Part 1 Gerber Multi-plier 600: Half Priced, Half Baked

In this 3-part series I pit the Gerber 600 multi-tool against a proven favorite of mine, the Leatherman Charge Ti. Granted these are differently priced MTs but both compete in the full-size category and it's a fair comparison in the given terms of size, weight, ease of use, comfort, toughness, versatility, carry case design, quality/feel, and price. Even the more expensive Gerber DET multi-tool would get smoked by the Charge in most of these categories (like inability to access blades from exterior). To be fair however, the Gerber 600 still is a useful enough tool for fair price. However its use of Gerber's mystery steel, bad design elements, bulkiness, rickety feel, inelegant interface of tool bits, and unimaginative sheath makes it a very distant second to the outstanding Leatherman Charge series (Ti, TTi, AL, ALX). Winner: Leatherman Charge... by a landslide.


(This Gerber 600 is the current multi-tool/knife of a USAF survival vest I will review and I will reference this series to flesh out that review.)

Nutnfancy Likability Scale: 2 out of 10

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• leatherman
• sog
• multi-tool
• charge
• juice
• s2
• swiss
• army
• knife
• review
• multi-plier
• bluntnose
• det
• crimper
• wire
• cutter
• file
• fuse

[CROSSEYEDSNYPER]

THE GERBER MP 600 IS A MILITARY ISSUE MULTI PLIER AND AS SUCH SERVES A DIFF ROLE THAN MOST OTHER MULTI TOOLS. IT WAS DESIGNED FOR EOD UNITS TO AID IN IED/BOMB DISPOSAL AND IN THAT ROLE THE PLIERS ARE NEED ALOT MORE OFTER THAN A KNIFE HENCE THE EASY DEPLOYING PLIERS. I HAVE USED THE GERBER FOR YEARS IT WAS ISSUED TO ME WHILE I WAS DOWN RANGE AND I HAVE NOTHING BUT POSITIVE REVIEWS FOR IT. JUST MY TAKE ON THE THING

[VinceFull]

To be fair, you can't really carry the Charge in an deployed plier position either because you just cannot close the lid of the sheath.

Anyways, the Charge is still the best compromise MT out there.

[1967800]

Ok we get your in love with the charge.

[SRHxMNxHavok]

U sir have nooo life if u have to make videos about multitools lol.

[Iamthewalrus3200]

Excusee mr. Nutnfancy, but this has been bothering me for quite awhile: all your multi tool "reviews" end up explaining how amazing the charge is. I am not critisizing your opinoins, it is that i wish you focused on the multi tool at hand.

[prometheus19799791]

i like the gerber but, the screwdrivers break, break, and break some more. i like the plier deployment method a little better though.

[CaptainPancaakes]

My dad is in the Army, and he got me this as a gift. It's very useful to me.

[alecjahn]

Of course the Gerber is less efficient. It's an ancient design.

[hexer2112]

i own a gerber tool very similar to this one and yes opening the pliers is easy by just a flick of the wrist, but i hate that i have to open it up just to use the knife. i actually hope to purchase a leatherman juice s2 because i like that its smaller for edc, it has scissors, and it comes in orange so i wont lose it.

[CutleryNovice]

May I just say that it's a 4 step process to access any interior tools on either tool: Leatherman Step 1: Open Tool Step 2: Find Needed Tool Step 3: Deploy Tool Step 4: Close Tool Gerber Step 1: Open Pliers Step 2: Find Needed Tool Step 3: Deploy Tool Step 4: Close Pliers And while the Charge has exterior blades it is still the minority among MT designs ,the Blast would be a fairer comparison and both are 40.00-50.00 tools,both have plastic and both are interior tools only,just saying man.

[thatmaninblack]

Cool. Just got one. :)

[COLT45keith]

@Instinctual777 YOU GOT THAT RIGHT...if it wasnt for GERBER, LEATHERMAN would still be the cheap made tool it was 35 years ago...i remember buying my multi plier in the early 90s, the leatherman was like a DOLLAR STORE knife in comparison to the GERBER...