Gerber....

[Vanguard41xx]

My neighbor pulled me aside today and showed me his two new 1980's/90's Guardian and MkII. He bought them new then, and only uses the Guardian. Such awesome designs, and made in the USA! I decided to give Gerber a quick look for the Guardian and saw their "new" items. http://www.gerbergear.com/index.php/product/id/659 Why would they copy the Woodsman Pal? Their knives are no interest.....what happened? Some were just updates, such as their axes. The older Finland made one I have is a good one, but these just have a new Logo and the same handle as the Fiskars, only black/gray. I need to buy those old Gerber's off my neighbor. The only way i'll buy Geber or even look at it again. Does anyone have a clue what happened. It used to be the great knife company. Now it is pure Chinese crap.

 

[Rupestris]

Maybe someone there figured out that they can make more money selling cheaper wares by the ton to WalMart, Meijer, K-mart, and the like and that most people don't know the difference. Most probably dont care to know the difference.

Why sell one widget per year that you worked hard on when you can sell two widgets a year that someone else made and make more money?

They do have some nice stuff but they seem more focused on the entry level stuff with very little to offer those wanting to upgrade, which kinda puts a damper on brand loyalty.

As for "pure" chinese crap, they do still offer some US made knives and some nice ones at that. Go to Cabelas website and check out the Bell & Carlson Gator fixed blade. I don't own one yet but it's a nice knife. Proving that they can still make a very good knife.

 

[bladefoolish]

You just hit on one of my pet peeves. Gerber used to make excellent knives, not they just mostly produce shit.

 

[JTC]

Gerber makes a pretty broad line of knives ranging from some cheaper knives to some,IMO, pretty good ones. The latter including the Silver Trident, LMF II, LHR and Prodigy. I do like alot of their old knives but can appreciate their new ones. I personally have a Silver Trident and LMF II and find them to be very well made. I also have a BMF,Parabellum and TAC II from back in the day and find them to be excellent. I had a Mk. II from the 80's but never really warmed up to the design and traded it off. It was well made though.
In addition my experience with Gerbers warranty dept has been very positive. I sent the nylon backing from my LMF II sheath in to them because the keeper straps were really tight, but useable, and they sent it back as a spare plus sent me a complete new sheath system leg straps and all. So I wound up with two complete sheaths for it. Warranty service is also something to consider when buying a new knife.

 

[low96hb]

If you buy anything cheaper than a Prodigy, then you are getting junk. The Prodigy is made in America, anything cheaper is made overseas....