Gerber River Shorty – A Blunt on the River is a Good Thing
Gerber’s River Shorty Blunt Tip is definitely specific to water use, but if your adventures find you near, in, or under the water this is a worthwhile tool to have close at hand.
Gerber River Shorty Blunt Tip $34, gerbergear.com
I never head out into the wild without a nice knife. It’s not because I plan to slice, dice or carve anything in particular, but I have never regretted having a sharp blade close at hand. There are many general use knives out there that work well in many situations, but often it’s appropriate to have a dedicated use knife.
Enter the Gerber Shorty Blunt Tip – a diving/rafting knife specifically intended to hang out in the water. This little bugger is 6.75” long with a 3” serrated blade and blunt tip well suited for prying. A stainless steel blade, ABS handle and low profile sheath play well with water leading me to believe this knife will last for plenty of seasons. Working around inflatable boats and expensive wetsuits, the blunt tip keeps accidental damage to a minimum. I actually dropped it tip-first on my gear quite a few times to see what kind of damage could be done. I’m happy to report no punctures at all.
The handle provides plenty of grip with large ridges that makes wet handling easy. The sheath provides a secure hold with a tactile snap-in that is also easy to draw. There are numerous attachment loops and a very secure gear clip that I have so far attached to three different life jackets, two belts, a boot, and a daypack. Each very different placement was secure and accessible.
Gerber’s established quality and durability stood up to all the paces I put the blade through. The thick blade easily pried apart two stuck washers on my boat, and I tightened every flathead screw I could find (the blade is a bit thick for small screws). I cut through twine, paracord, nylon strap, boat rope, and even blackberry bushes at one of my take-out spots with relative ease. The short blade did take a few strokes on the larger ropes, but every cut was quick and efficient. The edge stayed sharp and usable throughout all the cuts.
So if you find yourself out near the water, this little buddy is the perfect tag-along to keep close at hand. Strap it to your belt, jacket, or toss it in you pack. At this price you can keep a few stashed in all your water gear.
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Tags: camping, kayaking, knife, waterproof, watersports
Author: David Skinner
