History of Gerber

Gerber Knives was founded in 1939 when Joseph Gerber, the owner of a printing and advertising company, partnered with knifemaker David Murphy to create custom kitchen knives for his clients. Gerber mailed 24 sets of kitchen knives to his clients during the holidays, these knives grew in popularity when catalog retailer Abercrombie & Fitch, approached Gerber requesting more of these knives to sell in their 1939 catalog. With this request, Gerber Legendary Blades, now known as Gerber Gear, was born.

After World War II, Joseph’s eldest son, Francis Roman “Ham” Gerber would take over the business as company president. Inspired by “legendary” already used in the brand's name, Ham began naming the kitchen knives after legendary blades from history. Names such as Balmung, after a mythical sword used in Norse Mythology to kill a dragon. Or Excalibur, King Arthurs's magical sword given to him by the Lady of the Lake.

While these knives' names were iconic, their design was equally so, using recycled metals from aluminum pistons and heads to forge the handles, and ground hacksaws for the blades. These knives were polished and refined into works of art you could use in the kitchen.

- Founded in 1939 as Gerber Legendary Blades

- Founded by Joseph Gerber

- Gerber first sold knives in catelogs such as Abercrombie & Fitch

- Inspired by legendary blades, Gerber introduced the Excalibur (pictured above)

-Gerber utilized recycled materials to manufacture these blades

By 1947, Gerber hit its stride, releasing its first hunting knife, in the September Abercrombie & Fitch catalog. Gerber licensed the design of this hunting from Thomas Lamb, an American industrial designer known for his major influence on the Universal Design movement.

In 1951, when Ham’s brother, Joseph R. “Pete” Gerber Jr. graduated from college, Pete became president of Gerber Legendary Blades with Ham, stepping down to Vice President. Under Pete’s leadership, Gerber began to expand the brand's line of hunting knives and began producing knives for the U.S. military, quickly becoming a recognizable and trusted name in the knife industry by the 1960s. Due to this increase in popularity, Gerber had to relocate to a new headquarters in Tigard, Oregon, in 1967.

-Joseph R. "Pete" Gerber Jr. (pictured above) becomes president of Gerber in 1951

-Gerber relocates to Tigard, Oregon in 1967

During the 1960s, Gerber partnered with legendary knifemaker and former Chief of Design for the U.S. Special Forces, Al Mar. Together, making a smaller version of Gerber’s wildly popular Mark II, the Mark I. This collaboration with Mar solidified Gerber’s reputation for producing military-grade knives designed for even the most extreme conditions. In 1979, Mar left Gerber to begin his own knife company Al Mar Knives. Mar isn’t the only big name to have come from Gerber though, as Pete Kershaw has proved. Pete Kershaw acted as Gerber Knives National Sales Manager before leaving Gerber to start his own Oregon-based knife company, Kershaw Knives in 1974.

By the 1970s Gerber had stopped production of its kitchen knives, establishing itself solely as one of the most trusted knife makers for hunters and outdoorsmen. The most notable of these knives is the LST.

The LST was designed by Pete Gerber himself in the 1980s when he envisioned a knife that used all-synthetic materials in the handles. Using an FS1 knife as the base, Gerber enlisted the help of designer Blackie Collins to reduce the weight of the knife. Blackie suggested instead of using Micarta handle slabs, which proved too long, and too expensive to make, that they try to use injection molded plastic as a handle material, which would reduce both the weight and cost of the knife. After some experimentation, the LST was put into production, utilizing this new glass-filled, nylon-reinforced Zytel handle material. Pete Gerber would go on to thank Blackie Collins for his contribution to the LST by buying him a brand-new Corvette.

As time went on Gerber underwent a change in ownership when the Finnish company Fiskars acquired Gerber Legendary Blades in 1987. This acquisition brought new resources and a global perspective to Gerber, propelling the brand into international prominence. Fiskars' commitment to maintaining Gerber's legacy of craftsmanship and innovation ensured that the brand continued to evolve and adapt to the changing times.

- Gerber developed the Mark I in collaboration with Al Mar releasing it in 1976

- Gerber was the foundation for massive brands, including Al Mar Knives and Kershaw

- Gerber releases the LST in 1980, designed by Pete Gerber

-Gerber is acquired by Fiskars in 1987

Gerber’s commitment to meeting the diverse needs of its customers led to further expansion of its product line. In 1991, Gerber released its first multi-tool, the Multi-Plier which features their now signature sliding jaw mechanism. Since the Multi-Pliers release, Gerber has gone on to be a titan in the world of multitools, offering them in a range of sizes and specs.

Gerber's dedication to functionality and innovation was further highlighted through collaborations with renowned knife designers. Collaborations with the likes of Bob Loveless, Blackie Collins, and Rex Applegate resulted in knives that combined cutting-edge design with practicality.

From its roots in handmade cutlery sets to its current status as a global leader in outdoor gear, Gerber's legacy is a testament to the enduring appeal of finely crafted knives and gear. As the brand continues to evolve, one can only anticipate the future chapters that Gerber will add to its rich history in the world of cutlery.

-Gerber release the Multi-Plier (pictured above) in 1990