When did Gerber start to suck?

im not privy to their product, but ive read on outs knife thread that gerber was sold, and production was moved overseas. it was once a locally produced item, and is now literally chinkshit using legacy for markup

>>29826859
pretty much. But I am looking to purchase some of their older models to use as a comparison in field tests.

A cut off year between their quality shit and their Gerbage shit would be greatly appreciated!

>>29826879
2006

>>29826906
I did some research and some people say 87, some people say late 90's. Thats actually the latest year I've seen so far.

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>>29826933
when fiskars bought out gerber (1987) they claimed it took a dive but manufacturing wasn't changed until the late 90's. With the increased populatiry of the "prepper" movement they moved away form costlier steels and processes in favor of more budget friendly products. Some also claim when they got in bed with Wal-Mart and were required to cap price-points for their products. It's all relative but early to mid 2000's isn't a bad estimate.

>>29827008
definitely appreciated. Will look into models made between 80's and 2000

>>29827008
It's pretty sad when the 3.89 dollar ozark trail knives at walmart hold up better than Gerber these days....

Such a shit show.

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>>29827049
I have heard good things about the LMFII's but being made by gerber is definitely not a positive anymore.

Also they can't not put serrations on their knives for some reasons.

>>29827140
well they sell at walmart. And every knife at walmart needs to be half tanto half serration for some idiotic reason.

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My lmf2 has held up just fine

>>29827193
there are plenty of good words for that knife. but when a brands best product lacks a full tang and the general hate for serrations, it doesnt help their image still. then again, kabar still uses partial tangs and is used in the military as well

What do you expect from a company that makes baby food?

>>29827140
They still have a few good designs, most of the Portland Oregon made stuff is supposed to be good

The lmfII, strongarm and prodigies are all decent and the Applegate fairbairn folder is pretty good too

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>>29827311
>can't tell if troll or not
Let me guess, you own/rent a Mora

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>>29826933

Oldfag here, late 80's early 90's is when other knife makers beside Buck and Gerber started going mainstream.

It's not that gerber got worse, they just didn't keep up.

>>29827430
?

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Bought a Gerber multitool at the PX because my SAW was a jammomatic piece of shit. That was in 2008 and it's held up pretty good.

However I'd be real skeptical of the BG logo gerber stuff.

>>29826836
all their imports are junk, they make a couple of their more expensive models in the states still im pretty sure the gator is us made as well as the lmf 2, I cant provide an exact date of when they became shit tier but i would suspect early 2000s if you want a good import at similar price point kershaw is much better and some of the tiwanese spydercos are just a bit more too.

>>29827579
I've got an old as fuck Gerber multitool and one from like 3 years ago. The new one is a piece of shit, it's blade is as efficient at cutting as a rusty nail. At first I thought I'd just gotten a knock-off but then I looked into the name and realized how they'd forsaken me.

>>29827322
Underrated

>>29826836
My Gerber AR 3.0 holds up pretty much like the last one I had.

You can get a super sharp edge on it, but it'll be dull in a week or two.

>>29827888
last one I had was around 2005-2006

>>29826836
What rock have you been under?

Any knife maker that ends up selling in Walmart is shit tier.

>>29826836
Around 06 I learned this. Haven't had one since. I'm starting to think SOG is headed that way too.

My multitool has held up pretty good, despite a viscous welding territory and being filled with Mexicans like like to break everything they touch. Wire cutters have been used to hell but still work, knife is rather dull but still manages. The file got broken of because someone "stepped on it" is the story. Shame because I used the heck out that thing to sharpen soapstone. Had it for a good five years now.

Can't say anything about their standalone knives though, never used them.

I hate to sound like some patriotic zealot, but their stuff made in Portland, Oregon are actually pretty good. Like the LMF and the Strongarm for example. All the Bear Grylls stuff is garbage, and every Chinese made knife I've used from them has been garbage. Maybe halfway decent for cutting sacks of dirt or zip ties.

In other words, if you buy their American products, you should be fine.

>>29828819
The paracord bear grylls knife is supposed to be goods for the price

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>>29827193
Mine too

>>29828867
>for the price
i get there are poofags that need stuff too but there are so many better options

Not going to read through the whole thread OP, but my Lt Col who is a big knife nut showed me a copy of their last well-made, American knife and I believe he said it was made in 1994. (Maaaybe 1996, but pretty sure 1994.) After that, made in China all the way.

>>29827579
Yeah I carried those around from about 2000-2008 all through my deployments, lost all of them over the years but they're just so fucking handy for fixing guns and generic maintenance
>>29827828
Sad to hear

>>29828867
What >>29828940 said. But you are correct, I've heard that one isn't so bad. The steel is shit, but the design itself is sound and doesn't weigh too much.

>>29828740
Sog is chinkshit

>>29826859
Isn't everything?

>>29830087
No. Of the old guard; Puma, *Ka-Bar, Ontairio, *Buck, and Case spring to mind as brands that still hold up.

>*yes they have some low end models that are pretty shoddy but the majority of their lines are still solid

>>29827193
I use the Strongarm. Same thing for me, I haven't had any issues with it at all. I opted for the non-serrated model, though. Sacrificed being able to cut cordage easier for the ability to whittle easier on long nights.

>>29826836
Good. It broke, but didnt bend.

>>29827157
because people who buy walmart knives will never sharpen them

>>29827579
got the same thing a couple years ago and the fucking pliers snapped in half. its garbage. I've beat the shit out of my SOG way more and it's just fine. gerber trash is fine if your broke or will never use it.

Gerber LHR any good? I can get one for $50.

>>29826836
I'm not trying to troll, but Gerber has always sucked.

Their blade designs are okay but they use crappy metal.