Customer Reviews

Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade

5 star:		(125)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I love this knife. I spent the last quarter century bumping around remote locations in Alaska sleeping on the ground, mushing dogs and hunting and fishing at every opportunity. During that time I've bought dozens of knives looking for the perfect utility knife. If they'd made this one when I started, I'd have never had to buy a second. It's sturdy, nicely balanced with most of the weight in the ample grip, the serrated section of the edge is actually long enough to be useful, and the straight edge takes and holds an edge nicely. About the only thing I wouldn't do with this knife is fillet fish, because the heavy blade is not particularly flexible. On the other hand, a stout blade is perfect for just about anything else. I suspect I've found a companion for life. This knife is going to go everywhere with me, with the possible exception of commercial airliners, and that's not by choice. In Alaska anybody who gets on an airplane without a sturdy knife is a damn fool.

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.

This model of knife was originally designed to be an ASEK (Aircrew Survival Egress Knife) and came with a cord cutter hook. The Infrantry Knife aspect came about after it was given to US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq as a demo item. It is a rugged knife, and has a window punch on its butt and a full tang blade completely insulated by the grip. This aspect came in handy to a certain sniper team in Iraq who cut a power line to a 250 KW Generator in order to dim the lights illuminating their position among around 100 insurgents. The electric arc put an eighth of an inch gash in the knife's blade, but the operator remained unshocked and was able to survive the incident. I am using it currently in Iraq, and I have found that though it isn't the sexiest of edged weapons, it is by far one of the most unyielding. Built in sharpener in sheath is nice, if you know exactly how to use it, otherwise you will nick the blade up a little. Came originally in desert tan/coyote brown, now out in straight black so I will have to by another one for my darker endeavors.

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.

Please be kind enough to indicate if reviews are helpful.

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.

Got this knife about a year ago for around $60 on amazon. Excellent steel on the knife, and the grip is very comfortable in the hand. The knife is a tad bit bigger than i had anticipated, but only by about a few inches (I checked the dimensions just didn't visualize the blade length). The steel point on the end is very good, and certainly gets the job done. I did some "field" work with it. Our Fire Training class had a demo where we brought in a car to practice "victim extrication". Using the knife, I slashed a tire to stabilize the vehicle. The knife did this task rather easily. I also used the steel point on the bottom to smash both the side and rear window of the Oldsmobile vehicle. The point did this with ease. I then slashed the seatbelts with it, which ended up cutting better than several "seat-belt cutters" our class had. This series of tests really proved to me what the knife was capable of.
I would say that my only complaints are that:
1.The steel point on the end rusts rather easily.
2. The paint coating on the blade does not block rust very well.
3. The serrations are cut so thin that they tend to break upon tougher tasks like cutting plastic.
All in all a great knife. Thanks for reading my review.

This is the best knife I've ever had, period. I enjoy hiking for days in a row and having a good knife is probably the most important thing to have on your side (along with a good friend and map, of course).

Pros:
1. Sturdy and well built with a great thick blade (you can use it as a hatchet if you hammer it with a stone)
2. Crafted *IN THE USA, YES SIR*: this is no cheap Chinese knock-off (sorry guys, you can't be great at everything)
3. Isolated butt-cap, which means that, if by an extremely unfortunate accident of life, you happen to dig into a electrical main, you won't die. (Apparently, this would be useful if you're into urban combat: that's what they say in the manual)
4. Comfortable grip material: it feels like your hand binds well to the knife.
5. Ships with a good sheath, very technical and complete with a neat sharpener: definitely a plus.

Cons:
1. Weight (3/4 lbs) and size mean this is no man-purse knife. If the TSA folks catch you with that I guess you better have no plans for the following 3 days.
2. You need to sharpen it before using it.
3. My girlfriend freaks out when she sees the knife.

Overall, a great knife for a wide range of use. Have fun!

Just rec'd my LMFII, and have only used it to cut some poly line (did great). Initial impression is this is one durable, TOUGH survival tool. There are some inevitable trade offs... the wide, thick blade and large handle make the knife a little heavy (but a lighter knife would not likely be as strong); also, the handle is a bit narrow for my hand (but a thicker grip would be less concealable). The knife I rec'd is sharp for a factory edge, and the serrated section is a perfect length. The sheath and its removable straps, loops, etc. allow for carry in any way you want (leg, belt, thigh, vest, etc.). My initial impression is that this knife will outlast me, even with careless use. I'd buy it again, if I had it to do over.

I did a lot of research before I picked this knife for my primary outdoors knife. The Gerber LMF II series is packed with everything one would need in an emergency situation.

First, the knife is made with a thick high-quality full-tang stainless steel blade. This is essential to holding up to use, abuse, and the elements. It is AMERICAN made in Oregon, and lacks the problems with blades made in China. It is a good size for most tasks although chopping large pieces of wood will be a bit of a chore, but it is possible. The partially serrated blade is also great for cutting rope. The handle is very comfortable and easy to grip, but a little thin, which may be a problem for some folks. The pommel is designed for use as a hammer, and has a pointed end that was designed to break plexiglass. This point would also be great for busting open shelled creatures for food or nuts.

The sheath seems to be a sticking point for a lot of folks, but I have no problem with it. It has a great rubber coated polymer body for grip when the knife is used for hammering. It also has a built in replaceable ceramic sharpening system that is essential for keeping a working edge on it in the field. The sheath attaches to a nylon strap that allows for multiple carry options including MOLLE gear. Take the leg/calf straps off and the sheath is really pretty compact considering its purpose. There are two snap straps to help hold the knife in place and there is an integral clip that really holds the knife secure. In my opinion the bulk is worth the extra options and durability. What good is a knife if the sheath is not durable enough to hold up to use and abuse, or falls off?

A couple of other great features include the extra holes that make it easier to lash it to a pole for use as a spear, which may seem a little silly, but in a survival situation, the ability to spear fish or game is a real help. The pommel is isolated from the blade which does two things: 1) It absorbs shock when using the knife for hammering 2) It protects you from a shock if you cut into a live electrical wire since it is insulated (an intentional design feature). I have seen a torture/destruction test of this knife and it held up extremely well, especially for a knife under $100. It has also been adopted by the U.S. military for air crews and is in the ground in the Middle East, which is no better testament for me.

This knife is a workhorse and will serve you well for camping, backpacking, and emergencies. Don't hesitate to buy this one.

I am a wannabe of the characters on satelite/cable shows like "Man vs. Wild" and "Survivorman," and I am one of those typical weekend camper/hikers.

With that in mind, I wanted to invest in a fixed-blade knife (i.e., a survival knife) that would be rugged and durable in most outdoor settings and circumstances, be a good value, be of high quality, and last a lifetime. I did a fair amount of research using this criteria to compare and contrast other knives with the Gerber LMF II; and, in my opinion, this knife exceeds all reasonable expectations. I also am very much pleased with the Molle-attachable sheath; it can be lashed around the lower leg, thigh, or waist.

A possible downside to the knife is its weight and length. Yet I would be hard pressed to imagine it being able to cut firewood from trees and branches or serve as a spear point or dirve a nail if it were not the size and weight it presently comes in. See the product description for more detailed information on the size and weight.

All in all I am very much pleased with the versatility of the knife and would highly recommend anyone seriously consider having a look-see at it.

Defintily a heavy duty work horse knife, arrived with a very sharp edge, I rated four stars only because sheath is a little complicated but on the other hand i love the included sharpener, but it is a bit bulky orderd my son the sog seal pup and believe I like it better for size and comfort, although the gerber is alot thicker bladed and probably could handle a bit better in a survival situation, the sog had a better overall feel.
IF your looking for a compact lesser "intense"use knife I reccomend something else but if your looking to dang near chop down trees then this is your knife