For a first time Kayak owner who's new to all this, your explanation and demonstration of the reasons for the flat tip and dull/sharp sides of blades was very helpful. I understood the reason for the flat tip, but couldn't quite get my head wrapped around the dull side until I saw your demonstration of a chord being wrapped around your wrist. Nice review - thank you.

Brother, I’m going to share a story with you because your video tip, probably went unnoticed by most but saved my ass! I have the first Gerber knife you showed installed on my NRS Chinook PFD. I hate it for two reasons. It’s not sharp at all! I’ve tried multiple times to sharpen it, and I actually think I made It duller. The second reason, and where your tip helped me is that once the sheath was mounted to my PFD, I could not get it removed again to replace the knife with an NRS Co-Pilot. The plastic is very good quality on the Gerber sheath and was just a nightmare to remove it. Tried and failed multiple times, short of breaking out the power tools and just destroying it, (came Close). Then you mentioned the butter knife! It worked! For anyone else who might be in this predicament, simply run the blade of the butter knife between the sheath and the PFD mount then apply upward pressure with the knife while simultaneously pulling downwards on the sheath. Keep the blade of the butter knife pushed in as far as it will go until the sheath slides free. Brilliant tip! The Gerber knife is a well made knife, it’s just not sharp or at least mine isn’t. I had to use considerable amount of pressure and at least three swipes to cut a piece of 550 Para cord. My buddy has the NRS pilot and it’s much sharper. It will effortlessly cut through 550 para cord.

The screws on the dive knife is to attach to a scuba bcd. Similar to a pfd but you add or remove air to adjust your buoyancy at different depths. They come with grommet pre attached with that spacing and the screws provide a more secure connection.

Thanks for sharing! In panic mode, I'd like to be able to feel, no to see which side of the blade is flat, so that I don't accidentally cut myself as you demonstrated to cut cord wrapped around your arm. The last Gerber's release button/trigger serves the purpose. I would know my index finger side is the cutting blade naturally. I wish NRS can make modification on the handle so that so soon as I grab the handle, I know which side is cutting side.

I carry the CO Pilot and am very pleased with the performance. I added a lanyard for a little more length and to get a better purchase on the knife while releasing it from the sheath. Great little blade that is extremely handy while fishing and may one day save someone's life. A feel a rescue knife of some kind is a necessity while on the water.

My brother gave me the river shorty and it works great as all Gerber tools do. Draw back for me is length, yean I'm short. The Co piolet has been on my vest for years now. The blunt tip is great at cracking crabs during tog season after dropping your shears overboard too.

When it comes time to retire your Co-Pilots take a look at the ESEE Imlay, it's made from far superior steel for about the same cost and is made in the USA with an excellent lifetime warranty, it's what I carry. I don't work for ESEE in any way, just a happy customer, thanks for the video though, it was informative. You should also think about the dexterity required to remove some of those knives from the sheath, might not occur to someone or be simple in a true emergency. Sometimes simpler is better in my opinion therefore I'd choose that Gerber River Shorty out of the lot :D

I was actually looking into getting a NRS knife thanks for the review 👊🏼

Thank you for showing us these knives! I'm looking for a good kayak knife that will also double as a fillet and bleeding knife. I'm going to consider a folding knife, the CRKT M16-13ZLEK. It has a seat belt cutter built into the flipper tab, so a rope on skin cut can be made without even opening the blade, which can also be used as a line cutter while still closed. The blade is partially serrated for rope and strap cutting, but has a narrow spear point blade for bleeding out fish. And it's much smaller than any of these offerings, but still has a 3.5 inch blade when opened. It's blade is made with AUS-8 stainless, just a little more rust resistant than the Gerber and NRS blade steels, and it's coated for extra corrosion resistance. The LE in the model number stands for Law Enforcement.

I agree with blade on one side of blade. Very informative

Interesting comparison thanks, would have been good to try cutting things and see how that compare, for an energancy I'd want the one that cuts rope the quickest. Another point to consider is that with the Gerbers you would know which side the blade was by the feel of the handle, the thing putting me off the NRS knives is tyhat I have to get a claer look at the blade to see if I need to rotoate it to cut the rope instead of myself.

Great video ty for taking tge time for all of us and making it.

Top, well considered/thought out review on these dude. Thank you!

Informative video, thanks Heath!

I have several Gerber Shorties and have used them for 5 years great knife

The little circles in the gerber river shorty are for attaching to certain pfd’s without the use of a clip. Never done it myself but that’s what I was told.

Was actually interested in buying a new knife

Vinegar eats rust overnight. Tinfoil takes rust off. Also you can Blue a blade to slow down rust. Or just cover the edge with painters tape and Rustolium paint bright colors on the rest of the blade.

Nice review - like the NRS and Gerber (blue) handle,

Sick knife dude! 💪

Excellent video. My dad carry the Gerber saltwater knife

Nice video man!

Thanks for the video. Just wondering, do all these knives float?

Vinegar works well also

just wrapped 550 paracord 4 inches long down my arm 3 wraps thick and normal rope over that and used the gear aid kotu SHARP tipped knife and was able to slip the knife in and cut it open blind folded. def would never carry a knife without a tip. i didnt even have a scratch. gear aid kotu tanto in tan is one of my favorite small fixed blades.

The NRS is very popular but a bit overpriced IMO for a $60 Chinese made knife.

I need to get that NRS Co-pilot!

I need a new PFD and a knife!

"What's up, cool video, whatever you wanna say on there" 🤪

FYI- you installed the Gear Aid knife incorrectly to your PFD. You need to remove the pocket clip and the stealth then comes apart to put on your PFD. Most secure system I have seen.

Cool setup!

Love kayak fishing. But I just might love free stuff even more 😉

Must Have Kayak Safety Gear "Kayaking Safety Tip #04" - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/pLqKddthxrqlgH0.html

Looks like I have to buy a new knife now.

Blunt tip. Dropping in raft.

cant open your pocket flaps very well with the Gerbers

Solid

Metal Rescue 👍👍

Hey man. You’re suppose to use your PFD knife only for emergency use, not for filleting a fish! Your knife will fail you in case of emergency.

Will these mero me sale from an alligator atack?

Coke will also remove rust.

To save viewers time: this review of knives does not cover how well they cut.

Wow you do a video on which knife is best and you only know that you like your knife best. You review knives that you have never had or even opened the package they come in. You clearly demonstrated that you knew nothing about any of the knives you reviewed.

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