People in the IKC have a misconception about many knife companies. They think that the major brands, Spyderco, Chris Reeve, and the like are “big companies.” Most knife companies are pretty small operations. Spyderco has around 30 people. Chris Reeve is probably around the same number. TRM is smaller. The next size up includes companies like Benchmade and Buck, both of which have a lot of domestic capacity. Beyond that there are only two really giant companies that make knives—KAI and Gebrer. Kai, of which both Kershaw and ZT are subdivisions, is a big Japanese company, small part of which makes knives. Gerber is similarly, a smaller part of a large company (Fiskars), but Gerber is actually pretty darn big all on its own. Gerber is the 600 pound gorilla of the knife world—they are the largest knife company in the world and they are a truly big company.

For years, though, they have been obsessed with a race to the bottom—making cheap knives cheaply and reducing manufacturing costs every year. Their annual crowning achievements were things like a marketing campaign or some new process that shaved pennies of the production cost of knife that retailed for $30. And then there were the recalls. Oh so many recalls. They hit rock bottom about 8 years ago. Slowly, they retooled and restructured. There were the 39 series of knives, which were roughly made but solid designs with decent materials. Then there was the Fastball, one of the best knives around for under $100. It was clear something was happening at Gerber.

Then they announced their Reserve line last month. If Gerber is the 600 pound gorilla of the knife world, the Reserve line is them beating their chest. There are two knives in the line thus far, a folder and a fixed blade. The fixed blade, called the Terracraft, is available now. Seth, former guest on the podcast, sent me a review sample at the end of October and suffice to say, everyone else should be worried. It is a good design with excellent materials and, most importantly, truly top shelf fit and finish. But the terrifying thing for Gerber competitors is the price—$150 for a hand-finished, S30V knife with an excellent sheath is a true threat.

It smokes the staid S35VN ESEEs. It competes nicely with $300 Bark Rivers. And it decimates the BK line. Its really good. And here is the thing—when you are the largest knife company in the world AND you can go detail for detail with specialty manufacturers, eventually your huge market presence and ability to amortize costs over many more units being shipped gives you a huge advantage. No one can go bigger than Gerber, but they used to be able to go better. With the Terracraft as a herald of what is to come, that might not be possible either. Oh, and as a cherry on top, the Terracraft is Made in the USA.

I am still working on my review, but suffice to say it is a good knife. Here is my video overview of the Terracraft to hold you over until everything is put into writing.

2021 is going to be a fascinating year in gear and it might just be the year that Gerber becomes Legendary again.

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