Gerber is associated with two things in my world. A cute baby on everything my son had when he was a baby, and it’s often a universal term for multi-tools. In fact, if you’ve spent any time in the military you have heard the term Gerber used for any and every multi-tool. Gerber makes more than multi-tools. In fact, they produce a line of nice fixed blade knives. I actually carried a Gerber Infantry during Afghanistan that I may or may not have liberated after an admin Marine left it in a chow hall on Leatherneck. When I received the Gerber StrongArm I couldn’t help but remember my old Infantry.
The StrongArm
I’m not dense and spelling Strong Arm wrong, the knife is branded StrongArm. Once I received it I was reminded of my old Gerber Infantry. The knives are similar in a lot of respects, but the StrongArm is more carry friendly than the Infantry and a bit shorter, and almost 4 ounces lighter. Overall the blades are nearly identical, with the StrongArm having a 4.8-inch blade.
The blade is a full tang that’s covered with a rubberized grip. The blade has the option to be partially serrated for those heavy duty tasks, or a simple straight blade. I prefer a straight blade if I was carrying the knife as a dedicated weapon. The handguard is less aggressive than the infantry. The StrongArm is sleek and smooth, with just enough handguard to prevent any unfortunate slips of the hand.
Mounting
What sets the StrongArm apart from other knives is how versatile the mounting options are. From the factory, the Gerber StrongArm comes with an option to mount the blade and sheath to a MOLLE/PALS system, to a belt in a vertical orientation or in a horizontal orientation. The horizontal orientation seems to be an excellent option for concealed carry.
Get a Grip
The StrongArm has a grip to die for. It really stands out in terms of comfort and grip. The grip is rubberized and fits very nicely in the hand. The rubber material has some give to it that flexes when gripped tight. It just fits like a glove. The grip is diamond textured and it’s an aggressive pattern. It certainly keeps the weapon in your hand.
I’m impressed with this knife, and as a fan of the Infantry I’m smitten. In a lot of ways, the StrongArm is the perfect civilian companion to the Infantry. The StrongArm is a little lighter, a little smaller, but seems just as tough. Only time will tell, but watch this space for a full review.
