Customer Reviews

Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife

5 star:		(96)
4 star:		(27)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just got this knife and I must say I am impressed. I debated on buying the larger LMF model because of the overwhelming review rating...that being said I am glad that I saved $25. The only difference really between the two is the ability to make a spear and lash the LMF to a pole, a built in sharpener, and a hammer like surface. The Prodigy may not have these things but it is well balanced...heafty...has a great grip in your hand...and the sheath is very adjustable....So if you want the beef of the LMF without the price...The Prodigy is a great survival...bushwaking, backcountry knife.

I have the big brother to this knife, the LMF II. This one is slightly smaller and doesn't come with that immense sheath, but is a solid knife in its own right. The grip is very comfortable and fits my hand well. In my opinion, a good grip is as important as a good blade because you can easily open your hand if the knife slips.

Out of the box, the blade was sharp enough to shave my forearm. It's a good weight -- not very heavy -- but feels solid. It does just about everything as well as the LMF II, except that it's just a touch lighter and shorter.

My usual knife test is to grab a couple coconuts from my neighbor's tree and see how easily I can open it up (carve the top off, open a hole to drink, carve a spoon from the husk, then chop it open). I did the test with this one and am happy to say that it did the job beautifully.

Next, I have this mutant tree in my back yard that grows like crazy. When green I can chop one branch with two swings from my machete. This knife took four to five hits but cut cleanly.

The Prodigy is actually a better bargain than the LMF II if you don't plan on "egressing" from a aircraft anytime soon. My "combat" experience is mainly waging war against the foliage, but I'm happy to have this knife during the fight.

Gerber 22-41121 prodigy survival knife;
This is one knife i wish i had bought sooner. It's balance is good the grip is great and the sheath sold me i can attach it to my molle vest or my drop leg in just a few min, according to my mission HOOAH 2GERBER you did an awsom job on this blade, A knife must be able to endure what task the buyer will be using the blade for surely it's not a crow bar.The seratted edge comes in handy, Better than most i've used it's great to use when cutting rope,small branches for Camo,Bone and those small serations come in handy for triming wire or det-cord.I;m in the military and i use my blades GO 29th ID/L

The thing I like about this knife is that it can be used for multiple things: cutting, chopping, sawing, hammering, and as a window punch. I think the size is perfect(a little smaller than the LMF2). The sheath is okay. Its starting to split a little around the top edge. It only comes with one leg strap(if that matters to you) but I use my belt for the top and the one leg strap for the bottom anyways. I wish it had a spot on the back of the blade that could be used as a striker for a fire starter. Its durable, the handle is comfortable, its easy to sharpen, and I like the weight of it. If you're looking for something that is bigger, heavier, and that comes with a great sheath(Integrated sharpener,two leg staps, and a saftey knife), then go with the Gerber LMF2 for about $25-$35 more. Hope you found this helpful.

I spent several days if not weeks researching tactical knives before my last deployment and the Gerber Prodigy kept coming to the top of the list. After 7 months in Afghanistan, I think I found the ultimate tactical knife (not that that will keep me from buying more though, they are just plain fun). On previous deployments I had carried K-bars (tanto and classic), and the OKC bayonet. All great knifes, but lets be realistic, we are not fighting hordes of enemies in the jungles anymore. For urban carry I found them difficult to use, noisy, heavy and hard to carry comfortably. Folders never lasted more than a couple of months of field use, and daggers, though by far my favorite knifes, are for one purpose only. So I was looking for something that would fit the bill as a tactical knife ready for combat in an urban environment and tough enough to survive deployment use.

The Prodigy is IT. This knife is nearly indestructible, has a wicked sharp blade that retains the edge excellently, and it is perfect in size: big enough to use in combat and small enough so that it is easy to maneuver in confined spaces and do more "delicate" work with it, and this puts the prodigy over the LMF for me. The weight is greater than you would expect for the size, but less than a full size combat knife.

My second point in selecting the knife was the sheath; it can make or break an otherwise great knife. This sheath is damn near perfect. It can easily be adjusted to go anywhere. I wore it strapped to my leg on my pistol holster most of the time, but attached to the lower back you cant even feel it either. The size makes it comfortable to wear anywhere on the plate carrier or LBV, and the friction-release holds it securely, and quietly, in place even in upside-down wear. The friction-release also makes this knife completely silent to deploy.

Other pros are the rubber handle and window-punch. The handle is big enough to be easily used wearing gloves and the rubber groove will keep it secured firmly in a sweaty hand or in rain. Although the window-punch won't do anything to armored windows, it can provide a less lethal alternative to control a subject.

All in all, I highly recommend the Prodigy for military deployments.

this is a great knife. i used it for camping and i take it hiking.
it's a well made, strong knife. i also have the gerber lmf II which
is probably better for camping but the prodigy is light enough for
hiking. overall great quality for the price.

exactly what i needed. nice and sharp, nice sheath. it also has a good weight and nonslip grip on the handle. if you need a knife to take camping or anywhere you are gonna be roughing it, this knife will get the job done!

I bought the Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife and I have to say this is a really impressive knife. Gerber is known for quality so I knew this one would be good. After a ton of research, I settled on this one. I considered buying the LMF II knife from Gerber but the differences are somewhat small and I felt this one was a better buy based on the price difference, all things considered.

In case you are comparing this to the Gerber Bear Grylls knife, buy this one. Some of the reviews on the Bear Grylls knife indicated that there are some quality construction issues there.

First, this is a full tang blade from Gerber made from U.S. 420HC stainless steel, so right off the bat it's designed right from someone who knows how to make a good knife. The sheath is impressive and holds the knife very securely. Strap is rugged and will hold up to serious abuse. Black oxide coating looks impressive and is a functional plus. Molle compatible. Feels very solid and secure in your hand. The over-molded handle feels very good. Window punch is solid and functional. This knife should handle pretty much whatever you need it to do. Based on the fact that it's a Gerber you know it is quality. Sharp out of the box. Highly recommend.

UPDATE: I took this on a winter survival camping trip recently. Works very good and takes a lot of abuse. Was able to use it for light chopping and cutting kindling. Had some fun whittling a stick for cooking with. Took it on the trail. The only downside, if there even is one, is that the blade length could lean a little on the short side. This wasn't really a concern or problem for me though.

Gerber Prodigy CSK

I have used the LMF II before in training, and decided it was a little too beefy for my smaller hands. Don't get me wrong, the LMF is a great knife, and you really can't go wrong when you buy Gerber (I now own five knives by that brand). So, in lieu of my small mitts, I elected to give the Prodigy a try. Overall, I would say I'm extremely impressed yet again with my Gerber selection. Ounce for ounce, this knife is a little beefier than it appears, yet very comfortable. Very sharp and clean out of the box. I intend on bringing this and an LMF on my next deployment April 2010. For the price, you will have a good, solid knife suited for all types of small tasks, as well as combat and self-defense. My only two (very small) gripes would be the lack of a sharpener, which you can find anywhere else for a small price, and the sheath is kind of weird... it looks like you should be able to take the molded plastic part off of the actual sheath, but it is screwed in near the top. I know these are small issues, and in the long run don't affect the knife in any negative way. I would highly recommend this knife for the price, as well as any tools from the Gerber selection. The Gerber Prodigy is no different. Do yourself a favor, and buy this knife.

This knife is the perfect fit for hunters, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The full tang design ensures ruggedness and rigidity and the sheath design is outstanding. With free super saver shipping from Amazon, this is a great value for a fixed blade utility / survival knife.