GERBERGear 31-003927 Sumo Folding Pocket Knife, 3.9 Inch Fine Edge Blade, Red

New to sharpening knives and wanted something that was crappy and cheap to learn how to sharpen. This knife is far from crappy and cheap! It's the most fun, sturdy, reliable cool looking knife I've owned in a while. It is a bigger knife, so I don't like to carry it in light weight shorts, but overall, highly recommend!

The media could not be loaded. This is a BEAUTIFUL folder, The bade is wider than the average folding pocket knife. I bought this to replace my last EDC (every day carry) knife, a Sloan Tactical, The Axis lock on the Sumo takes a little bit to get used to using, but after a few tries it truly becomes a one hand operation NOT just opening but lightning fast closing as well with just a simple wrist flick. I am impressed This Gerber is super sharp I shaved a small patch of arm hair with it just to see how sharp. Razor sharp even though there a tiny serration marks on the edge showing this was machine sharpened. Which means you can get an insanely dangerously sharp polished edge if you know how... If you don't know how to fine sharpen a knife don't worry the factory edge is impressive still and will not disappoint.

I picked this up at nearly half off. This is a great deal on a larger than normal EDC knife. No, the blade material isn't very good and the lock isn't as smooth as one would like. It arrived with an edge that I could see wasn't very sharp. I suspect the blade won't retain an edge well. The blade also has some side to side looseness. But really, it's fine for the twenty six I spent on it. The pocket clip should have a but more height at the opening take clipping it easier, but I can deal with that.I liked it so much I bought a second one before the sale ended!

[**Update 1 May 2022** I am taking the rating up from 4 to 5 stars. After carrying it some more, the pivot lock has broken in and smoothed out. It took longer than other "break in periods" for knives that I am used to, but that isn't a full star's difference.]I am slightly disappointed with this knife (but perhaps I had too high of expectations). The ergonomics are superb; the blade shape is both beautiful and exceptionally functional. I love the aesthetics of the G10 handle and the painted liners.The big downside for me: the rough action of the "pivot lock" i.e. what all knife enthusiasts know as the proprietary Axis Lock that the premium brand Benchmade held patent on for years. If you own a Benchmade or even one of the superb clones that you can get on Amazon, you know that "pivot locks" can be made of much higher quality than is on this Gerber.The Gerber's is rough. I've spent some time trying to break it in as some knives require break-in to get to the point of silky action. However, this one has not reached that point yet. The primary issue that I can identify is that there is too much lateral play in the actual pivot lock bolt. When activating with one hand, there is enough play to allow some binding. It's one-hand operable both closing and opening and for that and the overall positives regarding everything else I give it 4 stars. But it's certainly not an in hand mechanical joy like a precisely machined Benchmade. If you go in with realistic expectations with this knife, it's a very good value.

Very beefy and well built. Big knife but not too big. Great in the pocket.

I stumbled across this knife and HAD to have it the second I saw the blade design. It's basically a folding, shorter chef's knife.I've been carrying Benchmade folding knives for my EDC for almost 30 years. I've stuck with Benchmade that long for two reasons: There axis lock is hands down the best locking mechanism made for folding knives and the lifetime warranty (which I use about every 3 years) is excellent.I feel like Benchmade's quality has been on a downhill trend for years and their pricing has climbed to the point it's absurd. Then I see this almost perfect blade design on a Gerber with....an axis lock? Turns out the patent has expired on the axis lock and any knife maufacturer can now use it as long as they call it something else.Here's where Gerber fumbled an almost perfect execution:The photo shows the G10 handle with what appears to be deep checkering on the handle. When I opened this knife out of the packaging I was VERY dissapointed that the checkering is so slight it's almost non existent. It's very hard to keep hold of and want's to slip out of my hands easily. I want a knife that my old, calloused, arthritic hands can grip. A deep checkering on the handle at minimum would have been nice and had I built the knife I'd have forgone the imitation wood look G10 and used the checkered rubber handle from Gerbers amazing strong arm fixed blade which is the best handle to have ever graced any knife period.The second biggest fail is the lack of ribbing on the spline of the blade and upper back of the handle for thumb grip. Seriously...how much would that have cost to add?I also would have strongly preferred a thumb stud instead of the stupid oversize hole in the blade. I know they were trying to lighten the overall weight of the knife but I prefer a knife with some heft anyway and with multiple layers of scar tissue and calouses on my thumbs and fingertips I have a difficult time opening this knife with one hand.I do LOVE the beefy, thick chef's knife blade on this knife though and the action on the axis lock and the opening and closing on this knife is superb. Actually far better than Bechmade's even.So if you're listening Gerber: Make this knife with a little higher quality American steel in your American factory with a rubberized grip, ribbed spline and thub stud and I'll buy one at up to 3 times the price.