Gerber FASTBALL - iReviewGear.com

Gerber FASTBALL

By Cory McLaughlin

Just the Facts:

The Fastball is an American-made EDC knife that lives in the place where precision and polish meet. The trend forward yet practical design has an intuitive finger flipper opening, a utilitarian wharncliffe blade, and an aircraft-grade aluminum handle. Equipped w/ B.O.S.S. Tech™, the Fastball lives up to its name offering quick, smooth deployment – every time.

Features

S30V Wharncliffe blade
Ball bearings for consistent action
Precision detent provides “lightswitching” operation
Easy-off Liner Lock release
3-position clip
Blade length: 3.0”
USA Made
Limited lifetime warranty

Specification

Product Number

30-001610

Length

7.1 in

Weight

2.7 oz

Speaking directly to the EDC [everyday carry] community, the Fastball offers premium American craftsmanship within reach for daily use.

If the knife you carry says something about you, make sure it’s something worth saying. The Fastball comes in 3 eye-catching colors to complement your style: Flat Sage, Urban Grey, and Black.
An EDC knife should be intuitive to use, safe to deploy, and never waver – enter ball bearings. The Fastball’s B.O.S.S. Tech means stable and consistent deployment, it’s tested and built to work every single day.
Ambidextrous carry is an option with a 3-position pocket clip – switch it up as needed or remove it entirely.

B.O.S.S. TECH™

Balls of Stainless Steel technology leverages a ball-bearing system, providing Gerber’s smoothest, most consistent deployment to date. Stainless steel balls reduce friction for seamless opening every time. The cage system is designed to keep the balls contained for stable performance over the long haul.

My Story:

The pocket knife. There is not an outdoorsman alive that has not used, or at the very least wished they had a pocket knife. A knife is an essential piece of gear for just about any outdoor enthusiast. A knife crosses the bonds of political or moral conflict and it unites people in its universal usefulness. I guess what I’m trying to say is that not all knives are weapons, at least not by their intended use, just as not as sticks are spears. A knife is a tool, and as such it’s something that is far more common than some might think.

With all the knife companies out there how do you choose the right knife? That is a great question and one that I think is less complicated than it needs to be. I tell people that ask me that question to think of the first knife company that slams to the front to their mind and then go from there. Choosing a knife that fits your personal needs it the most important part and when searching for a quality knife you would be remiss to overlook Gerber Knives. Gerber has a very strong reputation among the knife welding folks of the world and for good reason. Gerber offers knifes in a plethora of price points and styles that are sure to fit any need.

When I was looking for a new EDC (Everyday Carry) knife I knew I had to stop by the Gerber booth at the Summer OR show. During my time at the booth I was introduced to the Gerber Fastball and I knew it was something that I was going to have to test. This knife just felt awesome. I loved how quickly the blade sprang into action and the overall feel of the knife was fantastic. I was also a huge fan of the blade design as it was unique in comparison to my other knives.

The B.O.S.S. Tech ball bearing system provides a very smooth opening. I did notice that the blade is a little sticky at first. Some folks have rated this as a bad design but I think they have it all wrong. Sure there is a bit of a hard spot when first opening the knife but I think that is for the best. The resistance helps to keep the knife closed while in your pocket. How awful would it be if your blade became exposed while in your pocket? I am willing to bet that the same people that complain about that “hard spot” in the action of the blade would also be the first to file a lawsuit if the blade caused them injury because it just popped open in their pocket. I mention this because I don’t think it’s a valid complaint and when shopping for a Gerber Fastball I am sure you will come across some bad information regarding this topic.

The Fastball has a 3’’ Wharncliffe blade. What the heck is Wharncliffe? Well it is a blade design from the early 9^th century that is still around today, which should tell you something of its usefulness and practicality. A Wharncliffe blade has a straight cutting edge all the way out to the tip. This is great for when you need precision cutting, such as digging out a splinter, or possibly some fireside wood carving.

The Gerber Fastball blade is made of S30V stainless steel. S30V is a tried and true steel that is widely used by most of the top knife manufactures in the world. S30v will give you both strength and corrosion resistance while also holding a very acceptable edge. You will be happy to know that both the steel and the Wharncliffe design make sharpening this knife a very reasonable task. The Gerber Fastball is a knife that is made with quality materials and designed to perform. What more could you ask for?

I have used this knife for several months now and it has become my favorite EDC. I have cut rope, wire, paper, branches, tarps, elk meat, apples and so much more. The Gerber Fastball is a great knife in my opinion and one that I believe you will enjoy too. You can also buy with confidence as Gerber offers their limited lifetime warranty so you know you will be taken care of in the event that an issues arises, though I believe that to be very unlikely. Fine job once again Gerber!