The Gerber Scout Knife is an EDC and Trail folding knife that comes with a smooth bevel rotation and 440A steel drop point blade with a protective coating on the main part of the blade. With a lanyard hole, reversible pocket clip and window breaker safety feature you would be hard pushed to find a better quality all round knife for under $60.
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Gerber Scout Knife at a glance …
Grippy micarta handle
High bevel 440A drop point blade
Ambidextrous pivot lock
Pass-through frame
Glass breaker
Full In depth Review
First an apology to Gerber. I was sent this knife to test AGES ago and managed to lose it TWICE in testing. This is not an indication of how stealthy it is, its more of a sign that I used it so much over time that I kept leaving it lying around and couldn’t find it. I test a lot of folding knives for the site and as I write this I have this knife on me which says a lot.
Overall in the past I’ve been impressed with the Confidant Knife and Highbrow Knife from Gerber so I was curious to see if the Scout could offer anything new in the $50 to $60 dollar category.
The Blade
The Scout blade measures around 3 inches and the opening mechanism means it’ll be legal in probably all USA states. Its a drop point and the PVD coating adds an additional corrosion protection. If you are asking ‘what type of steel it is?’ Its made from 440A which means it balances a good compromise between hardness and ease of sharpening. In testing I didn’t have to sharpen it too often and I never saw chips or corrosion on the edge of the blade.
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 ‘Cut paper test’
On my ‘cut through paper’ test I got about 60 slices before it got blunt which really isn’t bad at all. I’ve tested much worse from other companies for knives that cost double the Scout does.
Opening and Closing
The pivot mechanism is super smooth and there is no stiffness out of the box. Its easy to open one handed with the help of the thumb hole on the blade.
Belt Clip
The belt clip works great and has an ambidextrous set up for right and left handers. The lanyard hole is an added feature at this price point that the Confidant blade doesn’t have.
How Does it Handle ?
The handle is made of mikarta with a tidy grip pattern making it non slip. If you don’t know what Micarta is you aren’t alone. I also had to google it. Its a resin type product similar to G10 but is has fabric set through it to add flexibility and strength. In testing I found it hard wearing and grippy and it may….may have got a bit lighter in color over time.
Verdict
If I’m looking at the three choices from Gerber in this price bracket I would probably choose the scout overall. Its slimmer than the Highbrow in the handle so when folded it takes up less space and it beats the Confidant with a smoother deployment mechanism and lanyard hole/ glass breaker. Overall a great folding EDC for $60.
Features and Specs
Grippy micarta handle
High bevel 440A drop point blade
Ambidextrous pivot lock
Pass-through frame
Glass breaker
Anti-rotation pocket clip
Length (open): 7.64″
Length (closed): 4.45″
Lifetime limited 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.
