Gerber Big Rock Knife Review
Kevin Felts 12.01.16
The Gerber Big Rock is an example of a well rounded camping, hiking, backpacking, and skinning knife.
This is the knife that would be a wonderful gift to a young adult. A knife that can be cherished and make memories.
Gerber Big Rock Overview
- Weight: just 7.75 ounces and with an overall length of 9 1/2 inches. It is lightweight and compact.
- Blade length: 4 3/8
- Handle length: 5 1/8
- Lanyard hole: Yes, but no lanyard included.
- Handle: SoftGrip overmold
- With a price less than $30, you get a lot of knife for your money.
The Blade
The Gerber Big Rock has a fixed blade made out of 440A stainless. While 440A is not the most desirable material for a knife blade, it is stain and rust resistant.
My first survival knife had a blade made from 440 stainless. It was a pain to sharpen and did not hold an edge. I do not know what has changed from the 1980s till now, but the Gerber Big Rock holds an edge well and is easy to sharpen.
Couple of years ago, I skinned a whitetail deer with my Gerber Big Rock and it did an excellent job. When I finished skinning the deer the knife was still sharp. I have seen knives in the same price range go dull before the skinning and quartering was complete.
Blade is available in partially serrated or smooth and is full tang, meaning the blade material extends the full length of the handle.
The Sheath
The Gerber Big Rock sheath is as simple as it gets. There are no MOLLE attachments and is not made of Kydex. This is just your classic belt knife.
With so much merchandise on the market that looks military, it is nice to see a company making a classic belt sheath. No bells and whistles, just something that looks like Grandpa would carry.
The sheath has an insert that helps hold the knife in place.
If Kydex is your thing, there are some aftermarket sheaths. So if you want the “tacticool” look, shop around and you should be able to find something that fits your taste.
The Handle
The handle is made from a material called SoftGrip overmold. I have no idea what “SoftGrip overmold” is, I just know the knife is easy to grip and does not slip.
While skinning a deer, I was able to keep a firm grip on the handle. The raised textures of the grip help when your hands are covered in deer blood and you need to make those precise cuts.
When you are finished skinning your deer, the handle washes clean. One of the things I like about the handle is there are not any places for blood and pieces of meat to get into.
Conclusion
Ever since the movie Rambo came out, there has been a gravitation towards large “survival knives.” Large is not always good.
The Gerber Big Rock is a throwback to when knives were used around the hunting camp or for everyday use. This is an excellent example of what an everyday use fixed blade knife should be.
