REVIEW-GERBER APPLEGATE FAIRBARN LIMITED EDITION FOLDER

[Moin.]

Had a very sharp start to 2013 with the receipt of the Geber Applegate Fairbarn 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Folder in Micarta and S30V.
Here are some observations and information on the knife, the design and the designers with a lot of pictures. Pictures speak a thousand words 

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

There are two broad categories of Military knives

1)Knives which are issued to Soldiers as a General purpose utility knife for tasks as mundane as opening a packet of MRI Rations or using the knife as a last resort weapon. The Kabar is one such knife which immediately comes to mind which has survived decades of American Military use or hell even the Khukri in service with the Indian, British and the Nepalese Troops which has not changed in design not in decades but centuries.

2)Knives which are designed for a single purpose-For the Forward Thrust or less politically correct to STAB. While the knives in category 1 are issued to and in use by Regular Infantry Units, the knives in category 2 were and are used specifically by Special Operations /Commando Units for quickly and silently neutralising enemy sentries/guards (sentry takedowns).


The Gerber Applegate knife in the folder and fixed blade avatars falls in category 2. Since what the Special Forces and commando units do is kept secretive given the sensitivity of the Covert Operations they undertake, their selection, their training, their equipment and weapons is a source of fascination for many including myself. I am not sure if these super soldiers these days prefer suppressed fire arms over knives, but the knives like the FS Commando knife, the Gerber Mark II etc are still in production.

[Moin.]

THE DESIGNERS

The knife is a collaborative effort of the pioneers in Military CQB who trained the US Special Forces in hand to Hand combat in WWII Col. Rex Applegate and William Ewart Fairbairn ( The Designer of the FS Commando Dagger).

Col. Rex Appelgate



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Applegate

and his most famous written work, Kill or Be Killed



William Ewart Fairbairn



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_E._Fairbairn

and one of his books



And how can I miss his most famous FS Commando Dagger



Everything you wanted to know about the FS Commando Dagger can be read on this website

http://www.gotavapen.se/gota/artiklar/f ... ife_p3.htm

Both Col.Rex Applegate and WE Fairbarn were officers of the Office of Strategic Services formed during WWII which was the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency –CIA. The OSS was formed in order to coordinate espionage activities behind enemy lines for the branches of the United States Armed Forces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_ ... c_Services

[Moin.]

THE APPLEGATE FAIRBARN KNIFE IN ITS FIXED BLADE AND FOLDER VERSIONS.

FIXED BLADE VERSION

The original design of the Rex Applegate –WE Fairbarn is a Fixed Blade made by Boker Knives of Solingen, Germany and the folder is a joint collaborative effort of Col.Rex Applegate Bill Harsey and Butch Vallotin and Gerber Legendary Blades.

This is how the Applegate FairBarn Fixed Blade Dagger Looks like





Here is Col.Rex Applegate with the knife.





This can be purchased in one of its various avatars from knife centre.

http://www.knifecenter.com/kc_new/store ... eries=2323

[Moin.]

FOLDER VERSION

The folder which is under discussion in this thread is the Gerber Applegate Fairbarn Folder and was named the 1996 International Blade Show American Made Knife of the Year. This remains one of the most popular folders sold by Gerber Legendary Blades USA.

Here is the link to the standard version on the Geber Website.

http://www.gerber-tools.com/Gerber-Appl ... t-5780.htm

Knife centre offers the various versions of the Gerber Applegate Fairbarn Folder in 4.48 and 3.7inch blade versions.

http://www2.knifecenter.com/kc_new/stor ... eries=1984&

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Focus of this review though will be my 15th Anniversary Limited Edition Applegate Fairbarn Folder in S30V and Micarta





SPECIFICATIONS
Overall Length: 10.06"
Blade Length: 4.48"
Closed Length: 5.64"
Blade Material: Stonewash CPM-S30V
US Made Walnut Stand

This is a very large purpose built folder, to be a back up blade for Military and Law Enforcement. This is not a blade like the SAK’s or the other smaller EDC Blades that you can comfortably carry around in your pocket and use it to cut fruit or open envelopes of courier parcels. Carrying knives with the idea of self defense is a stupid idea unless one is trained to defend oneself with a knife or use it offensively. Secondly carrying such a folder on person can potentially get one into trouble with the law enforcement.

The handle of this knife is huge even by American standards and extremely comfortable, even with Gloved hands. The handle of these modern tactical knives are designed so that the orientation of the slashing edge can be felt by gripping the blade without taking your eyes off your opponent. Imagine trying to slash someone with the flat portion of the blade in a life and death situation.

The handle is large enough to be used as a non lethal impact weapon or a Kuboton should one feel the need to do so. The most outstanding feature of the handle is when the blade is closed it sits completely inside the handle. This is important as the blade of this knife has a double bevel and can be sharpened if required. You do not want a sharp edge sticking out of the handle and cutting yourself like a clumsy dodo. I know I often do with most of my knives.

The Picture here makes it very clear how the blade is completely recessed in the handle. On the left is the Limited Edition version and the regular production model on the right.



Like I said, the handle of the knife is sufficiently large and can be held easily in forward and reverse grips. Also notice how the handle is recessed on one sidefor the thumb stud and a similar one on the other where the thumb and index finger would sit for those precise slashes and stabs.






In reverse grip.



The Handle slabs are made of glass filled nylon in the regular production version and beautiful Micarta in the limited version. The Micarta feels much better in the hand than glass filled nylon.

Here’s a closeup of the Olive Drab coloured Micarta



The handle slabs come with thick steel liners making the knife feel very sturdy, adding to the weight yes, but the knife feels very well built and can take good amount of abuse. The liner has these tiny extensions with small notches where the thumb studs rest on the blade being deployed and the blade opens with a loud thwack.



The handle comes with a large clip, making it a tad uncomfortable to hold.The clip is not a low riding clip and it makes it very apparent that one is carrying a knife. Secondly the knife only allows for a tip down carry when I’ve read that the tip up carry format is preferred for quick deployment of the blade for tactical folders.





One of the most important elements of a folding knife is the locking mechanism. In the case of this knife is a well-made liner lock with a patented roto lock mechanism which prevents the accidental unlocking of the blade. Though the roto lock or safety is engaged as soon as you grip the blade and push this small lever like safety. This has some chequering on it, it could have been better built. There are also chances of the roto lock or safety snagging in your pocket.

Here you see the difference in the liner locks in the older production model vs the newer ones including the 15th Anniversary edition. My personal preference would be for this knife to be without the roto lock and like the thick liner lock of the older production models. I have tried the Gorilla Grip Test/White Knuckle Grip Test on the older production model and it did not fail.

(** Gorilla Grip/White Knuckle test :- Assuming you are using your folder to cut material that is capable of resisting being cut, you might have to exert a fair amount of force on the handle in order to complete the motion. While doing this you will very likely tighten your grip far above normal light uses and if this disengages the lock and the blade closes on your fingers, then it is best to avoid buying such folding knives **)













The Blade: The blade of the Gerber Applegate Fairbarn Folder measures 4.48 inches and is made of S30V Steel. The blade shape is a typical SPEAR POINT shape. The spear point is a variation to the drop point design and gives a stronger tip compared to the sharply tapering NEEDLE POINT blades such as the FS Commando knife along with some amount of belly (curved section under the point) for that slicing action. The point in the spear point shape drops to the centre of the blades longer axis. This shape has become very popular for tactical and combat knives giving a good balance between penetration and slicing abilty. The Cold Steel Taipan Dagger, Gerber mark II and The Chris Reeves Yarborugh are some knives which immediately come to mind.



Cold Steel Taipan is a spear point blade



Chris Reeves Yarborough or the Green Beret Knife



SOG Daggert



Here’s the Gerber Applegate Fairbarn Limited Edition with my standard production model.

[Moin.]

CONCLUSION

All in all a very well made folder from premium materials and an excellent pedigree, expensive maybe, cost is subjective but well worth the money. I got this at a discounted price from knife centre way lower than the once street price and I am extremely pleased with the purchase.


Best
Moin.

[Vikram]

Moin,

You the man!

Greatly enjoyed your review.Very well done.Thank you.



Best-
Vikram

[xl_target]

Moin,
Well done.
Profusely illustrated! Historical information, Model comparisons and posed with your Tanfoglio. What more could one want?

I know how time consuming some of these reviews can be. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
A good read!

[dr.jayakumar]

i am not a knife man,but i liked the read,very informative for a naive.
regards moin.
dr.jk

[Olly]

Very nice !!!
Thanks for sharing...

[essdee1972]

I won't say "hats off" to you, I'll just go bareheaded around you! Amazing acquisition, and more importantly, amazing review! Ever thinking of chucking your day job and writing reviews for Knifecenter or suchlike?

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems (from the photos and review) that this is not something you would like to be found under a metal detector...... I mean, our Mumbai Mamus wouldn't take kindly to this, right?

Will check this out once I am back in Mumbai!

[Moin.]

Moin,

You the man!

Greatly enjoyed your review.Very well done.Thank you.



Best-
Vikram

Thank you So much Vikram. I am so glad you enjoyed reading the review. BTW my mug shot thread is still waiting for your more pleasable picture

Regards
Moin.

[Moin.]

Moin,
Well done.
Profusely illustrated! Historical information, Model comparisons and posed with your Tanfoglio. What more could one want?

I know how time consuming some of these reviews can be. Thanks for taking the time to do it.
A good read!

Thank you so much XL. Your wonderful Sig P226 was the inspiration behind this attempt. Although what i write and what little I know does not hold a candle to your knowledge of firearms and the way you bring it across in the IFG Board. Makes dodos like me take interest in Handguns and Firearms reading your wonderful posts. Thanks so much for the compliment.

Best Regards
Moin.

[Moin.]

i am not a knife man,but i liked the read,very informative for a naive.
regards moin.

dr.jk

Non knife men dont carry Extrema Ratios Doctorsaab ... Thanks so much for the appreciation.

Regards
Moin.

[Moin.]

Very nice !!!
Thanks for sharing...

Thank you to the Original Blade Man of IFG

Best
Moin.

[Moin.]

I won't say "hats off" to you, I'll just go bareheaded around you! Amazing acquisition, and more importantly, amazing review! Ever thinking of chucking your day job and writing reviews for Knifecenter or suchlike?

Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems (from the photos and review) that this is not something you would like to be found under a metal detector...... I mean, our Mumbai Mamus wouldn't take kindly to this, right?

Will check this out once I am back in Mumbai!

Lollzzz, absolutely not SDda, there are people like Mack, Slingshot, Rajat,Bruno, Choombak. I would'nt dare.. Hell no, will be in trouble if caught by the Mumbai Police. . They are next only to Scotland Yard and I hold the greatest respect for our men in uniform.

Thank you so much.

Best
Moin.