Gerber, Baby

[rangerbluedog]

This little Gerber lockback belongs to my Pa-in-law. He retired from Jacobs Chuck company about 12 years ago. He said it was not a retirement gift, but a "years of service" gift. He can't remember exactly when though. I'm thinking it is a 1970s-1980s knife, but I don't know much about Gerber folding knives.
3 1/2" closed length.
Can anyone identify the pattern and approximate date of manufacture?

[gino]

Blue
I could be wrong but I think they were calld the "Knight" pattern.
I have this one and its a "Pearl Silver knight" and I believe it was made in the early 80's. I know they also made these with many different handles.
I also think your right on with the 70's - 80's
They are great little knives!

[rangerbluedog]

Thanks Gino,
The pattern looks the same! The blade grind reminds me a lot of the Case "New Grind" from the early 1980s.

[gino]

Blue I dug mine out and took a couple pics of the tang. No numbers but I think its the same pattern.

[Baatfam]

There was a time when Gerber made some quality stuff...
Yours looks very similar to the Gerber Classic I bought in '75 or '76, and still carry sometimes.
It used to have dark wood scales, but they fell off and I replaced them...



I also picked up an unused sample on the bay a few years ago...

[knife7knut]

The one you have is a Gerber Folding Sportsman I.I have several of them with various marks attached to the bolster.They were given out as awards by companies to valued employees.One I have was given to me by a co-worker.It was presented to his father upon his retirement from the company he worked for.The company logo is made of gold and it has a small diamond inset into it.Another one is a Silver Knight model and has a sapphire.
These were produced in the 1970's and 80's and are really nice knives as most all Gerbers were back then.

[rangerbluedog]

Wow, I love this place! Thanks guys! Muskrat Man customized one of these little beauties a while back.
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... 14&t=18145

I just found this ad for a Folding Sportsman FS II from 1984, with the same blade grind!

[gino]

KK, you got it! You can clearly see the difference with them being side by side. I was given a Silver knight like the one I posted by my neighbor in the early 80's but lost it a short time later. I had a chance to pick another up a few years ago "MIB", so I did. I really love this knife but it is too small to carry (I know, I lost one). Gerber did make some really cool well made little knives back in the day.
Thanks for clearing this up KK.
Blue, nice work finding that ad too! Pretty cool!

[knife7knut]

The Folding Sportsman II I believe had a 4"blade and was just a larger version of the FS I.The Silver Knight also came with pearl scales and there was a 2 blade version as well.Here is a pic of 2 Silver Knights(a 2 blade and single blade)next to a Japanese knockoff.Sorry I don't have individual pics;I'll see if I can dig them out and post some separate ones.