Customer Reviews

Gerber 22-41830 EAB Pocket Knife, Exchange A Blade

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I carry this knife with me everywhere I go. I originally purchased it as a knife to carry at work, but it's always in my pocket and I use it multiple times a day. Even when the blade gets dull it still works great as a box knife. I've thrown just about everything at it and it's performed nicely. One of the lowest scoring reviews here states that the blades are hard to replace and the screw is easy to lose. As long as you have an ample flat surface you can replace the blade without fear of losing the screw. As for needing a special tool--I disagree. I've used my car keys before to replace the blade. The things I like most about this knife? The blades can always be replaced or resharpened without fear of screwing up the blade. You always have a backup blade because of the two-sided design of the blades. It's small enough to fit in any pocket. It will never rust (the body). I never thought I would carry a razor knife as my main, but it's true, I really enjoy this knife and wouldn't trade it for anything else. Unsafe? Any knife is unsafe in the wrong hands. Razor blade knives are very sharp and require extra care when in use. I've never accidentally cut myself with the knife. The only negative is you can't use it as a makeshift screwdriver because the blades are too flimsy, but that's a minor quibble. This knife is cheap, convenient and will last a lifetime. I highly recommend it.

I think this is a great knife. The blade can be changed to fit your needs. It needs minimal maintenance; just wiggle to blade to make sure it has a tight fitting. Very slim profile, fits anywhere; not bulky at all.

I haven't carried a pocket knife in about ten years. I use to carry a Leatherman at all times, but mainly used it for the pocketknife. Well, September 11th happened and I didn't want to lose my knife after forgetting to take it out of my pocket before heading to the airport. Forward to ten years later and a friend shows me this little gem... we spark up the conversation that I just mentioned and he notes that the blade is removable. So now I am not so worried about keeping this thing on me everywhere.. worst case scenario I take the blade out, trash it, keep the knife without a blade and replace it later. Nice!

This thing seems to be made really well. There is absolutely no free play in the blade, it stays where it belongs. It's small and light weight, fits great in the pocket or hanging on the pocket with the attached "money clip". The lock takes some getting use to, but it seems like a smart idea..

For the price you can't beat this knife.

I decided to purchase this knife as a replacement for the harbor freight model that i have carried for the last five or six years. The Gerber EAB is much smaller than any other folding utility knife that i have seen. I also have a craftsman a kobalt and another misc. brand of folding utility knives. The craftsman I carried for awhile after I misplaced my older harbor freight, but it was larger and heavier. I will attach a picture that shows this knife in comparison to an older HF. The gerber is well constructed and has a flawless surface finish. The blade is held in by a single flat head screw (which obviously requires a tool to change). The blade is held in place and has no free play or wobbling. This is a superior design to every other utility knife that I have ever used. I liked the craftsman, kobalt, and my old style HF because they have minimal free play. (they are not the push to release blade change - which i tried out with two other knives but returned because the blade moved too much), The only complaint I might have with this knife is the small size might make it harder to cut into stubborn items.

pros:
* Extremely well constructed
* Flawless finish on the stainless steel
* Absolutely no free play in the blade
* Small size
* Light weight
* The lock is seemingly impossible to accidentally release while cutting.

cons: (note that all of my cons are also pros)
* small size (this is a possible con - I haven't used the knife enough to see it as a down side)
* requires a screwdriver to change the blade (I carry and highly recommend the blunt nose mp600 by gerber. ) * edit - a penny can be also used
* the lock takes a little getting used to

I admit, I've bought knives and tools just for the fun of it! Or to see what they do. This knife though, is the one that really *works*. I carry it in my pocket, unlike some of the fancier and more expensive ones I have. Why?

1. It is slim. It doesn't weigh much, or take much space.

2. It is SHARP. Even if I use it for something stupid, like opening oysters or hacking through a piece of cardboard, and ruin the blade ... I can just replace the blade.

3. It is as safe as a sharp knife can be. It locks solidly in place, and doesn't slip in your hand. There isn't any special texture to the handle, but it somehow fits right and doesn't slip. This is a surprise to me, since some knives of this type tend to "wobble" or the extracted blade slips, which bothers me. Also, it doesn't come open accidentally.

4. It just feels nice. The metal feels well-made and solid.


I bought a second one on the cynical notion that anything this useful will probably be discontinued. Also I bought the "hook" blade, which I think will be useful for scoring chestnuts.

I saw one review that mentioned that the blade wasn't "quick change". True, it is not. This doesn't bother me, because I don't change blades all that often and also, the quick-change knives I've had don't seem to hold the blade solidly and are too thick.

I carried the stanley quickslide for 3 years, for work (retail). I was always looking for something slimmer and less bulky. Here it is. I find it so slim and small, I carry it most of the time. It's not just for work any more. It is a great pocket knife.

I have used the Gerber EAB for a little over a year. It is hands and down by far the best pocket knife I have ever owned. It's small, light weight, very solidly built, and very sharp. The fact that you don't have to worry about ruining the blade, because it's inexpensively replacable, is yet another notable quality of this knife. With traditional pocket knives I always worried about scuffing up the blade. With the Gerber EAB I can slash away at any material I want worry free. Nearly everytime Someone asks to borrow my knife for the first time they comment about how handy and sharp it is. I have people I work with asking to borrow my knife all the time. This knife is being used constantly throughout the day either by myslef or by a close by co-worker and, still, it functions like brand new. The pocket clip is securely attached, There is ZERO wobble in the blade, and it always locks open with a nice click. There isn't much more quality you can buy for $10. If you are thinking of purchasing this knife, DO IT, you will not regret your purchase.

Final note:
The materials cut tend to vary from zipties and other plastics, carboard, wire, tape, lots of clothing (we use recycled clothing for rags at my job), and rope daily. I also use this knife to scrape areas of paint and salt or corroision build up, typically, only a couple times a week.

This is the updated version that prevents the blade from slipping back into your hand in case it gets loose. And like someone else said, a dime will fit in the screw slot. My hands are big, so my index finger stays on the finger guard that covers the blade, and I can grip it pretty hard this way. Wish I had this knife years ago!

I have to carry a utility knife for work at all times, for breaking down boxes and opening packages. This gerber is absolutely the lightest and smallest possible means of having this on me at all times. I completely forget it's there until I need it which is exactly how a pocket knife should be. Other folding utility knives are heavier and some part on them is inevitably sharp or rough and has ruined my pockets. No utility knife is safe by the nature of being razor sharp, but the finger guard on the blade is more than sufficient. Having the extra amount of blade showing actually helps me break down boxes easier.

This is a great little knife. Several people have mentioned the recall and while that is true, the newer model I bought from amazon is redesigned so the blade can not slip when applying extreme force. I'd say that any utility knife, and any knife for that matter has a limit to how much pressure you can safely apply before something gives. I have used a hammer to force a basic utility knife through material I was "cutting", (only while using extreme caution, and I own a dozen or so, I'm a general contractor,) Another complaint was that it can open in your pocket (or purse?! who has this in their purse?!) All I can say is that any knife, even with a lock to keep it closed has the potential to open in your pocket, and caution should always be used when keeping any sharp object on your person or while in use. In other words, don't forget you have a razor sharp object next to your leg, pretty simple to remember. This is a perfect low profile knife to carry that you never need to worry about abusing, (at least the business end.) It's cheap, sturdy, and a great addition to any toolkit or tradesman.