Flatiron is a somewhat dubious word that has a lot of different meanings and ascriptions. It could be a tool, it could be a clothing iron, and it could be a cut of beef.
Regardless, the word has an industrial, no-nonsense, salt-of-the-earth sort of sound to it. That makes it an excellent name for one of the most popular Gerber knives on the market.
But is it the best Gerber knife? Ultimately, that’s up to you – but here’s what it offers.
Why It Might Be the Best Gerber Knife
Probably the first thing you will notice about the Flatiron is that it sports a non-typical blade profile.
You can expect a 3.6” cleaver-style blade on basically any Gerber Flatiron. But, unlike some other pocket cleavers, this one has a fully-squared off point.
As in, there is no point to speak of. It’s completely blunt. This is one of the keys to the Flatiron’s popularity.
First off, eliminating the point means that there’s basically no risk of accidentally piercing anything – either your workpiece or yourself.
In a roundabout way, that makes handling a knife like this somewhat “safer,” if you can call it that.
The lack of a point also results in a blade profile that is considerably more robust than one that has a fine point. Fine points can break under pressure but that won’t happen with a knife like this because there is no point to break.
What you’re left with is a blade profile that can handle a lot of rough use and which is very unlikely to experience breakage or accelerated wear.
The steel alloy is another thing to like about it. The one you’re probably looking at has a D2 tool steel blade.
This is a very strong, very wear-resistant alloy that can take an insanely sharp edge. It’s a little softer than some other common tool steels, so it won’t hold the edge as long as some other super steels, but this also means it’s easier to touch up in the field.
All in all it’s an excellent steel at a very appealing price point. The only conceivable mark against D2 is that it’s not as corrosion resistant as some other popular alloys. You’ll have to be cognizant of that.
One aspect of the knife that is basically abuse-proof is the handle design. It sports robust, toothy MIcarta scales that will offer a sure grip in basically any conditions, and which will never need a lick of maintenance.
Also, this knife sports a frame lock with a patented-pending pinch plate that facilitates operation and keeps the user’s fingers off the lock bar during deployment. Notably, this lock type is stronger than a liner lock while preserving all of its other attributes.
Deployment is super smooth and the design of the knife is inherently ambidextrous thanks to the fact that the knife sports a thumb hole rather than studs.
These features are just a few of those that have made the Flatiron a top pick from Gerber’s catalog, and it’s been that way since the model was introduced.
The bottom line is that if you gravitate towards pocket cleavers and don’t have one of these yet, it might be time to change that. All in all, it’s a fairly affordable Gerber knife.
Looking for Other Gerber Knives Like This?
Not sure if the Flatiron is the best Gerber knife? No worries, there are plenty others like it and even other pocket cleaver-style blades in their catalog.
Check out what’s available online at White Mountain Knives. They carry a wide range of Gerber knives (as well as models from other leading brands) at competitive prices, along with some exclusives.
Take a look through their collection and get in touch with them at WhiteMountainKnives@gmail.com if you have any questions or are looking for a specific model you don’t see listed.
