Mystery Gerber Folder

S

Shane Boyd

Joined
Jun 12, 2018
Messages
6
I have been collecting knives for a few decades now. I recently found a gerber folder in a little bookshop up the coast. Under the dust it was a gerber folding sportsman. What is different about this is the blade. It has a blade nearly identical to a buck 110 but is marked gerber. I think it is a version that post dates the sportsman 3 because the included sheath is nylon with a button snap. The sheath is set up for horizontal or vertical carry. It is a nice hefty knife. I have been unable to find any information about this blade. Does anyone know what it is and what the values for a softly used gerber folder of this type?
 
Sorry, just read the policy on not asking values. I am not, repeat, not trying to sell this blade. It is mine and I am hoarding it. I would still like information about its history and years of manufacture. Thanks
 
Shane Boyd said:
I have been collecting knives for a few decades now. I recently found a gerber folder in a little bookshop up the coast. Under the dust it was a gerber folding sportsman. What is different about this is the blade. It has a blade nearly identical to a buck 110 but is marked gerber. I think it is a version that post dates the sportsman 3 because the included sheath is nylon with a button snap. The sheath is set up for horizontal or vertical carry. It is a nice hefty knife. I have been unable to find any information about this blade. Does anyone know what it is and what the values for a softly used gerber folder of this type?
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Sounds like you have a nice knife, pics would make it much easier to offer helpful information though.
 
No pics later. May add later. If you look up a gerber sportsman 3 you will see the basic design. The only difference is this blade has a 110 style blade. I thought someone had added a 110 blade to a gerber handle, but the tang is clearly marked gerber.
 
I don't remember the model names from that era 70's and 80's, but owned a few of the brass with wood inlays that they made then. They were pretty nice knives for the times IMO
 
Still no luck. I emailed gerber for info and they came back that the model was unknown. I was a little shocked that gerber could not help identify one of their own knives.
 
Shane Boyd said:
Still no luck. I emailed gerber for info and they came back that the model was unknown. I was a little shocked that gerber could not help identify one of their own knives.
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It may very well mean it's a fake.
 
I have seen a similar model that was a very good unknown from China. It was packaged in the slightly older grey and orange clam packing, and had a reference to Dalian, China on the card which at the time made me wonder if Hanwei had something to do with it. Google didn't bring up anything though.

It actually was a great knife fit and finish wise.
 
Shane Boyd said:
I have been collecting knives for a few decades now. I recently found a gerber folder in a little bookshop up the coast. Under the dust it was a gerber folding sportsman. What is different about this is the blade. It has a blade nearly identical to a buck 110 but is marked gerber. I think it is a version that post dates the sportsman 3 because the included sheath is nylon with a button snap. The sheath is set up for horizontal or vertical carry. It is a nice hefty knife. I have been unable to find any information about this blade. Does anyone know what it is and what the values for a softly used gerber folder of this type?
Click to expand...

What makes it 110 style? Is it hollow ground, clip point, swedge?
 
The blade is a clip point, hollow ground blade with a tops wedge. It is almost identical to a 110 blade in size, shape, and grind. The knife is pretty old. I know the wife of the deceased gentleman whose collection it came from. He purchased the blade retail from a gerber dealer back in the 80's. The blade has the gerber name etched into the tang. The handle is very nice with the all brass construction with wood inserts that come within about a quarter inch of the inside of the handle. This handle is identical, but slightly larger than the gerber folding sportsman 2. The pouch is also a nicely built gerber pouch that closes with a snap rather than velcro, but looks identical to a bench made AFO auto case. This knife looks like gerber was updating the folding sportsman, and then changed their mind and decided to go to the gator instead. I will eventually get photos out here so others can add input.
 
Shane Boyd said:
This knife looks like gerber was updating the folding sportsman, and then changed their mind and decided to go to the gator instead.
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Could be something Gerber was working on that was shelved when Fiskars bought them back in '87. It would be cool if it turned out to be a rare prototype or part of a very limited run. I've never seen a Folding Sportsman with that blade shape.
 
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