Jump to content

Gerber Legendary Blades

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Qzd (talk | contribs) at 01:10, 22 November 2016 (Reverted 1 good faith edit by 207.118.216.232 using STiki). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Gerber Legendary Blades, Inc.
Company typeCorporation
IndustryManufacturing
FoundedPortland, Oregon
1939; 85 years ago (1939)
HeadquartersTigard, Oregon
Key people
Pete Gerber, Founder
ProductsKnives
RevenueUS$100 million
Number of employees
300
ParentFiskars
Websitewww.gerbergear.com
Gerber LHR Combat Knife designed by Matt Larsen, Bill Harsey and Chris Reeve
These are two of the most popular Gerber knives. The smaller is the Gerber LMF II and the larger is the Gerber LHR Sheath knife

Gerber Legendary Blades is a maker of consumer knives and multitools headquartered in Tigard, Oregon, United States, within the Portland metropolitan area. Currently Gerber is a sub-division of Fiskars Brands Inc, owned by the Fiskars company of Finland. Gerber was established in 1939 by Pete Gerber. Gerber was the first production knife company to collaborate with a custom knife maker when it collaborated with David Murphy.[1]

History

In 1910, the Gerber family started an advertising firm in Portland, Oregon.[2] While working for the family business, Joseph Gerber mailed 24 sets of kitchen knives to clients during the holidays.[2] These handmade knives were very popular, with then catalog retailer Abercrombie & Fitch requesting more of these knives from Gerber to sell in their catalog in 1939.[2] Gerber started Gerber Legendary Blades that same year.[2]

In 1966, the company relocated to a new headquarters next to Interstate 5 in what is now Tigard.[2] Finnish company Fiskars purchased the private company in 1987.[2] Chad Vincent was hired as chief executive officer in July 2001.[2] By 2003 the company employed 300 people and had revenues near $100 million and was the second leading seller of multitools in the United States.[2]

Designs

Designers who have since designed knives for Gerber include: Bob Loveless, Paul Poehlmann, Blackie Collins, William Harsey Jr., Fred Carter, Rick Hinderer, Brad Parrish, Ernest Emerson and Matt Larsen.[1] Former Gerber employees who started their own successful knife companies include Al Mar and Pete Kershaw.[1] Gerber built a line of folding knives based on designs of Rex Applegate.[1] Bear Grylls has helped design a line of survival knives and tools.

Models

There are many different models of Gerber knives, including:

  • the Gerber Guardian: A boot knife designed by knife maker Bob Loveless more than twenty years ago.[1]
  • the Gerber Mark II:A fighting knife.[1]
  • the Gerber LMF II Infantry
  • the Gerber 31-001901 Bear Grylls Ultimate Pro
  • the Gerber 22-41121 Prodigy Survival Knife
  • the Gerber Blackie Collins Clip-lock Diving Knife
  • the LMF II ASEK, or Aircrew Survival and Egress Knife
  • the Gerber Gator - A single blade lockback knife with an ergonomic thermoplastic handle molded to resemble alligator skin.
  • The Gerber/Emerson Alliance - The first automatic knife made by either company is based on the profile of Emerson Knives, Inc.'s earlier Raven knife design and is an issued item to certain military units under the NSN (NATO Stock Numbers): 5110-01-516-3243 and 5110-01-516-3244.[3]
  • Gerber
  • Gerber logo on machete/saw combo
    Gerber logo on machete/saw combo
  • Gerber machete/saw combo
    Gerber machete/saw combo
  • A Gerber LMF II ASEK used to cut through a 220 volt electrical line during a battle in Iraq
    A Gerber LMF II ASEK used to cut through a 220 volt electrical line during a battle in Iraq
  • A Gerber Compact Sport 400 multitool, closed
    A Gerber Compact Sport 400 multitool, closed
  • A Gerber Compact Sport 400 multitool, open
    A Gerber Compact Sport 400 multitool, open
  • A Gerber Mark II combat knife, with black anodized blade
    A Gerber Mark II combat knife, with black anodized blade
  • A blunt tip Gerber River Shorty dive knife
    A blunt tip Gerber River Shorty dive knife
  • A Gerber Paraframe I framelock knife, with fine edge and dark gray titanium nitride coating.
    A Gerber Paraframe I framelock knife, with fine edge and dark gray titanium nitride coating.
  • A Gerber Suspension pocket tool, blades open
    A Gerber Suspension pocket tool, blades open
  • A Gerber Suspension pocket tool, pliers open
    A Gerber Suspension pocket tool, pliers open
  • Gerber Vise keychain, 60mm long when closed
    Gerber Vise keychain, 60mm long when closed
  • Gerber Vise, fully opened
    Gerber Vise, fully opened
  • Gerber Blackie Collins One Piece, Fixed Blade CLip-Lock Diving Knife
    Gerber Blackie Collins One Piece, Fixed Blade CLip-Lock Diving Knife
  • Gerber Vise, only side tools opened
    Gerber Vise, only side tools opened
  • Gerber Remix, redesigned with Paraframe opening/closing system
    Gerber Remix, redesigned with Paraframe opening/closing system
  • A Gerber Assisted-opening knife
    A Gerber Assisted-opening knife
  • A Gerber Paraframe framelock knife, the Gerber Guardian Backup knife with sheath, and a Gerber Multi-plier 600 with sheath.
    A Gerber Paraframe framelock knife, the Gerber Guardian Backup knife with sheath, and a Gerber Multi-plier 600 with sheath.
  • Bear Grylls compact survival knife
    Bear Grylls compact survival knife
  • Bear Grylls series Gerber Firestarter.
    Bear Grylls series Gerber Firestarter.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Pacella, Gerard (2002). 100 Legendary Knives. Krause Publications. p. 126. ISBN 0-87349-417-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Williams, Christina Dyrness. “Inside Oregon Business: Gerber sharpens edge on growth, marketing”. The Oregonian, October 9, 2003, Business, p. D1.
  3. ^ Karwan, Chuck (2003), "Automatic Success", Tactical Knives, 9 (6): 50–54
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerber_Legendary_Blades&oldid=750883019"