In 1939 Joseph Gerber (advertising agency owner) had custom knife maker David Murphy make 24 sets of carving knife for some of his select customers. Catalog retailer Abercrombie & Fitch saw them and was so impressed with the quality of the knives they wanted to sell them. Thus was born Gerber Legendary Blades.
Mossdancer wrote:Here are a few
Dale you may have to ID some of these. I just don't remember.
You will also have to supply the Al Mar name on his.
The fourth one down could have been a Mar or Paul collaboration.
moss
The 4th one down with finger grooves is the Magnum Folding Hunter that was designed by Al Mar.
The bottom knife in the picture is an Al Mar Air Weight. It was the first Zytel handle I ever saw and the first knife I ever owned with ATS-34 steel in the blade. Those were so sharp when I bought mine I took it home and lathered my beard with a shaving brush and shaved with it. I got a great shave with no knicks or cuts! A very impressive knife for the time, circa 1988, IIRC.
Here is an unusual Gerber I picked up last month, the Gerber Lord Sandwich.
I have no idea when it was made, it is not in Phil Rodenberg's book on Gerber.
Hi Dale
Here are some photo's that may interest you. These tend to sell pretty well when I get enough together to show a group of them. There are a few folks who have bought the early Mimings in a high rider sheath for the kids and grandkids for fishing. In the group of four the two larger knives are a Joyeuse made for Gerber in probably 39-41 era by Dave Murphy along with a Joyeuse by Gerber from 1946. The two smaller are the miming type made in 50 and one from 49. The last photo's are of a Gerber Shorty from the mid 60's as indicated by the zip code on the back of sheath. The last photo is out of sequence it is a depiction of the two mimings in their sheaths. A joyeuse is a small carver that came in carving sets. BRL intimates they were used as hunting knives many years ago. Take a close look at the 1949 Miming, it's short handle and blade makes me wonder if it was an early Little Fisherman.
moss
I've never seen a Lord Sandwich with Armorhide handle. That is an odd one. I've attached a scan of a 1974 dated brochure showing the knife (chrome).
Page 24 of Phil's book does refer to the Lord Sandwich as being made for some period between 1955 and 1970 "or longer". Since yours is Armorhide, it must have been produced in or after 1969.
My small collection for Gerber Silver Knights, The Bottom one I replaced the handle with Mammoth Ivory.
The top one is 3 1/4, the bottom 3 are the large 3 3/4 all are close to mint.
Really nice knives. The one with the Mammoth is tremendous.
moss
As an after thought here are some to gaze upon. Sorry, they are about three deep. Fun to try to figure out what is there. The boot knife near the center is a Kershaw. Must have been a Grandkid in the drawer.
moss
I use either a Gerber or a Kershaw to cut something pretty much every day...usually a Kershaw, but for some of the bigger chores, it's hard to beat these Gators.I wore out the last 650 I had, so I just bought myself this brand new pair...now I'm looking for something that needs to be skinned!
~Q~
~Q~
Smart is when you believe only half of what you hear. Brilliant is when you know which half to believe.
When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.
How y'all doin?
Good to be here. Here's a few of my newest additions. The LST was in pitiful shape, broken tip, rusty, dirty. Cleaned up pretty nice. My new edc.
The newest Bolt Action is for my son. He leaves the 21st for Ft. Benning. Figured it'd be a good present for finishing basic.
Thank y'all for having me. We gonna have fun now!!
My name is Mud,
But call me Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie
That's long for Mud, so I've been told
That's a good looking knife. Great choice for scales to.
The top one is the ONE. It's what got me started on Gerber Goodies. I carried it until I thought I lost it and bought the new model.
Same but different. Gotta love the LST. Can't killem. One of Blackies best 3 minute ideas.
My name is Mud,
But call me Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie
That's long for Mud, so I've been told
Sent the seller a question but has yet to respond. I like the deep carry pocket clip .....[/color]
Chris i woke last night to the sound of thunder
how far off i sat and wondered
started humming a song from nineteen sixty two
aint it funny how the night moves