Gerber Prodigy
Gerber Prodigy - Best Survival Knife Under $50?
When going camping, hunting, on a tour of duty or even on an extreme adventure, you want to make sure you have the right gear to keep you safe and comfortable. Going on a hike or a camping trip is one thing, but when the elements turn on you or the unexpected happens, you want to know you have tools you can count on. That is why having a good survival knife is so important.There are many designs and manufacturers, but one of the most respected and well known survival knives is the Gerber Prodigy line. There are two models that have been extensively troop tested and incorporate the most important features that you may want to keep you safe in the field. Regardless of whether you pick the original Gerber Prodigy or the Prodigy Tanto, they are both great knifes that will serve you well in the field.
Construction
Made of 420HC stainless steel, the Gerber Prodigy knife is respected by those that use it just for fun as well as those who’s life may depend on it. Both Prodigy knives feature full tang construction, this means that it is one solid piece which makes it virtually impossible to break.
Handle
The handle is molded to the knife and then covered in a very grippy rubber that keeps it from slipping from your hand, even in wet weather conditions. Having a good grip is really important also because you don’t want to get blisters on your hand, drop it or get cut.
The knife is also well balanced so when it is in your hand it doesn’t fell heavy. Using it is a joy and it doesn’t cause fatigue.
Blade
Because ultimately a knife is only as good as it’s blade, one of the most important and impressive features of the Original Prodigy is the blade itself. It is a drop point style which mean that the blade is thicker across the spine and tapers off toward the blade. This style is known for it’s great strength across the entire blade and for holding an edge well.
The Gerber Prodigy Tanto bladed knife is equally strong with the extra piercing power of the pointed blade. This knife is best suited for tactical and military situations where hand to hand combat made be required. It looks cool too.
Both of these knives allow for peace of mind, during your outdoor adventure, and have a pile of features for the money.
With the precision, craftsmanship of Gerber, the Prodigy knife has additional features you won’t find in cheap blades. For example, both have a butt-end pommel for breaking glass or puncturing thicker materials. This could come in handy in an emergency if you need to extract yourself or someone else from a building or vehicle.
One of the most useful and well thought out features is the partially serrated blade toward the knife handle. This increases cutting and chopping power and speed dramatically. When you need to slice down a small tree or cut through difficult material fast you need a nicely crafted serrated edge like this one.
Sheath
The Gerber Prodigy knife also comes with a military quality, ballistic nylon sheath that is designed to be attached to just about anything including: a belt, pack or MOLLE vest.
One leg strap also comes with the sheath so that the knife can be attached to your leg. Both versions are also MIRS compliant which means they meet certain military standards and can be purchased by the federal government.
Size
Both knives are a nice size at around 9.5 inches total length with a 4.75 inch blade. They weight around 12.5 ounces with the sheath.
Cost
The cost varies between the original Prodigy and the tanto version, but not by much. They can be found online for around $50 and about $60 in many quality retail stores.
Outdoor and military surplus stores know what survival knives you can trust for your hiking, camping, hunting and military needs, that’s why you’ll find them carrying Gerber knives.
The Prodigy knife and bears the name you can trust for your outdoor needs, and even with your life. Overall, a Gerber knife is a great choice because of reputation and craftsmanship, and the quality of the Prodigy for the price is hard to beat for a knife of this caliber.