AllOutdoor: A Brief History of Gerber Knives

H. Clay Aalders
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In the world of knives and outdoor gear, few names resonate as strongly as Gerber. Founded in the heart of Oregon, this iconic company has been producing high-quality knives for over eight decades. From its humble beginnings as a small batch of handmade cutlery to its status as a global leader in the industry, the history of Gerber knives is a testament to innovation, craftsmanship, and a deep connection to the outdoors.

The Gerber story begins in 1939 when Joseph R. Gerber started a small business in Portland, Oregon, crafting handmade knife sets as holiday gifts for his friends and family. Little did he know that this humble beginning would lay the foundation for one of the most renowned knife manufacturers in the world.

Gerber’s knives gained a reputation for their exceptional quality and design. His friends and acquaintances were so impressed by the craftsmanship that they encouraged him to turn his hobby into a business. Joseph Gerber, recognizing an opportunity, took their advice and founded Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939.

Gerber’s first commercial success came in the form of kitchen cutlery sets. The sets included paring knives, carving knives, and utility knives, all bearing the hallmark of Gerber’s craftsmanship. These early creations laid the groundwork for the company’s future success.

I knew bits and pieces of Gerber’s backstory, but this was a good primer.

Read the whole thing:

Cutting Through History: A Brief History of Gerber Knives 

 

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H. Clay Aalders

H. Clay Aalders is a lifelong edged tool user. He spent the past 20 years as a woodworker and fishing guide in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Tennessee. While guiding in Idaho, Clay worked part-time writing for a local newspaper, and upon moving to Tennessee began writing for the blog The Truth About Knives - spending his last 5 years there as Managing Editor. His background is in fixed-blade hunting and bushcraft knives, but has jumped into the world of vintage slipjoint collecting with both feet since coming to work at Knife Magazine. Clay’s primary role is as Digital Editor, curating and creating new content for our website and blog, as well as maintaining the Knife Magazine social media accounts (FB/IG: @theknifemag, Twitter: @knifemagazine). He is also a contributor and Associate Editor of the print magazine.

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4 Responses

  1. “GERBER, MADE IN USA”. “Legendary Blades” by Al Mar, “Blackie” Collins, Paul Poehlmann. The “Mark I and II”; “Bolt Action and LST”; the “Paul”. The “Strong Arm” and “Prodigy” . . . I own all of them and I carry some of them. (My “Bolt Action” was owned by Bill Moran who put his iconic “Moran edge” on it.) I like ‘GERBER’ because their USA-made blades use 420HC primarily. I have zero comment regarding the history of Chicom Gerber.

    Reply

    1. ha yeah, i remember the paul knife with some kind of rotary action. i think someone still produces a similar one. like the paul, i’m mostly aware of the lst and bolt action from gander mountain catalogs. i’ve got an old “600 magnum” i think i found, and another that has a strange black plastic bar on the spine to assist your thumb in opening. we knew all the buck numbers and carried/ camped with some (my kids got my old 102 woodsman, dad paid 15 for it; a new one in s35vn is 143, just sayin) and hardware stores/ sporting goods departments had display cases. but then mckay spoke and ski opened and they had a display case of gerber fixed knives. we drooled over those, priced out of reach but oh so exotic as we’d never heard of them.
      kind of odd the article never mentions fiskars.

      Reply

      1. CMEAT: The “Paul” I had was a Bill Moran “dresser drawer”*** knife. I bought it at the “Bill Moran 1st Annual All-Forge Knife Show & Auction” in 2013 for $50. Several months later I sold it for $200. This knife was built by Poehlmann to exacting tolerances of 0.0001 inches. An incredible feat of knife engineering. The “600” Magnum is a quality knife. Beefed up LST (“400”).
        (***Like most of us, Bill Moran had knives in a dresser drawer. At the “2013 Auction”, I got a few of them: Al Mar; GERBER “Bolt Action”; and, a ceramic knife with sheath that remains a mystery!)
        On “Buck”, . . . During the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s, I accumulated the “300 and 500 Series”. I liked the rosewood scales on the “500’s”. I had my “112-Ranger” in the Navy. The small “Lancer-305” was a favorite in the 5th pocket. When “Buck” went to China about twenty years ago, I was dumbstruck as to “why”? “Made in China” Buck knives are sort of collectible . . . Not for me. The move back to Idaho was a smart move. Still, about 15% of Bucks are mass produced in mainland China.

        Reply

        1. pops had a 501 squire (i thought it was esquire, just looked it up… could be a fender thing) that had nice wood scales in the seventies.
          i went through (with some cpd help) a couple few rangers. i would want a micarta drop point version these days.

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