Gerber Folding Sportsman steel

They never post 440 because they do not use 440 !!!
Maybe 304, 306, 316 ...
 
the gerber gator & sharkbelly uses 420hc, which isn't bad but I would bet they don't heat treat it nearly as well as buck

the sumo & airfoil & kettleball models use 7cr17... probably a step up, but again, most depends on ht
the paralite & airlift is 5cr15

they list it on all those models... if steel type is important, get one which lists it
if they don't list it, you'll likely end up with 3cr13 or 440a at best
 
Back in the 70's and 80's Gerber made high-quality knives (high-quality for the time period). I'd say they were the quality equivalent of Buck and Kershaw of the times.

It wouldn't surprise me if they were using 440C back then, which was the "super stainless steel" of the time.

If it's a vintage Gerber (pre-Fiskars, 1987), I wouldn't have any concerns regarding it's value and performance as a knife.
 
Sorry if my attachment didn’t make it clear but I’m asking about a series of knives that were pre-Fiskars, approximately 1970’s-‘80’s.
 
That’s a snapshot of my teen years. I still have a Sportsman II. A III and the Gerber Magnum.

I, like most my age, started with a Buck 110. But, the Gerber were more elegant, refined and thinner for me. They would sit vertically in my back pocket beside my wallet.

The magnum I carried in a suede Single 9mm mag pouch inside the pants on my right hip.

They were, and are, great knives.
 
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Gerber's stainless of choice, back in the day, was 440C.
-Mark
Thanks Mark. I'm not doubting you at all but just asking how sure you are that the steel was 440-C as opposed to, perhaps, 440-A, especially since the ad doesn't say 440-C. I, too, would say 440-C but don't find any documentation of that.
 
the gerber gator & sharkbelly uses 420hc, which isn't bad but I would bet they don't heat treat it nearly as well as buck

the sumo & airfoil & kettleball models use 7cr17... probably a step up, but again, most depends on ht
the paralite & airlift is 5cr15

they list it on all those models... if steel type is important, get one which lists it
if they don't list it, you'll likely end up with 3cr13 or 440a at best

In the modern era, and even towards the end of the last century, "high carbon surgical stainless steel" is essentially meaningless and usually code for "junk".

All of the steels mentioned in the quoted post here are just not good relative to current budget standards. Some better modern budget steels that show up in the $20-60 range include 12C27, 14C28N, Acuto 440, AR-RPM9, 9Cr18Mov, 10Cr15CoMov, N690, and D2. It's just too crowded a field now for me to consider steels like 8Cr13Mov, let alone lower-numbered members of that series.

Of course, this was from another time. Could they have been using better steel? Was it as important to stamp the steel identity on the blade back then? I have no idea.

They never post 440 because they do not use 440 !!!
Maybe 304, 306, 316 ...

Some of those aren't even blade steels. I'd laugh it off but some of the scam knives out there will occasionally run something like 316 or 18/8. I think those recent "Japanese" Husk knives ran a steel like that.
 
The discussion is about 40 year old knives, not modern junk. I have some hot sauce if ya need it for that crow.

Any guesses regarding "Gerber high carbon surgical stainless steel..."? Some references say 440-C but I'm not so sure. Thanks for any thoughts!

You may use your juice on your ... choice
 
Any guesses regarding "Gerber high carbon surgical stainless steel..."? Some references say 440-C but I'm not so sure. Thanks for any thoughts!

You may use your juice on your ... choice
It’s ok to admit that you weren’t familiar with the Gerber sportsman series knives and may have jumped the gun. I learn something on here every day, and now you did too.
 
It’s ok to admit that you weren’t familiar with the Gerber sportsman series knives and may have jumped the gun. I learn something on here every day, and now you did too.
Yop, more lamers everyday ...
 
some 1997 you loser
Not what your profile says, but that’s fine. I’ll ignore the name calling, you got your card pulled and are now 30 different shades of flustered, but it’ll be ok.
 
Insulting or Rude behavior
So you think the World woke up when you signed to BF in 2013 :^)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Gross
 
So you think the World woke up when you signed to BF in 2013 :^)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))
Gross
That wasn’t my point. You referred to me as a “new lamer” (whatever the hell that is), and while I’m by no means a veteran here, or an expert, I don’t think I’m new. It seems there’s always communication issues when anyone tries to have a discussion with you, so out of respect for the op I’m going to step out now and I apologize for muddying up the thread.
 
Insulting or Rude behavior
That wasn’t my point. You referred to me as a “new lamer” (whatever the hell that is), and while I’m by no means a veteran here, or an expert, I don’t think I’m new. It seems there’s always communication issues when anyone tries to have a discussion with you, so out of respect for the op I’m going to step out now and I apologize for muddying up the thread.
440 was long before you
and will be long after you
sorry for your dreams
 
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