By JM
I know, I know, everyone has the perfect survival knife. But if you are in the market for a new survival knife or if you just want a new knife take a look at what the Gerber LMF II has to offer. Before I purchased the Gerber LMF I did a lot of research on the various survival knives on the market and found that for the money, the functions the LMF knife offered made it the best choice. Also knowing it was made by Gerber made the choice easier. I have come to trust Gerber and have pretty much began carrying Gerber products exclusively.
The Gerber LMF does not have a full tang (it has a 3/4 tang). Many with extensive knowledge of knives would immediately be turned off after hearing that and initially I was one of those people. But after doing more research I finally got over that aspect and realized that maybe all fixed blade knives don’t have to have a full tang. Gerber didn’t forget the benefits of the full tang nor did they try to cut corners in an effort to save money, they had a very good reason for not making the LMF with a full tang. Actually they had two good reasons.
Reason one: This knife was developed for military use and Gerber recognized that there may be times that this knife would have to be used to cut live power lines. So the separation between the blade and the butt cap would allow that to happen without the user being electrocuted.
Reason two: The end cap has a flat area so that the knife can be used as a hammer. By having the separation between the blade and the butt cap, this allows the use of the butt cap as a hammer without the user absorbing the shock and vibrations of the knife.
The blade is very heavy and works well when chopping. As a matter of fact the weight of the knife and the weight of the blade specifically allows for a knife that was designed as a chopping tool. The blade has a half smooth edge and half serrated edge. Now many could argue the benefits of a smooth blade versus serrated blade but in a survival tool versatility is a nice feature. The blade (produced for military use) was designed for downed pilots to be able to cut though the fuselage of a plane so the quality and weight of the blade is impressive. Speaking of downed pilots escaping from a downed aircraft the tip of the butt cap is pointed – often referred to as a “skull crusher”. This design was added to allow downed helicopter pilots to be able to break the Plexiglas of the cockpit. It can also be used very effectively as an impact weapon – “skull crusher”.
The handle is an over-molded nylon designed to reduce shock absorption. The handle is very comfortable in the hand and provides a non-slip grip even when wet. The handle and butt cap also have three holes to facilitate the lashing of the knife to a pole or stick to form a spear. No need to try to wrap paracord around the handle to make a sturdy hunting or fishing tool, the LMF has already integrated that concept into the design.
As impressive as the benefits of the knife are the sheath has some pretty impressive benefits as well. The sheath is rigid and holds the LMF very securely. The rigid portion of the sheath is attached to a nylon base that allows the knife to be attached to a belt, MOLLE straps, or simply worn on a leg. The rigid sheath can be detached from the nylon base and used as a handle for the knife while using the butt cap as a hammer (to protect you from the blade while hammering). The sheath also has an incorporated knife sharpener. I don’t routinely use the sharpener but in a pinch it could be used very effectively in sharpening the smooth portion of the blade (but not the serrated portion).
Possibly the most impressive feature of the LMF is its solid construction. When I first held the LMF I was impressed with its weight and rugged design. I quickly came to realize I not only had a knife but an impressive tool. Many knives claim to able to be used as a hammer or for chopping but this was the first knife that I felt comfortable chopping and hammering with without the fear of it breaking.
Chopping, cutting, tearing, hammering, making a spear, or cutting through electrical lines the Gerber LMF does it all. Not only doing it all…but doing it well. If you want a knife that can do many things the LMF is the tool for you.
Specifications:
-Overall Length: 10.59 inches
-Blade Length: 4.84 inches
-Weight: 11.39 ounces
-Weight: 11.39 ounces
-Blade: Partially serrated
-Blade Material: 12C27 Stainless Steel
-Handle Material: TPV over molded on nylon
-Handle designed to reduce shock absorption
-Low-profile sheath to minimize interference
-Sharpener integrated into sheath
-Made in USA
-Lifetime Warranty
Very good Youtube demonstration:
Pick one from Amazon for $64.89.
7 comments
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I think there are better choices out there for far less money. The Schrade schf9 is one. You can pick this up for less then $40.00. 1095 carbon steel, full tang, flat grind. It’s a big chunk of steel, really heavy duty. I did a video review of this knife on youtube. Check it out at http://www.youtube/equip4survival.com
Author
Thanks for the video contribution and the comment. I’ll make sure to check it (the vid) out.
PJ
I am personally a Kabar man myself, but Gerber has done a great job on many of their products including this one. Great review! I will look into buying it to add to my collection.
Author
Good to know, thanks for the comment! Can’t hate on the old school Ka-bar, that’s for sure.
Yeah I agree with the other commenters – you could probably get a better blade for the same from a different company – check out Cold Steel – they are also high quality at reasonable price.
Author
Thanks for the tip on Cold Steel knives, my wife now has an additional item on my Christmas list to look at 🙂
A friend got this knife a while ago and when we went hiking we’ve put it to the test. As you said, initially I too was kind of put off by it not having a full tang. The 3/4 tang proved to be as durable as any full tang. It was really easy to chop wood because it has a nice weight to it and good balance. It’s a great knife for any outdoor enthusiast looking for a high quality tool.