I've had this knife for two years. I carry it on my backpack every day and use it at work all the time. This year my wife and I got three deer (two on the same day) I was able to process all three from start to finish without having to sharpen the knife once (including batoning through bones ) I did have to sharpen it after using it all summer saltwater fishing ( cleaning fish and cutting squid). Speaking from experience the Orange handle is great when you set down on the beach all you have is a crappy lantern to see with. As far as the bear grylls association when my wife bought me the knife for Christmas I hadn't seen any of his shows,as we don't have a t.v. and watch all our favorite shows on hulu and Netflix. So it was just the knife itself that got our attention and we don't regret the decision to buy it. It's a great all around knife for the money.
Finally! An unbiased, fact-based review on the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife. Thank you for your systematic approach and for providing useful information to potential buyers. Many reviews do not do this knife justice, as mine has faithfully held up from hard use for over 3 years. Nice touch with the interview. This deserves a subscribe. :) Thanks
I use my knives for their intended purpose: to cut things. I respect them, I don't use them as a chisel, pry-bar or ballistic weapon, so I don't much care how much abuse they take during these antics. I like a 4" or so blade, I consider serration magic for certain cutting chores and I use a Gerber Steel (no longer made) to put the last dry-shaving edge on my blades. No need for sharpening tools with my knife, diamond or otherwise. I'm Airborne, Ranger and Recondo Qualified, so don't need the survival pamphlet or whistle, thank you very much. I use a lanyard around the thumb and across the back of my hand when cutting, so I don't worry about slippage, wet or dry. The full tang on the newer model is a definite plus, but I just don't see me doing anything that will break my original in two. The whole nylon sheath thing just pissed me off, so I removed it and attached the hard sheath directly to my gun belt with a leather strap and pop rivets. I don't plan on upgrading, since I require partial serration. In fact, at 74, I don't plan on replacing my Gerber, having every confidence that it will give me good service in the field or garrison for the rest of my life. The bright orange is nice, but only for fools like me who occasionally set their knife on the ground in the middle of a task and then have to look for it. In short, I find the original very satisfactory and plan on keeping it in daily use. The video was well-made and informative. BTW, I am no great fan of Bear or Gerber, just require a serviceable knife with the features I require, cost is not a major factor, but I don't want to go into the field with anything I'm not willing to lose, with the exception of my life.
Thank you for the nice words... Yes, I have the fine edge here and should have my full review of it posted in the next few days... I REALLY like the fine edge version!
Yes... I am guessing that most folks who are knocking the BG knives have never used one... or are comparing to their experience with knives costing twice as much that are designed for a more specific purpose... I have been testing the fine edge version of the BG knife all day... with the Gerber LMF II ASEK... the LMF II obviously the next step up though... and I really like the BG for batoning... but then I have small hands... Thanks for the comments! ~ David
I was a Marine and can tell you that the Ka-Bar knife is a beast and proven in the field... if you need a tactical, combat, fighting knife, go with the Ka-Bar. I may do some Ka-Bar reviews this year.... I get a lot of requests for them. Thanks man! ~David
Good point. This is generally not the case with Gerber. However, on the BG line, yes, in most cases you have to really dig to find the steel composition. Thanks for the comment. ~David
I have used this knife on numerous camping trips with my wife and I have to say I like it alot. It has not failed in any of my camping task such as starting fires and bushcrafting. As of right now I have taken it on 20+ camping trips and is still holding up fine. And it is the first knife I pick up when I go hunting. Have field dressed deer and hogs with it. Not bad for the price. Nice job Gerber.
For all of out Non-German speaking friends... StargantIris basically says, that he has the Bear Grylls knife, the LMF II and Gerber Prodigy. He likes the BG sheath a lot and how good this knife feels in the hand and works when he uses it. This is the gist...
I don't know why they didn't bring the tang right through the handle and weld a steel pommel on the end. This is how I've modefied my Smith and Weston search and rescue knife and it's given it enormous strength for breaking rocks etc. I'll soon be posting the video on this prpcess.
I just bought mine tonight about 3 hours ago and I'm already loving this knife. Very nice construction very thick blade so you Batton all you want and not have to worry a thing. Sharp enough that I shaves some hair off my arm and wrist with it. I bought the foldable about 2 months ago and since getting that I wanted this one. And now I got it, deffinaty recommend getting it
Agreed... "Made in China" does not mean a piece of gear is crappy... the Chinese, Japanese etc... make to our specs... if we spec junk, then make junk. Gerber specs knives and steel for different demographics. This knife was designed and priced as an entry level survival tool... for people who otherwise may never own a knife this versatile. Frankly, I think Gerber did the average Joe a great service getting this knife out there for a price point at around $40 US. Thanks for the comment!
All old BG Ultimate knives are "new batch" at this point. Old were perged from the system over a year ago... FYI..I will be reviewing the entire 2012 Bear Grylls survival tool line up from Bear and Gerber... so stand by... I REALLY like the Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife without serrations too... Gerber also came out with a new sharpening tool for the sine edge and serrations... NICE! Will review this also... ~David
To my knowledge the Ka-Bar handles aren't made out of leather anymore. But in case you are getting an older model it shouldn't pose much problem. The MAIN thing moisture is going to do is scuff and rust the blade if you aren't oiling it or if it doesn't have one of the coatings over the blade. That being said I if you are looking for a survival knife from Ka-Bar I personally recommend the Becker BK7 or one of the ZK models.
I own an early one of these, and sure enough the pommel broke off. The rest of the knife was good, so I did a patch up repair myself and I can live with it. I have 4 Gerbers 3 Folding, and this one, but I would think long and hard about buying another
i would have paid around 80 dollars for this knife but yeah i really live how it is so affordable. good enough to tolerate abuse, but if it breaks, you can get a new one no problem.
I got one of these knives when they first came out. Luckily one of the ones that hadn’t got a problem I’ve had it for many years I take it camping hiking whenever I go on holiday it comes with me here in the UK. It’s been outstanding I’ve never had a problem with it. It’s been very impressive. I’ve got several other survival knives but this to be honest is my favourite my children bought it me for my birthday and it’s one of my treasured possessions. Great honest review you have done, thank you and well done. Have a great day i’m also British Army I’ve taken the bear girls folding knife with me many times away when I’ve been on training camps and that has been excellent as well 😊🇬🇧
I disagree that this knife has a more durable blade then the Gerber LMF 2. The Gerber LMF 2 uses a 420HC blade with a Rockwell Hardness of 58. That right there puts it at the same Rockwell Hardness as Buck's 420HC used on knives such as the Buck 119, many of their folders ect. When properly heat treated 420HC can take some major abuse and hold its edge for a long time. The steel on this knife is 7cr17mov, and in my opinion that steel is way to soft to be used for any true survival blade. If you gotta have a BG Knife I would suggest getting the Ultimate Pro. The steel on that knife is 9cr19mov, and is slightly better then good ole Aus 8. The Ultimate Pro has a harder steel, and will hold it's edge alot longer and be far more durable.
Agreed, I mean the ultimate is ok but the ultimate pro is a better choice and a great knife. If they used 420hc on the original ultimate it would have been better.
The orange stip between the pommel and handle in the 1st,bad, batch is the same thickness.... that orange strip on the new batch will get thicker towards the back, the side with the hole through the pommel
Hey. Thanks for the comment! You bring up some good points. I have seen Gerber up close and personal for about a year. I am always very impressed at how they handle situations. If you really listened to Jeff's interview like I did, I hear a man who cares and admitted a mistake... and made it right. I have A LOT of grace for a company and men who run it like Jeff Freeman. This kind of humility is rare these days in business. Bear Grylls approved the design. Gerber built the knife... (continued)..
see the orange stripe right b4 the pommel,at it's thickest point the orange piece of plastic should measure 8 to 9 mm,the earlier version it was half as thin.
Abra. . .Since this knife is sort of a compromise between several features, the sharpener is most likely a medium grit. Apply water to it as you use it, though. Otherwise, the sharpener will clog with metal particles (glazing), rendering it useless. Also, look into the BG Field Sharpener. It's worth the money.
It's a knife made for the masses... in a pinch... for the average person... it's probably the best knife many have or will ever own... and will be a BIG help if they ever need it in an emergency. For serious, and advanced bushcraft and survival there are other choices... more expensive, better steel, handles etc... and the cost goes up proportionally. The BG does well for what it is designed for... the beginner who is not going to spend $80 - $200 for a knife... Thanks for the comments!
Good comment on the brain as a survival tool... You did nailed it... this is a good knife to start with... there are a lot of kids, amateurs and wonnabes who now have a good knife and will likely step up in the future to further interest in the finer things... Thanks for the comment. ~ David
Hi Justin, If you want a fixed blade knife... maybe the BG Paracord knife. If you want a folder... maybe the BG Folding Sheath knife. I like them both and they are sized nice for a lot of tasks. Hope this helps.
I have had my BG survival knife for about 5 years or so. I own about 12 fixed blade survival knives. My Gerber has the serrations. Battoning,cutting, hammering,sharpening,fire starting have all been successful with no problems. No damage to the knife. No failures. Yes,it looks a bit cheesy - but so what. Survival is about survival - not looks. I do think that some of the negative press (putting aside the initial failure of the knife which has been rectified) is "Tall Poppy Syndrome". Haters gotta hate, and Bear Grylls is a perfect target for underachievers on the internet. People who have done little or nothing with their lives must really despise a guy who been an SAS reservist, climbed Mt. Everest and is the world head of the scouting movement. Not to mention a TV celeb with several successful shows and a string of best selling books. Hahahahaha. Me? I respect the man. AND I like Gerber and own several of their blades(including machetes.).
No problem bro... Yes... I just like to give everyone and every knife a fair shot and I always like to challenge over-general comments. I see your point. Technically the Prodigy is now made of 420HC (like the LMF II)... as per Jeff Freeman at Gerber... I scored with a new Prodigy recently... and got one from Amazon that is made of Sandvik 12C27... Really nice steel! The BG does have it's place. Although I have some of the best knives in the world, I still often grab this knife for long hikes.
David I would like to thank you before I buy a knife I go and look it up on your channel to make sure its good you are trustworthy and reliable and help me make good choices to buy knives that will benefit me in the future the knives you review are very reliable Because of you I bought the Bear Grylls ultimate survival knife and I love it thank you
I love this knife, especially with the case it comes with. I use this knife a lot and don't find myself really needing to sharpen it. and if I do need to there is a sharpener on the back of the case.....I highly recommend getting this
Nice. Yeah... I don't prefer the "loud" orange coloring either... I like a knife that just blends in... but it does the job... I still find it to be one of the most comfortable-to-use knives that I own. ~ David
one thing i dislike about it is im going to have to drill the hole in the back because its hardly big enough for paracord. its probably 3.8MM and paracord is 4mm. its that much of a miss, but thats all it really takes.
I really wish the Ultimate Pro had a partially serrated blade. I would pay the extra money and upgrade from my current BG Ultimate Survival knife. Serrations may be a pain to sharpen, but they are handy for lots of slicing jobs (rope, for one). Shoot that to Gerber!!
No one can decide for you which knife to get. A lot depends on what you want to use it for, what you like, how much money you have to spend. The BG knife is unique in that it has the sharpener, fire steel, whistle, and survival guide. If you want these too... go for the BG... FYI... a 7inch blade is a lot of steel... do you want something that big? As far as leather Ka Bar handles... we used them back in the day in the Marine Corps... they are pretty well proven in the field. ~ David
I’ve got a few of these I keep everywhere, and just got the prodigy tanto serrared. Love the design. Longer blades are bad for dexterity, and harder on the wrist.
I think this knife deserves a good review, and i do not say that based on reviews from the internet: i took it for a month-long canoe expedition in the north of canada, using it almost every day setting the camp and cutting firewood, i used it to cut open fish when we caught some, and i used it to carve wood during whatever free time i had, and it never chipped and the edge stayed pretty sharp even in the end, and i never sharpened it! (i forgot my sharpener). I found it was a very reliable knife (having bought it after 2011). So if you hesitate to buy it because of bad reviews from the previous shipping, I say go for it!
Well done video, and the Gerber guy made me even more confident in my Gerber stuff when he said that even if your early production knife hasn't broke, send it in for replacement. That's what's missing in the world today. Manufacturers who TRUELY stand behind their products. I almost bought this knife today....I will buy it tomorrow..
They can ding up pretty easy especially under hard use. Andrew's answer below is a good one. You can keep them sharp with the right tool... but is can be a bit tricky... and they start to look odd quickly since you usually only get one at a time with a chip. ~ David
Thanks for the comment... although I don't think I'd want Bear Grylls to actually design a knife... I'd much rather have Jeff Freeman a master designer design the knife around what Bear Grylls likes and doesn't like... Knife design experts should design knives that millions of people are going to use... which is exactly how this knife came about. Jeff stayed with Bear and his family for a weekend and they came up with the concepts that became this knife. Take care. ~David
its ok but the knife is half serrated so you cant use the serrations to calve unless you want it roughly calved,its a good knife i have one and its fairly tough,but the serrations chip away after extended battoning.
I got this knife expecting to return it. Truth is I really like it. HATE how it looks, with its stupid orange stuff. HATE the nylon parts of the sheath. But as you said, it's a SYSTEM that fits comfortably and I trust it enough to use it until it dies, without using my more beloved expensive knives.
Hey Dan. I agree that for serious bushcraft this is not the knife to get. What Cold Steel knife do you recommend? I am hoping to get a Buck 650 soon for review. Did you check out my review of the Schrade Extreme Survival knife? What do you think of it? Another knife to check out is the SOG Force. Thanks for the comments Dan! Later bro... ~ David
I used this knife to gut a deer. After using it to cut wood ect. and it worked really well. Except that the serrated teeth chipped from sawing the breast bone, but that was my fault for not starting with the soft ribs. This is a great knife.
The new knife is expected in Feb 2013 and its going to be made from better steel 9CrMoV, claimed to be full tang by some people but not Gerber. Thanks Dave that was a great video.
FYI... a little tip... There is a NEW Bear Grylls Survival Knife coming soon... they are calling it the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife PRO. Not sure of the release date... But it's probably going to be rolled out in time for Christmas (if I had to guess) and be around $70-$80 in the initial release. Don't know the full specs on it yet though. ~David
The fire starter rod dose not fall out, it locks in secure, I took my whistle off the knile and attached it thru the fire starter handle hole to the strap that holds the nylon back to the plastic.sheah just Incase it decides to loosen up I won't lose it
@Cbertian Exactly. Serrations aren't meant for sawing through wood or metal. They're meant for fiberous materials. And I'd never want stainless in a fixed blade, the chromium makes them weaker than say 1095 or 5160. There's plenty of quality American made fixed blades for under $75.
oh and i know you dislike that bear put no place on his sheath for the survival guide. but les did there is a mesh netting on the back to put that and your maps in.
sure, recon 1's are great. They're super strong. It all depends on what you intend to use it for... one knife can't do everything. AUS8 steel is a little soft, but it's less prone to chipping and easy to get razor sharp. Personally I like spyderco for every day carry. You should get whatever you want. However, if you actually plan on using it as a tool, you'll be happier paying a bit more and getting something that was built to perform.
Damn, Sorry that I'm late to the party... I just found out about your channel as of yesterday because I was looking for a good fixed blade knife that wasn't outrageously expensive...
i just bought the same one without the serated blade end.....no biggy though i still like it alot...........60$ at gander mountain i love this blade!!!!
You're right about the steel, but honestly it is probably just 420 stainless, it's so cheap and common, I'd bet my bottom dollar on it being made of that. 420 isn't the worst,but it isn't the greatest by far, just economical, tough, very resistant to corrosion with the right blade finish, all qualities needed for a knife that is expected to be abused and put away wet.However, if you get Gerber's blades made of Swedish 12c27, that's the stuff.
If you mean does it have the old pommel issue... all of those knives should be long gone and replaced. So you should be fine. The issue was ONLY with the first run of knives. ~David
All first run knives should be "flushed' out of the system by now. You should have no worries. If you did get a "bad one", which I would doubt, you would only have to contact Gerber for a replacement. Hope this helps. ~David
Thanks man. You can't make everyone happy. And some folks just don't realize there are real people on the other side of their comments... So yeah, I try to extend grace, since I have experienced so much grace myself. Take care bro! ~David
Another thing I'm not crazy about it that although the handle IS comfortable, it feels very THIN in my hand. So not really as "grippy" to me as it should. My hands are a little on the big side, but not too much. What's your experience with this?
Nice review but I think you should review the gerber prodigy again. It is the same size as the bear grylls knife but made of better steel, has a full tang, and doesn't have the orange to it.
I received THE Knife at christmas 2011, i work on it during summer 2012 in wild camping and bushcrafting situation the knife do a good job but the wistle is breakable and i never use it. also the fire starter don't fit back on it place if you using a lot like me. but for a fan like me is a good knife
like the video. iv had mine for around 6 months with the serrated edge and has come camping many times, it has been well used for cutting hard wood and kindling and the blade is still in good condition. i only found the fire starter isnt the greatest but if u really needed a fire it gets the job done took me a while when i was testing it
Dude you guy get down on this knife vvvvvvvv plain and simple the best knife on the market with value factored in . I use it as a survival knife every weekend in Maine works great
Legoman... Like that name... Okay. When this knife was first release they have a major problem with it. And I think I covered that pretty good in the review. I even interviewed Jeff Freeman about this. It is a good knife for the money. MANY, MANY people like it. It's a good first survival knife, very capable and suitable for many tasks.
You could... for sure... but again... I would probably encourage stepping up to one of the other knives mentioned previously. Although lots of guys beat the tar out of their BG Knife and keep on lovin' it. Thanks man. Hope this helps. ~ David
Folding or fixed blade. What is your purpose or intent for the knife... don't say Zombie killing please... haa, haa. If folding, do you want it to be a sheath knife or clip onto a belt? If you are looking for a fixed blade the Gerber Prodigy, SOG Seal Pup are very close in size. Hope this helps. ~ David
Great knives for those who want to drop $100 to $150... SOG Seal, Gerber LHR and Gerber Silver Trident could also be recommended at this price point. See my Gerber LHR review. SOG and Silver Trident reviews coming soon...
Just did a full review of the LMF II... I agree that it is a step up in quality from the BG for sure... In the LMF II review, I also found a cool way to add the whistle, fire steel and the BG micro torch (flash light) to the LMF II. Check it out!
I don't recommend the BG Sharpener. I honestly don't like pull sharpeners. Much. I would get the NEW WorkSharp Field sharpener. If you must get a pull sharpener, get the Smith's Pocket Pal. Hope this helps. ~ David
Got mine a month ago and love it. Saw this review and some others and decided to give it a shot. Amazon was great and replaced my first one because of a chipped serration tooth. Ferro rod is wonderful and was a hit with the camp kids (not just my own kids). I put a medium sized carabiner on the belt loop so i can clip it to my belt instead of having to take the belt off to carry the sheath. Anyway great review! One of my favorites!
nope this knife is great!! I have used it on a lot of occasions and it did great earlier batches have issues with the pommel and materials but the new batch is just absolutely AMAZING!!! Really happy with this knife
i was out in death valley a while back, i had to baton some wood for a fire but there were no pieces small enough to smack my knife with, so i used a softball sized piece of granite as hard as i could on the spine of the knife to get some pieces of wood i could baton with, except for some minor scratches and dings, its perfect, the rock however, was chipping away. excellent knife for the money, just nix the serrations
I had to use my other knife and brute force to get the packaging off! Impossible with bare hands. Good knife though. Need some ether pads for the fire starter.
Many have found this knife to be more than suitable. I can break any knife if I want to. But hey... appreciate the interaction and comment. Take care. ~ David
Carving what? It's a fair knife for bushcraft... but a little big for doing intricate carving... You'll want a pocket knife for that... or just get a nice carving set...
Hey Jake, Funny... nope... I'm not paid by Gerber. It's an interesting story how Jeff Freeman (BG knife designer) and I met. We just hit it off and he agreed to let me interview him. As for me, I just do a ton of research and try to give folks, like you, enough info to decide if a piece of survival gear is right for their needs. I give the good and am not afraid of the bad. I REALLY respect Jeff saying, and allowing me to publish that Gerber messed up. What other company does that? ~ David
I've had this knife for two years. I carry it on my backpack every day and use it at work all the time. This year my wife and I got three deer (two on the same day) I was able to process all three from start to finish without having to sharpen the knife once (including batoning through bones ) I did have to sharpen it after using it all summer saltwater fishing ( cleaning fish and cutting squid). Speaking from experience the Orange handle is great when you set down on the beach all you have is a crappy lantern to see with. As far as the bear grylls association when my wife bought me the knife for Christmas I hadn't seen any of his shows,as we don't have a t.v. and watch all our favorite shows on hulu and Netflix. So it was just the knife itself that got our attention and we don't regret the decision to buy it. It's a great all around knife for the money.
Finally! An unbiased, fact-based review on the Gerber Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife. Thank you for your systematic approach and for providing useful information to potential buyers. Many reviews do not do this knife justice, as mine has faithfully held up from hard use for over 3 years. Nice touch with the interview.
This deserves a subscribe. :)
Thanks
Thanks! Welcome to the UltimateSurvivalTips channel!
You can't bag the orange handle, it make finding knives a lot easier when dropped or misplaced.
I use my knives for their intended purpose: to cut things. I respect them, I don't use them as a chisel, pry-bar or ballistic weapon, so I don't much care how much abuse they take during these antics. I like a 4" or so blade, I consider serration magic for certain cutting chores and I use a Gerber Steel (no longer made) to put the last dry-shaving edge on my blades. No need for sharpening tools with my knife, diamond or otherwise. I'm Airborne, Ranger and Recondo Qualified, so don't need the survival pamphlet or whistle, thank you very much. I use a lanyard around the thumb and across the back of my hand when cutting, so I don't worry about slippage, wet or dry. The full tang on the newer model is a definite plus, but I just don't see me doing anything that will break my original in two. The whole nylon sheath thing just pissed me off, so I removed it and attached the hard sheath directly to my gun belt with a leather strap and pop rivets. I don't plan on upgrading, since I require partial serration. In fact, at 74, I don't plan on replacing my Gerber, having every confidence that it will give me good service in the field or garrison for the rest of my life. The bright orange is nice, but only for fools like me who occasionally set their knife on the ground in the middle of a task and then have to look for it. In short, I find the original very satisfactory and plan on keeping it in daily use. The video was well-made and informative. BTW, I am no great fan of Bear or Gerber, just require a serviceable knife with the features I require, cost is not a major factor, but I don't want to go into the field with anything I'm not willing to lose, with the exception of my life.
Thank you for the nice words... Yes, I have the fine edge here and should have my full review of it posted in the next few days... I REALLY like the fine edge version!
Yes... I am guessing that most folks who are knocking the BG knives have never used one... or are comparing to their experience with knives costing twice as much that are designed for a more specific purpose... I have been testing the fine edge version of the BG knife all day... with the Gerber LMF II ASEK... the LMF II obviously the next step up though... and I really like the BG for batoning... but then I have small hands... Thanks for the comments! ~ David
I was a Marine and can tell you that the Ka-Bar knife is a beast and proven in the field... if you need a tactical, combat, fighting knife, go with the Ka-Bar. I may do some Ka-Bar reviews this year.... I get a lot of requests for them. Thanks man! ~David
Semper Fi Chapultepec War God...
Good point. This is generally not the case with Gerber. However, on the BG line, yes, in most cases you have to really dig to find the steel composition. Thanks for the comment. ~David
Very cool. Lot's of happy campers own this knife. ~David
I have used this knife on numerous camping trips with my wife and I have to say I like it alot. It has not failed in any of my camping task such as starting fires and bushcrafting. As of right now I have taken it on 20+ camping trips and is still holding up fine. And it is the first knife I pick up when I go hunting. Have field dressed deer and hogs with it. Not bad for the price. Nice job Gerber.
For all of out Non-German speaking friends... StargantIris basically says, that he has the Bear Grylls knife, the LMF II and Gerber Prodigy. He likes the BG sheath a lot and how good this knife feels in the hand and works when he uses it. This is the gist...
I don't know why they didn't bring the tang right through the handle and weld a steel pommel on the end. This is how I've modefied my Smith and Weston search and rescue knife and it's given it enormous strength for breaking rocks etc. I'll soon be posting the video on this prpcess.
I've had NO Problems with This Knife.
An Excellent Product!!
I just bought mine tonight about 3 hours ago and I'm already loving this knife. Very nice construction very thick blade so you Batton all you want and not have to worry a thing. Sharp enough that I shaves some hair off my arm and wrist with it. I bought the foldable about 2 months ago and since getting that I wanted this one. And now I got it, deffinaty recommend getting it
Agreed... "Made in China" does not mean a piece of gear is crappy... the Chinese, Japanese etc... make to our specs... if we spec junk, then make junk. Gerber specs knives and steel for different demographics. This knife was designed and priced as an entry level survival tool... for people who otherwise may never own a knife this versatile. Frankly, I think Gerber did the average Joe a great service getting this knife out there for a price point at around $40 US. Thanks for the comment!
Cool... it's a nice knife. I am finishing my review of the fine edge version... nice knife for the money! Thanks for the comments!
All old BG Ultimate knives are "new batch" at this point. Old were perged from the system over a year ago... FYI..I will be reviewing the entire 2012 Bear Grylls survival tool line up from Bear and Gerber... so stand by... I REALLY like the Bear Grylls Ultimate Knife without serrations too... Gerber also came out with a new sharpening tool for the sine edge and serrations... NICE! Will review this also... ~David
To my knowledge the Ka-Bar handles aren't made out of leather anymore. But in case you are getting an older model it shouldn't pose much problem. The MAIN thing moisture is going to do is scuff and rust the blade if you aren't oiling it or if it doesn't have one of the coatings over the blade. That being said I if you are looking for a survival knife from Ka-Bar I personally recommend the Becker BK7 or one of the ZK models.
I own an early one of these, and sure enough the pommel broke off. The rest of the knife was good, so I did a patch up repair myself and I can live with it. I have 4 Gerbers 3 Folding, and this one, but I would think long and hard about buying another
i would have paid around 80 dollars for this knife but yeah i really live how it is so affordable. good enough to tolerate abuse, but if it breaks, you can get a new one no problem.
I got one of these knives when they first came out. Luckily one of the ones that hadn’t got a problem I’ve had it for many years I take it camping hiking whenever I go on holiday it comes with me here in the UK. It’s been outstanding I’ve never had a problem with it. It’s been very impressive. I’ve got several other survival knives but this to be honest is my favourite my children bought it me for my birthday and it’s one of my treasured possessions. Great honest review you have done, thank you and well done. Have a great day i’m also British Army I’ve taken the bear girls folding knife with me many times away when I’ve been on training camps and that has been excellent as well 😊🇬🇧
I disagree that this knife has a more durable blade then the Gerber LMF 2. The Gerber LMF 2 uses a 420HC blade with a Rockwell Hardness of 58. That right there puts it at the same Rockwell Hardness as Buck's 420HC used on knives such as the Buck 119, many of their folders ect. When properly heat treated 420HC can take some major abuse and hold its edge for a long time. The steel on this knife is 7cr17mov, and in my opinion that steel is way to soft to be used for any true survival blade. If you gotta have a BG Knife I would suggest getting the Ultimate Pro. The steel on that knife is 9cr19mov, and is slightly better then good ole Aus 8. The Ultimate Pro has a harder steel, and will hold it's edge alot longer and be far more durable.
Agreed, I mean the ultimate is ok but the ultimate pro is a better choice and a great knife. If they used 420hc on the original ultimate it would have been better.
Just bought this knife last night. Looks like it is very well made. I hope to get many years of good use out of it.
Yes indeed. I'll be reviewing the entire line of 2012 BG Ultimate gear... lots of great stuff there too... so stand by. ~ David
The orange stip between the pommel and handle in the 1st,bad, batch is the same thickness.... that orange strip on the new batch will get thicker towards the back, the side with the hole through the pommel
Hey. Thanks for the comment! You bring up some good points. I have seen Gerber up close and personal for about a year. I am always very impressed at how they handle situations. If you really listened to Jeff's interview like I did, I hear a man who cares and admitted a mistake... and made it right. I have A LOT of grace for a company and men who run it like Jeff Freeman. This kind of humility is rare these days in business. Bear Grylls approved the design. Gerber built the knife... (continued)..
see the orange stripe right b4 the pommel,at it's thickest point the orange piece of plastic should measure 8 to 9 mm,the earlier version it was half as thin.
Abra. . .Since this knife is sort of a compromise between several features, the sharpener is most likely a medium grit. Apply water to it as you use it, though. Otherwise, the sharpener will clog with metal particles (glazing), rendering it useless. Also, look into the BG Field Sharpener. It's worth the money.
i'd like to see a comparison between the sog seal team elite and the gerber lmf II. both are credible knives yet are both different in major areas.
It's a knife made for the masses... in a pinch... for the average person... it's probably the best knife many have or will ever own... and will be a BIG help if they ever need it in an emergency. For serious, and advanced bushcraft and survival there are other choices... more expensive, better steel, handles etc... and the cost goes up proportionally. The BG does well for what it is designed for... the beginner who is not going to spend $80 - $200 for a knife... Thanks for the comments!
Good comment on the brain as a survival tool... You did nailed it... this is a good knife to start with... there are a lot of kids, amateurs and wonnabes who now have a good knife and will likely step up in the future to further interest in the finer things... Thanks for the comment. ~ David
Hi Justin,
If you want a fixed blade knife... maybe the BG Paracord knife. If you want a folder... maybe the BG Folding Sheath knife. I like them both and they are sized nice for a lot of tasks. Hope this helps.
I have had my BG survival knife for about 5 years or so. I own about 12 fixed blade survival knives. My Gerber has the serrations. Battoning,cutting, hammering,sharpening,fire starting have all been successful with no problems. No damage to the knife. No failures. Yes,it looks a bit cheesy - but so what. Survival is about survival - not looks. I do think that some of the negative press (putting aside the initial failure of the knife which has been rectified) is "Tall Poppy Syndrome". Haters gotta hate, and Bear Grylls is a perfect target for underachievers on the internet. People who have done little or nothing with their lives must really despise a guy who been an SAS reservist, climbed Mt. Everest and is the world head of the scouting movement. Not to mention a TV celeb with several successful shows and a string of best selling books. Hahahahaha. Me? I respect the man. AND I like Gerber and own several of their blades(including machetes.).
In the Spring... Thanks Jay! ~David
No problem bro... Yes... I just like to give everyone and every knife a fair shot and I always like to challenge over-general comments. I see your point. Technically the Prodigy is now made of 420HC (like the LMF II)... as per Jeff Freeman at Gerber... I scored with a new Prodigy recently... and got one from Amazon that is made of Sandvik 12C27... Really nice steel! The BG does have it's place. Although I have some of the best knives in the world, I still often grab this knife for long hikes.
David I would like to thank you before I buy a knife I go and look it up on your channel to make sure its good you are trustworthy and reliable and help me make good choices to buy knives that will benefit me in the future the knives you review are very reliable
Because of you I bought the Bear Grylls ultimate survival knife and I love it thank you
I love this knife, especially with the case it comes with. I use this knife a lot and don't find myself really needing to sharpen it. and if I do need to there is a sharpener on the back of the case.....I highly recommend getting this
Nice. Yeah... I don't prefer the "loud" orange coloring either... I like a knife that just blends in... but it does the job... I still find it to be one of the most comfortable-to-use knives that I own. ~ David
one thing i dislike about it is im going to have to drill the hole in the back because its hardly big enough for paracord. its probably 3.8MM and paracord is 4mm. its that much of a miss, but thats all it really takes.
I really wish the Ultimate Pro had a partially serrated blade. I would pay the extra money and upgrade from my current BG Ultimate Survival knife. Serrations may be a pain to sharpen, but they are handy for lots of slicing jobs (rope, for one). Shoot that to Gerber!!
No one can decide for you which knife to get. A lot depends on what you want to use it for, what you like, how much money you have to spend. The BG knife is unique in that it has the sharpener, fire steel, whistle, and survival guide. If you want these too... go for the BG... FYI... a 7inch blade is a lot of steel... do you want something that big? As far as leather Ka Bar handles... we used them back in the day in the Marine Corps... they are pretty well proven in the field. ~ David
I’ve got a few of these I keep everywhere, and just got the prodigy tanto serrared. Love the design. Longer blades are bad for dexterity, and harder on the wrist.
I think this knife deserves a good review, and i do not say that based on reviews from the internet: i took it for a month-long canoe expedition in the north of canada, using it almost every day setting the camp and cutting firewood, i used it to cut open fish when we caught some, and i used it to carve wood during whatever free time i had, and it never chipped and the edge stayed pretty sharp even in the end, and i never sharpened it! (i forgot my sharpener). I found it was a very reliable knife (having bought it after 2011). So if you hesitate to buy it because of bad reviews from the previous shipping, I say go for it!
MineStudio68 i agree. way worth the money. i use mine every camping trip. hard use for 4 yrs and still a great knife.
The serrations were ruined after batoning once i recommend straight edge. Or a esee or bhk
Well done video, and the Gerber guy made me even more confident in my Gerber stuff when he said that even if your early production knife hasn't broke, send it in for replacement. That's what's missing in the world today. Manufacturers who TRUELY stand behind their products. I almost bought this knife today....I will buy it tomorrow..
They can ding up pretty easy especially under hard use. Andrew's answer below is a good one. You can keep them sharp with the right tool... but is can be a bit tricky... and they start to look odd quickly since you usually only get one at a time with a chip. ~ David
Thanks for the comment... although I don't think I'd want Bear Grylls to actually design a knife... I'd much rather have Jeff Freeman a master designer design the knife around what Bear Grylls likes and doesn't like... Knife design experts should design knives that millions of people are going to use... which is exactly how this knife came about. Jeff stayed with Bear and his family for a weekend and they came up with the concepts that became this knife. Take care. ~David
its ok but the knife is half serrated so you cant use the serrations to calve unless you want it roughly calved,its a good knife i have one and its fairly tough,but the serrations chip away after extended battoning.
I got this knife expecting to return it. Truth is I really like it. HATE how it looks, with its stupid orange stuff. HATE the nylon parts of the sheath. But as you said, it's a SYSTEM that fits comfortably and I trust it enough to use it until it dies, without using my more beloved expensive knives.
I actually cut part of the handle on the folding sheath knife. Glad to see that I'm not alone.
Hey Dan. I agree that for serious bushcraft this is not the knife to get. What Cold Steel knife do you recommend? I am hoping to get a Buck 650 soon for review. Did you check out my review of the Schrade Extreme Survival knife? What do you think of it? Another knife to check out is the SOG Force. Thanks for the comments Dan! Later bro... ~ David
sorry i forgot to mention that i am looking for a folding knife about the same length as the Bear Grylls folding knife
I used this knife to gut a deer. After using it to cut wood ect. and it worked really well. Except that the serrated teeth chipped from sawing the breast bone, but that was my fault for not starting with the soft ribs. This is a great knife.
The new knife is expected in Feb 2013 and its going to be made from better steel 9CrMoV, claimed to be full tang by some people but not Gerber.
Thanks Dave that was a great video.
FYI... a little tip... There is a NEW Bear Grylls Survival Knife coming soon... they are calling it the Bear Grylls Ultimate Survival Knife PRO. Not sure of the release date... But it's probably going to be rolled out in time for Christmas (if I had to guess) and be around $70-$80 in the initial release. Don't know the full specs on it yet though. ~David
The fire starter rod dose not fall out, it locks in secure, I took my whistle off the knile and attached it thru the fire starter handle hole to the strap that holds the nylon back to the plastic.sheah just Incase it decides to loosen up I won't lose it
@Cbertian Exactly. Serrations aren't meant for sawing through wood or metal. They're meant for fiberous materials. And I'd never want stainless in a fixed blade, the chromium makes them weaker than say 1095 or 5160. There's plenty of quality American made fixed blades for under $75.
At times... yes. Thanks for the comment. ~ David
Ah, you noticed! My leatherman wave has traveled many mile with me... ~David
oh and i know you dislike that bear put no place on his sheath for the survival guide. but les did there is a mesh netting on the back to put that and your maps in.
sure, recon 1's are great. They're super strong. It all depends on what you intend to use it for... one knife can't do everything. AUS8 steel is a little soft, but it's less prone to chipping and easy to get razor sharp. Personally I like spyderco for every day carry. You should get whatever you want. However, if you actually plan on using it as a tool, you'll be happier paying a bit more and getting something that was built to perform.
check amazon, I just bought the serrated version for like $36...... And I'm liking it so far, certainly no pommel problems
Damn, Sorry that I'm late to the party... I just found out about your channel as of yesterday because I was looking for a good fixed blade knife that wasn't outrageously expensive...
i just bought the same one without the serated blade end.....no biggy though i still like it alot...........60$ at gander mountain i love this blade!!!!
@UltimateSurvivalTips actually, it's a high carbon steel. You can tell by how strong the sparks are from the firesteel
No... not yet... Sharpening series is on the way... Take care. ~David
You're right about the steel, but honestly it is probably just 420 stainless, it's so cheap and common, I'd bet my bottom dollar on it being made of that. 420 isn't the worst,but it isn't the greatest by far, just economical, tough, very resistant to corrosion with the right blade finish, all qualities needed for a knife that is expected to be abused and put away wet.However, if you get Gerber's blades made of Swedish 12c27, that's the stuff.
Great review.
Josiah A
David, I really like your positive responses to people who are insulting your video or you. Keep up the good work man.
Good thought. Just saw the BG Ultimate Pro... nice steel and full tang... Thanks for the comment. ~ David
If you mean does it have the old pommel issue... all of those knives should be long gone and replaced. So you should be fine. The issue was ONLY with the first run of knives. ~David
All first run knives should be "flushed' out of the system by now. You should have no worries. If you did get a "bad one", which I would doubt, you would only have to contact Gerber for a replacement. Hope this helps. ~David
Yes, this is the first video that started Ultimate Survival Tips channel on You Tube.
Thanks man. You can't make everyone happy. And some folks just don't realize there are real people on the other side of their comments... So yeah, I try to extend grace, since I have experienced so much grace myself. Take care bro! ~David
It's coming... Sorry about that. Got backed up... ~David
Another thing I'm not crazy about it that although the handle IS comfortable, it feels very THIN in my hand. So not really as "grippy" to me as it should. My hands are a little on the big side, but not too much. What's your experience with this?
Nice review but I think you should review the gerber prodigy again. It is the same size as the bear grylls knife but made of better steel, has a full tang, and doesn't have the orange to it.
Thanks for the comments!
I received THE Knife at christmas 2011, i work on it during summer 2012 in wild camping and bushcrafting situation the knife do a good job but the wistle is breakable and i never use it. also the fire starter don't fit back on it place if you using a lot like me. but for a fan like me is a good knife
I mean it will be used to make shelters, some bushcraft bows. used in any cooking of caught food.
like the video. iv had mine for around 6 months with the serrated edge and has come camping many times, it has been well used for cutting hard wood and kindling and the blade is still in good condition. i only found the fire starter isnt the greatest but if u really needed a fire it gets the job done took me a while when i was testing it
Dude you guy get down on this knife vvvvvvvv plain and simple the best knife on the market with value factored in . I use it as a survival knife every weekend in Maine works great
Legoman... Like that name... Okay. When this knife was first release they have a major problem with it. And I think I covered that pretty good in the review. I even interviewed Jeff Freeman about this. It is a good knife for the money. MANY, MANY people like it. It's a good first survival knife, very capable and suitable for many tasks.
You could... for sure... but again... I would probably encourage stepping up to one of the other knives mentioned previously. Although lots of guys beat the tar out of their BG Knife and keep on lovin' it. Thanks man. Hope this helps. ~ David
I like mine and im a benchmade man as well as a knife maker and fabriacator.
Folding or fixed blade. What is your purpose or intent for the knife... don't say Zombie killing please... haa, haa. If folding, do you want it to be a sheath knife or clip onto a belt? If you are looking for a fixed blade the Gerber Prodigy, SOG Seal Pup are very close in size. Hope this helps. ~ David
Great knives for those who want to drop $100 to $150... SOG Seal, Gerber LHR and Gerber Silver Trident could also be recommended at this price point. See my Gerber LHR review. SOG and Silver Trident reviews coming soon...
Just did a full review of the LMF II... I agree that it is a step up in quality from the BG for sure... In the LMF II review, I also found a cool way to add the whistle, fire steel and the BG micro torch (flash light) to the LMF II. Check it out!
love the knife HATE THE SHEATH HOLLY SHIT ITS TERRIBLE
Good point... I'll email Gerber and see what they say... they do have a replacement for the NEW Bear Grylls Survival Tool Pack... but not the knife...
I don't recommend the BG Sharpener. I honestly don't like pull sharpeners. Much. I would get the NEW WorkSharp Field sharpener. If you must get a pull sharpener, get the Smith's Pocket Pal. Hope this helps. ~ David
Got mine a month ago and love it. Saw this review and some others and decided to give it a shot. Amazon was great and replaced my first one because of a chipped serration tooth. Ferro rod is wonderful and was a hit with the camp kids (not just my own kids). I put a medium sized carabiner on the belt loop so i can clip it to my belt instead of having to take the belt off to carry the sheath. Anyway great review! One of my favorites!
nope this knife is great!! I have used it on a lot of occasions and it did great earlier batches have issues with the pommel and materials but the new batch is just absolutely AMAZING!!! Really happy with this knife
i was out in death valley a while back, i had to baton some wood for a fire but there were no pieces small enough to smack my knife with, so i used a softball sized piece of granite as hard as i could on the spine of the knife to get some pieces of wood i could baton with, except for some minor scratches and dings, its perfect, the rock however, was chipping away. excellent knife for the money, just nix the serrations
I had to use my other knife and brute force to get the packaging off! Impossible with bare hands.
Good knife though. Need some ether pads for the fire starter.
Many have found this knife to be more than suitable. I can break any knife if I want to. But hey... appreciate the interaction and comment. Take care. ~ David
Carving what? It's a fair knife for bushcraft... but a little big for doing intricate carving... You'll want a pocket knife for that... or just get a nice carving set...
Hey Jake, Funny... nope... I'm not paid by Gerber. It's an interesting story how Jeff Freeman (BG knife designer) and I met. We just hit it off and he agreed to let me interview him. As for me, I just do a ton of research and try to give folks, like you, enough info to decide if a piece of survival gear is right for their needs. I give the good and am not afraid of the bad. I REALLY respect Jeff saying, and allowing me to publish that Gerber messed up. What other company does that? ~ David
Good comment. Thanks!
I'm pretty sure the aluminum is treated before they make the canteen