Gerber Gear Ultimate Survival Knife, Fixed Blade Knife with Combo Edge, includes Fire Starter Edge and Ferro Rod, Whistle, Sheath with Integrated Sharpener - Bushcraft, Hunting and Camping Tool

I received this knife today and immediately put it to work as I already had some “bushcrafting” projects underway. Immediately upon handling the knife I could tell the quality was excellent. This has a heavy duty thick blade and the handle is very ergonomic. I used it to baton, chisel and the serrated edge to saw multiple pieces of bamboo to create a hammock stand. I then warmed it over the fire to kill off any pathogens and used it to turn and slice my chicken over the open campfire. It comes with a very respectable edge but I am going to test it out with my sharpener soon to see just how razor sharp I can get this thing. The built in sharpener on the back of the holster - to my surprise- is not a gimmick and actually put a nice edge on a small pocket knife of mine. Overall I would 100% recommend this knife to anyone looking. It’s practically a steal at this price point.

Check out my full Gerber Prodigy vs Prodigy Tanto vs Gerber LMF 2 VIDEO Review on YouTube. Go to YouTube and search "prodigy tanto lmf 2"Let's take an indepth look at the Original Gerber Prodigy and the Newer Gerber Prodigy Tanto. Along the way we're also going to compare the Prodigy line with the Gerber LMF II....Okay... so let's get started...The Gerber Prodigy survival knife was inspired by the Gerber LMF II line of survival knives, was designed to military specs and is MIRS compliant. This means that the Prodigy meets the requirements to be purchased and used by the military.The Gerber Prodigy knife comes in two versions... the original Prodigy and the newer Prodigy Tanto. Both are made in the USA.The Original Prodigy comes in all black and the Prodigy Tanto comes in back with a green handle.Both versions are Full Tang construction. This means that the knife is one solid piece and the two handle halves are pinned onto the blade, one on each side. This is the strongest of the tang types.SizeThe overall length of the Original Gerber Prodigy knife is 9.75 inches with a 4.75 inch straight to serration blade. The Prodigy Tanto is 9.5 inches in length.WeightBoth knives weight in at around 7.25 ounces and 12.5 ounces with sheath, compared to the LMF II knife which without sheath weights nearly this much.BladeThe full tang U.S. made blade is meaty and tough. Coated with black oxide, the knife benefits from greater corrosion resistance and reduces the potential for reflection in covert situations.The Original Gerber Prodigy knife blade is made of the same material as the Gerber LMF...420 HC stainless steel and has a standard rounded blade point.The Prodigy Tanto has a Tanto point. Tanto blade knives are often used for tactical applications due to their high strength and ability to penetrate easily. This blade is offered in Sandvick 12C27 stainless steel blade. Many blade aficionados swear by the Sandvick stainless steel for strength and edge holding.As with the LMF II, the Gerber Prodigy is reported to hold an edge well and sharpen easily.Nearly half of the knife blade is serrated toward the handle. Serration is nearly standard in any good survival knives today because of the versatility and added cutting power that is added to the knife.The handleThe Gerber Prodigy handle is overmolded with very grippy rubber that owners report makes the knife feel very comfortable when held. This knife is designed for a secure grip in any weather condition. This objective is aided by a raised dot pattern on the handle to ensure that the knife does not slip out of the hand.Although the Prodigy survival knife does not have a butt-end hammer (like the LMF II), it does retain a very solid and useful window punch or pommel. The pommel is designed to break glass and could come in handy in hand to hand combat.The Prodigy Tanto handle is a quarter inch shorter than the original prodigy which could be an issue if you have large hands.SheathThe sheath and knife are designed for stealth use and are made out of strong, low-noise ballistic nylon. The knife is held in place by high-qualty, low-noise snaps.The Prodigy Tanto sheath. It is also made of low noise nylon and comes in a military spec digital camo pattern. The sheath can hold the knife facing in either direction for righties or lefties and the knife is held firmly in the sheath with snap restraint. The strap has some elastic properties so the knife is not hard to secure.The sheath of both Prodigy versions ships with one leg strap. IF you have really thick thighs you may find it difficult to use this strap and my need to come up with an alternative.Overall the sheath of both knifes is very versatile, offering nearly unlimited carrying options. It's MOLLE compatible and can strap onto your leg, belt or pack.Cost:Both the Original Gerber Prodigy and the Prodigy Tanto can usually be purchased online for between $40 and $50 dollars. The Prodigy Tanto is usually a few bucks more than the original, but for my money it's worth every penny. if you like Tanto blade knives.The Gerber Prodigy survival knife is around $20 to $30 cheaper than the Gerber LMF II knife which normally runs around $60 to $70 bucks.Gerber Prodigy vs. Gerber LMF IIThe main differences between the Gerber Prodigy knife and the Gerber LMF II are:- Prodigy is smaller in size- Prodigy weighs less- Prodigy has no holes lashing holes- Prodigy has no sharpener built into the sheath- Prodigy has no hammer butt-end but the Prodigy does have a sufficient pommel.- Prodigy costs $20 to $30 less than the LMF IIThese differences aside, the Gerber Prodigy is a hefty, rugged and fairly remarkable knife that has proven it's ability to stand up to any tactical, military, emergency, disaster, or survival situation in an easy-to-carry package.So who is this knife for...The Gerber Prodigy survival knife is a great knife for: hiking, camping, hunting, backpacking, extreme adventure trips, military uses, emergency preparedness, home security or general peace of mind knowing that you have a kick-butt knife that you can rely on when you need it.If you want to save some cash, weight and size, and want a knife that you can easily carry all day go for the Original Prodigy. If you don't mind spending a few more pennies go for the Prodigy Tanto.If the butt-end hammer, upgraded sheath with sharpener and lashing holes are important to you, go with the LMF II.If you can't decide, just go for broke. For a little over $100 bucks you can have both the Gerber LMF II and the Gerber Prodigy survival knives.Check out my full Gerber Prodigy vs Prodigy Tanto vs Gerber LMF 2 VIDEO Review on YouTube. Go to YouTube and search "prodigy tanto lmf 2"

I have many Gerber tools. None have failed to impress.

For its price point, the Gerber Prodigy offers exceptional value. It's a reliable tool that stands up to rigorous use without compromising on performance. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast or someone looking to add a dependable knife to your emergency kit, this one won't disappoint.

I also own 2 of the LMF II knives by Gerber, which I love, and also the tanto-style Prodigy. However, I believe that the slightly smaller size is more portable than the LMF II, and the rounded edge of this knife is superior to the tip strength of the tanto by just a bit.This Prodigy knife is designed to perform. I have packed a solid bail-out bag which goes everywhere with me, and having the right blade for the job is essential. The blade on this knife is very thick and strong, and because it is full-tang style, the blade goes all the way through the handle for the best strength you can get. I am not afraid to use this knife as a wood splitter (hold the blade to a small tree/log and bash away on the back of the blade with a hatchet/hammer/rock) because it will hold up. The length of this blade is just perfect - a large blade but well-balanced with the heavy rubber-grip handle. I love the fit and balance of this knife in my hand, as I hate puny knife handles with thin blades. I'm not afraid to abuse this knife and I trust it will perform.This knife holds a great edge. I abuse these knives and they hold strong for a while, but eventually need sharpening. They take a new edge with a basic whetstone in less than 2 minutes and go right back to work. I give a little more credit to the LMF II knives by Gerber because they come with a built-in sharpener right in the side of the sheath, but for the price of the Prodigy you can carry a small stone in your gear and save some coin.The point on the bottom of the handle is a great window-breaker in an emergency, so it's not a bad idea to keep one of these in the car and within reach at all times. Also, the handle point makes for a primitive can opener if you need it. Just hold the knife in your hand blade-side-up and strike the top of the can with the handle enough times to puncture through. Works in a pinch. The handle point could also be a less-lethal defense tool, too. A hole drilled through the point on the back of the handle can be used for a paracord lanyard, or as a lashing point to stabilize the knife if you have to strap it to a long stick as a weapon/tool.The sheath is rather versatile on this knife. You can leave it as-is and just put it right on your belt, and it even has leg straps to hold it tight to your leg when hung from your belt. Or, you can undo the plastic sheath from the ballistic nylon belt loop system and strap it right to anything. It has multiple lashing points all around the plastic blade holder. With the strong clamp system at the mouth of the sheath, you can trust that your Prodigy will stay inside the holder even when upside down. I strap mine directly onto the left front strap of my bail-out bag and it's ready to pull down and out whenever I need.4 stars only because it doesn't include a built-in knife sharpener like the LMF II knives by Gerber do.Field-tested and survival-approved. I don't go anywhere without my Gerber Prodigy.

Great hunting knife, very high quality, balanced and heavy duty. Extremely hard metal, edge has held up very well. Also, sheath locks in securely, and love the optional leg strap. Would recommend to anyone looking for a new hunting knife. Razor sharp and nice comfortable handle.