Gerber 01471 Suspension Multi-tool - My Review
Joseph Gerber was an advertising man that stumbled into the knife business in the 1930s. True to his marketing background, he named his company Gerber Legendary Blades at the time. While the name might have sounded a little presumptuous at the time, Gerber's outdoor products and gear soon became very popular.
Today I will be looking at the Gerber 01471 Suspension, to see whether it lives up to Gerber's self-proclaimed legendary claims.
Sleek looks and a good fit
The Gerber Suspension tool is certainly an attention grabber first time you see it. The gunmetal gray finish looks very good on this tool. Not just one for good looks, the Suspension also feels right when picked up. Solid, but not overly heavy like some other more expensive multi-tools.
At this price you might expect some of the materials to feel cheap, but this is certainly not the case. The tool inspires confidence in hand, and especially the pliers are exceptional at this price.
Short, but sharp
One thing that detracts from the overall great feel of the Suspension, is the shorter than usual knife and saw blades. With Gerber's background in producing fine blades, you can rest assured that the blade will remain sharp for quite some time - but one can't help but feel that another inch (perhaps 2) would make the saw blade much more useful.
The Goldilocks of multi-tools
There are multi-tools on the market that is so over-stuffed with everything from a tooth pick to a nail file, that it becomes worthless as an actual tool. Then there are others with a blade, a Phillips screwdriver, and a bottle opener if you're lucky, calling themselves multi-tools.
Too much, too little.
The Suspension's offering of tools is just right. Some of the stuff you have to your disposal are:
- Nose pliers
- Wire cutter
- Fine edge knife
- Serrated edge knife
- Saw
- Scissors
- Cross point screwdriver
A few niggles
While this multi-tool offers value for money, there are some things that might detract from the overall great feel. One such thing, is the size of the pliers. It is quite wide to grip, and those with smaller hands might struggle with using the pliers effectively.
The various blades and tools can also be quite stiff to open initially, but after I pulled out the WD-40, I don't struggle with opening most tools with a single hand.
Can you find a better multi-tool?
Not for the same price. Currently it retails for just under 25$ at Amazon.
At a little over twice the price, you can start looking at some nice Leatherman models (the Wave and the Surge comes to mind). My opinion, unless you are a die-hard Leatherman fan that wouldn't be caught dead with another tool, you should seriously consider this Gerber.
Can the Suspension be called legendary?
I wouldn't quite go that far. It is a very solid multi-tool that features sturdy construction and a great, albeit short, blade. Considering the price tag it offers good value for money.
My personal opinion is that is the best multi-tool under $50. And I would venture to say that it would compete favorably with most models at higher prices as well.
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Featured image by Mr.Smashy, Flickr CC.