Gerber knife history and age

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.
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Kemper69
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Gerber knife history and age

Post by Kemper69 »

Hello fellow knife lovers. I welcome you expertise on this vintage gerber knife I found. Anyone know the age or history of these engraved Gerber's. This one has malechite scales. Thanks!
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New_Windsor_NY
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by New_Windsor_NY »

Kemper69 wrote: Sun May 03, 2026 9:44 pm Hello…..
Possibly an answer here:
https://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kn ... m.php?f=99
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MrJW
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by MrJW »

I could be wrong but looks to be a 70's era jade lock back.
Case V42
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by Case V42 »

Your knife is a Folding Sportsman (FSIII) the largest of three FS models. It has jade handle inserts and was made 1976 to 1979. The knife originally was sold in a walnut presentation box. Gerber made nine different variations with wood, stag, jade, and agate handle inserts.
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by Gunsil »

Those handles are malachite, not jade.
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by Case V42 »

My resources only list wood, stag, agate and jade. Gerber may have used other material, or the inserts could have been changed.
Kemper69
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by Kemper69 »

Thank you all for your responses. I appreciate the info!
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Killgar
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Re: Gerber knife history and age

Post by Killgar »

Somebody put malachite handles on this Sportsman 2. I don't know who. Of course there have always been people customizing knives. Since the wood handles on the Gerber Sportsman knives are just glued on it wouldn't be very difficult for someone to pry them off and glue new ones in there place. I don't imagine this is any help, but it shows there's more than one out there.

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