Gerber Folding Sportsman steel

These Folding Sportmens were made in the USA between 1972(FSII) and 1976(FSI) until 1995.
This is before Chinese steels came on the market.
They were either 440c or V-Steel and so marked on the ricasso.

Gerber folding sportsman IID

Would anybody know what kinda steel was used on this knife? wanted to post pictures but i couldn’t figure out how.. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mf9zJg32DukqMTtE9Mj9f1rTsr8Prdww/view?usp=drivesdk https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v1QWkhPwHAJS0JiRbLdK3hgWRDmDpx87/view?usp=drivesdk
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Zulus Zulus You won't be around much longer if you keep insulting other members here...and continue to provoke for the sake of provocation.

We moderators have been discussing your antics, and a wise man would consider this a clue in regard to your remaining a member here.

Test our resolve at your peril. (You will not be able to reply further in this thread.)
 
Thanks once again Mark. Is there a date (possibly coded) on that flyer? The flyer provides documentation that, for some of the time during which the series was made, 440-C was used. Again, everyone's efforts are appreciated.
 
buckthorn said:
Thanks once again Mark. Is there a date (possibly coded) on that flyer? The flyer provides documentation that, for some of the time during which the series was made, 440-C was used. Again, everyone's efforts are appreciated.
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Unfortunately, there is no dating information whatsoever, but.....it was during the time that Gerber was selling both the Armorhide-handle old style hunters as well as offering the Al Mar designed hunters in M2 tool steel.
-Mark
 
Ken Hash is correct above. The only thing I can add is that the "V" steel ( Vascowear) was only made in the Sportsman 2 lineup. It was the ancestor of CPM Cruwear now made by Crucible as a powder steel which is pretty popular and in use by several companies. Vascowear was an ingot steel made by VascoPacific which no longer exists. The "V" steel Gerbers are pretty rare now and command a high price for a nice example in comparison to the 440C models. It is rare to see one in good condition without rust and pitting.

I believe there was one fancy folding hunter lockback model made by Gerber with their M2 HSS and chrome plated which they used in fixed blade models. I can't seem to find any images of it. I have seen some more modern Seki made repos of it but I'm unsure if the original is Seki made.
 
polish avenger said:
This is the one I think you're thinking of.
If I remember correctly, you'll find them stamped with an "S" for stainless and "HS" for high speed .
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Thanks! That is the one. I didn't know they made a stainless model. This is another one that is pretty difficult to find in good condition. Gerber was way ahead of their time with 440C, M2 HSS, and Vascowear. I had used a friends V steel model in the early 80's and tried to buy one but couldn't ever find one until the early 2000's on Ebay. It was impressive back in the days of 440 steel or 1095 . Heck, dressed up as CPM Cruwear it still is pretty impressive. M2 remains a good steel also but CPM M4 seems to have edged it out in the market. 440C was considered a premium steel then which shows Gerber was going out of their way to make better knives than most of their competitors of that era. I guess we should factor in L6 also which was used in their Mk. 2 dagger .
 
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