70's Geber Kitchen knives

[husq2100]

Hey all,

I have some Geber kitchen/cooking knives from the 1970's. A standard chefs knife, 8 steak knives and a carving knife. The carving knife is mint. The others though are not great. The plating (chrome???) is flaking etc. Has anyone had these re plated? Any hints tips if I was to try and get it done?

what material are the blade and handle?

cheers
Serg

 

[alex]

The blade steel from that time is more than likely 440c which has been heat treated properly. Gerber did things right back then when Pete Gerber still owned Gerber. The handles are cast aluminum and will last forever.

I think a rechroming would be expensive and not worth it in my opinion. Try maybe very lightly sanding the flaked handles with some very fine wet sandpaper like 400 grit and go up through 600 grit or as fine as you can get it. Follow up with a metal polish of some type like Simichrome. Worst case if you don't like the way it turns out you could always mask the blades, degrease the handles, and paint them flat black crinkle finish like the old Gerber Armorcoat handles on the hunting knives from that era. The painted handles are very easy to touch up and easy to keep looking new.

 

[husq2100]

thanks alex, $$$ wise probably not worth it considering what they sell for on ebay, but personal value they are worth much more. I also have a geber shorty basicly mint from that era with the wrinkle finish you mention. dark drab colour.