How to Identify a Counterfeit Gerber Knife

Be wary of counterfeit Gerber knives as the quality is probably compromised.

Knives made by the Gerber Company are meant for hunting, camping, survival and fishing. They typically retail between $50 and $200, and as with many high-end items, have been replicated by counterfeit artists. There are a few ways to determine the authenticity of a Gerber knife and identify counterfeits.

Instructions

1. Know the general retail value of the knife you are purchasing. Look online at sites like Gerberstore.com or FoldingKnife.biz to determine the current market value. If the deal from a seller seems too good to be true, it probably is.

2. Hold the knife in your hand. Gerber knives are made with high-quality metal and wood products and the knife should feel heavy. If the knife feels very light when you hold it, the material is probably cheap and the knife is likely not authentic.

3. Check the details of the knife. The bolster should have clean etchings, the blade should be stainless steel, and all aspects of the knife should look clean and sharp. If the knife seems or feels sloppy, crude or cheap, it is probably a counterfeit item.

4. Verify the source. Online sellers should have high ratings, references and offer a warranty or satisfaction guarantee. Online stores should offer protected shopping, a refund policy and/or a guarantee on the item. Sellers or websites that cannot offer refunds or a warranty on the Gerber knife are probably selling counterfeit knives.

5. Be wary of Gerber knives that are sold in bulk. Authentic Gerber knives are high-end items that would be prohibitively expensive to buy in bulk. If a seller seems to have a vast quantity of the knives, they are probably counterfeit.

References

• Gerber Store: Knives
• Folding Knife Biz: Gerber Knives
• Folding Knife Biz: Folding Pocket Knife
• High Caliber Knives: 4 steps to buying the right knife