Good evening all, first off, have a happy & safe holiday weekend. Second, on to my question:
I am looking for real world experience with the Gerber LMF II knife. ONLY that knife-I have several (ok, like 10) knives kicking around, a couple of custom ones, but have had my eye on this one for more than a year. I have hemmed & hawed about picking one ever since since I saw one. Now, I would like to know how many folks here have used them, had them, have them, whatever. And, I am looking for the goods AND bads. I have read a lot of reviews on the knife, but value others members opinions here moreso than anonymous users online. I am not concerned about the price-and, I know it is SS, which is usually my second choice for knife material. What I am interested in, is when used for every day camp chores-chopping, cutting, whittling, etc-is it comfortable? Does this knife stand up to all the positive reviews I have read online? I am knife savvy, to a point (ok, couldnt resist the pun!), so comparisons to other knives is fine; I just dont need the standard "carbon steel is a better blade choice" arguments. I have a few carbon blades, that I adore, and ALWAYS go with me outdoors. I am just looking for something a little different, but robust.
So, tell me your stories with this tool; good, bad, ugly, funny, scary, whatever. Thanks in advance!

My brother recently got one, and let me tell you it's a HEAVY knife.

We haven't put it through the tests yet but it's beastly and has the weight to go along with it.

It's a rather large fixed blade knife thus I don't think you'd enjoy whittling with it, maybe a short while.

When we get around to it we will be comparing it to my RAT-7 as they are pretty similar size wise and are both purchased with the same things in mind.

I have one. It is what the M9 Bayonet was supposed to be. It is tough as hell, and just as hard to sharpen.

Having said that, I love the fact it will do almost anything. If I was still drawing Uncle Sam's money, it would be my only choice.

PM me with any questions.

Hi Oldsolider,

I lusted after the Gerber LMF II knife for a long time. I read all the reviews and finally ordered the brown handled version from Smokey Mountain Knife Works last spring. The knife is just as discribed; heavy, tough, insulated and would be an excellent survival knife. But I have not even used it yet!

I am in the bush 3 or 4 days a week and find that I am better served with a smaller thinner blade for everyday tasks and a larger cutting tool (short machete, brush hook, axe, folding saw, chainsaw) for the big jobs. I just do not want the weight/inconvience of a heavy blade on my belt all the time.

I also have an Cammilus/Becker BK7 that is unused for the same reason.

I really like the Gerber LMF II, I just have not found the occaision to use it (I hope that makes sense)?

Mike

Mike - I am in the same position. I was going to get the LMF II but after seeing my brothers and after having the Rat-7 for a couple years now realzie I don't use the "BIG BLADE" nearly as much as I would have thought.

I carry on my waste a benchmade nimravus in m2 steel and the blade is thin enough and shaped to be used as stabbing weapon, it's light enough and comfortable enough to be used to whittle in camp or carve things out of and its big enough to do minor bush work, or if you are lucky it can be used to skin a fish or gut animals with ease. For anything else I use my small axe or machete. The Nimravus in m2 can be sharpened to a razors edge and it seems to hold good so far too.

I think if you had to have one heavy duty cutting tool that served a lot of purposes then the LMF II fits that purpose very well. Although I`m not too sure how good it would serve as a protection blade for stabbing or slicing for that matter... blade is FAT, and thick.

For a backpacker, hiker or average outdoorsmen I think a skinnier and thinner fixed blade knife that can serve multiple purposes and a small blade for detail work (SAK) and an axe serve one much better

Oldsoldier, I have not used that knife much myself but I bought one for a friend of mine and had a chance to play with it for a couple of days.

First off, it's one big, hefty knife for something with less than a 5" blade. In theory, that's a good size for a utility blade but the LMF II is a little overbuilt to the point of feeling off. The handle is relatively plain and smooth. I'd prefer something with a better texture. There are holes in the handguard and pommel to lash the knife to a pole. I see no practical value in that feature myself but ok, it's there. The pommel sticks out pretty aggressively. I'm no fan of a "skullcrusher" pommel. It can be dangerous if you fall and rubs on your other gear and clothing. The whole knife feels wrong somehow. Simply a piece of modern engineering with no balance, ergonomy, life, whatever you call it. The sheath is similar. Looks well made but overbuilt, with way too many straps and whatnot. Something simpler would've done the trick better. The built-in sharpener adds a nice touch though I'd consider it fit for touching up the edge only if you have nothing else available.

The LMF II has a very "tactical" look and is geared toward mayhem and abuse. IIRC the blade is made of 12C27 so it's tough for stainless steel but it doesn't really look like something strong enough that I'd want to do any heavy prying with. In terms of cutting performance, the LMF II is mediocre at best. The weird grip and overly wide blade mean it's awkward to use. A Mora is a FAR better all-around knife, especially for woodworking or food preparation. The LMF II is ok for opening a crate or smashing a glass window but as a knife, I'm sad to say it sucks. If you're not quite sure about that yet, you must try a Mora and you'll see the difference (not to mention the difference in price tag). Also, the serrations on the LMF II are a huge turn-off for me. Useless for cutting wood or anything more substantial than rope.

I'm not necessarily opposed to a large sheath knife. I often wear a USMC Kabar on my belt in the woods and I find it useful for many tasks. IME, the good old Kabar is a helluva better hardcore combat knife than the LMF II ever will be. The Kabar has a better and bigger blade, keeps a better edge longer and the grip shape and blade geometry are such you can still use it for basic woodworking and finer utility tasks. The buttcap is not pointed but you can break a window with it any time if you have to. It's also useful as a hammer, while the pommel on the LMF II is not. Electric insulation is about the only point in Gerber's favor but just how often you need that feature is another issue.

The person I bought the knife for wanted it because of all the raving reviews on the Web and tacticool look. I think he was pretty much disappointed with the purchase. The last I heard, he was about to sell the knife.

You could find worse knives out there but also plenty better ones. Especially for that price, which IMHO is really too much for what you get. As a dedicated knife nut I'm well aware we all have different tastes and needs. If a modern tactical mean-looking belt knife is what you're after with cutting performance and especially woodworking low on the priority list you'd probably like the Gerber LMF II. If you need a serious utility knife with general outdoor tasks in mind though, my advice would be to steer well clear. At any rate, do not buy the knife unless you've tried handling it so you can see for yourself what it's like.

Thanks all for the reviews. Just so everyone is aware, I do own a couple of Moras, a kabar mini, a USAF survival knife (WELL used), a couple of custom knives as well. Tom, I appreciate your take on it-this is sort of what I was hoping for. From everyone. An honest look at this knife. I am still undecided, but, having this additional knowledge is what will help mold my ultimate decision. Please keep the experiences coming!!

Just an update, I am also considering an SOG Seal Pup knife, as it looks to be roughly similar in usage, a lot lighter, and, well, a little sexier

Not trying to persuade you one way or another but IMHO the Gerber LMF II has nothing to offer over the knives you own already. If you're happy with the USAF knife and mini Kabar both are at least equal to the LMF II if not better as far as a heavy duty, medium-sized belt knife goes.

Though of course you're fully entitled to buying a new knife even if you don't really need one. I have about a couple of dozen "utility" knives right now and still feel the urge to get me a new toy to play with every once in a while.

Anyway, the SEAL Pup would be a pretty good choice too if you like combo/serrated blades. A friend of mine swears by it. While not a hardcore user he's had that knife for a good many years now and still loves it.

Life is short! I say if you want to purchase one, just get one! Even if the knife is going to spend 2 days on your belt during a fishing trip, and 363 days in the closet, it doesn't matter.

If you feel like getting one and enjoying yourself, just do it...

I have several Moras, one Spyderco folder, one SOG folder, so my collection is rather limited, but I just shelled out $100 for a Fallkniven F1 fixed-blade knife because, well, I wanted a Fallknifen F1. I didn't really NEED such a knife, I have all the knives I need for my cutting needs.

It will probably come with me on fishing trips only (8-10 days per summer), but hey, i've been lusting at the F1 ever since i've seen it talked about on forums and in miscellaneous survival videos.

My 2 cents


P.S. : for the record, the Fallkniven F1 is similar to the Gerber LMF II you are talking about.

SAR, you are correct. I think I am going to go with the SEAL pup though. Its more what I am looking for, and the Falkniven is unavailable through Amazon

We used a pup to hack through multiple pine trees (6-8") that had fallen across a snowmobile path due to wet snow and heavy wind. The knife held up admirably and kept us from camping on the trail while ill prepared to do so. Needless to say, we re-evaluated our mandatory gear list and made necessary adjustments. That event was my awakening.

Make quick work of such incidents and are SUPER light weight

Yup, within hours of returning from the trail, a similar saw was the first thing added to my kit.

I have the Gerber LMFII. I use it as my GHB knife that I keep in the pickup. It is a tough well built knife. The blade is fairly thick so it can handle abuse. It feels pretty good and grippy in the hand but just a tad thin in the handle for my likeing. I have a bad tendency to want to rest my thumb on the spine of the blade whittling on sticks...but the top finger guard kind of gets in the way. Unlike the RC-4 or RAT 7 that I have.

Depending on the task needed, the serrations are both a pro and a con. It is a pro for ripping through webbing or rope, but not as nice to skin bark off of sticks where a normal blade does best up close to the guard. So if you want to do whittling...then this is not the knife for you. Get a normal blade w/0 serrations for that task.
The LMF II sheath is fantastic. It dominates anything else when it comes to retention. It slides in and you know without a doubt that it is retained when you hear and feel the snap. It won't come out unless you want it to. Then there is the double retention snaps if you want even an extra measure of retention.

The high quality heavy webbing for the belt loop won't let you down. I have not used the sharpener in the sheath so I cannot give my opinion on that. I always use a diamond stone or an oil stone when I sharpen my knives.

As far as a knife goes, it is the ticket for a get home bag knife. It has pro and cons on the blade type (normal and serrated) which gives you both options and limitations of ease of use. To be clear, it will do a good job as a survival knife, but is really designed as an emergency escape knife to break glass and cut safety harnesses. It is too heavy for EDC tasks.

For camping chores, I like full flat grind carbon steel normal bladed knives...and the longer the better for chopping/spitting tasks. While the shorter 4-5" blades for whittling and such. The LMF II is not a log spitter or a chopper. The blade is too short to do that effectively. It can do it...just not efficiently. The holes for lashings will work, but IMHO I think I'd rather use the knife to make a sharp point on a stick than use it as a spear.

So, in summary the LMF II is a good stainless steel knife that is really designed to be used as an emergency escape knife 1st (which is what it is perfect for) and a survival knife second. It is tough and will do anything that you ask of it within reason. But it won't do everything perfectly. Sometimes, it's just better to have the right tool for the job. Period.

The sog seal pup is more limited in the types of tasks than the LMF II. I know people like the SOG seal pup too...but it has the same pros and cons with the blade. The thing I don't like about the seal pup is the small useable blade length due to the blade stop in front of the guard. Secondly, the blade is also fairly thin throughout so it would not excel well in heavy tasks like prying or heavy camping chores. However, it is good steel so it does ok. It is certainly more "tactical cool" looking and lighter than the LMF II, but I would grab the LMF II over the seal pup if I NEEDED a KNIFE TOOL that I had to rely on.

Aside from that, the falniven A1&A2, CS Recon Scout, CS Trailmaster,RTAK II, Becker BK7, Becker BK2, RAT 7, Kershaw Outcast are more along the line of camp chore / survival knives that would fit your listed chores better.

Hope that helps.

That's not a "bad" thing, though. It's simply the most natural, most effective way to use a knife for whittling. Also one of the reasons why the plain old Mora is so practical in the bush. A knife with only a small (half) guard or none at all is usually the most convenient for general utility work, especially woodworking/carving.

DFA, thank you very much. The more I look at the Gerber, the less appeal it has to me, largely due to the beefiness of the knife-nothing with the performance of it. I dont really need a knife particular to escaping from a wreck-I drive a soft top Wranger, and, if I cannot extricate myself from that, well, I deserve to drown/burn!. I normally carry 3 knives on me for EDC-an RSK MkIII I think it is (the pocket folder), a Leatherman Kick, and a Leatherman Micra. Looking for a field knife, I have to say the LMF caught my attention due, initially, to the robestness of it. Then reality set it-I am no longer a grunt, so weight counts; I prefer something I can carry horizontally on my hip, and I want a knife that is all around comfortable and general purpose. And, cost is a factor as well, to a degree. Falkniven knives are beautiful, but there is something about them that doesnt appeal to me. I dont need a large knife-the blade of the Seal Pup is about perfect for what I want. The RAT series I dont really care for, and I havent seen the CS ones. I will likely be ordering one this weekend, and I think the Gerber is out. Currently, the Seal Pup is the knife I want, but I want to check out the CS & Becker ones too. Thanks for the input!

While I offered my story about the pup saving our bacon (it was all we had), I would tend to agree with the above statement. All of my kits now include something from RAT Cutlery (not to be confused with the RAT line offered by Ontario) as the base knife with other knives (Mora, Ritter, Benchmade) as supplements/backups.

Disclaimer: No affiliation with or financial compensation from any of the mentioned companies... blah blah blah...

I have the LMF II. I have softer knives, I have sharper knives, I have lighter Knives. If I am going for a walk in the bush, I would take another knife. If I am going to "Live" in the bush for a few days hunting. I want the LMF II with me.
If I am in a Bug Out situation I want the LMF II with me.
This isn't mentioned much but in a self defense situation (where I cannot legaly conceal carry) I would turn to that knive as well, the extra weight makes it a Nasty weapon!

Oh and this would probably never be an issue for 99.9% of the population, but those 3 little holes in the handle that you can make a spear with; really work! I was skeptical so I tried it with some para cord and my favorite walking stick. Neighborhood dogs beware! lol

My pleasure. I just wanted to answer your question completly so you make the right decision for your desire and your needs. The seal pup is a good knife and it sounds like both of those will be met by its capability.

The other knives I mentioned from cold steel and becker are more along the line of heavy duty knives as survival and or combat tools that would do camping chores well.

I think it is fun to shop around a bit, so if you want something that is between "tactica cool" and survival with carbon steel, excellent kydex sheath that you can carry horizontally, tough survial knife but not too awful thick and not an overly large knife, the RAT Cuttlery RC-4 is very good option. (I know you said you don't prefer them, but didn't know if you saw that one.) They are kind of spendy though...~$100 Ebay. I have one of those too. To be honest, I can't really think of anything I don't like about it....

I think you have the same problem I do...I like the right quality tool for the job, but also like the pleasure of using something that appeals to me personally

Yes, sadly, I do. I could likely open my own cutlery shop. And, I have a guy that does custom sheaths for me too-which I will be doing, again, as soon as I get my knife.

I did check out some of the ones you mentioned-they look a little larger than I want. In my head, my "perfect" knife I can carry either horizontally or vertically, is small enough that I can wear it while kayaking, but big enough to be useful. I love my Mora, and my custom bush knife, but want something new...my USAF survival knife resides in my jeep, but I want something I can grab & go. I will check out that RC 4-I looked at the other ones, and they are too large for what I want. We will see-I am ordering a knife this week, and I need to make a decision by then.

Look at Bark River Knife & Tool at KnivesShipFree. The Gunny sounds like what you want.

Read up on the Bravo-1 also.

The seal pup elite is an improved version of the seal pup, and there's a review of the elite here. I suppose it competes with the LMF II (which I own but hardly ever use) as a general prupose/survival knife.

http://www.woodsmonkey.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=394:sog-seal-pup-elite-review&catid=34:knives&Itemid=55