The Gerber Prodigy Review – It Might Just Be The Ultimate Survival Knife
TL;DR – Our Gerber Prodigy Review
Gerber Prodigy Survival Knife – Check it out
The Pros:
- It’s solidly constructed with a full tang and a seriously grippy handle
- The blade is great for its steel and does well with edge retention
- The sheath is actually really good
- It’s a versatile knife
- It’s serious value for money
The Cons:
- Some of you will have an issue with the handle being on the small side
- The knife isn’t made with the best quality steel
- The leg strap for the sheath is way too short for manly men
Gerber Prodigy Review – Your definitive guide to the Gerber Prodigy survival knife
I want you to keep emergency prep in mind in order to totally understand why I’m writing this Gerber Prodigy Review.
Here’s some food for thought:
‘Hope for the best, be prepared for the worst’
I like that saying and I also love to throw it in the wife’s face whenever she questions my knife collection. I mean come on. I’ve got a few okay. Perhaps a few too many, but is 55 really such a big number?
Actually that’s not my point. What I want to talk about today is one of my all-star pieces that are always close at hand.
I call him Mister Prod. But you might be familiar with the name Gerber Prodigy Survival Knife.
Mister Prod was one of my best investments I ever made with the aim of prepping for the unexpected. I’m betting that after I’m done here today, you’ll feel the same about it. So let me get to the point then.
The Gerber Prodigy Review – The Ultimate Survival Knife
The Construction
The Prodigy is made with 420HC stainless steel and has a full tang construction. This translates to a solid knife that will not break. Measuring in at an overall length of 9 3/4 inches, it’s a nicely sized knife that’s super versatile.
The Handle
The molded handle is covered with a nice and grippy rubber to ensure I always have a slip-free grip, even when things get wet and wild. I really appreciate the Prodigy’s balance and the fact that it doesn’t weigh me down, I mean I could go on all day cutting with it and it just doesn’t wear me down. It’s that comfortable.
The butt end of the handle also features a pommel, which is great for bashing and smashing things when the need arises.
Honestly I have ZERO issues with the grip.
The Blade
The Prodigy’s drop point style ensures a thicker blade across the spine that taper off towards the tip of the blade. This gives you more strength across the blade’s entire surface and your blade has better edge retention properties.
The partially serrated blade towards the handle is awesome since it dramatically reduces any time you spend cutting and chopping, and to protect against corrosion it sports a carbon coating.
The blade is also made with steel that has extra chromium to increase corrosion resistance and added carbon for cutting power.
The Sheath
I was happy with the military quality, ballistic nylon sheath that easily gets attached to just about anything. I mean anything be it a belt, a pack, my ankle or a MOLLE vest.
I’ll admit that the nylon portion is not done particularly well but it is done nonetheless and by itself this sheath would probably run $25 retail.
Here’s why I Love the Prodigy
Look, Gerber’s Prodigy Knife is, on the one hand a survival and military styled knife that’s packed with useful features but priced for the entry-level user. One the other hand its kind underrated and its worth heavily questioned thanks to tarnished names like the original 2011 Bear Grylls Gerber Knife.
So I love it because it’s a lesser known kick-ass knife that’s reliable and durable, despite Gerber’s flaw with their first release of the Bear Grylls knife.
Here’s what could have been better:
The Prodigy could have been my best knife ever if it had just sported a blade that was a tad bit longer in order to get chopping jobs done more efficiently and effortlessly.
I’m not a massive fan of the saber grind on the blade because it makes the bevel too wide and stopped me from creating a really fine edge on the knife when sharpening it.
420HC Stainless steel isn’t exactly the best steel for a survival knife; I mean we do have better materials like AUS-8, AUS-10 and 440C.
The Pros:
- It’s solidly constructed with a full tang and a seriously grippy handle
- The blade is great for its steel and does well with edge retention
- The sheath is actually really good
- It’s a versatile knife
- It’s serious value for money
The Cons:
- Some of you will have an issue with the handle being on the small side
- The knife isn’t made with the best quality steel
- The leg strap for the sheath is way too short for manly men
Should You Buy It?
Heck yes! The Gerber Prodigy is one of the best knives I own; it’s solid and offers amazing features for its laughably affordable price. You’re bound to enjoy yours just as much as I love mine!
Gerber Prodigy Survival Knife, Serrated Edge, Black
So what’s next?
Well I’ve got some great info on kydex knife sheaths, all you need to know about the blizetec survival fixed blade knife, my thoughts on the tops knives wild pig hunter and a guide to the Best Military Pocket Knives coming right up so don’t go anywhere!
The Gerber Prodigy Review Video
Since I have limited time for my hobbies, I look for quality tools to let me REALLY enjoy what I do.
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Just ordered a tanto plain edge, BECAUSE of the 420HC steel it’s made from. I have been looking for a fixed blade for years, and have purchased several: Bradford Guardians (G5 in CPM V3, G4 in M390, and N609); Bark Rivers (Explorer in CPM Cruwear, Springbok in CPM 3V); Benchmades (Bushcrafter in S30V, Freak in CPM M4), thinking that I would be getting the most durable, long lasting knife, because it was in an awesome steel. But I chipped ALL of the edges on the above knives, least on the N690.
But an old knife I had for over 20 years, that was hand made (from Goodwill 😙) never chipped. When I broke the tip off my M4 blade, I decided that my old crappy knife I paid $5 for was actually better, simply because I never broke it, or chipped the edge. These ultimate steels are amazing at holding an edge, but if they chip, the whole edge has to be redone. I’m absolutely never again going to waste my money on a “show” knife that can’t hold a damn edge because it chips under hard use.
My dad has an old hunting knife that’s over 50 years old, and it has NEVER chipped/failed. We are thinking that these CPM Ultimate steels are better, but it’s not my experience in the real world I use my knife in.
This is why I bought a Gerber in 420HC. If it holds up, and doesn’t chip, or break, then it beats all the above knives. I’m a wood sculptor, and know what it means to have an extremely sharp carving gouge, especially in woods like Bubinga. My tools have to hold up, no matter what they cost.
Same with my knives. Ya, maybe I am rough with them, and do stupid stuff like throwing my knife into a tree, or running into tiny rocks embedded into the wood when pounding through a root. These are real world things I want my blade to withstand. Period. I don’t care how tough 3V is claimed to be. It chips at some point. And these super steels break more readily. That’s why the makers say don’t use as a throwing knife.
I’m looking forward to the Gerber in 420HC. I’m good with knowing that the actual “best”, made in USA knife, is not hyped up, chippy steel! The $50 knife will outlast the bunch of high end ultimate steel knives that I put over $1000 into. Game over.