In this review the item was free and I get a commission for sales from the link in the blog but you will pay the same price as you would otherwise. Thankyou for helping to support the site.
The Gerber Confidant Jade Knife is a G10 and Bamboo handled drop point folding EDC knife with two deployment options for one handed operation while still being legal in most US States. The blade is inspired by the Nessmuk knife which is great for slicing and food prep as well as day to day tasks. The black DLC coating on the blade resists rust and the liner lock is sturdy. Overall a great EDC for under $50 from a trustworthy USA brand.
Full In depth Review
I didn’t think I would see a $50 contender to the Gerber Highbrow knife for a while so its great to see a different approach to EDC as a new offering from Gerber. Overall Ive been impressed with the Confidant Knife in testing and have only one suggestion to make it even better but Ill explain that at the end.
The Blade
The Confidant blade measures around 3 3/4 inches and the opening mechanism means it’ll be legal in probably all USA states. Its a drop point and the PVD onyx coating adds an additional corrosion protection. If you are asking ‘what type of steel it is?’ I don’t have an answer for you. Its hard to figure out from the info on the site but I can tell you I deliberately left it out in the wet for a few days and it maintained its keen edge without showing signs of rust.
I’m going to avoid the huge rabbit hole and 27 page ‘armchair expert’ online threads debating the ‘right’ steel for a knife and slap down my own personal view here. The USA is the largest importer of steel in the world and China is the largest exporter of steel in the world. The fact that we are seeing more Chinese steel in products in the USA should not come as a surprise. We are driving cars powered by Middle Eastern Oil. Get over it. I’m not saying definitively that this IS Chinese steel but the lack of a fanfare on its origin is noteable but shouldn’t be a deciding factor.
I’m well aware that there are a wide range of steels suitable for blades but one thing I know is there is no perfect steel for a blade. The choice of material depends on intended useage. Steel is a constant trade off between the ability to maintain sharpness and its resistance to corrosion and how brittle it is and likely to break. Tweaking other metals in the blend can get you an improvement in one of those areas but it usually comes at a cost to another.
My Dive knife I use in the sea is vastly different from a camp survival and skinning knife I use to cut food and split logs. They are both made from vastly different steel. When I see endless debates online about steel quality and the idea that imported steel is vastly inferior I tend to ignore them. I also tend to not take seriously anyone that says there is a ‘perfect steel’ for knives. There isn’t.
The Confidant Blade
The Confidant Knife blade has a steel that does a reasonable job in all three areas of sharpness retention, corrosion resistance and flexibility. When you include the fact that they do a superb PVD coating option on the blade ( that instantly protects you from corrosion) and that it is priced very competitively you appreciate the difficult design task Gerber have had to navigate. Yes there are better blades out there on better knives but they cost 2 or 3 times the price and I’m not convinced they are 2 or 3 times better. I also like how easy the Confidant knife is to sharpen.
The Nessmuk shape of the blade is a more striking feature and gives you an EDC that’s as good opening boxes and general day to day tasks as it is preparing food in camp. Overall the knife has a very satisfying visual aesthetic.
The ‘Cut paper test’
On my ‘cut through paper’ test I got about 45 slices before it got blunt which really isn’t bad at all. I’ve tested much worse from other companies. If I’m being VERY picky I noticed a small burr or irregularity on the sharpened edge out of the box but I found sharpening it easy.
Opening and Closing
You have two options to open the Gerber knife one handed. Firstly you can push the upper protruding thumb section to push the knife round in an ‘assisted opening’ style. Secondly there are small protrusions on both sides that allow you to push the blade open slowly with your thumb. Opening and closing required some effort out of the box but after a few days of use it loosened up to allow a swift and easy opening using either method.
Belt Clip
The belt clip works great and has an ambidextrous set up for right and left handers. Overall I prefer the clip set up on this knife to the Highbrow. The three hex screws beneath hint that the clip is removable too if you want. There is no lanyard hole. The black coating on the clip showed signs of wear quickly so I suspect this is just paint rather than a DLC coating.
How Does it Handle ?
The handle is made of G10 with a tidy grip pattern making it non slip. I chose the Jade color version as it makes the knife rather eye catching and easy to spot in a pile of tools and supplies I sometimes leave strewn across a work bench or desk. The jade color made me think of one area I think Gerber could improve this knife even more. The jade reminds me of luminescent watch hands and some of the gear I have that glows in the dark. Adding lume to this handle would massively improve it use as a camp knife because it would be easier to find in a dark pack or at night.
Verdict
The Gerber Confidant Jade Knife is a G10 and Bamboo handled drop point folding EDC knife with two deployment options for one handed operation while still being legal in most US States. The blade is inspired by the Nessmuk knife which is great for slicing and food prep as well as day to day tasks. The black DLC coating on the blade resists rust and the liner lock is sturdy. Overall a great EDC for under $50 from a trustworthy USA brand.
PURCHASE $50Features and Specs
Drop point blade with non-reflective black oxide coating
Unique handle with G10 scales and bamboo inlay
Dual deployment – finger flipper and thumb studs
Liner lock
Deep carry pocket clip
Length (open): 7.7″
Length (closed): 4.43″
Limited lifetime warranty
About Gerber
Decades of innovation and dedication have put us here. Renowned as a master of knives and tools, Gerber’s problem-solving, life-saving products are designed with the unique needs of specific activities in mind. Today that includes much more than a blade.
Founded in 1939 and based in Portland, Oregon, USA, Gerber is an American brand whose products have global reach and relevance. Carried extensively by hunters, soldiers and tradesmen, Gerber’s heritage runs deep. And we are now looking toward the future, where tomorrow’s problems will be solved by the next generation of innovations.
All Gerber products are designed and engineered in Portland, OR where many are produced. We also tap our global supply chain to create a wide range of activity specific gear for wide variety of consumers. And no matter what, every product that bears the Gerber name is backed by our famous lifetime warranty.
Quality, reliability, innovation. For over 70 years this is what our customers have expected from us. And whether our products are used to save time, save the day, or save a life, Gerber always delivers.
