I wouldn't drop a penny on a gerber ever again. I got them back in the Marines (all 4 - The Mk I & II, & Command I & II), and they were just ****. Steel was soft, and brittle at the same time. Don't get me wrong, the engineers that design the ergonomics of the sheathes, blades and handles are somewhere near genius level (in that they achieve what they intend to); but - the steel is just ... ****. I could wear them out in a day; then again, I was raised with buck knives ... sharpen it once a year, 6 months if you REALLY abused it. Later, I got more of their (Gerber) blades, and their multi-tool ... again & again, cutting edge dulling in the sheath just from carrying, chipping the cutting edge, snapping off tips (and NO, I'm not particularly a big "pryer" with knives ... that's what craftsman screwdrivers are for).
In fact, with their multi-tools, I noticed that the knife-blade tip on mine was BLUE, from being burned in final machining. I looked at at least a dozen more of them in stores, all over the US (yeah, I'm anal that way), and, in every case, the tip was blue.
Columbia River (CRKT) DOES have some very nice knives, but, most of their quick-open folders don't really function (open) as well as some other brands. (not just in my hands). It's an ergonomics thing, maybe you need to have really small hands.
BTW - Buck is no longer the diamond-hard steel of yesteryear ... there's now a "China" proudly stamped at the bottom of the blades. That said, I bought, and carry 1 of 5 skeleton folders that I bought a year ago, most days. Still some nice designs, although old Al (Buck) must be spinning in his grave over the outsourcing.
Don't know where you are, DJSH, but, if you're anywhere near OKC, I suggest that you go to "Outdoor America " at 1925 N MacArthur Blvd. They have about .... 1000 blades under glass there. Kershaws, CRKT, SOG's, Buck, Case, Kabar ... all styles and types. There, you can pick them up, hold them, and decide what fits YOUR needs, and your hand. As a few have mentioned here, first thing is, WHAT do you expect to need it for? Just like a gun, or suspension & tire selection for your FJ40; there is no "perfect for everything" knife. The closest thing to perfect, would probably get you arrested, fired, or at least COUNSELLED if you tried to carry it for daily wear & use (unless you live and work out in the boonies). I still have my Buck 112 Ranger (from when it first came out), and ... aside from it traveling in a holster, it's still one of my fave's for carrying in the field. Even closed, it still enhances your punching power (both straight, and downstroke).
