Gerber Bear Grylls Compact Scout knife

I have a hard time taking survival advice from a guy who's scenarios and solutions sound like "If you're ever stuck on a glacial cliff at 14K feet after your helicopter exploded reach into your backpack pull out your parachute and glide down to safety".

I'm sure marmotts make great house shoes and dead Wookies are awesome as quilts…

My Gerber LST is my goto blade for backpacking. Pretty happy with it.

As for Mr. Grylls…. I think it odd that they would drop him by helicopter on the highest point around, and then he would explain that he had to get to lower elevation as fast as possible to avoid storms and exposure. He would then proceed to run down the mountain, thus teaching his audience to risk life, limb and broken bones just so he could make what he thought was good television.

I much prefer Les or the guys on Dual Survival. Those are fun to watch just to see the interplay between the hippie and the grunt.

+1

You guys should learn a bit about a man before dissing him. Yes, his show is, well, a TV show!

Scenarios are not the most realistic, but you are failing to see what he does. Despite scenarios they show, he talks about and shows outdoors, he shows adventure. And hopefully, he inspires more people to get outside and spend more time in the open. The TV series may not be of the highest quality, but if he inspires youngsters to give outdoors a try – that's already a good start.

Furthermore, I recommend you all read "The Kid Who Climbed Everest: The Incredible Story of a 23-Year-Old's Summit of Mt. Everest". A very telling book about his character and perseverance.

Bear had done some truly amazing and exciting things that few of us will even get a crack at. He did climb the Everest, which is no small feat (if you think it's easy read "Into thin air" by Jon Krakauer).

Did you know Bear was written off and many thought he would die or never walk again after an accident when he was in special forces? He literally fell down when his parachute ripped into two during a routine jump. He broke his back in 3 places on the impact and was in full body braces for 18 month. A recovery and rehabilitation after such injury and year and a half of immobility is really tough. But not only did he live, he was able to convince enough people (on one by one basis) to loan him money or sponsor him to climb Everest. And at age of 23 he did…After getting really sick on the mountain and heading back from base-camp 3 (if I'm not mistaken).

So yes, the show is not so great in my view, but getting paid for spending time outdoors and having fun… I want that job!

I think we all wouldn't my living his life. I love his show.

The weight is off on the REI site. Mine only weighs 26g. I used it this spring for normal camp chores (guylines, emergency tent stake fab, kitchen duty) and performed very well. A worthy replacement for my Juice sc2.

Its a decent lightweight knife.

Mike Whitesell said "I much prefer Les or the guys on Dual Survival. Those are fun to watch just to see the interplay between the hippie and the grunt."

Sorry for stealing the thread; but I just happened to watch Heartbreak Ridge again last night (Clint Eastwood as Gunny Highway and Mario Van Peebles as Stitch Jones). THE classic hippie and the grunt story. Highly recommended!!!

Highway: Shut your face, hippie!
Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: Hippie?
[whispers in ear]
Corporal 'Stitch' Jones: There haven't been hippies in centuries. Are you freeze-dried or doing hard time?

I also got the BG Scout because it's LIGHT. That's mainly B/C it has only a plastic handle with no metal liners.

And I too like a half-serrated blade.

As for Grylls, anyone who can become an SAS trooper has my utmost respect, his Everest climb is just icing on that cake.

Not bad for the weight and price, but a fixed blade Mora is the same price and around 3 oz with sheath. It'll withstand significantly more batoning than a folder.

I really didn't intend for this to be a critique of Gryll's show. I wouldn't care if the knife had Bozo The Clown's initials on it (BC instead of BG) as long as it was cheap, well designed and sharp–which this knife is. Andy, yes the Mora's are a fantastic buy and I may buy one eventually. But for me this compact scout knife is all I need for backpacking.

However, as long as people are getting into Gryll's himself, I thought it was strange on his earlier shows when he didn't knowledge his camera crew. It could be that the suits at Discovery Channel were responsible for that, I don't know. I remember thinking, wait a minute, the camera is panning and tilting, there must be a crew with him, but he is acting like he is out there alone. On a later show he acknowledged the crew and actually did a special on them. I think his crew must have to go through most of the trials and tribulations that Grylls goes through, so I was glad to see him mention them. I understand artistic license and cinematic tricks because I worked in the film business for a while in L.A. I just prefer a more honest approach. I do admire and respect his survival skills and accomplishments though.

nice and light and a great price point, if it holds up looks like a good choice for UL'ers

<– stubborn fixed blade user here though :)

I have the Grylls knife that is just a little larger than the one you linked to. Mine had the orange and dark gray color scheme. I saw it at Wally-World and fell in love; why, because it actually has a carbon steel blade instead of stainless.

As far as Bear G. I don't even have cable or dish, so I have only seen his shows a handful of times. Point is, every show on every channel is ENTERTAINMENT!!! I had a couple TV programs done about me and my woodworking and let me tell you, you are not in control. I believe Bear is great at what he does, but due to television and viewing audience, he is required to be an "actor" to a degree, just as every other written or reality show.

It is the replacement knife I bought and I like it so far, does everything I want a knife to do.

I recently got a scrapyard wardog, and it is by far the best blade I've ever had…

If you have the money, look into busse and kin (scrapyard/swamp rat) and look for INFI offerings, this steel is amazing!!!

Just your garden variety folder without liners. Certainly better than no knife and a real step up from a single edge razor blade or a Swiss Army Classic. It should be fine for food prep, repairs, and general cutting chores.

There are better knives out there, but they are more than $15 too. This is the Walmart-trekking-pole level of gear. I would look for a knife with better quality steel and metal liners in the handle for strength. The Benchmade Mini Griptilian would be a good example.

I'm sorry the Bear Grylls comments annoy you, but he is all show. He has given really bad advice and examples, and made some downright dishonest misrepresentations. I wouldn't buy anything with his name on it.