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Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:26 pm
by 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?

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:29 pm
by 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!

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:37 pm
by rangerbluedog
Thanks Gino,
The pattern looks the same! The blade grind reminds me a lot of the Case "New Grind" from the early 1980s.

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:45 pm
by gino
Blue I dug mine out and took a couple pics of the tang. No numbers but I think its the same pattern.

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:49 pm
by 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...
Image
Image

I also picked up an unused sample on the bay a few years ago...
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Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 3:58 pm
by 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.

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:01 pm
by 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!
BW0399.jpg

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 4:08 pm
by 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. ::nod::
Blue, nice work finding that ad too! Pretty cool!

Re: Gerber, Baby

Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 7:37 pm
by 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.