Truth be told, we have no idea what things we can with a miniature cleaver that we can’t do better with another knife. At the size, you can’t exactly use it to chop a full pig’s legs, bone and all, like a regular cleaver. With the way the darn thing looks, though, the Gerber Tri-Tip is the kind of blade you’ll want to own, even if you have to struggle to find uses for it later on. We mean, look at the darn thing.
You know how carrying a regular cleaver makes you look like a badass who’s about to skin, gut, and chop a beastly animal like a buffalo or a boar to much smaller, transportable pieces? Well, that won’t happen here, as the knife’s small size will make it look like you’re about to do those exact same things to a less imposing animal. You know, like a beetle or a spider. Or something that’s as equally non-intimidating.
The Gerber Tri-Tip has a three-inch cleaver-shaped blade with two edges: a beveled leading edge that can scrape like a chisel and a fine bottom edge for cutting duties. It has a bottom edge that spans the entire length of the blade, so it should handle most common cutting and slicing tasks, while the blade’s substantial body should allow for some serious chopping, compared to what you can get from a traditional knife. The chisel edge, on the other hand, spans about an inch or so, allowing you to use it for most any scraping job that would require a regular handheld tool. It uses a full tang blade made from 7Cr17MoV steel in a nice-looking stonewashed finish.
That blade is mounted to a 2.75-inch ergonomically-shaped handle, with machined aluminum scales in a textured finish to minimize the chances of slipping when it’s clutched around your hand. It enables a convenient three- or four-finger grip, depending on your hand size, with a nice curve around the front allowing plenty of leverage, whether you’re slicing steaks at the dinner table, scraping a pencil tip in the office, or chopping twigs in the backcountry. A lanyard hole allows you to hang it at home for display, which, let’s be honest, will probably be this knife’s default function. We mean, a miniature cleaver is just way too sweet to look at.
The Gerber Tri-Tip includes a multi-mount sheath to keep the blade from cutting you accidentally when it’s not in use, which can either be mounted tip-down or scout-carry. While the blade’s styling is definitely the star here, the sheath should be a close second, as it really locks the knife securely, requiring you to push down on the locking tab before you can even pull the darn thing out.
Would you really choose to carry this in place of a compact folder? We don’t know. If you want a knife that will grab attention and still get the job done, there are few designs out there that could do better.
Want one? The Gerber Tri-Tip is available now.
- At home on the trail, in the backyard kitchen, or at a tailgate, The standout design of the tri-tip...
