Take control of the outdoors with the Gerber Spine fixed blade knife

Gerber has taken a refreshing marketing approach with their Spine fixed blade knife. They are not telling us it is the best quality knife on the market, or even the best-priced. They are telling us the Spine is “for the weekend warrior camper or hiker” and I commend them for that honest approach. After all, it certainly isn’t the best blade I have ever wielded. What it does offer is an affordable price point, excellent grip, sturdy blade, and a very comfortable ergonomic design.

Whether you are stripping wood for kindling or cutting open an MRE, the Spine is designed for an all-around reliable camping experience. It features an oversized lanyard hole to accommodate a variety of rope sizes and carabiners. The texturized rubber grip provides excellent retention even in wet or cold conditions, and for my medium sized hands, the handle provides a comfortable amount to hold onto. The drop point blade has a functional shape for camp-related tasks and has a great looking dull finish that helps to mask general wear on the blade over time.

Gerber Spine fixed blade anatomy (courtesy of Gerber website)

Drop point
Fine edge 7Cr17MoV blade
Raised handle grip
Textured grip
Lanyard hole
Full tang
Belt clip

The good:

Excellent grip retention
Oversized sheath clip can mount to the lumbar strap on a backpack
Blade design offers a fine edge angle that lends to good all-around performance for camp related tasks
Vibrant handle color options are easy to spot at the campsite or on the trail
Thumb latch on the handle makes one-handed deployment very easy

The bad:

Factory edge is a little uneven and not quite as sharp toward the ricasso
The glass-filled nylon sheath has some excess at the seams that should have been cleaned up
Oversized clip on the sheath not very stable when mounted on a belt – it tends to tilt front or back

The Spine is a solid addition to the packing list for any casual camping trip or hike and is easily one of the more comfortable knives I’ve ever used in this price range. It isn’t perfect but not every knife needs to be. For $40 Gerber offers a durable, functional, and comfortable fixed blade camp knife that you will be able to get plenty of use out of.

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