The Applegate-Fairbairn designed Gerber Covert automatic knife series was modeled after their best-in-class Covert folder model and combines premium elements with user-friendly functionality. This auto knife features aircraft aluminum handle scales that showcases a sleek symmetrical design with integrated dual finger grooves for a secure hold despite its size. A front-mounted slide safety has been built into the handle and even portrays a red dot so you know the knife is ready for action. This full-sized Covert features a black anodized aluminum handle, a partly serrated spear point style blade in a black finish and the pocket clip is statically designed for tip down carry only. Made in the USA.
SPECIFICATIONS:
- Blade Length: 3.78"
- Overall Length: 8.7"
- Blade Material: CPM-S30V Stainless Steel
- Blade Finish: Black
- Handle Length: 4.92"
- Handle Material: 6061-T6 Aluminum
- Weight: 5.0 oz.
Covert at a Glance
The Covert from Gerber is a sweet knife. There are many things that immediately stick out when looking at this knife. The first is the handle design. We will go more into detail about the weight and feel of the knife later on, but for right now we will focus on the aesthetics and the ergonomics. The knife is based on an older combat knife developed by Rex Applegate and William Fairbairn. The knife feels very nice when holding it. There are grooves milled on the sides of the handle where the thumb and forefinger would typically go. These not only look great when observing the knife but also provide a more practical grip and hold when using the knife. Along with these thumb grips are channels that run vertically with the knife handle. These also provide a better grip when holding the knife. And they look good too.
When deploying the knife, there is a nice snap to it. It locks up nice and solid. The Covert is quick. At times, it is so quick that it just wants to jump from your hand. The locking on the knife is pretty neat as well. With the slide safety on the front, there is little chance of the knife deploying when it isnt supposed to. What is also helpful with this knife is the size of the button. Many autos have a button that is flush with the rest of the handle while the button on the Covert is not. The button sticks out quite a bit, making it easier to fire off the knife. This is especially helpful when the user is wearing gloves.
Specs
Like any product, it is good to know what you are getting. Listed below are the specifications for what you will be getting with the Gerber Covert.
- Product Type: Automatic Knife
- Overall Length: 8.70"
- Weight: 5.0 oz.
- Handle Length: 4.92"
- Blade Length: 3.78"
- Blade Thickness: 0.13"
- Blade Material: S30V Stainless
- Blade Edge: Part-Serrated Combo Edge
- Blade Style: Tactical Drop Point
- Blade Finish: Black
- Handle Material: Anodized 6061 Aluminum
- Handle Color: Black
- Pocket Clip: Tip-Down
- Lanyard Hole Included
The Covert is a big knife yet weighs nothing in comparison. Just to hit home the size of this knife, we will highlight more of it here. The knife is shy of 9 inches when fully extended. The rest of the knife is very slim. Measuring under an inch wide and under half an inch thick, the Covert is slender. This makes for a nice everyday carry option. What helps make this knife not seem as large is the handle material. The handle is made from an anodized 6061 aluminum. Aluminum, by nature, is extremely lightweight. Using this material was a smart move by Gerber. Being lightweight makes getting this knife a better choice for a tactical or an everyday carry.
Gerber History
Joseph R. Gerber started out in 1939 with a small batch of handmade cutlery sets given away as holiday gifts. Now the Gerber Company has grown to have thousands of retail accounts around the country. By 1960, Gerber had quickly become one of the most trusted, appreciated and collected names in knives. Based in Portland, Oregon, Gerber is an American brand whose products have global reach and relevance.
Rex Applegate and William Fairbairn
Rex Applegate and William Fairbairn both war heroes and tactical geniuses, and both an inspiration to the Gerber Covert. Col. Rex Applegate was born in Yoncalla, Oregon on June 21, 1914. One of his notable acts during his service was his training of Allied Special Forces in close-quarters combat during World War II. Some interesting facts about Rex are that he was friends with actor John Wayne. He assisted Wayne in learning how to shoot. Applegate also served as a technical advisor on the set of The Alamo. It is also said that Rex is an inspiration for several of Ian Fleming's characters in the James Bond novels. Rex passed away July 14, 1998.
Born on February 28, 1885, William E. Fairbairn was a British soldier who helped to develop hand-to-hand combat methods for the Allied Special Forces during World War II. He was also a driving force in developing new weapon techniques and weapons themselves. The television series Secrets of War suggested Fairbairn as a possible inspiration for Q branch in James Bond.
Why Auto?
With so many different options of knives available to choose from, what makes choosing an automatic knife a practical option? There are some distinct advantages to owning an auto knife. The first reason why someone would want to own one is because of how quickly the auto knives open. For some, this may not be a valid reason to purchase such a knife. However, having an auto knife can make all the difference between life and death. EMTs and other emergency response teams are constantly faced with tribulation that requires the usage of a decent knife. And in many high-stress situations, having a knife ready in a blink of an eye can help someone else live for one more day. Besides being quick, auto knives are able to be opened with just one hand. This is not only convenient for many people, this is also beneficial to those that are working with multiple hands and need that feature, or some may only have one hand. Lastly, an auto knife is just too cool. Being able to flash open a knife in the blink of an eye just by pressing a button or moving a switch is simply impressive.
The People Speak
On the BladeOps website, the Gerber Covert has an Average Customer Review of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Many people love this knife. To give you an idea as to what kind of reaction this knife is getting, here are a few comments from those that reviewed the Covert.
Reviewer: Dave from OR, United States March 14, 2010, 4 of 5 Stars
The Gerber Covert auto is beefy and has a heftiness I like in a pocket knife. It's got a very solid, sturdy feel to it. This knife is made in the USA.
The pocket clip is fairly large, easy to clip onto a pocket and securely keeps the knife in place. When holding the opened knife in my hand, the clip doesn't dig into my palm. A sliding safety lock allows the blade to be locked when closed or open. The large push button is easy to locate and depress even with a gloved hand. The blade opens quickly without the kick I've seen with some auto knives. Indents on both sides of the handle ensure a secure grip between a thumb and forefinger. The blade locks up nicely, but there is a tiny bit of play. About the only con I can see is the lack of multiple mounting holes to move the pocket clip.
Reviewer: Larry from FL, United States June 3, 2011, 5 of 5 Stars
I have purchased numerous knives and I have always found Gerber knives to be superior quality for the price. The covert knife is very well made. The deploy action of the knife is smooth and fast. I have purchased both sizes and like them both.
Reviewer: Fred from WI, United States April 9, 2013, 5 of 5 Stars
I just bought this knife about a week ago. It has everything you need in a tactical knife it has good weight and fits in your pocket really nice. It is super-fast. Nice job Gerber and you to BladeOps great price.
Reviewer: Mike from PA United States April 26, 2013, 5 of 5 Stars
Im a Marine Corps Veteran and ive purchased this knife b4 for use during a deployment. The bad part is it never made it because it was stolen after owning it for only a short while. While I had it I absolutely loved it....apparently so did whoever stole it. I ended up being issued another Gerber auto the big one without the tanto blade. I LOVED that knife to death and ended up giving it to a fellow marine who replaced us in marjeh. I bought a new one of those and now just bought a new covert auto a few days ago. I couldnt ask more out of a knife. They are great for just about whatever you need them to do. I just wouldnt suggest chopping wood with them, for obvious reasons. I can honestly say I will have a Gerber automatic clipped to my pocket until the day I die. If anyone is wondering if they should spend the money and buy this knife the answer is YES YES YES you should absolutely buy this knife you wont regret it.
The people have spoken. If you want to see more reviews, go to BladeOps.com. These were some of the best reviews that I thought would be most beneficial to read. Its nothing but the honest truth from these people.
Steel
CPM-S30V Stainless is considered to be one of the best steel types available. This is the steel that the Gerber Covert uses for its blade. This American made steel is quite capable of retaining an edge and is able to withstand high pressures due to its high ductility. It is prized for its combination of qualities including sharpen-ability, machinability, sharpness, toughness and a refined grain. Combining all of these attributes with its corrosion resistance, S30V stainless3 is known as a Super Steel and typically found in higher-end tactical knives as well in custom knives. This steel was created as a joint effort between Dick Barber of Crucible Industries and knifemaker Chris Reeve. With this fine steel, the knife is more capable of handling any job it encounters. S30V has a composition of Carbon 1.45%, Chromium 14.00%, Vanadium 4.00%, and Molybdenum 2.00%. It will take a little work to sharpen but it holds a great working edge that is tough to beat.
Tactical or Every day Carry
There are a few conditions to consider to make assure that the Covert ready for an everyday carry or tactical knife. Those criteria are: carry depth, weight, and thickness.
Carry Depth
Recall that the closed length of the Covert is just under 5 inches. For those that have shallow pockets, this knife will be too big to carry. Sorry. However, for those that normally have a standard to deep pocket, this knife will fit perfectly in your pocket. The benefit of the closed length being around 5 inches is that there is a small chance that the knife will fall out of your pocket. It is always nice to have a deep carry knife. And that is just what the Covert has to offer. The knifes pocket clip is just over two inches long. This gives plenty of strength to hold the knife in any pocket.
Weight
If you are going to be carrying a knife all day long, it shouldnt be heavy. The Covert weighs 3.8 oz. This knife has a hardly any weight to it. The weight seems like nothing when compared to how large the knife is. The sensation is weird when holding the knife.
Thickness
A clunky knife defeats the purpose of an everyday carry. A good everyday carry knife should be slim and a low profile. The Covert is just that. It is slim and is low key when it comes to being thick. However, it is thick enough to have a comfortable hold on it, while not taking up too much pocket real-estate.
Really, the Covert could be used as either a tactical knife or an everyday carry. You have seen reviews from those in the military that discuss their support in getting this knife as well as those who just carry it around every day.
Conclusion
The Gerber Covert is a great knife. One review that I didnt include above mentioned that this knife should be priced at three times the amount of what it is already listed at. This may be a bit farfetched, but not far from the ballpark. You will be satisfied with this knife. For the quality American-made manufacturing and the price, you definitely will get your moneys worth out of this knife. Go pick up yourself a Gerber Covert today.
