Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade
Customer Review: A Well-Designed Survival Knife
Summary: 5 Stars
For those not interested in details: "It's a great knife."
For those interested in details: The blade steel is 12C27 - comparable in toughness (durability in rough use) and hardness (edge retention) to 440A. It's a good blend of both qualities.
The construction is not full tang but push tang; however, this does not appear to affect its structural integrity. The LMF II is constructed in this manner in order to give this particular knife an insulated handle. This means that you can cut an electrically "live" wire without fear of injury. The story you might have heard already about this knife is a true one - this is the knife that allowed an advanced marksman team to cut a live electrical line in Afghanistan powering insurgent search lights that would have given their position away.
Since 12C27 is a stainless steel, maintenance is minimal as is the probability of corrosion. The blade takes quite a good edge and shows good edge retention also. As a matter of fact, I was quite surprised at the edge retention. I recently spent near three hours outside doing some hacking on some light, but woody, brush. When I had finished, the blade had dulled only slightly. The blade coating also held up very well and showed no flaking, chipping, scratching, or dusting.
As to sharpening, this steel was very easy to sharpen, and it takes a decent edge too. The sharpener built into the sheath works very well on the blade and will restore the knife's edge with only a few strokes. NOTE: Since part of the blade is serrated, this sharpener is limited in its ability - it can only sharpen the non-serrated part of the blade. Sharpening the serrations should be done using a diamond rod or a similar sharpening tool.
The handle design looked funny to me a first - didn't seem like a good design, but, thankfully, it's only looks. For starters, the grip is made of Kraton (rubber-like) and offers a very secure and solid grip. As to comfort, my hand only started hurting after the first two hours of cutting, and that was minimal pain... but I'll admit after three, it was plum tuckered out. :) In other words, it was a very comfortable handle.
The "skull-crusher" butt (steel projection below the handle) is also insulated, so don't worry about getting shocked though there either. It is also designed to function as a make-shift hammer by using the top side of the butt as a hammer head.
The three holes in the knife (two in the guard, one in the butt) are intended for lashing the knife to a rod for use as a spear. The hollows or concave indents/depressions in the handle are also designed for this purpose and allow a lashed pole to fit snugly against the knife handle.
The blade performs well at light chopping (provided you make contact with the non-serrated part of the blade). Light chopping accounts for a large portion of outdoor/survival work with a knife. Heavy wood cutting should be done with a saw of some kind (wire saw, folding saw) or an axe. The serrations also function very well and are useful in many ways - cutting rope being a big one. The serrations do seem a bit more "aggressive" than some other knives and seemed to make the work go faster.
As was already mentioned, the sheath has a built-in sharpener that works well and is easy to use. All you have to do is stick the blade in and pull it back out a couple times - you don't have to worry about the blade angle, because it's all taken care of for you. Overall, the sheath is very well made. The different carrying options are very nice and allow you to carry the knife on your thigh (using the leg straps - "drop-leg" style), on your belt (disconnect the leg straps), or on a MOLLE vest or pack.
This is a great knife for utility/survival purposes at an affordable price. Though I would love to buy a Fallkniven A1 or Odin or a Busse or a Randall, etc., the Gerber LMF II is a much more budget friendly knife, and it still exudes quality while serving its purpose very well. You really can't go wrong with this knife.
Another note of import, Gerber's customer service has a good reputation overall. I have heard numerous accounts of professionalism in regards to their customer service - paying for shipping, replacing an item, etc.
Customer Review: A great knife for the price!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one sturdy knife. I was able to split wood with ease and still hold a good edge. IT has a good weight and comes with a great sheath, with its own blade sharpener.
The hammer edge also comes in real handy. Have not tried tying the knife to a stick but its a great option in a survival situation. Paired with a fire steel fire starter, makes the pair a great survival kit.
Customer Review: A great wilderness knife for the price point
Summary: 5 Stars
I own a lot of knives from custom made like Randall and Chris Reeve down to the $25 "survival" knife I bought my son.For the price this knife can't be beat as an all purpose survival/hunting/tactical knife.The knife design is well thought out and includes such options as the ability to be a hammer,wedge,saw,spear,glass punch and of course knife.The sheath is also well designed and thoughtfully includes a sharpener and multi carry options including ankle and MOLLE/ALICE options.The steel could be a bit better but is still a good steel that will take and keep an edge especially at this price.And the knife has enough heft to do hard work without so much as it becomes a weight factor.
All in all if your budget concious I would say this is the best or one of the best deals around in a hard working well thought out cutting system.
Customer Review: A knife for all reasons and seasons
Summary: 5 Stars
The knife is definitely for Outdoor survival. With the attached scabbard it is very heavy. Could be used as a hammer, spear, or light axe.
You could chop through almost anything with the help of a rock.
Customer Review: A very good knife -- just right size
Summary: 5 Stars
I laugh when I see people carrying 12 inch (or larger) knives out in the wilderness, because those knives are just too big to do the things you need done -- cut rope for a shelter, whittle branches for a trap, clean a fish, etc. The problem with going with a thin knife is that the blade will just not hold up to abuse (e.g. hammering it into a small sapling or shaving off the bark of a cedar tree).
That's where the LMF II fits in nicely. It's very sturdy, holds (and takes) a sharp edge, and is small enough to keep you from accidentally cutting your hand off.
My only complaint with the LMF II is the sheath. It's designed to stick to a Molex vest (think velcro) or strap to your calf. You can put the knife on a regular belt, but you have to get a small cord to tie it around your thigh, because the straps that come with the sheat are too large (they'll chafe your legs). I'd love to see this knife come with a custom fit leather sheath. Otherwise, great knife. Definitely get one, you won't be disappointed.
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Written by Arthur Bradley, author of "Process of Elimination" - an erotic thriller that pits a martial artist against a world-class sniper out to shape the Presidential election.