Gerber Paraframe Folding Knife Review

What’s in the box

A clip-point blade in high-carbon stainless steel, serrated near the handle and plain towards the tip, in a skeleton handle cut from stainless steel. It has a thumb stud for one-handed opening, a frame lock and a pocket clip. Open it measures 17.8 cm, and closed 10.4 cm. There’s no pouch in the pack.

Quick Specs

The blade

The two edges split the work. The plain edge towards the tip slices food, cuts paper and trims cord cleanly, and the serrations near the handle saw through thick rope, nylon webbing and hard plastic packaging. The clip point gives a fine tip for detail work. The serrations are harder to sharpen than a plain edge, so a rod or a tapered sharpener helps there.

Opening and the frame lock

Push the thumb stud and the blade swings open with one hand. Part of the steel handle then springs in behind the blade and locks it, so it can’t fold on your fingers while you cut. To close it, push that lock bar aside with your thumb and fold the blade in, keeping your fingers clear of the edge.

Weight and carry

At 79 g on our scale (Gerber lists 74 g) it’s light for a 17.8 cm knife, because most of the handle is holes. The pocket clip holds it firmly at the top of a pocket. It isn’t a deep-carry clip, so the end of the knife shows. The thin steel frame has one downside: its edges can dig into your hand on a long, hard cutting job.

Cleaning and care

The open frame is the other big plus. There are no closed spaces in the handle where dirt or food can get trapped, so after a muddy day or cutting fruit you just rinse it under the tap and dry it. High-carbon stainless isn’t rust-proof, so dry it after use and give the pivot a drop of oil now and then. The bare steel also shows fingerprints.

How it compares

The Paraframe is the lightest of the folders we’ve tested with a full-size blade. The Flissa Folding Pocket Knife is heavier at 126 g, but adds a glass breaker and seatbelt cutter. The Flissa D2 Folding Knife has harder D2 steel and a grippy G10 handle. For an even smaller pocket knife, Gerber also makes the Paraframe Mini, the smallest of the range at about 57 g, with a serrated blade. Our camping knives guide ranks all eight knives we’ve tested.

Gerber’s Quadrant is the other Gerber folder we’ve tested: a bamboo-handled knife with a 7 cm sheepsfoot blade and a finger flipper. It’s nicer to carry every day, while the Paraframe is lighter, cheaper and has serrations for rope.

	This oneGerber Paraframe I	BambooGerber Quadrant→
Blade shape	Clip point	Sheepsfoot
Edge	Plain & serrated	Plain
Opening	Thumb stud	Finger flipper
Lock	Frame lock	Frame lock
Handle	Open stainless frame	Aluminium & bamboo
Blade length	7.6 cm	7 cm
Weight	79 g	85 g
Price paid	$40	$60
Our score	9.1	8.8

Conclusion: Gerber Paraframe I

The Gerber Paraframe I is a simple, light knife that works. A part-serrated blade for rope and food, a frame lock that holds solidly, an open frame you can rinse clean and a 25-year warranty, all for 79 g. There’s no pouch, the thin handle can dig in on hard jobs, and the steel needs drying and shows fingerprints. I paid $40, and for a no-frills everyday knife it’s a very good choice.