I carried the Applegate-Fairbairn from Gerber for years before I "Upgraded" to some of the fancier knives like your various Spyderco and Benchmade offerings, but before that the Covert was *my* knife and the one I would use, swear by, and would recommend above all else. I eventually retired it and decided to give it to my brother to use and enjoy. I'm happy to know there are others who enjoy the design, and despite my choosing to move on and carry different blades, I'll still stand by this design as my favorite of Gerber's lineup, and what possibly introduced to me the importance of a sturdy blade in your pocket. Great video and God bless.
I had the 3.75” one and it was a beast. It ended up being to heavy.. I wear lots of shorts and joggers and it’s as heavy as a smartphone dang near. Weirdly heavy. It was stupid tough though. Overkill, but that’s a plus in a knife you don’t have to carry all the time. Like a truck knife or backpack knife.. perfect.
I just bought the covert auto shown here, not even knowing that they were discontinued. I have the mini one and I think they’re fine knives. Glad I ended up getting one
Thanks for this upload. I'm a bit "late" to the Gerber line of autos. I really appreciate your honesty and applied knowledge of this model in particular. I just purchased one ( the Covert Auto) just like yours. I ordered this one from BHQ and scored with a loyalty gift card from BHQ for being a " frequent buyer" ( normally twice per month/ purchases). This one is still on sale for $109.00 as of today 1/27/23. I ordered several knives yesterday. I'm a collector and user as well. Your channel " helps" in fueling a serious knives addiction... lol. Love your channel and perspective. I subscribed/ bell on. Big Time Regards from Arizona
I carry the mini covert auto every day. I’ve had it for I think about 8 years and it works great . I wish I could find another one. Just FYI I also own the full size version exactly as pictured in this video that I would part with. (The gray handle, non-serrated) Never been used, it’s too big for EDC for my tastes.
As is evident by the username I dorkily picked in honor of my teenage EDC nearly 20 years ago, I'm a pretty big fan. The best hands down in terms of built quality, reliability, and metal in my opinion are the manual 1st gen ATS34 and 154cm. The bigger money spent hunting these down on ebay is not wasted. Gerber has progressively cut corners ever since in materials costs and attention to detail in fit, finish and grind lines. For the intended use as a weapon I would argue the autos are a poor choice for reliability and ruining the original design of being able to safely be double edged. It took me years of inspecting at various shops to find a covert auto that wasnt a loose bladed unevenly ground mess, which I bought and keep as a wall hanger.
Don’t know why they would discontinue this knife. As of November 4, 2022, from what I have seen Blade HQ still has some with the gray handle and stonewashed blade, as well as the black handle with the serrated blade, both $125. Everything else looks to be permanently out of stock. Just picked up a stonewashed variant this morning, if you want them, get them while they are still available
I should have got a few and will if they still available, but I like the looks of that automatic and the blade size plus the steel choice is very good,but the assisted model is good as well. I own the Fixed Blade by Boker Tree Brand Applegate Fairbairn Combat II I don't understand why Gerber does this with their best folders & fixed blades⚔️
Good review thank you. But for a person that does not care if we care about the origin of the knife, you sure mention your support for made in the USA a lot :). Again thank you for the video, good job.
All I wanted from Gerber was the two screws that hold the metal blade release tab on a full-sized Applegate folder, but was offered a smaller propel model as a replacement. I suspect that corporate liability and political correctness had something to do with the discontinuance of this model. It had a national stock number for issue to the military, and that's about as high of a seal of approval you could ever give to any knife or other weapon. Sales for the Applegate were likely still very good but Gerber folded anyway. If the main screw is loosened to finger tight, it snaps open wonderfully fast & easy. It's not that easy to keep your hand resting on a table and still being able to snap open a large unassisted folding knife with a minimal amount of hand movement, but the full-sized Applegate does it effortlessly. My question is what is a good similar substitute now that Gerber is no longer making them, a reasonably priced knock-off of the large Applegate folder and still with good quality & value?
Kershaw has just released the Launch 11, which is similar size and blade profile, has good steel and is only a bit more expensive. That’s probably your best bet for a similar alternative unless you’re willing to pay a lot more.
There is the Okc Dozier which is quite similar imo. Probably the only one left of that design as SOG had their own, I believe Boker did too, Al Mar, and now only Okc has a fairbairn style knife left in the production line market
My opinion is that what the combat folder could have been it never was essentially due to using gas station steel. While I'd still suggest to you to learn about taps and dies and grinders and things and fix it yourself if you don't already know how, I would also suggest that cold steel offers a bunch of knives that can mostly fill the same niche if you want something different.
Does anyone know where i can get a replacement coil spring for this knife? I contacted gerber to get the specs, but they gave me an in store credit instead (not complaining). I really enjoy my knife and want to bring it back to life, but i can't seem to find the spring. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
So it considered a folding knife and not a switch blade or anything was asking don't want to have any trouble with cops Iive in California and didn't know if it would be a legal knife to have on you
Among these four, only one (the one with the aluminum handle) is considered a switchblade. I am not an expert on California laws, but my impression is that no knife can be carried with a blade longer than 2 inches, regardless of what kind of knife it is.
The only carry blade I have left is the assisted opening black on black. My favorite knife of all time. Sad to see it leave us forever.
I carried the Applegate-Fairbairn from Gerber for years before I "Upgraded" to some of the fancier knives like your various Spyderco and Benchmade offerings, but before that the Covert was *my* knife and the one I would use, swear by, and would recommend above all else. I eventually retired it and decided to give it to my brother to use and enjoy. I'm happy to know there are others who enjoy the design, and despite my choosing to move on and carry different blades, I'll still stand by this design as my favorite of Gerber's lineup, and what possibly introduced to me the importance of a sturdy blade in your pocket. Great video and God bless.
I had the 3.75” one and it was a beast. It ended up being to heavy.. I wear lots of shorts and joggers and it’s as heavy as a smartphone dang near. Weirdly heavy.
It was stupid tough though. Overkill, but that’s a plus in a knife you don’t have to carry all the time. Like a truck knife or backpack knife.. perfect.
My brother just gave me an auto one a few months back. How funny
I just bought the covert auto shown here, not even knowing that they were discontinued. I have the mini one and I think they’re fine knives. Glad I ended up getting one
Just came accros your channel, thanks for the heads up
Thanks for this upload.
I'm a bit "late" to the Gerber line of autos. I really appreciate your honesty and applied knowledge of this model in particular. I just purchased one ( the Covert Auto) just like yours. I ordered this one from BHQ and scored with a loyalty gift card from BHQ for being a " frequent buyer" ( normally twice per month/ purchases). This one is still on sale for $109.00 as of today 1/27/23.
I ordered several knives yesterday. I'm a collector and user as well. Your channel " helps" in fueling a serious knives addiction... lol.
Love your channel and perspective. I subscribed/ bell on.
Big Time Regards from Arizona
Sounds like you got a great deal on the Covert Auto-I hope you enjoy it!
I carry the mini covert auto every day. I’ve had it for I think about 8 years and it works great . I wish I could find another one.
Just FYI I also own the full size version exactly as pictured in this video that I would part with. (The gray handle, non-serrated) Never been used, it’s too big for EDC for my tastes.
As is evident by the username I dorkily picked in honor of my teenage EDC nearly 20 years ago, I'm a pretty big fan.
The best hands down in terms of built quality, reliability, and metal in my opinion are the manual 1st gen ATS34 and 154cm. The bigger money spent hunting these down on ebay is not wasted.
Gerber has progressively cut corners ever since in materials costs and attention to detail in fit, finish and grind lines.
For the intended use as a weapon I would argue the autos are a poor choice for reliability and ruining the original design of being able to safely be double edged. It took me years of inspecting at various shops to find a covert auto that wasnt a loose bladed unevenly ground mess, which I bought and keep as a wall hanger.
Incredibly useful comment! Thanks!
Never had a gen 1 but the manual 154cm is possibly my favorite pocket knife. Wish it was easier to find.
Don’t know why they would discontinue this knife. As of November 4, 2022, from what I have seen Blade HQ still has some with the gray handle and stonewashed blade, as well as the black handle with the serrated blade, both $125. Everything else looks to be permanently out of stock. Just picked up a stonewashed variant this morning, if you want them, get them while they are still available
I should have got a few and will if they still available, but I like the looks of that automatic and the blade size plus the steel choice is very good,but the assisted model is good as well.
I own the Fixed Blade by Boker Tree Brand
Applegate Fairbairn Combat II
I don't understand why Gerber does this with their best folders & fixed blades⚔️
Good review thank you. But for a person that does not care if we care about the origin of the knife, you sure mention your support for made in the USA a lot :). Again thank you for the video, good job.
Timely. Thanks.
I carry this knife every day. I wish I could find another one
A nice alternative is the benchmade osbourne 470-1.
Well that was the only knife that I liked from Gerber. Looks like I will just buy SOG knives
All I wanted from Gerber was the two screws that hold the metal blade release tab on a full-sized Applegate folder, but was offered a smaller propel model as a replacement. I suspect that corporate liability and political correctness had something to do with the discontinuance of this model. It had a national stock number for issue to the military, and that's about as high of a seal of approval you could ever give to any knife or other weapon. Sales for the Applegate were likely still very good but Gerber folded anyway. If the main screw is loosened to finger tight, it snaps open wonderfully fast & easy. It's not that easy to keep your hand resting on a table and still being able to snap open a large unassisted folding knife with a minimal amount of hand movement, but the full-sized Applegate does it effortlessly. My question is what is a good similar substitute now that Gerber is no longer making them, a reasonably priced knock-off of the large Applegate folder and still with good quality & value?
Kershaw has just released the Launch 11, which is similar size and blade profile, has good steel and is only a bit more expensive. That’s probably your best bet for a similar alternative unless you’re willing to pay a lot more.
There is the Okc Dozier which is quite similar imo. Probably the only one left of that design as SOG had their own, I believe Boker did too, Al Mar, and now only Okc has a fairbairn style knife left in the production line market
My opinion is that what the combat folder could have been it never was essentially due to using gas station steel.
While I'd still suggest to you to learn about taps and dies and grinders and things and fix it yourself if you don't already know how, I would also suggest that cold steel offers a bunch of knives that can mostly fill the same niche if you want something different.
Does anyone know where i can get a replacement coil spring for this knife? I contacted gerber to get the specs, but they gave me an in store credit instead (not complaining). I really enjoy my knife and want to bring it back to life, but i can't seem to find the spring. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
For the mini covert auto.
So it considered a folding knife and not a switch blade or anything was asking don't want to have any trouble with cops Iive in California and didn't know if it would be a legal knife to have on you
The automatic version is considered a switchblade and would be illegal to carry in California since the blade is longer than 2 inches.
What about the one next to the silver one on the left side I think I have that version and it not automatic is it and the blade a little smaller right
Among these four, only one (the one with the aluminum handle) is considered a switchblade. I am not an expert on California laws, but my impression is that no knife can be carried with a blade longer than 2 inches, regardless of what kind of knife it is.