With material construction and features that exceed its modest price point, here’s one USA-made knife you’ll want to check out
by Dexter Ewing
Designed and made in Portland, OR, Gerber’s Sedulo folder marks a new era for the company, finally bringing an EDC-able folder to those who need a rugged built lockblade for work or sport. The Sedulo has all the hallmarks of a modern-day EDC lockblade, such as a high-end blade steel and a new lock. All this comes with a surprisingly affordable price tag. It’s also important to note that the Sedulo is among the few models that are ushering Gerber back into the made-in-the-USA category. The brand’s aggressive push for value-driven knives led them to source knives made in China while seemingly ignoring stateside manufacturing, for the most part. The Sedulo is an exciting new model that brings American manufacturing back into Gerber’s product line.
Let’s take an in-depth look at what makes the Sedulo tick.
Starting with the blade, the Sedulo makes use of CPM S30V, a respected high-end steel in the knife market. Known for its high wear resistance, S30V can go the distance without the need for frequent sharpening. The 3 ½-inch long drop point blade is ready to tackle your toughest cutting tasks. The full flat grind reduces drag considerably, allowing it to sail through the toughest materials with ease.
The drop point shape is probably one of the most useful blade shapes around, with a belly that slices cleanly and completely. Dual thumb studs allow the blade to be quickly opened with either hand.
This Sedulo sample that we were sent for review has a stonewashed finish, which is an industrial-type appearance (think HVAC ductwork) that helps to hide scratches that tend to accumulate through use. There is a certain model of Sedulo that has an all-black look, with the blade sporting a subdued black oxide coating for a low-profile appearance. For ultra-smooth blade rotation, the Sedulo’s blade rides on bearings, ensuring the smoothest action anywhere.
The handle construction is a molded FRN (fiberglass reinforced nylon) for both light weight and high strength. There are several key ergonomic features incorporated into the handle design of the Sedulo that help make the knife both comfortable and safe to use.
First, you will notice the way the handle flares at the pivot, creating a subtle forward guard which helps to keep your hand in place. Second, you will see that there’s 3S texturing on the grip part of the handle, which helps to bite a bit into your hand without being aggressive. Third and final, the handle’s slight rounded cross section and pronounced chamfers help to soften and refine the hard edges to make the Sedulo feel very comfortable in your grip. Those of you who have tried other brands of these style lightweight folders might have taken notice that these type handles have a hollow feel to them, primarily because the insides have cavities which remove material and thus, reduce weight. This is good, but bad in that the knife feels cheap.
The Sedulo handle is solid. There are two steel liners which help to provide backbone for the Pivot Lock (more on this shortly). Pick up the Sedulo and you will notice the knife has some heft to it but not so much that it is heavy.
A fold-over, deep carry pocket clip is attached to the end of the handle, which carries the Sedulo in the blade tip-up configuration in the pocket, as deep as possible. There’s an additional pair of clip screw holes on the opposite side to allow you to swap the clip to the other side to accommodate left-handed users.
For user convenience and safety, the Sedulo comes equipped with a blade locking mechanism. The lock is a different style than what you may be used to seeing in these type of knives. It’s called a cross bar lock, named because of the hardened steel bar that is under constant spring tension that follows the contours of the blade tang and engages fully when the tang flattens out. It basically wedges itself into place and prevents the blade from closing. Think of it as a doorstop and how it wedges under the door to prevent it from closing shut. Gerber calls this the Pivot Lock, and it is totally ambidextrous in the sense that the lock’s release buttons are on either side of the handle, allowing the Sedulo to be operated easily with either hand. Pull back on the button with your thumb and the lock disengages, allowing the blade to rotate shut. Firmly grip the handle and release the lock, making sure you have no fingers in the way. The blade glides shut easily. That is the beauty of the cross bar lock mechanism.
The Sedulo makes a great everyday carry working folder. Overall, it is practical, with a comfortable handle and a simple but effective blade design. The use of high-end S30V stainless steel is a good choice, allowing you to double down on tasks and have plenty of edge life still left. Since S30V is pretty much the standard for high-end factory knives, use the Sedulo with confidence every time. I’ve no doubt that the Sedulo can also compete with factory knives that are more expensive because of these features.
When it comes to USA-made lockblades with good blade steel, you expect to pay somewhat handsomely for them. The Sedulo’s MSRP, though, begins at $125. That is an incredible bargain. Furthermore, the Sedulo can be had in one of four colors: gray FRN handle and stonewashed blade ($125), black FRN handle and stonewashed blade ($125), black FRN handle and black oxide-coated blade ($130), and finally blue FRN handle and black oxide-coated blade ($130). Overall, it’s a great value for the content.
