Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade
by Gerber
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Gerber 22-01629 LMF II Black Infantry Knife with 4.8-Inch Blade
Customer Review: A Well-Designed Survival Knife
Summary: 5 Stars
For those not interested in details: "It's a great knife."
For those interested in details: The blade steel is 12C27 - comparable in toughness (durability in rough use) and hardness (edge retention) to 440A. It's a good blend of both qualities.
The construction is not full tang but push tang; however, this does not appear to affect its structural integrity. The LMF II is constructed in this manner in order to give this particular knife an insulated handle. This means that you can cut an electrically "live" wire without fear of injury. The story you might have heard already about this knife is a true one - this is the knife that allowed an advanced marksman team to cut a live electrical line in Afghanistan powering insurgent search lights that would have given their position away.
Since 12C27 is a stainless steel, maintenance is minimal as is the probability of corrosion. The blade takes quite a good edge and shows good edge retention also. As a matter of fact, I was quite surprised at the edge retention. I recently spent near three hours outside doing some hacking on some light, but woody, brush. When I had finished, the blade had dulled only slightly. The blade coating also held up very well and showed no flaking, chipping, scratching, or dusting.
As to sharpening, this steel was very easy to sharpen, and it takes a decent edge too. The sharpener built into the sheath works very well on the blade and will restore the knife's edge with only a few strokes. NOTE: Since part of the blade is serrated, this sharpener is limited in its ability - it can only sharpen the non-serrated part of the blade. Sharpening the serrations should be done using a diamond rod or a similar sharpening tool.
The handle design looked funny to me a first - didn't seem like a good design, but, thankfully, it's only looks. For starters, the grip is made of Kraton (rubber-like) and offers a very secure and solid grip. As to comfort, my hand only started hurting after the first two hours of cutting, and that was minimal pain... but I'll admit after three, it was plum tuckered out. :) In other words, it was a very comfortable handle.
The "skull-crusher" butt (steel projection below the handle) is also insulated, so don't worry about getting shocked though there either. It is also designed to function as a make-shift hammer by using the top side of the butt as a hammer head.
The three holes in the knife (two in the guard, one in the butt) are intended for lashing the knife to a rod for use as a spear. The hollows or concave indents/depressions in the handle are also designed for this purpose and allow a lashed pole to fit snugly against the knife handle.
The blade performs well at light chopping (provided you make contact with the non-serrated part of the blade). Light chopping accounts for a large portion of outdoor/survival work with a knife. Heavy wood cutting should be done with a saw of some kind (wire saw, folding saw) or an axe. The serrations also function very well and are useful in many ways - cutting rope being a big one. The serrations do seem a bit more "aggressive" than some other knives and seemed to make the work go faster.
As was already mentioned, the sheath has a built-in sharpener that works well and is easy to use. All you have to do is stick the blade in and pull it back out a couple times - you don't have to worry about the blade angle, because it's all taken care of for you. Overall, the sheath is very well made. The different carrying options are very nice and allow you to carry the knife on your thigh (using the leg straps - "drop-leg" style), on your belt (disconnect the leg straps), or on a MOLLE vest or pack.
This is a great knife for utility/survival purposes at an affordable price. Though I would love to buy a Fallkniven A1 or Odin or a Busse or a Randall, etc., the Gerber LMF II is a much more budget friendly knife, and it still exudes quality while serving its purpose very well. You really can't go wrong with this knife.
Another note of import, Gerber's customer service has a good reputation overall. I have heard numerous accounts of professionalism in regards to their customer service - paying for shipping, replacing an item, etc.
Customer Review: Best all around survival knife out there for the money!
Summary: 5 Stars
I did a lot of research before I picked this knife for my primary outdoors knife. The Gerber LMF II series is packed with everything one would need in an emergency situation.
First, the knife is made with a thick high-quality full-tang stainless steel blade. This is essential to holding up to use, abuse, and the elements. It is AMERICAN made in Oregon, and lacks the problems with blades made in China. It is a good size for most tasks although chopping large pieces of wood will be a bit of a chore, but it is possible. The partially serrated blade is also great for cutting rope. The handle is very comfortable and easy to grip, but a little thin, which may be a problem for some folks. The pommel is designed for use as a hammer, and has a pointed end that was designed to break plexiglass. This point would also be great for busting open shelled creatures for food or nuts.
The sheath seems to be a sticking point for a lot of folks, but I have no problem with it. It has a great rubber coated polymer body for grip when the knife is used for hammering. It also has a built in replaceable ceramic sharpening system that is essential for keeping a working edge on it in the field. The sheath attaches to a nylon strap that allows for multiple carry options including MOLLE gear. Take the leg/calf straps off and the sheath is really pretty compact considering its purpose. There are two snap straps to help hold the knife in place and there is an integral clip that really holds the knife secure. In my opinion the bulk is worth the extra options and durability. What good is a knife if the sheath is not durable enough to hold up to use and abuse, or falls off?
A couple of other great features include the extra holes that make it easier to lash it to a pole for use as a spear, which may seem a little silly, but in a survival situation, the ability to spear fish or game is a real help. The pommel is isolated from the blade which does two things: 1) It absorbs shock when using the knife for hammering 2) It protects you from a shock if you cut into a live electrical wire since it is insulated (an intentional design feature). I have seen a torture/destruction test of this knife and it held up extremely well, especially for a knife under $100. It has also been adopted by the U.S. military for air crews and is in the ground in the Middle East, which is no better testament for me.
This knife is a workhorse and will serve you well for camping, backpacking, and emergencies. Don't hesitate to buy this one.
Customer Review: Excellent survival knife
Summary: 5 Stars
I read a lot about this knife here and on knife forums. I hold Gerber in high regard and the price here is excellent, so I ordered one. Amazon shipped it long before they promised and it arrived quickly.
I'm very happy with the LMF II. The steel is the same excellent 420HC Stainless as my beloved Gerber Mark II and the LMF II arrived shaving sharp. Fit and finish is typical Gerber - excellent! The handle fits my medium-sized hand securely and comfortably, and its soft coating keeps it tight in your hand in wet conditions. The "jimping" on the handle rise at the hilt provides a useful thumb rest to leverage while cutting. The knife's a bit heavy, but the balance is great and the build sturdy. The point at the bottom of the grip would make short work of a Plexiglas canopy or window.
The sheath setup is obviously designed for MOLLE gear, but it has a variety of attachment means. I found the leg strap too tight, but it does have a stretch section. The straps also have 6 rubberized thread lines that run lengthwise in two sets of three stitch lines each. These nicely keep the straps from sliding when in use, especially for calf-carry. The built-in sharpener works and will be handy in the field. The quick-release works great, making the two handle restraints almost unnecessary.
Speaking of the handle restraints, the bottom one seems too short to go around the handle near the bottom of the palm swell. Contrary to what others have said here, it DOES stretch. Simply push the knife into the sheath almost to the hilt, but stop short so that the offending restraint will snap closed in the narrow area between the hilt and the palm swell. Once snapped, push the knife the rest of the way into the sheath while working the closed restraint up the palm swell. Leave it sit overnight. That's it! After that, the restraint will be tight but will snap normally.
Overall, this is a great knife with excellent steel that really holds an edge. It upholds Gerber's reputation for high quality cutlery and should last a lifetime. I'd go with a different sheath myself, but this one has enough attachment options to work OK. If you use it on MOLLE gear, you'll be delighted with the sheath's options.
I didn't think that I'd see this day, but the LMF II has replaced my beloved Mark II as my primary field knife.
Customer Review: Great design, great knife, great service
Summary: 5 Stars
I love this knife, nice and sturdy, and fits great in the hand. The sheath is also well built, with a lot of carry options. This knife is built for military survival use, so it's built rock solid.
The paperwork included /w the knife is a bit sparse, it only shows the various carry options. One thing you may not see in the pictures on Amazon, is the sheath also has two handle straps, which are VERY tight. So tight I could not get them snapped. I went to Gerbers' website, and contacted support via email. They promptly replied, with information, the solution and other suggestions!
This is what their reply was:
Thank you for contacting Gerber Blades regarding your LMF II Sheath Issues. This knife is hugely popular with our Government Agencies and because of the strict testing requirements of this product; the sheath must pass a 10-G Gravity Test to withstand severe warfare conditions.
Gerber is aware that the straps may be extremely difficult and are working towards a resolution. However, there is a way to "stretch" the straps, making them easier to use.
Make sure both straps that contain the snaps are "unsnapped" and open
Place your LMF II Knife fully into the sheath
Extract your knife back out of the sheath about a half an inch
Snap both straps around the smaller portions of the knife handle at this point
With the snaps fastened, push the knife back into the sheath
Allow approximately 24 hours for the straps to stretch
After about 24 hours, your straps should have stretched to a more appropriate size allowing for easier functionality of the product.
To enhance the extraction of your blade with more ease, add a drop of oil on the inside hilt (tongue) of the sheath. The handle will rub the tongue with less friction and should extract much easier.
Now that is customer service, plus their website help section is top notch!
This knife is going to be tested next time I go camping, so I will keep this review updated. So far I highly recommend this knife.
Customer Review: Ugly yet beautiful
Summary: 5 Stars
I got myself this knife for Christmas 2008 and have been carrying it every time I go hunting ever since. I wanted a very rugged survival knife for hunting, camping, and the coming revolution. I think this knife fits the bill. I have had a gambit of other knives in the past which I've carried and used for different hunting/camping applications. I must say I feel safest with this knife on my ankle. I've used a Winchester 4" folding buck knife, Ka-Bar 4" Hunter, Folding Remington Sportsman, Folding Gerber Gut hook Gator, Multiple Swiss Army Knives, and an Ozark Trails fixed blade 5" knife.
I wouldn't recommend trying to dress a squirrel with this knife, which is why I still carry the folding Winchester folder. But the Gerber will accomplish all other jobs. I haven't used it as a hammer and still don't recommend it as this is a knife, not a blunt object. The LMF 2 is very balanced and fits well in my hands... the grip is comfortable and I would not recommend this knife if you have small hands as this handle is rather broad.
The sheath is awesome for leg carry, waist carry or on your chest if you have a MOLLE vest. Very versatile.
No one in their right mind would use this sharpener included in the sheath unless no other options exists, but this is not to say that that would be the case in a survival situation. So it's a good idea, but fine honing of a blade is always better down bench side with precision sharpeners not this one.
Overall not the sexiest knife, but you wanted functionality over looks right? Otherwise why would you want a survival knife?
5 stars only because they don't have 4.5, due to the large size of the knife for most hunting applications, but if you're looking for a bada#% survival or Combat knife that is built to withstand any situation; remember Gerber worked with the military to design this knife to their standards.
Bottom-line: Buy this as a survival or combat knife not an everything knife... nothing like that exists. (It opens any kind of Christmas presents very well too.)