[Fun2Shoot]

As I walked through my local Wal-Mart the other day, I saw a real inticing display of knives in the sporting goods dept. A good selection of folders (for a dept store) from Gerber, Kershaw and a few Bucks and others.

What got my attention were the mid-sized folders from Kershaw and Gerber that were priced under $25. One of the Gerbers was normally $35, but Wal-Mart had it for $19. A $29 Kershaw Vapor was $11.

At those prices, I had to buy one. I picked up a Gerber Paraframe I w/serrated edge for under $20 :D . It has a 3" SS blade, pocket clip and a nitrate coating

http://www.gerbertools.com/Gerber-Paraframe-I-Black-Serrated-Edge-8445.htm

This little Gerber Paraframe I w/pocket clip is a perfect light utility/defense folder, IMO.

[TimboKhan]

It is pretty good. Most of the knives are made in China, but they seem well made and are reasonably priced, so I personally don't have a big problem with that.

[MCgunner]

Well, I'm waiting to hear the Gerber bashing. :D I have a Gator Serrator that is one of my favorite hunting knives ever. I seem to be one of the few Gerber fans on this board, though.

[22-rimfire]

I have a number of Gerber knives that I use from time to time. In fact, I carry a small Gerber every day for general use. I have purchased a number in Walmart. Walmart also stocks the Spyderco Native for around $40 which is one of the more expensive knives in the case.

[borrowedtime69]

I have owned some Gerber knives in my time.i had one recently that was a 3" folder with a short serated egde and the rest was regular knife edge. it had a big hole in the grip that the blade rotated around. the big "nut" that went around the finger hole kept coming loose, so i sold it cheap.

I have been keeping an eye on the Gerbers for a while and just dont feel them to be very pleasing to my eye. i guess its a personal choice. i usually buy CRK&T, or Cold Steel.

What Gerber is on my "I WISH TO HELL THEY WOULD BRING IT BACK RIGHT NOW!!!" list is the Gerber MK II combat knife. the only ones i can find are the very expensive commemerative ones. Gerber, if you are listening, please re-instate the Gerber MK II PLEASE :cuss: -Eric

[Pilot]

Walmart has Spyderco Natives for $40. Good deal on a great little knife.

[mrmeval]

Gerber was sold to Fiskars. I don't know where they are made now.

Gerber got a contract to supply Walmart. Huge one. Next contract was for a little less and a little less and then they were sold to Fiskars.

It's not a rap at Walmart, they play the game well. Gerber got a good contract but I think were naive about where that would lead.

I have a 1974 Gerber Mark II. It's a nice knife.

[TimboKhan]

When I was in Somalia, I came in contact with the French Foreign Legion pretty regularly, and I swear that they would have traded damn near anything for a Gerber. it used to make me laugh when we would talk because the first thing that would be said was "Gurr-Bear? Gurr-Bear?"... BTW, I have a Gerber "Applegate" folder in my pocket right now that I got for 10 bucks in the clearance section at wally-world....

[hso]

Gerber was sold to Fiskars. I don't know where they are made now.

Same as ever. Most in the U.S., some in Japan, some in Italy, some in China (now).

There was a period of about 4 years when Fiskars bought Gerber that there was some serious identity crisis at Gerber. Seems to have all been sorted out now.

Doing business with WalMart is dangerous for any company that expects to provide a quality product. Eventually WalMart will force them to surrender quality for price to keep their business. This often means that production has to be moved off shore (commonly to China) to maintain some minimum quality level and still meet the hungry giant's demands for never ending cuts in price. The smart knife manufacturers would be well advised to come up with a long term strategy before dealing with WalMart in which they introduce their product and anticipate the need for producing a WalMart version eventually while still making a quality product for those folks willing to buy a quality product made here.

[mp510]

The Buck 373 that rides in my watch pocket is Chinese, Wal-Mart sells them, but mine came from Sports Authority. The quality is actually very good, and I didn't know it was Chinese until I saw the Sheepsfoot blade, where it was stamped (they have since added a sticker to the package).

I also have another knife, a Winchester (by Gerber) Chinese made 3" linerlock, with wood inlay handles. Surgical stainless blade. Mine was bought in used/ abused shape from a pawnbroker, but when Wal-Mart restocks, I will be buying a new one frm them.
http://img2.postimage.org/171322/winchester1.jpg
http://img2.postimage.org/171325/winchester2.jpg

Sorry the pictures are so bad. I only knew how to use the web-cam feature on my camera when I took them:uhoh:

I noticed that they started selling an assissted opening folder as well.