Gerber not Gerber

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TheBookGuy

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Since Gerber is no longer the German company, (sold to China?) Is the quality of the knives the same as it used to be?

I would like to replace a stolen MK II, is there an equivalent knife out there?
 
You know, I have mixed feelings on Gerber. Here is only my experience: I love the camp axe, hated the mini-tool vise, love the big multi-tool, and love the profile knife (22--41795-fixed blade).

Overall, these are newer blades. I don't have them on me as I'm at work, but I'll check later if they are all China. Overall, they come rasor sharp, and have been the ones I choose to beat up vs. the more expensive safe queens.

Not familiar with your MKII
 
Since Gerber is no longer the German company, (sold to China?)
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You have your information wrong.

Gerber was never a "German" company.

It was started by Pete Gerber in Oregon and he sold it to Fiskars.

Fiskars is the huge cutlery conglomerate out of Finland.

That cleared up, many people think the best Gerber knives come from the time that Pete owned and ran the company.
 
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I got a Gerber Mark II. Made in the 80's I think. Black handle, shiny blade with serrations, and leather GI sheath. It's used but still in great shape. Sorry that yours was stolen.
Gerber still makes the Mark II, it's just all black now.

I wish I had bought one of the old wasp wasted Mark II's with non-serrated blade that they used to offer years ago.
 
Like most knife manufacturers, Gerber has various quality levels. For example, while the LMF II and the Prodigy look very similar (with the exception that the Prodigy is smaller) the quality of the two knives seems to be very different. The LMF II is a high quality knife. The Prodigy appears to be a much more poorly made knockoff.
 
Thanks for the responses.

I have always liked Gerber quality...and if they are now owned by Fiskars that should help me convince my wife that I need a new knife and she can have new sewing shears.
 
I have several Gerber folders and they have all been reliable no nonsense knives. In fact, got an EZ-Out in front of me right now. Had it for 10+ years and it has been a workhorse. The Gerber FAST Draw is my EDC and that one is less than a year old.
 
I don't buy Gerber knives anymore but I used to carry the multitool 7 days a week. Kinda wore one out but really just wanted a new one. I don't carry them anymore but one is in the horse trailer dressing room and one in the saddlebags on my bike. These days my pocket folder is a heavily used Mini Griptilian.
 
I have not had one issue with Gerber, love those things. A no-frills knife that works when it needs to and stays sharp, then a run through the grinder and it's as sharp as a razor.
 
I've never been impressed with the steel on a gerber. now I've never handled the wasp either, but their lower end stuff had always felt, low end. Never cared much for their designs either. except for their cheap box cutter. the EAB I think?
 
I personally think that the pre-Fiskars period was when Gerber was at its best, with the focus more on quality than on quantity. The knives of that era - - Mark I, Mark II, Guardian, Bolt-Action Folder, Australian Bowie, LMF, BMF - - were well-made knives with great aesthetics, so much so that the Mark I dagger was the most copied knife of the period.
 
I would have to agree with those who feel that the Gerbers of the 70's and early 80's were among the best for quality and functionality. Most of my Gerber knives are from that time period and I would be hard pressed to replace any of them with comparative products currently available from them.
 
Happened to see the camp axe is made in Finland that I have, by Fiskars.
 
Gerber has gone downhill since it was taken over by Fiskars. I own a pre-Fiskars multitool which came nicely finished and the blade was shaving sharp. I just bought a new one and it appears as though it's not even finished. The grinds on the blades are terrible, tool marks, and the can opener was not even sharp (i.e. the two grinds never even met! It was flat like a screw driver!)

Sad to see such a good company become what it is today, but that is small scale quality vs mass marketing and profits.
 
spyder, I'd either call Gerber, or take back to the store. Mine have all been razor sharp, even the new ones.
 
Gerber has been hit and miss with me. Only their high end knives have brought me any quality. I.E. Silver Trident
 
I love Gerber products. I have an Artifact (damn thing cut me so bad I had to go to the ER), Paraframe, butterfly multi, Gator Mach., and 3.0 flip. They hold an edge longer than my Leatherman products and I think the steel is great. Plus 1 for Gerber lovers.
 
I've never been a big fan of Gerber knives, but I have to admit that in recent years they have come out with some that I do like, the Metolius series and the Icon folder I've had for awhile and both are good knives. I really gave my Metolius folder a workout and it's a solid knife.
 
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