The Gerber FastBall is relatively new in the Gerber lineup, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorites!
The Gerber Fastball is an EDC, modern design folding knife. It features S30V blade steel and an aircraft-grade aluminum handle. Its Wharncliffe blade opens easily with one hand thanks to the super quick opening flipper design.
- Open Length: 7.1″
- Closed Length: 4.1″
- Blade Length: 3″
- Weight: 2.7 oz.
It’s fast to deploy and can be carried in nearly all traditional positions. The finish looks great, and there aren’t a lot of sharp edges. Overall, it’s a knife that anyone can proudly carry every day.
Who should be Interested in the Gerber FastBall?
Anyone looking for a medium-priced knife for everyday carry will like the FastBall. It looks great and would be equally at home clipped on a pair of khakis or the shorts of a hiker. It’s simply a great EDC knife.
- Gerber Knife: This pocket knife is made from high carbon S30V steel with machined aluminum handles
- EDC Knife: The manual finger flipper deployment and reliable detent make this knife safe and secure
- Pocket Knife: The Gerber Fastball is designed as a slim, lightweight knife with a single liner for...
- Folding Knife: This knife features Wharncliffe/drop point blade with a shallow flat grind and needle...
- Gerber Guarantee: As a testament to our unrelenting commitment to quality and service, Gerber is...
Features
The FastBall has a 3″ blade, weighs 2.7 oz, and has an overall length of 7.1″ when opened.
The blade is made of S30V, a great all-around steel for an EDC knife of this type. The handle is made of aluminum.
The FastBall can be carried in three positions and configured for a right-hand tip-up carry. This is how most people will probably carry it. If you prefer a different carry style, it can also be tip-down right-hand and left-hand tip-up carry.
Lanyard hole in the handle for those that like to add lanyards to their gear.
A liner lock keeps the blade in place when it’s deployed.
Pros
The Gerber FastBall features a solid detent that feels great. Opening the knife is super fast and snappy.
The flipper is a perfect size. It’s large enough to easily flip and help keep your hand from sliding up onto the blade during use but small enough that it doesn’t ever feel like it’s in the way.
Many knives in this price range will still skimp on the quality of the steel. Not the FastBall. The S30V used in the blade is great for an EDC knife. It holds a razor edge and can be brought back after hard use without too much trouble.
The smooth edges of the knife make it feel great in hand, and the design keeps it from feeling like it may slide right out of your hand like some other knives.
Completely made in America.
Most Popular Gerber Knives
Cons
The fit and finish of the FastBall could be better. Many of the early runs of this knife have obvious machine marks and an off-center edge on the blade. This doesn’t seem to be the case on current knife runs.
It cannot be carried in a tip-down left-hand configuration. This isn’t a big deal to most people, but it’s a deal breaker if that is your preferred carry style.
My main complaint with the FastBall (and most knives, for that matter) is the pocket clip holds the knife a little too high for my liking. I wish it allowed for a deeper carry in the pocket.
If these cons are too much for you, you can check out the Kershaw Leek and get a comparable knife for about half the price.
Conclusion
The Gerber FastBall is a great EDC knife. It feels great in hand, opens with authority, and locks up well when it’s opened.
The Fastball also looks great, which doesn’t hurt. If you’re in the market for a new EDC knife, you won’t go wrong by picking one of these up.
