Gerber began in 1939 when Portland advertising executive Joe Gerber partnered with local blacksmith David Murphy to produce a set of handmade kitchen knives as holiday gifts for clients. Abercrombie & Fitch bought them on the spot — and Gerber Legendary Blades was born. Over the next eight decades the company grew from kitchen cutlery into one of America's most trusted names in knives, multi-tools, and field equipment. The Mark II combat knife served soldiers in Vietnam. The LST — designed by Pete Gerber and Blackie Collins in 1980 — invented the EDC knife category. The LMF II has been field-tested on the front lines. The 06 Auto is issued to military units under NATO Stock Numbers. Today Gerber is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, owned by Fiskars Group, and remains the largest maker of knives and multi-tools for the United States armed forces. Knifeworks is an authorized Gerber dealer.