Any Gerber Collectors out there.

[Mossdancer]

Hey you learned ones;
Can you put a year of manufacture on this little guy. Check where the name and co. are at. The sheath is unmarked. I believe it is a 1948, what do you think.
W.B.

EDIT; Heres a couple of better pics.

EDIT:: For anyone interested, went to B R Levines forum on blade forum, he says the following. 1948 would have had a date of same stamped.
Handle changed to pointed late 1951. That puts it 48-49 or first part of 51. Thats a darn fine answer. I was close but no cigar. W.B.
Also for anyone that wants to know the handle on this one is what is referred to as truncated.

[billuem]

it is a shorty amorhide they made them i think in the late 60's or 70's they are very collectable-i think it is a 70's mod as the earlier ones were a bright alum handle then they went to the black handle armorhide.

[Mossdancer]

Hi:
My apologies for disagreeing but they quit making the truncated handled in 1951 and the one shown is aluminum handled. Since I originally posted this I have learned a bit more about gerbers and I actually own a mint 1948 shorty. It is marked gerber 10. The one in photo is probably a 1949 or 1950. For your knowledge they actually made three handles in 1951.The last of the truncateds, next was the Jet black bakelite which was not very appreciated by the buying public and the year ended up with the pointed handle made from aluminum that was used for years. By the way billuem welcome aboard. If you have any gerbers please feel free to post.
moss

[justold52]

I actually own a mint 1948 shorty. You said

I just happen have a shorty that I will trade you for....

Now being more confused after reading your up date.

What do I have? is it a 1948 or not ?

[Mossdancer]

Hi Ken:
Yes in answer to your question. You missed something in my post "I actually own a mint 1948 shorty. It is marked gerber 10." As I recollect that is the same marking as yours is it not. I was not referring to the knife in first post photo. It is a 49 or 50. I lean more toward it being 1949 because in 1950 their blades were chrome plated, I think this one has a crocus finish. I am showing a photo of the 1948.
Thanks for the question.
moss

[justold52]

KOOL and thank you for your reply.

I am trying to put a value on mine. (for my sons)

do you think mine is worth 1/2 as much that your is.

I hope this is ok with you.

Frist photo is mine before Mossdancer spent many hard rubbing hours cleaning up my Birth-Day knife. I was born that year (1948) and wanted to find a knife the was made that year. If any one know of any type of knife that came out that year PLEASE PM me.

Next photo is mine after the cleaning along with his. His is the nicer one....


PS every time I see her I think of you for helping me find her and cleaning her up. THANKS again man.

[Mossdancer]

Ken:
At the prices Gerbers' go for now. Who knows, I just watched an auction of a five piece set of the Lion handled Gerbers' that did not reach a 3-4 hundred reserve. A couple years ago they would have sold well over a Grand. As for going at half, I just can't answer that. I wish I had some magic potion that would put some more material on the handle and blade of your knife so I could have done more. When the next step is going to bring catastrophe you just have to stop.
Did you by the way notice the different sizes in our knives. It makes me wonder if there is a remote possibility in one of them being the second prototype that Levine mentions in LG4. If yours is that knife even in condition it is in, it's my thought that the right person would pay a bundle.
moss

[Miller Bro's]

Hi, can anyone idendify this old gerber fixed blade knife? It measures 10 1/2" overall, 5 1/2" long blade. No stamping in the aluminum handle, handle has a rough cast or sandblasted texture. The blade is stainless steel and is acid etched "PATHCO scientific products no.d2892-5", GERBER. comes in it`s original leather sheath, stamped GERBER. Any info on model number, year made, and value, would be appreciated.

Thanks,
M.B.

[Mossdancer]

Hi M.B.;
I do not know the correct name or model of your knife. Better photos using a tripod would help or scans at 96dpi at 300 percent with preferably a lighter background. I use an old chamois cloth myself, you can wash it when dirty.
Your Knife has the look of a Gerber Big Hunter or Gerber Magnum or Gerber Magnum Hunter with some anomalies. The blade is considerably smaller. The sheath marking was used from maybe the late 40's to the mid 60's. I have never seen a Gerber sheath that only covered the blade. The handle material per your description matches a substance Gerber used in the mid 60's, it was a sprayed molten stainless steel substance called "Cats Tongue". The handle is a Lamb Handle patented by him in Mid 40's. The law suit over this handle style is the reason Gerber switched from their Early Truncated handles to the pointy ended handle in late 1951. Their only cutlery using it afterward was referred to as Lamb Handled. It is only my thoughts that the blade may be Chrome Plated steel. It was probably a contract knife made by Gerber.
As for value, I have no idea as I have never seen one sell. I have ummarked Magnums that I have paid considerably less than a Hundred for. Should you be interested in marketing I would as a collector of the older Gerber knives be interested, you may contact me by PM or email me at [email protected]. You might get an idea of value by looking up Gerber Magnum, Gerber Magnum Hunter and or Gerber Big hunter on Ebay as they seem to set the prices for knives.
Now for the disclaimer: These are my opinions only, gained from reading and other research I have done. None of them are set in stone as there is not many places to look. I happen to think Bernard Levine in his fourth edition is pretty good source. There also is a Gentleman from Seattle Wa. that has done some comprehensive studies. Due to being sometimes forgetful I cannot recall his name at this time.
mossdancer

[Miller Bro's]

Moss, thanks for the info. The blade is definitely stainless steel. The handle is cast in place aluminum, does not appear to ever had a sprayed on finish. The sheath is unusual as it never had a belt loop to be carried, the sheath is just for blade protection. The limited rexsearch I did on PATHCO revealed that they are a medical supply co. they are still in business and I will try contacting them to see if they can shed some light on this knife. The knife is not for sale, I`m just trying to research the history of the knife. If you can remember that man`s name who is up on gerber knives I would like to contact him about it. Thanks.


M.B.

[baliblaster]

I am certainly no expert on old Gerber's but i think this knife may have been made for use in autopsy's.That would explain the reason for the useless sheath that came with it.The sheath looks to be just a covering for the blade because i can't see any way of attachment for it to be used on a belt.I have seen a couple of other Pathco Gerber's for sale and that was the explanation that was given for these knives and it seemed totally reasonable to me.

[Miller Bro's]

I am certainly no expert on old Gerber's but i think this knife may have been made for use in autopsy's.That would explain the reason for the useless sheath that came with it.The sheath looks to be just a covering for the blade because i can't see any way of attachment for it to be used on a belt.

I am fairly certain it is an autopsy knife

The sheath is just a covering, was never meant to be carried on a belt.

Also, this is why the handle is cast a rough texture, so your hand won`t slip if it get`s bloody.


M.B.