After reading the posts, I looked at my Gerber again and noticed that the brass liner conforms entirely to the handle shape except for a slight portrution of the brass that is designed to spring out and brace the blade. All pins going through the frame also go through the brass liner (Sub-frame?).

The sweep of the handle and the sweep of the blade make my Gerber better at skinning, cutting on a block, or cutting away from your body. The shape of the blade and handle make it awkward to try whittling toward yourself where you would use the thumb as a brace for light delicate work.

I have tried holding it where pressure might push the lock away during use, and there is no way the Gerber will allow that to happen. It takes deliberate focused pushing on the lock leaf to disengage the blade.

The part about the fingers being in the way when you do close it is correct, but it constitutes a short learning curve in safety and those of us that have never cut ourselves have never used a knife.

Bountyhunter