I Ranked Gerber’s 7 Best Knives. You Don’t Need to Spend $200 to Get a Great Blade.
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Joe Gerber didn't set out to start a global knife brand in 1939, when he sent custom kitchen knives to his ad agency's clients. He also had no idea he would establish Portland, Oregon, and the surrounding area as an epicenter for American knife making, which other top brands, including Kershaw and Benchmade , call home.
Almost 90 years later, Gerber sells a full lineup of pocket knives and multitools and has made a name for itself prioritizing quality and affordability—a welcome effort with so many knife brands pushing price tags on pocket knives over $200. Many of Gerber's knives are U.S.-made, though some budget steel options are made in China.
I've been testing Gerber's folders, fixed blades , and automatics for years, and I have my favorites, which I've ranked in order below.
1) Gerber LST Ultra
This little knife isn't special in today's crowded EDC blade market, but it has a special place in knife history. This Light, Smooth, Tough (LST) folding pocket knife debuted in 1981, before many of today's EDC enthusiasts were even born. It didn't have a pocket clip at the time since that was the opposite of standard—pocket knives went in your pocket like loose change. It did presage many of the trends still going today: small, light blades with tough steels and synthetic handles.
For years I carried a Chinese knockoff of the LST that cost literally $2 and there have been dozens of other imitators. You could argue the LST's family tree includes most of the modern EDC folders available today. And I still like the knife. There are lots of LST variations now and many colors, but the LST Ultra is worth a look for its updated 420HC steel, affordable price, and improved handle ergonomics.
- Lightweight, compact design
- Updated 420HC stainless steel blade
- Affordable, proven design with a long history
- Lacks some modern EDC features
- Small handle and blade limit versatility
2) Gerber 06 Fast
I usually don't love big, bulky tactical blades like the 06 Fast, but there's a reason this one has a place in my rotation. Lots of larger folders aren't easy to open one-handed, which makes them less useful in the field. The 06 Fast is an oversized automatic, and it's fast, per the name, which means you'll want a solid grip when hitting the button that sends the wide, half-serrated, 3.8-inch blade rotating out. It's heavy and it's about double the width of average folders at the handle, but that's part of what makes it awesome.
This is the blade I reach for when I want something rugged in my pocket that I won't be afraid to abuse, but don't want to commit to carrying a big fixed-blade knife . I'm not afraid to pry with the thick 7Cr17 blade but there's a window-breaker on the heel of the handle that can handle prying and general smashing on things.
- Fast, convenient automatic deployment
- Wide blade with a useful combination edge
- Rugged construction and integrated glass breaker
- Heavy and bulky for everyday carry
- Action requires firm hold
3) Gerber Gear Center Drive Multitool
Yes, I realize this is not a Gerber knife, but Gerber considers themselves a knife and tool brand and I consider the Center Drive—a multitool—to fall somewhere between the too. The unique mechanism that allows easy access to the pliers is a lot less fiddly than other "transformer"-style multitools that are slick but less practical. Part of the fun of multitools is their engineering and the slide-out pliers offer that nerdy satisfaction for how they make the pliers front-and-center while reducing the form factor.
The bit driver is another highlight. An offset arm centers the bit on the tool which makes it much more practical to actually use. Many other multitools have drivers, but they're awkward to rotate because they're on one side of the tool, creating a clunky motion far from a centered screwdriver.
- Center-axis driver offers more natural screwdriver ergonomics
- Sliding pliers are quick to deploy one-handed
- Full-size tools
- Heavy compared with simpler multitools
4) Gerber StrongArm
The Gerber StrongArm is an archetypal, hard-use fixed blade and, in some ways, antithetical to the modern, ultralight EDC trends. It doesn't slip unnoticed into a pocket and it has an overbuilt sheath for carrying it on a pack or ostentatiously on your belt. The 4.8-inch 420HC blade gives it an overall length of nearly 10 inches, which is big but not comically or impractically so. This is a knife you can keep in a vehicle or take camping for real tasks like splitting up kindling and it's burly enough to abuse.
The roughly $100 price tag makes it accessible compared to many fixed blades and I never felt bad leaving it bouncing around the backseat of my truck for years until it inexplicably disappeared. The knife's aesthetics blend outdoor and tactical, making it a fit for nearly anyone looking for a sturdy fixed blade to actually use in the field.
- Full-tang construction for outdoor abuse
- Grippy handle and balanced feel
- Versatile sheath system supports multiple carry options
- Too large for discreet everyday carry
- Sheath and knife add considerable carry weight
5) Gerber Pledge
The Pledge isn't that unique in the modern EDC landscape aside from one factor knife nerds often forget about: price. For $30, this is a really slick, dare I say "cool" folder that almost anyone can afford to carry. The 7CR17 steel is a budget steel by today's standards, but has an oxide coating and withstands normal abuse just fine. It's also relatively easy to sharpen at home unlike many of today's supersteels.
I also love the reverse tanto/Wharncliffe blade style which gives you a long, mostly straight edge that's great for cutting and opening packages while retaining a useful point. At 3.7 inches, it's not petite but the overall profile is pretty slim and not too thick, sitting comfortably in standard pockets.
- Accessible price for a modern EDC folder
- Reverse-tanto blade offers a long, useful cutting edge
- Slim handle and reversible pocket clip
- Relatively long blade for users who prefer compact EDC knives
6) Gerber Fastball
In contrast to the Pledge, the Fastball is a fun flipper with a higher price tag thanks to being made in America and featuring a high-end Magnacut blade. If you haven't heard, Magnacut is the apex of modern powder metallurgy, giving knife users a steel that holds an edge without the usual trade-off of being brittle. And unlike some other supersteels, it's not as difficult to sharpen yourself with home sharpeners.
A Magnacut folder isn't rare these days, but the Fastball has an appropriately quick flipper action that snaps the blade securely into the grip of the liner lock. Ball bearings in the pivot make for a consistently smooth and tight motion. I'm partial to flippers, generally, so much that I've written our guide to my favorite flippers in a range of styles if you want to see how the Fastball stacks up.
- Premium MagnaCut steel blade
- Smooth, fast flipper action
- Lightweight aluminum handle and compact carry profile
- Liner lock makes one-handed closing harder
7) Gerber Nectar
I love the Nectar because it's cute. Yeah, I said it. The Nectar is a newer model and clearly part of Gerber's effort to make pocket knives more accessible to the Lululemon set. That said, there's plenty to like here even if you've carried a pocket knife for decades like I have.
Firstly, the $35 price is a big piece of that accessibility. Collectors might not blink at spending $300 on a folding knife, but average Joes and Janes looking for something to carry hiking just want something functional. Gerber gets bonus points for a slick design that make the 2.5-inch blade look fun rather than intimidating. It's also only 2.3 ounces, so it's never a weight question when throwing it in hip pack or clipping to the waistband of your leggings.
- Approachable, compact design
- Lightweight at just over 2.3 ounces
- Ambidextrous pivot lock and clip
- Short blade has limited reach for larger cutting tasks
- 440A steel is a basic option compared with premium EDC blade steels
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