Changes

==Gerber Legendary Blades==

==Gerber Legendary Blades==

===History===

===History===

In 1910, the Gerber family started an advertising firm in Portland, [[Directory:Oregon|Oregon]].<ref name=history>Williams, Christina Dyrness. “Inside Oregon Business: Gerber sharpens edge on growth, marketing”. ''The Oregonian'', October 9 2003, Business, p. D1.</ref> While working for the family business, Joseph Gerber mailed 24 sets of kitchen knives to clients during the holidays.<ref name=history/> These handmade knives were very popular, with then catalog retailer Abercrombie & Fitch requesting more of these knives from Gerber to sell in their catalog in 1939.<ref name=history/> Gerber then left the advertising business and started Gerber Legendary Blades that same year.<ref name=history/>

In 1910, the Gerber family started an advertising firm in Portland, [[Directory:Oregon|Oregon]].<ref name=history>Williams, Christina Dyrness. “Inside Oregon Business: Gerber sharpens edge on growth, marketing”. ''The Oregonian'', October 9 2003, Business, p. D1.</ref> While working for the family business, Joseph Gerber mailed 24 sets of kitchen knives to clients during the holidays.<ref name=history/> These handmade knives were very popular, with then catalog retailer Abercrombie & Fitch requesting more of these knives from Gerber to sell in their catalog in 1939.<ref name=history/> Gerber then left the advertising business and started Gerber Legendary Blades that same year.<ref name=history/>

===Knives===

===Knives===

[[Image:Gerber-Mark-II.gif |thumb|left|300px|The '''[http://www.gerber-tools.com/gerber-mark-ii-22-01874.htm Gerber Mark II]''' is a fighting [[knife]] manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades from 1967 to 2000, with an additional limited run of 1500 in 2002<ref name="PG"/>, and full production resuming as of July 2008.<ref name="SD">{{cite journal |last=Dick |first=Steven |year=2008 |month=November |title=Vietnam Legend Returns |journal=Tactical Knives Magazine |page=30 }}</ref>  It was designed by retired Army Captain Bud Holzman, who based the pattern off a Roman Mainz ''Gladius''.<ref name="PG">{{cite book |title=100 Legendary Knives |last=Pacella |first=Gerard |year=2002 |publisher=Krause Publications |location=Iola, Wis. |isbn=0873494172 |page=145 |accessdate=}}</ref><ref name="SD"/>

Gerber leads the market in using new technologies, and materials normally found in custom made or premium brand knives, such as light but tough injection molded Zytel handles, Kraton rubber on handles for enhanced grip, ATS 34 and AUS 8 high carbon stainless steels (widely considered far better than the standard 440 series more commonly used), and titanium nitride coatings. Additional products in the Gerber line include tools, lights, accessories, packs, and hydration products.

 

It has a double-edged spear-point wasp-waisted blade, and used a distinctive handle similar to that of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife developed during [[World War II]].<ref name ="walker">{{cite book |title=Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives |last=Walker |first=Greg |year=1993 |publisher=Paladin Press |location=Boulder, Colo. |isbn=0-87364-732-7 |page=30 }}</ref>  The Mark II was commonly carried by U.S. troops in the Vietnam War, and was second only to the Ka-Bar knife in fame.<ref name ="walker"/>  The Mark II gained additional fame when it was featured in a scene in the science fiction/action movie ''Aliens'' and was also used by Mel Gibson in the film ''Mad Max 2''.]]

 

Designers who have since designed knives for Gerber include: Bob Loveless, Paul Poehlmann, Blackie Collins, William Harsey Jr., Fred Carter, Rick Hinderer, and Ernest Emerson.<ref name="GP"/> Former Gerber employees who started their own successful knife companies include Al Mar and Pete Kershaw.<ref name="GP"/>  Gerber also sells a family of folding knives based on designs of Rex Applegate, and authorized by Applegate.<ref name="GP"/>

Designers who have since designed knives for Gerber include: Bob Loveless, Paul Poehlmann, Blackie Collins, William Harsey Jr., Fred Carter, Rick Hinderer, and Ernest Emerson.<ref name="GP"/> Former Gerber employees who started their own successful knife companies include Al Mar and Pete Kershaw.<ref name="GP"/>  Gerber also sells a family of folding knives based on designs of Rex Applegate, and authorized by Applegate.<ref name="GP"/>