[300winmag]

I like that Gerber. Looks like to me it's either that or the Schrade. What think?

I think it's both, depending on where the deals are. As a pocket knife, they both seem quite nice. I would be happy to carry either one in my pocket.

[Ramius]

You've been doing great work with this, Mr. Winmag.

After your testing, it looks to me like the Schrade is coming out on top. The little Gerber looks like a good thing too, though I would sure miss the side clip. Your point that it would be a good true *pocket* knife is true, though.

I've always gotten good service from Gerber knives. In my Coastie days I carried a couple of different knives. One was a 4" folding Gerber with a nylon handle and thumb-opener. The other was a folding Buck that I lost overboard one day. Very sad, that.

[Ramius]

I think you'd be a good one to ask this question to:

I've heard before that Buck puts a harder-than-normal temper on their knives, or perhaps uses a harder and more brittle steel. This gives then a sharper factory edge, but makes them a real bugger to sharpen, once they need it. Is any of that actually true?

I've had Bucks before and they all seemed to sharpen OK, though it did seem like more work than other knives I've used.