Got tools? If you need a multi-tool, the Gerber Suspension Multi-tool 1471. It has every tool you might need, including scissors and wire cutters. The weight is kept down because of the unique open frame construction.
We went on our yearly tour of the Leatherman plant in Portland Oregon this year. It’s amazing how fast this company is growing. They had to increase the production area. To do this, they had to move the shipping department to another building 3 miles away. That new location is rented, and it houses the warehouse of the tools, the shipping area, customer service, and the custom laser engraving area.
Back to the main building, the small Leatherman museum is in the front office
Early Leatherman Prototype2
and open to the public. Here are a few pictures of the prototypes that Tim Leatherman made in his garage during the birth of his brilliant idea.
Early Leatherman Prototype
You know, necessity is the mother of invention. The Leatherman idea started when Tim and his wife toured Europe in the 1970’s, using a used car he bought there. It kept breaking down, and Tim would fix it himself. He really needed some pliers, but didn’t have any. It would have been nice if he had something like a Leatherman tool. Many months later, Tim perfected some prototypes
Early Leatherman Prototype3
in his garage, and started a very successful company. Too bad Gerber Knives turned down his proposal to produce his tools. Too bad for Gerber, but not for Tim.
Here are 2 stories of how a Leatherman tool came to the rescue.
Your customers will love a gift of a Gerber Knife. Here are 3 ways it will “strike” them……
The famous brand of “Gerber”. This fine company has a history going way back to 1939 with a mini order of handmade knife sets that were only given as Christmas gifts. Then thousands of retail stores started selling them all over the United States. Then in just 21 years, 1960, this knife company became very trusted as a manufacturer of “collectible legends”. Today, the Gerber name is well known in the knife world, even being sold in our nation’s Walmart stores. For business gifts, engraved Gerber knives with your company logo are available on the internet.
Gerber Titanium Nitride Paraframe 8446
The variety of knives and multi-tools. Gerber not only makes folding pocket knives. They make multi-tools, in the fashion of Leatherman Tools. Key chain multi-tools are the newest addition to their line, with the Gerber Shard Key Chain Tool.
Gerber® Shard Key Chain Tool 1769
The economical price of Gerber knives. Their knives are reasonably-priced, in the 20 to 30 dollar range. This is due to their global sourcing of raw materials and finished materials. Some assembly is being done in the Gerber Portland Oregon plant.
Do you need some gift ideas for Christmas? You have male employees or customers who already have everything? There’s always room for engraved Kershaw knives in your employee’s or client’s pocket or drawer. I’ve never seen a man turn down a gift knife, even if he has a collection of them. Kershaw knives are USA-made, and some are imported. But even the imported ones are done to the specifications and strict guidelines of KAI-USA Kershaw Knives.
Some new models are the Scallion Camo Knife 1620.
Scallion Camo 1620 knife
A new color in the Scallion line is the “Olive”, which replaces the green handle color.
Kershaw Scallion 1620 Olive Color Handle
A favorite knife is the Kershaw “Leek” 1660 CKT in black handle and blade.
Kershaw Leek Knife, Black CKT
More models, like the Shuffle, Ember, and Select Fire are available now, and will be added to the website soon.
Leatherman started their advertising campaign in late
831998 Leatherman Tread-Engraving
2014, and drew a lot of interest. Everyone wanted a Leatherman Tread, but couldn’t buy one. The production of this new and exciting multi tool was lagging behind. Cabela’s wanted to sell them to their camping and hunting customers, but they couldn’t get enough inventory on time. Now, in September 2015, production still is slow, but we have some in stock NOW. As soon as we get some in, they go out right away.
So don’t hesitate. Order yours today. Order with your logo laser engraved, or just blank.
This new fashion tool should be popular with
Leatherman Tread-831998_Packaging
campers, hikers, hunters, bikers, and fishermen. You now have the ability to “wear” your multi-tool, and have it handy for immediate use.
They design and manufacture most of their knives in the USA. Their website says “Dedicated to innovation and the highest quality”. The history of Kershaw knives goes back to 1907. Then in 1974, they opened for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon and started their no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. When we visited their offices in 2013, We were impressed with all the high quality knives on display.
Kershaw 1620 Scallion-Blue
All the engraved Kershaw knives on our website are USA-made, because we think that is Kershaw’s strongest selling point.
Features that we like:
Speedsafe: This is the name of their assisted open knives. With one hand, you can easily open these knives. This made quick and easy by the Flipper on the back of the blade tang.
Frame Lock: The frame is made in a way that locks the blade in the open position. There is no chance of the knife folding up on you when you least expect it.
Customized: The Kershaw folding pocket knives can be laser engraved with your corporate logo.
You are a successful business owner, and you want to give your employees a special gift. You chose Engraved Kershaw Knives with your corporate logo. Here are 3 things to watch out for when you order…………..
Is laser engraving included in the price? Some online knife companies charge you extra, over $6 per knife for that service. Reputable knife engraving companies always quote you the price that includes free laser marking. Some companies do electro etching instead of laser engraving. Electro etching is a good way to apply your logo, but is considered semi-permanent. Why settle for anything less than professional permanent laser imprinting.
Kershaw Chive 1600
Is online ordering easy to do on their website? Do they give you an option to call in your order instead of typing it into the shopping cart? You may prefer to do it one way or another. Some people like to talk to a human being. Some enjoy reacting with their computer, and like to automate their ordering. Easy online ordering is characterized by a neat-looking, attractive, and well-organized website. It is a website that makes it easy to find your product, and to add it to a shopping cart and check out. Most people don’t want to “register” and “enter a password”, and have someone else’s computer “store” their credit card number for future use.
Kershaw 1620 Scallion-Blue
Do they offer “personalized service”? Can you talk to the same person each time you call in, or do you get a different person each time? You would probably like the same friendly person handle all your questions each time you call or email.
The history of Kershaw goes back
1660CKT Kershaw Leek open
to 1907. Then in 1974, they opened for business in Lake Oswego, Oregon and started their no-hassle, lifetime guarantee. Today their product line includes the finest USA-Made and imported knives in the industry. That’s why Kershaw knives is a household name. Every Man Wants a Kershaw.
When was the first time that someone used pocket knives to deliver an advertising message? When was the first Logo actually put on a knife, a logo not belonging to the knife’s manufacturer? What is an old advertising knife worth today? All these questions are answered in a unique book, ADVERTISING CUTLERY, by Richard D. White, c. 1999. It’s published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Atglen, PA.
It’s an amazing book to me, but I’m partial to company logo knives. I sell them for a living. I’m glad Mr. White decided to assemble this valuable information and present it in a fun, easy to read way. You can tell he loves knives, and has been collecting them for a long time. The book divides the collectible knives into categories:
Advertising on knives began about 100 years ago. That was long before laser engraving. According to Mr. White’s pictures (and the book is loaded with color pictures), the early logo knives were imprinted with the die-struck method. That’s when a heavy stamping machine forces the imprint from the die into the metal handle. This imprinting technique is still used today on name plates and key tags. I haven’t seen it used currently on knife handles.
Die-Cast Imprint
Die cast was another early way to advertise on a knife handle. This provides a 3 dimentional look that is very impressive.
Then hot stamping and screen printing were used. Hot stamping uses a heated die, which pushes the color of a foil ribbon into the plastic handle of the knife. The heat makes a slight indent into the partly melted substrate. This method is still used today, but not so much on knife handles.
Screen Printed Handle
Screen printing is familiar to most people. That’s when the ink, or paint, is pushed through the porous areas of a screen onto the knife handle. This is still very much used today on knives.
Today we use laser engraving, machine engraving (like a jeweler’s), electro etching, screen printing, pad printing, and laser engraving followed by a color fill.
If I had a quarter for every time someone has emailed me that question, I’d be rich by now. Mr. White’s book has these guidelines for determining the answer to your question.
THE 5 FACTORS WHICH AFFECT THE OVERALL VALUE OF ANY COLLECTIBLE CUTLERY ARE:
Condition
Brand Name
Style
Handle Material
Age
The advertiser is also a factor. If it was a company that used to make asbestos, or any other obsolete product or service, that knife has more appeal to a collector. Barlow style knives have their own special appeal.
Old Imprinted Logo Knives
Do you have an old advertising knife? Tell us about it, and email a picture. I’d be happy to see it. So would everyone else. Thanks.
Gerber® Paraframe I -8445 
Gerber® Ripstop Pocket Knife 1614 
Gerber EZ Out Lockback 6701 
Gerber Suspension Multi-Tool 1471
