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Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Utensils > Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Knife > Test Report by Michael Mosack
FREESCAPE CAMP KITCHEN KNIFE
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TESTER INFORMATION
I've been backpacking for over 30 years, doing day trips, weekenders and week-long or longer trips throughout the year. I backpack in all climates and seasons, from summer desert trips to Spring/Winter camping in Michigan, California and Grand Canyon, Arizona and I worked in Afghanistan for 4 years and rely on my equipment constantly. I prefer to go lighter when possible and am always trying new items. Quality and reliability of items are paramount to me over price and weight.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Gerber Per the manufacturer, the knife's features include: Santoku inspired blade Dishwasher safe Full tang construction Textured rubber grip Full fine edge blade Lanyard hole Sheath with belt loop 7Cr17MoV steel Santoku, in Japanese, literally means, "Three Primary Virtues", or "Three Uses". As a knife, the Santoku is intended for the three uses of, slice, dice, and chop. It is a general-use knife that is smaller than a standard chef's knife and it has a straighter edge. Often used by sous chefs, its smaller size can help make quick use of food prep in the kitchen. The choice of a Santoku or a chef's knife is really of personal choice. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The packaging is clean and informative. It seems to me that the packaging makes the knife look like a cheaper quality knife than it actually appears to be. To further confirm this, I found this knife for sale at a major outdoor specialty retail store and they had this knife placed near the bargain or clearance items and well away from the section specializing in knives that were displayed in cases. Product packaging is the first impression I get as to what the product is and I believe in this case, the packaging does not do a service to the knife. The design is such, however, that the strap must be unhooked and pulled completely through the "D" ring in order to pull the knife out easily. In some cases, this is probably a good thing, as it restricts the possibility of accidentally pulling the knife out. The other side of this is that it forces me to have to pull harder to get the knife free of the sheath, if I didn't completely pull the strap clear of the "D" ring. I will see how this goes throughout the course of the test. I can see myself avoiding the use of the securement strap as it is restrictive in most (or every day) uses. The style of the knife blade directly affects the shape of the sheath. This makes the sheath appear to be housing the knife backwards and I have to think about how I am holstering my knife to ensure I do not shove it in wrong, as I am just used to seeing the sheath end curve the opposite way. It is just a visual oddity I'll get used to over time. In the photo above, this design shape can be seen clearly. It looks as if the sheath might be made for a left-handed person, but it really isn't. The sheath is perfectly sized for the knife and has an attractive design. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
No instructions came with the knife. I did locate a small "Caution" box as photographed above which basically provides the standard liability release information for those who believe that someone else must be responsible when they cut themselves while using a sharp tool. TRYING IT OUT The knife has a good, solid feel to it and it is incredibly sharp. The handle has a grippy feel without feeling sticky. The blade appears to be like a good sturdy tool, great for cutting, slicing, as well as maybe even prying and chopping. There is absolutely no give or flexibility to this knife, so filleting is probably not in this knife's future. SUMMARY So far, this knife has the feel, weight, and appearance, to be a quality tool. It is incredibly sharp and sturdy. It's not a flexible blade, but very stiff and I expect to be able to use it for tougher outdoors jobs as well as in the kitchen. The sharpness of the knife seems perfect for slicing even the most finicky of fruits and vegetables. I will be able to report more in my Field Report. Please return in about two months for that. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Three night backpack trip in the area of Gunnison, Colorado USA elevation approximately 7600 - 8050 ft (2310 - 2450 m). Weather included sunny days mixed with rain showers. Foot trails, open grassy fields and rocky climbs PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The knife has worked out very well for me to date. I've used it while chopping up pounds of veggies and other foods. I cut up garlic for flavored olive oils. In this case, I made Garlic Olive Oil as well as Habanero Olive Oil. I shaved firewood from small branches, which worked out well. The knife is easy to clean both out in the field as well in the kitchen. I have washed it by hand and in the dishwasher without any difficulty. Using the knife while wet has not caused any concern. The finger groove in the handle helps to maintain a solid grip whether the knife is wet or dry. Cutting or slicing the different foods, with few exceptions, the knife slices smoothly through and without foods sticking to the blade. The width of the blade is thick so it has strength and does not bend. The blade is smooth (not serrated), so it is easy to maintain a sharp edge. I found that when I want to pull the knife from its sheath, I have to undo the securing hook and loop strap and then pull the strap out through the "D" ring as well. Otherwise, I am unable to easily get the knife clear of the sheath. I then have to route the strap back through the "D" ring each time I want to resecure the knife in the sheath. This requires the maneuver to be a two-handed operation every time. Keeping the knife sheath on my hip throughout my daily chores would mean that I either keep the knife in my sheath unsecured or go through the procedure of "D" ring routing each time.
SUMMARY
Overall, I am liking this knife. It is a solid blade with a good weight and balance for its size. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
Three night backpack trip in the area of Gunnison, Colorado USA; elevation was approximately 7600 - 8050 ft (2310 - 2450 m). Weather included sunny days mixed with rain showers. There were foot trails, open grassy fields and rocky climbs. PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD I really don't have much to add to this report. This knife is just cool. It is a little heavy for my liking for backpacking, but it is also very tough, so there is, like always, a trade-off. The edge is sharp and the blade strong. I have split wood, shaved wood for tinder, cut up veggies - including celery, carrots, tomatoes, avocado and so much more. I even whittled a replacement tent stake from a stick. The handle provides a good grip even when wet and the bright green colored trim helps to see it in low light. SUMMARY
The knife sheath is still weird to me as the curve at the end makes it appear that I need to put the knife in what is actually the wrong way. I have to make a conscience effort to make sure I have the knife turned correctly each time. Additionally, the locking strap still catches even when the hook and loop tape is released. This is something I cannot get passed with this sheath. I need a locking system that when I release it, I can pull out my knife immediately, without it hanging up. I really hope that the manufacturer redesigns this feature. Read more reviews of Gerber gear Read more gear reviews by Michael Mosack Reviews > Cook and Food Storage Gear > Utensils > Gerber Freescape Camp Kitchen Knife > Test Report by Michael Mosack |