Knife Safety is Very Important to Us and to Gerber

From Gerber Blades voluntary recall of the Gerber® Instant™ Knife on April 26, 2012 because of their concern with a locking mechanism problem, to their continuing advancements in the area of knife safety technology, Gerber Legendary Blades has proven their concern for the safety of their customers.

Respect the Knife

Knife safety is a truly critical issue and it's something that can't be treated lightly. Learning to properly use, store, carry and care for your knives is as important as the type of knife you buy and the company you buy from. Here are some knife safety tips you really need to be aware of whether using Gerber knives or any others.

• Always remember that any knife can be a dangerous weapon and treat it accordingly! Handle your knife with care whether you're opening it, closing it, carrying it, cleaning it or just showing it off. Caution can help you avoid serious injury to yourself or to others.

No Tossing or Pointing

• Don't toss a knife to someone. If you're asked to hand a knife to a friend, do just that... hand it to them. Always hand off a knife handle first to avoid accidentally cutting someone.

• In the same way, don't point a knife at anyone. In a relaxed setting, you could accidentally drop the knife or lose control of it. In a threatening situation, your move could actually do more harm than good. While you may plan to defend yourself with a knife, unless you know you're stronger than your assailant, you could be overpowered and place your "defense weapon" in the hands of your attacker.

2 Way Safety

• Always fold your knife or place it in its sheath for carrying. The purpose of a sheath is to not only protect your knife from damage but to protect you from harm. The same is true of folding knives. Their purpose is to allow you to safely carry them in your pocket. Use this safety feature as a matter of course and you'll prevent a number of injuries and accidents.

Check the Locking Mechanism

• If your knife has a locking mechanism that is designed to keep the blade open or closed, be sure it's working properly before you rely on it. Test the mechanism a few times, with your fingers out of the way, and make sure it works like it should.

Fast Hands? Think Again

• Never try to catch your knife if it's falling. Just step back out of the way and let it fall, then pick it up after it hits the ground. It's better to damage a knife that can be repaired than to cut yourself, sometimes severely.

Low Light = Bad Idea

• Avoid using your knife under dim lighting. At the very least use a small flashlight to illuminate the area where you're cutting. Always try your best to have good, bright light available when using any type of knife. Even around a campfire can be a bad time to start carving or whittling; depending on the fire size, there are a ton of shadows bouncing around, and if something were to block your view for even a second, that could be your finger you cut instead of your project.

Mom's Rule Still Applies

• Remember how your mother always told you to never run with scissors? Well, that was good advice. And the same rule applies to knives. Don't run with a knife, or any sharp object in hand for that matter. Even the most coordinated or athletic folks can trip over something they didn't see. Plus it's common sense, sharp objects can be deadlier at higher speeds.

• Use your knife the way it was designed to be used. Never use a knife blade to open a bottle, use a bottle opener instead. Never use it as a screwdriver, or for prying something loose. Instead, get the right tool for the job at hand and protect yourself from getting hurt. Plus you don't want to possibly break or chip a blade, unless it's a last resort because you're stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Risk of Shock

• Never use a knife on appliances or other electrical items with live electricity. Disconnect all appliances or electronics from any electrical outlet or turn off a breaker in advance. Some knives like the LMF II have ways to possibly protect you from shock, but please don't test this willingly.

Never Toward Yourself

• When cutting, always cut away from your body, never toward it. This tremendously reduces the chance of accidentally cutting yourself if the knife should slip or you lose your grip. Or how the southern saying goes, never cut toward yourself, always toward someone else. (However we don't recommend doing that.) Feel free to use the saying though, if you haven't heard it before.

Proper Care Goes a Long Way

• Care for your knife properly. Clean your knife according to the recommendations that came with the knife. This is especially true for pocket knives or knives that contain any kind of locking mechanism. Be sure there's no grit or grime inside the knife, on the blade, or in the lock that could damage the knife and ultimately cause harm due to malfunction.

A Sharp Knife Will Always Prevail

• Sharpen your knife with care and use the proper stone for sharpening. While you may be tempted to grind the blade of your knife with a power grinder, avoid that temptation. Not only is doing so more dangerous, but it will make your knife blade more brittle and can void your knife's warranty as well.

Keep that Smooth Action

• Oil your knife regularly. Learn how to oil your knife properly by knowing where to place the oil and what type of oil is best. This will ensure your knife opens and closes as it should and will keep it functioning correctly. Not only will that make it more enjoyable to use your knife since no one wants to use a tool that doesn't work right, but it will help to prevent injury that may be caused if a knife sticks open or closed, or doesn't lock in place like it should.

Unless You're a Knife Maker...

• If your knife becomes damaged, find a reputable, authorized dealer to repair it. Never try to fix your own knife. Not only will it void your warranty, but you can too easily hurt yourself or do serious damage. Instead, follow the proper procedure to have your knife repaired and save yourself some hassles and some, potentially literal, pain.

Accidents Happen, So Be Prepared

Even when following all of these safety precautions and taking the greatest care when handling a knife, injuries may occur. If you do cut yourself or someone else, seek immediate medical help.

If the cut is serious, call 911 and have them call an ambulance right away. If the cut is minor, take the time to wash it and apply an antiseptic ointment and bandage or other first-aid immediately. This can prevent infection that may come from a dirty knife blade.

Spread the Word

Knowing how to use, store, carry and care for all of your Gerber knives is crucial to your personal safety as well as that of others around you. Memorize these safety tips and teach them to your family members and children so you can all enjoy the knives you carry and minimize your risk of harm or personal injury.

Knife safety is huge, plus with so many places outlawing knives, it's not only safety when carrying one, it's safety to know where you can and can't carry a knife as well.