i was so excited to get these and bought myself the scout. I had to return it. Its look and size are awesome. Unfortunately I really wanted a tool with a blade and scissors (the saw was a nice bonus but I don't imagine i'd use it to often). I had bought the scout and a fenix flashlight. both came in that plastic packaging. I use a james brand elko to open up the scout and the elko (tiny overpriced knife) sliced through the plastic like butter. Now that I had the scout out I opened the blade and cut the fenix, it was not as sharp as the elko so took a bit an was disappointed that it doesn't come razor sharp out the box. The the scissors were the largest disappointment. they can only cut if you put whatever material you want deep into the scissors. They are completely unable to cut even paper if you use the tip of them (it just crumbles the paper around it). That was just ridiculous when the scissors on my victorinox classic sd has no issue cutting paper without having to pull all the way into the blades. Returned it in short order. Gerber needs to fix those horrible scissors. The scissors on the gerber dime are even much better (but now quite to victroinox level).
Lots of people wondering about the awl and the saw.... I'm a painter. The saw is great for drywall. The awl is great for reaming out holes in drywall so you can hammer in a drywall plug. This and the Leatherman T2 are my favourite work knives. I have the Leatherman Charge Titanium, but it weighs so much.
That's great that they added pocket clip, but in my opinion Trade model with scissors instead of useless saw would be ideal. An some lock on bit driver would be a plus.
Im happy they still have this on their store. However, I took your advice, and checked eBay… got one with no sign of use for 48.xx after tax. Only issue is that handle aren’t aligned. I’ll take it, maybe even make a claim online…
Curious if there is a world where I could pull the Saw or Awl out and trade it for a pair of scissors. Honestly the Scout just looks all around more useful but I went with the Trade because I work in IT and a Screwdriver + Knife pairing is the two most important tools to have on hand in a pinch. I basically never need a saw or an awl, scissors could be useful for cutting Velcro (cable ties). Ordered the Trade earlier today on Amazon and it should be in tomorrow AM at some point, before this I was carrying around a Slim Drive. Despite this being a technically larger tool, the pocket clip makes it a much more usable tool IMO.
I am torn between buying a trade or a scout... But one thing Bugs me out tho, why Does the trade have an awl, i personally almost never use the awl on my victorinox, id rather swap the awl for the scout's pair of scissors... (i do know though that the trade is more oriented to construction workers, Who need to cut drywall a lot, but where i live drywall is almost nonexistent)
As a big Gerber Fan (they make some crappy stuff too) I got my Scout when it first came out. Without a clip for the pocket. They had a few versions, but I picked the one with the scissors. Now in the newer models they added the clip (finally) and a bit the tools. Now the scout has the scissors, bit driver, blade, saw and can opener. The trade has the blade, the saw, awl and bit driver. One less fold out. Is the trade a bit slimmer in width or are the parts a bit wider and they have the same width?
My million dollar question would be, why they don’t use two of those fancy Armbar frames to create a Juice sized plier based multi tool? The success of the SOG PowerPint and the Juice reboot indicates there is a need for a capable yet small EDC plier.
Love the armbar, do not like the choices on the new tools. I used the scissors religiously and love the driver. Fold that sucker in half and it’s a great tight access high torque driver. Rarely used it straight because it didn’t lock but still good in a pinch. Hopefully they add the clip to the original.
Are they still including a pocket clip on the armbar? All the pics listed on Amazon doesn’t show a pocket clip *Edit- it looks like the Scout & Trade have the pocket clip but the Armbar Drive does not? I’m wanting the Drive as I don’t need the saw but of course there is no pocket clip
Pocket clip is awesome! I love my regular armbar but have settled for it just living inside my pocket. The Gerber Trade seems cool but I get more use out of scissors over a saw. No wonder they dropped the price of the OG Armbar everywhere! I have my eye on an Armbar Slim if I can find it for real cheap.
I love Leatherman tools but I must admit Gerber is thinking better their projects. Trade looks great for my necessities, greater than Europe75 and that stuff...only wish they put the whole tool as the half part of a pliers-based multitool.
If they would put a lock on the driver and switch the saw for scissors on that “Trade,” I’d buy it in a heartbeat. Too frustrating to operate a driver without the lock and saws go dull way too quick then sit there uselessly. Been there done that on driver and saw. Won’t do it again.
So they fixed one major issue... And then ignored the other major one. Namely that none of the tools lock in place except the blade. This thing is more of a toy for folks who want to feel prepared with their EDC.
Come on Gerber why isn't the driver locking? The Scout doesn't look bad but I'll stick to my Vic Farmer X thanks. Just need to get a Nightize clip on mine.
I didn't like the orignal armbar just because of the way the scissor folds. Just not crazy about feeling the scissor blade as I close it. Other than thinking the scissors and saw should be switched between the two I say that Gerber did a great job with both.
I just got mine in the mail and the tools are super loose ,it looks like they forgot one of the washers and the knife is off centered and rubs against the frame when I close it
I have to wonder how they chose the tools on these things? Personally, I find the extremely common awl only slightly less useless than the often seen corkscrew on pocket tools. 🤔
I have been using a Fiskars utility knife for the past week. The pocket clip snapped on the first day. Is the pocket clip on the Gerber Armbar Trade flexible?
I like the hook on the end of the saw it works to remove fishhooks so don't need my pliers which was their main use when wandering outdoors most of the time. @@hvacbudget8600
to each his own, but I'm really not getting the desire for a pocket clip. Any multi-tool I've had just goes in my front pocket, even if it has a clip. and we're talking full size surges and roxon phantoms, and it's perfectly comfortable
Close but not quite there. I need a blade, scissors, and a hex bit driver that isn't going to fold on my hand and give me a blood blister. As of now, these are junk
1. Why do I need scissors on a knife? I already have a knife, I don't need scissors. A small plier would be infinitely more useful. 2. Why the saw? Again, useless. A file would be better. 3. Just put a freakin pocket clip on the original.
Unbelievable! Boo!!! Hiss!!! Jeer!!! They STILL have not made the driver so it locks! There is no way they are not getting a lot of complaints about that! I will pass. lol
