you out of any situation where you are trapped with nearly no other place to go. But it’s a hardcore unit that will probably save your life if, and when, used.

Who Will Use This Most

This knife will be an EDC knife for those looking for an excellent survival tool. You should never leave home without this knife. You never know when you might need to use it. It will have its uses not just for survival, but it is sharp enough for camping applications, too.

Bottom Line

The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife will be a nice addition to your tactical belt. So, if you want a knife that is easy to conceal and sharp like a tack, this may be exactly what you’re looking for. Once you have this knife in your hand, you probably won’t use any other knife but this.

Runner-up:
Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife

Pros

  • Excellent overall quality
  • Solid, durable construction
  • Super-sharp right out of the box
  • It can cut through materials easily
  • Perfect for EDC and survival applications

Cons

  • Sheath quality is questionable
  • Sharp and can cut your hands easily
  • The serrated blade makes sharpening the blade a challenge

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of new users found this knife to be quite useful for every day carry purposes. They were using this for various purposes like cutting animal skin and even menial tasks like opening up packages. Regardless of the application, they said the knife was sharp right out of the gate and quite durable.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This knife stands out in a few impressive ways. For one, the serrated blade makes cutting a lot easier. So, if you’re cleaning out your fresh  kills or cutting yourself out of a dangerous situation, the serrated edges will make cutting a lot easier. The rubber grip is also comfortable for you to use. If you want a knife that won’t strain your hands while you’re using it for extended periods, you’ll want a knife like this.

Who Will Use This Most

This knife will be excellent for outdoor use. Whether you’re using it for hunting, camping, or if need be, a survival situation, this is the tool you’ll want. It can cut through most materials. Soft or tough to cut materials are no match for a knife like this.

Bottom Line

The Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife is the best survival knife to get you out of any dangerous situation. But if you’re not in a life and death situation, it can be used mostly for all kinds of outdoor purposes. It’s got the durability and design to survive the outdoors.

Best for the Money:
Gerber Paraframe Mini

Pros

  • Ridiculously lightweight
  • Perfect for EDC purposes
  • Sharp right out of the gate
  • Affordable for most budgets
  • Small and compact, easy for carrying concealed

Cons

  • Screws may loosen at times
  • It might be a little hard to open or close
  • Blade lock might be a little stubborn at times

What Recent Buyers Report

As expected, the knife was pretty sharp for a budget knife. Users were able to use this for most EDC and survival applications. They said the knife was sharp and did a great job cutting through most materials with ease. One user said he used this for occupational purposes as a first responder. He considers it a great knife for rescue applications.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This knife is made from stainless steel. From top to bottom, it’s got a steel look that makes the knife pretty intimidating. Not to mention, it’s sharper than most stainless steel knives on the market. For a knife that is affordable for most budgets, it acts quite like a high-end knife. It might just be the steal of a lifetime with the way this knife performs.

Who Will Use This Most

This knife will likely be used for general purposes. But it stands out as one of the best knives for first responders for the intent of rescuing people from dangerous situations. If you need a survival tool that will be a lifesaver, you’d be hard-pressed to find anything else quite like this, especially for the price it is going for today.

Bottom Line

If you need a knife that is reliable, sharp, and won’t break your bank account, this is the one you’ll want to have on hand. The Gerber Paraframe Mini Knife is the perfect EDC and survival knife for you. Nevermore will you have to worry about whether or not you can afford a great knife for life and death situations.

Best Gerber Folding Knife:
Gerber Ripstop

Pros

  • Great for EDC use
  • Insanely lightweight
  • Easy to unfold and fold
  • Super-durable construction
  • The blade is sharp right out of the gate

Cons

  • Blade lock may be stubborn at first
  • The pocket clip may not be as tough
  • It cannot be easily opened with one hand

What Recent Buyers Report

Most new users were quick to mention how quickly the blade was deployed. Folding and unfolding weren’t much of a hassle, according to one user. Also, they mentioned the blade was quite sharp upon initial use and can easily be sharpened in a couple of minutes by using a knife sharpener.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This knife has a lightweight, skeletonized design that makes the knife insanely lighter than most knives. So it won’t add on any additional weight to your tactical belt. If you hate carrying around heavy knives, this knife, in particular, will serve as a pretty good upgrade. All in all, it’s an all-steel design that looks and cuts sharp.

Who Will Use This Most

This knife will certainly be used for EDC and survival purposes. Not to be outdone, it can work its magic if you need a cutting and cleaning knife for hunting applications, as well. No matter what you’re using it for, this knife will prove itself to be useful and will cut through most materials without any snagging or other issues.

Bottom Line

The Gerber Ripstop will most likely be your best friend in any survival or non-survival situation. In short, it’s a great general purpose knife with a quick folding and unfolding ability that is hard to match. If you wish to find a knife that is durable, quick to deploy, and great for any application, this could be right up your alley.

Best Gerber Survival Knife:
Gerber StrongArm 420

Pros

  • Great for EDC purposes
  • Compatible for EDC carry
  • The handle is ergonomically-friendly
  • Excellent sheath
  • Cuts, slashes, and punctures pretty easily on most soft materials

Cons

  • The blade may chip over time
  • May not stay in place on some belts
  • Sharpening may take a little longer than expected

What Recent Buyers Report

A lot of new buyers were really happy with the knife. They said it was great for emergency purposes and cut through most materials without any snagging issues to deal with. One user said he uses this survival knife not just for EDC use, but also for other outdoor applications like clearing off the brush and whittling firewood.

Why it Stands Out to Us

This knife is tough all over. The blade is made from high-quality steel and has a finish that adds on extra durability. You won't see any scuffing or scratching with this blade, even if you throw it around and try to damage it. This knife is perhaps the best of the bunch from Gerber. The blade is hard, durable, and sharp. The handle is excellent for ergonomic use and won’t cause any fatigue that may arise from long-term extended use.

Who Will Use This Most

Considering that it’s a survival knife, it will serve a purpose for those who want to carry a knife for every day purposes. This might be something you’ll need to take with you if you’re going to spend the weekend out in the woods. It’s the ultimate camping knife that will carve, cut, and slash through any materials you may need for burning or, if need be, shelter.

Bottom Line

The Gerber StrongArm 420 High Carbon Stainless Steel Survival Tactical Knife is second to none when it comes to survival knives. If you want a Gerber knife that can stay sharp and be reliable in the applications where you need it the most, this could be the knife for you.

Why Should I Get a New Gerber Knife?

There are many reasons why you should get a Gerber knife. You’ll have no idea what you’re missing out on if you forego purchasing one. Here are a few of the reasons why a Gerber knife is one of the the best investments to consider:

One of the Sharpest Knives on the Market

Gerber knives are known for being quite sharp. Most of them are sharp right out of the box with little or no additional sharpening needed. These are so sharp, you can cut through even some tough materials that not even a regular pocket knife could ever touch. 

Great For Survival Purposes

If you need an EDC knife, the Gerber brand will not disappoint. They are proven to be quite reliable in situations where your life might be in danger. That’s why it is one of the most preferred brands of knives used by first responders in the United States.

Lightweight And Easy to Carry

Most Gerber knives are lightweight and can attach to most tactical belts. Most of them are so lightweight, they won’t weigh you down, even with additional accessories equipped on your belt. Furthermore, you don’t have to have a tactical belt to carry a Gerber knife.

Conclusion

The best Gerber knife is out there. You should find one that is sharp, sturdy, and will excel above and beyond your needs and expectations. No matter which application you use it for, a Gerber knife is designed to not just give you impressive performance, but also to give you many years of durable service, as well.