S_S_2015_05_

38 SHOOTING SPORTS MAGAZINE

GENERAL | PRODUCT TEST

£24.99

CONTACT:

Prices from

GERBER
BEAR GRYLLS
COMPACT II,
BG SCOUT
FOLDER AND
BG ULTIMATE
FE KNIFE

01506 406277
for nearest
stockists
gerbergear.co.uk

FOR

Build quality,

overall design,

practicality and

superior handle

configurations

Not a lot

AGAINST

VERDICT

The BG range

deserves serious

consideration

be you a hunter

or bushcrafter

The Real Deal

With Bear ‘action man’ Grylls’ media profile at an all-time

high - Pete Wadeson takes the opportunity to look at his

endorsed Gerber blades

S

witch on the TV and we’re

seemingly inundated with

programmes berating us for

being cosseted by the luxuries of

modern living! ‘The Island’ with Bear

Grylls (BG) certainly proved that.

However, he is doing a fi ne personal

PR job – especially when he showed

us what it takes to join the French

Foreign Legion! If you’ve seen both,

the fi rst was tough, the latter – nigh

on impossible. Without doubt he is

the real deal unlike certain other

so-called experts in survival. That

long winded introduction brings

me to say I feel Gerber’s BG-

endorsed products will now be

perceived in a whole new light by

many who might have overlooked

them in the past.

ULTIMATE BACK-UP!

Also Gerber has recently launched a

few new additions to their BG Survival

Range of what is already a

comprehensive selection of blades

and tools. First up is the Compact II

Folder. You could say a next

generation of the original Compact

knife but it bears more in common

with what is the Compact Scout Drop

Point Serrated. However, only in part

as the previously mentioned is a fi xed

blade combined edge (plain/serrated)

build while the Compact II is a drop

point Fine Edge folder and even when

deployed is slightly larger yet slimmer

in profi le.

This handy knife measures 3.5”

closed with an overall length of 6.1”

with the 2.6” blade deployed and

weighs a mere 1oz. The lock-back

mechanism is secure and allows for

equally easy closure, even while

wearing gloves. It also has a lanyard

hole and features a more robust

handle than the original with rubber

over-mold and a prominent fi nger choil

offering a sure grip in all-conditions!

The rear of the fi ne edge 420HC steel

blade has a lengthy section of jimping

at the rear for added purchase and

easily opens with a well-sized thumb

nick. The man himself is so pleased

with the latest blade he rates it as his

‘new choice for a back-up survival

knife...’

SCOUT

Although not a new edition, the Scout

Drop Point, Part Serrated folding lock

back has been slightly modifi ed since

I fi rst tested it. It now measures 4”

closed with an overall length of 7.3”

with the 3.63” blade deployed and

weighs 2.54oz and is another tough

and functional design. Although

there’s no thumb stop, the top ridging

extends from the handle along the

spine of the blade to end just forward

of the dual thumb studs that are

ideally positioned for one-handed

opening. A generous length of

‘jimping’ gives a very secure hold for

The BG Survival

range - Compact II

Folder, Scout Folder

and Ultimate FE

Knife, note the

Ferrocerium rod

(fire starter)

locks into the

sheath

The diamond sharpener can

be found on the back of the

hard rubber sheath and is

accessed by unfastening

the lower Velcro strap