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Reviews > Knives > Fixed Blade > Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade Knife > Owner Review by Brian Curran

Owner Review - Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade Knife
By Brian Curran
OWNER REVIEW
March 07, 2017

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Brian Curran
EMAIL: bcurrans45 at yahoo dot com
AGE: 31
LOCATION: Quincy, Illinois United States
GENDER: M
HEIGHT: 5' 11" (1.80 m)
WEIGHT: 271 lb (123.00 kg)

I started backpacking around six years ago mainly taking day hikes with my now wife and our dogs. We typically hike in the cooler months. I am typically an "over packer" because I like to be prepared for anything so my pack is usually pretty heavy although I have never weighed it. My wife and I have been planning to do our first overnight backpack trip but that was put on the back burner due to getting pregnant with our first child. We now have a 13 month old we would love to start backpacking with.

Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade

Bear Grylls Fixed Blade Knife
Photo Copyright

Manufacturer: Gerber
Year of Manufacture: 2011
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.gerbergear.com/
MSRP: US $71
Listed weight w/ sheath: 14.7 oz (417 g)
Measured weight w/ sheath: 13.62 oz (386 g)
Listed weight w/o sheath: 11.2 oz (318 g)
Measured weight w/o sheath: 8.4 oz (238 g)
Length: 10.0 in (254 mm)
Blade length: 4.8 in (122 mm)

The Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade Knife comes in a plastic blister pack containing a fixed blade knife, a nylon/plastic sheath, a whistle on a 4 inch lanyard and a ferro rod. The knife is half serrated and the handle is made with a textured rubber grip. The knife is held in the sheath by a plastic retaining tab that grips the tang and a stretchy hook and loop strap to hold the end of the handle. The sheath is made of plastic that is strapped to a rigid nylon backing with hook and loop straps. The ferro rod is kept on the outside of the sheath in plastic housing. There is a honing stone between the nylon backing and the plastic sheath, attached to the plastic with small screws.

FIELD USE

This knife has accompanied me on every hike, backpacking and camping trip for the last six years. The sheath has three different loops on the back to allow for multiple different methods of carry. I typically carry it on my belt in a vertical carry position on my right hip. This method keeps the knife close and easy to access during the hike without getting in the way of my backpack straps or pockets. One complaint is that the rigid nylon on the sheath is a long rectangle with corners that can sometimes dig into my waist when bending over or sitting down. This could easily be fixed if Gerber would round the edges and possibly put some smooth fabric over the edges. This could be remedied by not carrying on my waist but I prefer to have it attached to me in case I am ever separated from my pack.

The knife itself is a good size and weight for any outdoor use. The handle is very grippy. It has a textured rubber handle that I've found is easy to hold on to even if it's wet and is easy to unsheathe even when wearing gloves. I have never felt like the knife would fall out of my hand and the tang is good enough that I don't worry about my hand slipping up onto the blade.

I have not used the ferro rod to actually start a fire yet but I have tested it and it does send off a good spark. The back of the blade has a marked area intended to use with the ferro rod and it has always been effective at producing a spark. The whistle that comes with it is very loud and seems suitable to get someone's attention from a distance. It does get in the way at times since it hangs from a lanyard on the end of the handle but it can be easily removed. I have noticed that after a lot of use that the stretchy strap to hold the knife in the sheath is starting to fray. Aside from that, everything else is holding up well. I do wish they would somehow make the straps replaceable without sewing new ones on.

Knife after years of use
After years of use
Frayed strap
Fraying on strap


The blade is showing some wear and discoloration from being used a lot but the edge holds pretty well. I usually keep a small blade sharpener in my bag and find it easier to use than the honing stone attached to the sheath. I think they would have been better off putting a normal sharpener somewhere on the sheath instead of a honing stone.

Honing Stone
Honing stone on back of plastic sheath



The biggest thing I like about this knife is the confidence in knowing that as long as I have this with me I have somewhat of an emergency survival kit if things go bad. The tang of the knife has holes on either side to allow the knife to be tied to a stick to make a spear or extend its reach if needed. The butt end of the handle has a flat metal area intended to be used like a mallet or pummel for driving stakes into the ground or breaking open shells for food. Personally it makes me a little nervous because in order to use it the knife has to be free from the sheath and I don't like swinging an open blade around. I'll be the guy that stabs or cuts myself.

Knife in tree
In the field

SUMMARY

The Bear Grylls Ultimate Fixed Blade Knife is a great knife to have on any kind of outdoor venture. This knife alone may not be all I need to survive but it is an amazing tool and well worth the money.

THINGS I LIKE

Things I like:
1. Versatility
2. Functionality for the outdoors
3. Well built
4. Limited lifetime warranty

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

Things I don't like:
1. The straps wear after use and aren't easily replaceable
2. Rigid nylon backing to sheath can be irritating

SIGNATURE

Brian Curran

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.

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