You’ll find some naysayers who pick at the specs of the Gerber LMF II on paper, but first-hand experience says this knife is built to last and to perform. While the Prodigy is already quite versatile and suitable for various purposes, the LMF II’s additional length may make it perform better for heavy-duty cutting, slicing, and combat. It’s designed to be adaptable to the user. Unless the included sharpener will sharpen the serrated section, it’s nothing I want to own. The StrongArm’s small handguard doesn’t really allow for a thumb on the blade grip so the less comfortable square spine isn’t an issue. Thank you very much for a great recommendation about how to mount the sheath on the backpack strap using the original feature of the sheath! The multi-mount, snap-together sheath is easy to use and can be mounted vertically on MOLLE, horizontally on a belt, or in traditional drop-leg fashion. If it’s a weekend outing or an all-hands-on-deck  SHTF scenario you’re going to be happy you’ve got this knife at your side. I’m picky about everything, from the chilies on my meal to the feel of the cuff of my sleeve, but nothing irks my sensibilities and tastes more than a poor-quality knife. The Gerber LMF II black infantry knife is a beast of a survival knife and is made in the ole U S of A! This type of stainless steel provides really good resistance to rust and is very tough. I read this article a couple years ago when I was researching knives for potential carry on deployment or field exercises. I haven’t used it yet as I haven’t been on an exercise since then but it stands ready. The LMF II is what you need. So will es wohl verstanden werden, dann wird man damit glücklich. Although I’ve never tested it, the base of the handle is intended to be a glass breaker. Gerber LMF II. The rubber overmolded material is coated with a raised diamond textured pattern. Use the LMF II. The Gerber LMF II seems like it was made to say “Get bent” to all of those others knives and practically invites the wielder to abuse the hell out of the thing. The knife has a quirky bonus purpose; it features holes in the handle and the butt of the knife to be used as lashing points for a spear. That specific purpose resulted in the knife’s lack of a full tang. It doesn’t benefit buyers to “like everything” or to focus on every point as a negative and look for faults. Now, the only exception to this rule is the Gerber LMF 2. Horizontal Sheath. It tells me that stand behind your observations. As a young infantryman I fell victim to some clever marketing from Gerber and purchased the Gerber LMF II Infantry. I appreciate that you just wrote a completely honest, biased, and positive review for the LMF 2. Instant download! As always, any and all support is greatly appreciated. The sheath locks into this indent and holds the knife well. Sort by: Extreme Horizontal Sheath. This includes a MOLLE mount, a drop leg system, and a belt loop option for horizontal carry. Keep the knife cleaned, and oiled as the finish migrates and you won’t have any issues. Best Budget Gerber Knife. Now hold on, don’t turn back yet! He didn’t bring a sharpener for his pencils, so he used the LMF 2 for this tiny task and it worked admirably. You can read that crap anywhere. The LMF II Infantry has a fascinating story and was built for a very specific purpose you should check out here. The Gerber StrongArm resolves this issue. The StrongArm has a squared off spine that’s perfect for stripping bark, batoning wood, striking a ferro rod, and truncating wood. The box showed some signs of wear, but the knife is absolutely amazing. Lmf ii The Gerber LMF II is a very popular knife, a lot of people are very happy with them for survival knife duties. Das Gerber LMF II ist ein Allzweckwerkzeug, mit dem man sich durch so gut wie jede Materie durcharbeiten kann. The blade is coated with a cerakote black matte finish. I can’t say there is any one specific task this knife excels at. The Gerber StrongArm has 4.8 inch fixed blade made from 420 HC steel, is 9.8 inches overall, weighs 7.2 ounces and is proudly made in the United States. The StrongArm is proudly stamped made in Portland, Oregon. So will es wohl verstanden werden, dann wird man damit glücklich. Still by far my favorite knife I own. The blade is partially serrated, but don’t let that scare you away. Now if I were in a survival situation, I’d think twice about using my primary knife as an easily lost and damaged spear, but hey… I’ve never needed to hunt a wild boar, so this feature can be life-saving in the right situation. The StrongArm is one of many made in USA knives in their catalog and likely one that will be around for a long time It’s an excellent budget bushcraft knife. 3-5 inch blades generally use the smaller pouch model while 6 inch and up will use the larger full size tin pouch. It’s so secure that it makes the snap closures overkill. The StrongArm comes with options for both a serrated or plain edge. The StrongArm is a versatile capable, and affordable knife made in Portland, Oregon. outstanding quality. The blade is 420 steel, strong and almost full-tang (more on that later). Field tested with American troops, the Gerber LMF II Infantry - Coyote Brown was engineered in partnership with our country's bravest. I like to think things through and make sure I’m actually ready before I dump any amount of cash on a single purchase. On paper a plain straight edge is ideal, but the LMF II’s serration has been incredibly useful. Now 35% OFF! When I was slumming it, I used this knife as a hammer for two years (the damage you see near this hammering cap is from banging nails into walls). The little bit of give the rubber overmold offers results in a lot of comfort. Check the links below to compare prices. By removing that full tang the knife becomes safe to handle for these potentially life-threatening purposes. I needed a knife that I could rely on for constant abuse, and that’s what the LMF II has provided me. I don’t plan on cutting ship’s dock lines. Comes with approximately 40″ of black paracord if no attachments are ordered. Gerber’s LMF II is as adaptable as the personnel who carry it. Das Gerber LMF II ist ein Allzweckwerkzeug, mit dem man sich durch so gut wie jede Materie durcharbeiten kann. The blade is strong enough (and designed for) cutting through power cords and similar constructs. The active retention is a simple snap button thong. The little bit of give also allows the blade to mold to your hand just a bit. The over molded handle successfully limits blistering. Its handle is not full-tang. Fresh out of the box, and as well as the sheathed knife there is the PALS webbing clip, a horizontal belt loop adapter and the instructions. The one we’re talking about today is the Gerber LMF II, a fixed-blade knife built to last through a trip to Hell and back again. That’s generally the goal of dismounted infantry. A top-of-the-line custom KYDEX Horizontal sheath for your Becker, Cold Steel, Esee, Gerber, Ka-Bar, Mora, Schrade, or SOG knife. Starting at $73.00. The downsides to 420 HC is that it won’t hold an edge for long. The handle on the StrongArm is an interesting design. It’s always in the roster. It is relatively light weight compared to a hatchet, and the heavy, thick, and sharp blade chops like a beast. The LMF 2 has nearly a full tang, but it stops just before the butt plate to provided insulate protection against stray live wires. It stays sharp enough for cutting paracord, stripping wires, and slicing through clothing for some time. Rugged, versatile and unrelenting, the Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife is designed to be the ultimate survival tool. Thanks again for reading and commenting, I always love to read them! All rights reserved. Your email address will not be published. All it’s going to take is for you to get a feel for how it sits in your hand, and you’ll be hooked. … Starting at $210.00. One thing I have always had is a healthy respect for is a good fixed blade knife. The grip and handle are an awesome feel, a textured rubber and width that seemed like it was built for my mitt. In terms of fixed blades it’s actually somewhat small. As an aside, I carried this knife with me when my good friend took his Bar Exam. It can even be lashed to a pole to create a spear. The Steel: The powerful blade of Gerber LMF II Survival Knife is built with 420HC high-quality stainless steel. Or egress through the Plexiglas of a chopper. Gerber Gerber LMF II Infantry Knives, Black. Thanks for the aha moment! 15 full color in-depth survival, off grid and prepping guides. With the BMF (first made in 1986) being a big knife there was demand for a similar design but smaller. You’ll notice in my photographs that the snap closures intended to hold the handle to the sheath are simply neglected by me. Rating ... From everyday carry to utility uses on the job this D2 steel blade will quickly become your go to knife. Besides the built in sharpener (it’s good, I’ve sharpened kitchen knives successfully with it) the sheath has attachments designed for molle straps and an alice pack. It’s a half inch shorter than the LMF II Infantry, but has an almost identical blade length. The sheath allows you to carry the knife handle up or down and has security straps as well as the kydex clip to keep the knife where you put it when not in use. Sharpen It with this Little-Known Method, Best Pocket Knife Brands: 25 Quality Blade Makers To Consider, Spyderco vs Benchmade: Battle of the Blades, Survival Books and Movies For Education and Entertainment. The knife came in a small Gerber box. It’s been hunting, camping and fishing. I do find it slightly smaller than necessary, but to be fair I have XL sized hands. MOLLE compatible, rugged, and versatile, with a partially serrated blade that can also serve as pommel or a spear and a sheath that includes a built-in blade sharpener. Suddenly that full tang ain’t so worthwhile. This small Gerber pocket knife is made of steel and has a serrated edge, and is also available in plain and tanto edge variants.Its end-to-end metallic design gives it an intimidating (yet very appealing) appearance. Every weekend was another trip out fueled by beer, an open sky, and the earth underneath my body. It’s a lot smaller than the LMF II, but still capable enough to smash windows and skulls. Choose Options. The smaller grip isn’t much of an issue due to its design. The Chesapeake model is a horizontal Scout Carry sheath that can be custom built in small to large sizes to fit a wide variety of fixed blades. Required fields are marked *. We’ll finish this up talking about the brilliant sheath system Gerber included with the StrongArm. The sheath holds the knife securely in place and locks it solidly into a stable position. Gerber StrongArm Fixed Blade Knife with Fine Edge - Black, The StrongArm features a black handle and a fine edge, full tang 420HC steel blade, Ceramic blade coating and rubberized diamond texture grip, A striking pommel at the base of the handle breaks through hard surfaces, Four mounting pieces and sheath can be used for mounting on MOLLE, belt, or in drop-leg fashion, Proudly made in USA at Gerber's Portland, Oregon factory. This post contains affiliate links. In one camping session that knife has gone from chopping wood to sharpening pencils to opening cans of food to hammering in tent stakes to an unforgiving ground. WOW! Please consider that buying anything through any of the links on this website helps support BladeReviews.com, and keeps the site going. Over the last couple years I’ve been drawn back to Gerber USA made. Thank you very much. Well, man… that’s an entirely different feature by itself. Or sever a seat belt. The finish is tough, but will wear with time and effort like any finish would. Some folks would call me cheap, and they’d be right. Choose Options. Gerber LMF II Infantry Knives, Black (No reviews yet) Write a Review Write a Review. Best EDC Knives 3 Cheap Gerber Lmf 2 Survival Knife. The Paraframe Mini emerges as the hands-down winner in this category if you’re looking for an affordable / low-cost Gerber knife.. Popular knives typically have plenty of sheath options, but with Gerber you are getting all of them with the knife. Best Tactical Knives These are all excellent endorsements for the knife by itself, but its situational uses are where it really shines. This is a classic fixed blade knife that isn’t trying to revolutionize the standard military style survival knife. The knife has been used to hammer, pry, and dig and its taken a few hits to the finish as you can see. The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife also has a big flat surface area on its spine, for mallet complemented bushcraft which is done for smooth gripping. Choose Options. It can be attached to a belt, strap or MOLLE webbing quickly allowing you to have easy access to your knife. :thumb: That being said, I'm not sure it would be the best choice if you plan to do a lot of hiking mostly because of its bulk and weight. Works with the Gerber … For a survival knife you don’t necessarily need a razor sharp edge for day to day work. Gerber Prodigy has a total blade length of about 4.75 inches, which is slightly shorter than Gerber LMF II’s 4.84 inches. Starting at $73.00. The LMF II is a hefty knife and weighs in at almost 12 ounces (23 with the sheath), but it’s more of a reassuring weight than a cumbersome one. I also like the horizontal belt mount for mounting the knife vertically on my pack straps. It’s been useful for cutting rope and other material, has whittled more improvised ground pins than I can count, and has even been used to sharpen pencils when the situation demanded it. Even with a hatchet nearby, I’d rather use the LMF II for chopping through wood. I have lashed the knife to use as a spear point purely for experimental purposes. It’s one of those steels you sharpen before any really heavy duty cutting is needed. The Gerber StrongArm has 4.8 inch fixed blade made from 420 HC steel, is 9.8 inches overall, weighs 7.2 ounces and is proudly made in the United States. The blade is four hundred twenty HC stainless steel with a handle that is glass-filled nylon for durability and longevity. In terms of fixed blades it’s actually somewhat small. It is immediately obvious how much more streamlined Gerber have made the Strongarm compared to earlier knives in the line. And the sheath? 420 HC steel is a cheaper steel, and this is a knife on the affordable side. Gerber Gear LMF II Infantry – This is a sturdy fighting knife with a semi-serrated sharpening.LMF II Infantry – A versatile durable knife service for the military field service. The knife is available at several retailers. Note that Gerber LMF 2 does not provide you such choices; it has a combo edge with a fine edge on the front and a serrated-edge on the rear. It had infantry in the name so I couldn’t go wrong right? Check out our Ebook bundle. When you’re in a pinch, a cheap one will do, but if you’re expecting a blade to stand up to punishment and serve you reliably for years to come quality pays. When I purchased the Gerber LMF II I was at a high point in my camping life. If there is a different carry option you prefer please check out my other listings. Grizzly Elite with Foldover Piggyback Sheath. There are a few minor stains, scratches, and burns, but all things considered it’s in impeccable condition. The handle of the LMF II makes that a practical impossibility. This tool is as adaptable as the personnel who carry it. Bam, power, Gerber LMF II. 3.1 Top 5 Best Carbon Fiber Watches 2020; 3.2 Top 5 Best Backpacks 2018 (Backpacks for Hiking, Outdoor, Camping) 4 Buy Gerber Lmf 2 Survival Knife Online. When you draw from a standard belt carry sheath while wearing armor you are likely to get snagged on your gear in one way of the other. I’ve run it through the sharpener a handful of times and have never experienced a dull or ineffective performance. I saw an early YouTube reviewer who admitted he cut his hand on the knife while removing it from the sheath the first time, so I’ve been careful from day one. I was struggling with finding a suitable alternative way of how to do this, tried many kinds of mounting possibilities (using velcros straps, paracord, clips, …) but I couldn’t find a way how to deploy the default mounting option until I saw your picture showing that. Built from ultra-durable 420HC stainless steel, this knife is the perfect accessory for anyone needing a reliable all-purpose weapon and tactical workhorse. Excellent review of the Gerber StrongArm fixed blade knife and sheath. Sheath Gerber Strong Arm comes with a lighter, simpler sheath which has detachable belt hoops. The LMF II does a slick job cutting firewood and helping to build a shelter. I’ve had my LMF II for 12 years now. That is an excellent feature; a knife without a sheath is dangerous at the least. You’re here to see a hands-on, tried-and-true review by somebody who has actually put this thing through the grinder. The moulded plastic sheath is suspended by a webbing hanger. The Gerber LMF II was designed for US Special Operators, so the sheath is as much a work of art as the knife itself. Use it to cut through the skin of a fuselage. The LMF II served me well, but everything can be improved. It is a heavy knife and I’ve had dubious results with it, but that’s no reason to say it wouldn’t work in the right application. Primal Survivor ™, Disclosure: “As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.”Disclosure: “When you buy through links on our site we may earn a commission.”, All images © Primal Survivor. The weight of the knife feels great in your hand and can make its way through 2 inch tree branches without issue. I’ve put the sheath through about as much hell as the knife itself and it has survived perfectly intact. Choose Options. This is a classic fixed blade knife that isn’t trying to revolutionize the standard military style survival knife. LMF II has a glass-filled nylon handle, which makes it a more challenging knife to hold. All tasks the Gerber StrongArm can commit to with real force. Designed with a serrated edge, the knife can cut through anything you can imagine. For example, you can find Gerber LMF II to be a close copy of the Gerber StrongArm, but there are still many differences. Drawing horizontally from the belt prevents this. Use it to cut through the skin of a fuselage, sever a seat belt, punch through the Plexiglas of a chopper, or smash a car window. The Gerber LMF II is the successor to the popular LMF model. I agree that most reviews for an item leave the purchaser more reluctant than confident when they finally decide to buy something, especially when it comes to knives. You can use these belt hoops for horizontal carry. The older FDE StrongArm you see here has been used and abused hard for a year. Available mounting hardware includes Tek Lok, Molle Lok, or belt loops, etc., all available in the sheath accessories section. I’d rather have an edge I can easily sharpen. It feels great in your hand, and the sheath, knife, and leg straps all feel and look sturdy and durable. I do believe that it would be the best choice for an issue knife if the Army ever decides to issue them again, AboutContact UsSign UpHow We ReviewSitemap, Privacy PolicyTerms and ConditionsCookie PolicyDisclaimers, © 2021. It was delayed, a minus, but it certainly did build my suspense. It’s a textured grip, wide and flat; it fits perfectly in the hand and the handguard is an appropriate size to prevent slippage. Choose Options. Learn how your comment data is processed. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. The knife is too big for any kind of horizontal concealed carry, but it’s really great for a snag free carry while wearing armor. Gerber’s reputation was hit hard by imports of poorly made foreign knives, but they seem to be working hard to fix that reputation. Gerber’s StrongArm does just that: it is a classic fixed blade built for brute strength with a revolutionary sheath system that is the first of its kind. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. The Gerber LMF II was designed for US Special Operators, so the sheath is as much a work of art as the knife itself. We went camping to save money on hotel rates. It was really as simple as holding the knife to make that decision. The LMF II’s sheath can be carried on your belt, attached to a MOLLE vest, or fixed to standard web gear. I don’t really need the military features such as the electrically and shock isolated pommel or the strap cutter, but am leaning towards owning one for it’s brilliance in design. Besides the built in sharpener (it’s good, I’ve sharpened kitchen knives successfully with it) the sheath has attachments designed for molle straps and an alice pack. In all my adventuring near and far it hasn’t fallen out when I’m using only passive retention. I own a few of the now, out of production Prodigy’s in Coyote Tan with the fine (Plain) edge and love they way they look, feel, and fit in my hand. Sometimes it’s too firm of a grip. The sheath is also outfitted with plenty of lashing holes for those who aren’t satisfied with the included sheath options. For practical purposes it is a full-tang knife, but maybe closer to ⅘ tang. Even with a built-in sharpener the blade hasn’t required much care over the years. Gerber LMF II Grizzly Elite Sheath. It’s a half inch shorter than the LMF II Infantry, but has an almost identical blade length. Even with my large hands I still find the grip comfortable. It is a branded 25-year warranty. I’ve torn through my fair share of knives, fixed blade and not, and have only found two knives that I’d keep at my side in any situation. We may get paid an affiliate commission if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of the links on this web page. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Best Survival Knives Es ist primär kein Kampfmesser, kein Wurfmesser, kein Sägemesser, kein Messer für die Outdoorküche oder das Barbecue, auch wenn es notfalls alles mitmachen würde. Editor: I recommend purchasing the Gerber StrongArm at Amazon or BladeHQ. The knife is easy to carry, and perfect … This is a review based on more than six or seven years experience with the LMF II. When I made it to the store and actually handled the LMF II I was instantly sold, and immediately regretted waiting so long to purchase it. Removing the knife requires a firm grip and some effort. The blade is sharp out of the box and durable. I’d considered purchasing this knife for more than a year before I did. Have a piece of firewood too large for the firepit? The Gerber StrongArm is glass filled nylon that’s covered with a rubber overmold. The Gerber Prodigy is worth a look as its similar to the LMF II but a tad smaller and only weights a little over half as much as the LMF II. The knife is easy to carry, and perfect for those looking to trim as much weight as possible from their loadouts. The Gerber StrongArm is in many ways the successor to the Infantry, and is better suited to the infantry role. This story is what sold me on the LMF 2. While I may have been a victim of marketing, I didn’t feel victimized. The Sheath employs both passive and active retention depending on the mount being used. Very rugged build and the knife will not come out the sheath. The Gerber LMF II Survival Knife was designed to cut crew members free of a downed aircraft. The strongArm knife is more compact and easy to carry, as it is lighter and has a more comfortable grip. 420 HC steel can actually get impressively sharp if you know your way around a sharpening stone. The bottom of the handle is a small pommel. Best High Value Knives. Gerber put a lot of effort into making it work for any kind of vertical, horizontal, and inverted carry (I only found out about it because I was looking for horizontal carry knives specifically). I ordered my Gerber LMF II black survival knife four days ago. I know I’ve done that (repeatedly) and have almost definitely voided any and all warranties the knife was sold with. Filed Under: Camp Knives, Fixed Blade Knives, Gerber, Made in the USA, Rescue Knives, Survival Knives, Tactical Knives Tagged With: 420HC, drop point. Hey Frank, thanks for reading the article and the positive feedback! The hardware can also be changed from side to side to accommodate either right or left hand carry as your needs might change given your desired load-out. Literally. Squeezing it tight doesn’t result in much fatigue or pain. The StrongArm is a little lighter, a little shorter, and is more refined than the Infantry LMF II. Definitely a knife of varied utility. Blade Length: 5″ | Total Lengh: 11″ | Weight: 11.7oz. I prefer the plain edge. Gerber LMF II Infantry Knife, Black [22-41629] Amazon.com Price: $ 108.17 (as of 25/11/2020 17:24 PST- Details ) & FREE Shipping . Grips . Foldover Sheath - Large knives. The Gerber StrongArm is a great little knife, especially when you factor in a street price of around 50 bucks. Satisfaction Guaranteed! The StrongArm may not be the LMF II Infantry, but it’s a great knife, and a worthy successor to the LMF II. When it comes time to cut through thick materials you may need to run the blade over or through a sharpener a time or two before you go wild. The Gerber LMF II's retail history is quite vast as it's a popular knife that people adopt for survival and field carry, however it's design was ordered by the military commission to give Army helicopter pilots a better system for egressing a downed aircraft, and it's strictly built for that. The knives shown are the BMF 8″ saw-back, then a LMF, the LMF II, a Prodigy and finally the Strongarm. It performs … The sheath is great but it is quite bulky and cannot horizontal carry on your belt. Need to cut open a can of food? Starting at $108.00. That focus on versatility ends up holding the Ghostrike back, but it has created a tool that’s fun to play with if nothing else. The 420 HC steel does mean that once the finish is worn away rust may develop. In 1988 Gerber released the LMF (Light Multi-Function). This makes the grip ‘soft’ in the hand. Plus, the LMF II does a slick job cutting firewood and building shelter. The handle and base of the knife are made to be used as a hammer. The materials, shape and construction of this knife exist with to give the user the right balance of performance and affordability. There’s a purpose for this; the knife was built and designed to be used by United States Special Operators in wartime uses. There’s a reason for that. It’s sharp and cuts through man made material like it’s nobody’s business. Gerber's LMF II Knife is one of two accepted ASEK systems designed to help aircraft crew members cut their way free of downed aircraft and perform other survival tasks. But enough about specs and details. At least, that is how it characterizes LMF II Infantry manufacturer.