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HISTORY
1939 Joseph Gerber leaves the ad business to launch Gerber Legendary Blades.
1966 Gerber debuts the MK II Combat Knife, which becomes the most sought after knife of the Viet Nam conflict.
1968 The company introduces "Armorhide" handles.
1981 The industry welcomes our L.S.T. knives with Micarta handles.
1991 We innovate the Gator Folder; the first knife in the industry to feature integral injection-molded nylon and Kraton rubber. Gerber introduces the Multi-Plier. Two years later, it is among our best selling products.
2002 Gerber introduces the Silver Trident military knife, designed by Chief James "Patches" Watson.
2003 We roll out the Recoil Auto-Plier, and the Gerber Emerson Alliance.
2004 Gerber launches portable L.E.D. lighting, and the Nautilus tool.
2005 Not to be outdone, Gerber announces its own line of backpack hydration products.
2009 This year marks 70 years of Gerber Legendary Blades.
 

Savvy. Ingenuity. Craftsmanship. Attention to detail. These are just a few of the company traits that contributed to our emergence as a world leader in outdoor gear. But then there's the issue of toughness. And frankly, nothing could be tougher than living down the first career of founder Joseph Gerber as...that's right...an advertising man. You could call it the "Boy Named Sue" syndrome. And live it down we have.

Joseph Gerber started Portland, Oregon's Gerber Advertising back in 1910. One Christmas, he hired a local knifemaker to craft 25 sets of kitchen cutlery as client gifts. The knives were so popular, Mr. Gerber ultimately left his agency to launch Gerber Legendary Blades in 1939.

It makes sense, really. An idea man gets the idea of a lifetime and turns it into a major outdoor brand. One that commands respect among knifelovers and knifemakers alike. And now that high regard is spreading in new directions, in the form of many outstanding products. Such as tools, personal L.E.D. lighting, and backpack hydration.

With a history like ours-and products like these, it's no wonder we're completely unafraid of the future.