GERBERGear Paraframe

I originally purchased one of these at a sporting goods store for about $13 and loved it. I work in the IT field, and found it useful for opening packaging, boxes, stripping wires, as well as everyday household chores. Then sadly, I lost it. Searching on Amazon, I found this serrated/straight edge version (the original was straight edge only) and bought both this version, as well as a replacement for the straight edge only knife I'd lost.I've tried many, many small knives over the years, and this is by far my favorite. The blade is suitably sharp, the serrations are incredibly handy, and the size and weight are perfect for the pocket. Since the blade is only 2.25", "sensitive types" won't think of it as a deadly weapon. When using a reasonable quick sharpener, I've found this knife maintains a good edge. The locking mechanism can be a bit stiff to release, but the knife doesn't pop open unexpectedly in your pocket.There are a number of knives on the market which may ostensibly be rated as "superior" to this one, but the prices of those knives are hard on the budget. In short, this Gerber paraframe mini is an excellent compromise between price and performance.Update #1: After 2.5 years of non-stop use (and carry in my pocket) I still love this knife. It is very reliable, and the lockback still functions well with no sign of loosening. A quick few swipes with a quickie knife sharpener and you're back in business. It is really great for opening rigid plastic wrapped items. Insert the flat blade end to penetrate, then saw carefully with the serrated portion.

I love this knife, never leave home without it (really). For my money, this is the perfect EDC (every day carry) pocket knife. Fits in the coin pocket of a pair of jeans (I take the belt clip off, but I like having the option). It's very well made, super slim, super light, small, sharp & handy. The blade can be tightened or loosened with a turn of a screw or two, and the frame lock design makes it practically impossible for it to accidentally fold on you as far as I can tell. I carried the non-serrated version for over 2 years (it wasn't new, passed on, no idea how old it was) and it never failed (never rusted, either). I freaked when I lost it, was thrilled when I was able to find the same knife, ordered this replacement the day I lost the one I had. This is the exact same knife I had and I have no reason to think it will be anything less. I am ordering spares just in case some idiot somewhere decides to cancel the product line...I do have one suggested improvement - put the Gerber name on the blade. I didn't know who made the one I had, glad I found out :)

I love this knife. I’ve lost two in the Colorado River and worn out another by sharpening it every other week. Blade is durable but easy to sharpen. Build quality is on par with knives 4x the price. Lock is secure but easy to manage one handed. This is the best value knife available. Serrated section works very well on ropes and webbing.

Nice little knife, sharp, small, light, well built, nice clip, and has a locking feature to keep it locked in the open position. Which is nice, but actually I like prefer a knife that when you open it up you it automatically locks. Thats my only complaint but its not really that big of one. Great knife for the money and size so GET IT I am glad I did. I love the serrrated edge as well. Its hard to find a small knife like this with the the serrated edge, clip, and of great quality, great price. Look no further its a great knife !! GET IT I am glad I did ! :)

Great little knife!

I adore this knife. It is so small I can close my hand around it when folded and you cannot see it. But it has a nice, solid feeling to it with just enough weight to make it feel reliable and sturdy. It was nice and sharp out of the box and I am very careful when handling it. The body is very smooth, which feels nice, but does make it more slippery than a knife with a wood or textured body.The belt clip on mine is very tight. I have been meaning to fix that, but having it tight means I'm not worried it will get lost. I have had mine for about 3 months and probably use it once a day. I'm starting to think about sharpening it but probably won't need to for another month.(UPDATE: needs sharpening now, as compared to the 2nd one I bought).Opening and closing the knife: You will need both hands to open it. One hand holds the frame and the other uses the notch in the blade top to pull the blade open. It snaps very very solidly into place. The frame lock is very stiff, so I need two hands to close this safely.Because it is smooth and because there is no finger guard, I would not recommend this knife for applications where you need a lot of force to cut. This knife is great for opening boxes and packaging, and for cutting food and string. The serrated part is good for string cutting and also if I need a little more force getting through a cardboard box seam.Summary: I cannot imagine buying any other knife. I found the one that works for me, is comfortable to carry around, small enough not to alarm anyone, and fits my smaller hand well (I'm female, 5'-3"). Thanks Gerber!UPDATE: I bought another one as a gift, but then lost my first one so I kept the gift one. Then I found the lost one so now I have two. The new one is very sharp & doesn't have the serrations. The pocket clip has more give than the 1st one; I'm not sure if that is a plus or minus. Either way, they are both adequately tight.