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Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's

J-sews · 120 · 39518

us Offline J-sews

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Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
on: January 14, 2014, 08:20:12 PM



Recently I was extremely fortunate enough to acquire an assortment of prototype Gerber tools. I know almost none of the background info on these items, other than that they were owned by a senior engineer or manager that left Gerber about ten or twelve years ago. Many of the tools themselves appear to be from the late 1990's/early 2000's, which was about the time Gerber was bringing out a number of other innovations such as the MP600 and MP400 lines, the Multi-Lite, the Build Your Own program, the MP700 and MP800 tools, etc.

MP600's with red handles or with yellow handles were available back then as part of a combo kit that included a crappy flashlight. Furthermore, handles in blue, green, orange, or white were also available through Gerber's custom Build Your Own program. Judging by these prototypes, Gerber was also experimenting with plenty of other colors too: 

lime green w/black oxide



copper w/black oxide



maroon w/stainless



dark purple w/black oxide



carbon fiber w/stainless




MP700's were sold with a matte aluminum finish. A special "Terminator" version had a polished chrome finish. But none were sold with a colored finish to my knowledge. Here is an experimental blue one:





Standard MP600's to this day are sold with a matte "bead-blast" stainless steel finish. Here is one that was given a full mirror polish job, including all of the folding blades except the Phillips and the file:





But the prototyping is not just limited to fancy paint jobs and finishes. Here is an MP600 (happens to be orange) that sports soft rubber grip panels, presumably for comfort. We've seen a couple of these tools previously, in black oxide finish.









Or how about an electrician's plier head? Bear Jaws makes a tool that has one, as does the little Leatherman Squirt EL. But this is a full sized MP600. Wonder if they ran into a patent conflict or something and that's why they never made any more?







Here's a real doozy of a tool. It has a fancy removable plier head.








Just push in the spring-loaded buttons on either side of the pliers and it pops right off:






The handles are made to come apart too. I wonder if they planned to offer different style pliers? And maybe different handles too, perhaps with a variety of different blades and such?





EDIT:
Hey, I just realized the entire head is reversible! :tu:





« Last Edit: January 14, 2014, 08:33:20 PM by J-sews »
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


ca Offline Grant Lamontagne

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #1 on: January 14, 2014, 08:26:49 PM
That's awesome Bob!

I'll have to look closer when I get to a computer but for now I'm really loving that lime green one!

Def

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us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #2 on: January 14, 2014, 08:29:24 PM
More fun stuff. :)


A special belt sheath that holds the tool in place with powerful magnets:







A PRE PRODUCTION PROTOTYPE of old Mr. Pinchy





The tool loadout definitely has a "pre-production" look about it: :whistle:





Looks like the engineers were playing around with the ability to fold the tools completely around to the backside. That might be handy from time to time:





Not a prototype, but some type of a sales milestone award. The entire tool is gold plated, including all of the blades. It doesn't appear to have seen much heavy usage. :D

In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #3 on: January 14, 2014, 08:30:44 PM
Just WOW!

Thank you for posting this for us all to enjoy. I really love the history aspect of these tools as well as a strong appeal for early Gerbers or prototype tools so this makes me happy on all sorts of levels.   :ahhh the reversible head MT in the last picture is very intriguing to me. Hell who am I kidding every single tool there is intriguing to me. Whats the deal with the MP600 with blue handles and blue pliers? Am I seeing that correctly? 
I'm the milk man!


us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #4 on: January 14, 2014, 08:33:30 PM
 :drool:  that pre production mr. Pinchy is awesome!!!!!!!


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us Offline Aloha

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #5 on: January 14, 2014, 08:34:42 PM
I'm speechless and feel like the guy in pulp fiction when Jules opened the case in the coffee shop plus I'm so utterly envious right now I need to lay down.

 

Esse Quam Videri


us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #6 on: January 14, 2014, 08:37:02 PM
I'm speechless and feel like the guy in pulp fiction when Jules opened the case in the coffee shop plus I'm so utterly envious right now I need to lay down.

 


See. Aloha knows exactly how I feel. Great analogy by the way. Totally relevant to me.  :D
I'm the milk man!


de Offline lowtech

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #7 on: January 14, 2014, 08:37:58 PM
 :drool: I think I just had a small stroke.

Where did you say you live? Do you have an alarm system or guarding dog? Just curious...  :whistle:

Nah, those tools have come to the right hands I guess. But if you should get tired of one of them, drop me a line...

Thank you for sharing! I love the ideas behind the prototypes and it is always interesting to see those things.



hr Offline enki_ck

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #8 on: January 14, 2014, 08:38:08 PM
WOW

I'm speechless. :o

That's quite a haul you managed to get there. :cheers:


us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #9 on: January 14, 2014, 08:38:41 PM
Just WOW!

Thank you for posting this for us all to enjoy. I really love the history aspect of these tools as well as a strong appeal for early Gerbers or prototype tools so this makes me happy on all sorts of levels.   :ahhh the reversible head MT in the last picture is very intriguing to me. Hell who am I kidding every single tool there is intriguing to me. Whats the deal with the MP600 with blue handles and blue pliers? Am I seeing that correctly?


Oop, how did I miss that one? :P Yeah, it has an iridescent blue finish over the entire tool, including the pliers. I have no idea what it is. Some guys at work are speculating that it is blue anodize. But I didn't know you could anodize stainless...? :think:


In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #10 on: January 14, 2014, 08:40:35 PM
Thanks fellows. :) It took a great deal of detective work to track these down, but the results are definitely worth it! :cheers:
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


us Offline Aloha

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #11 on: January 14, 2014, 08:43:37 PM
I love them all but the removable plier head and reversible at that is insane,  WOW Gerber!!!!  Gerber if you are out there watching or reading this please bring back the Build your own Gerber program again, PLEEEEASE. 
Esse Quam Videri


us Offline colt 1911

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #12 on: January 14, 2014, 08:46:17 PM
Totally awesome, thanks for making me  :drool: :drool:
CHEERS


us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #13 on: January 14, 2014, 08:50:13 PM
Thanks for the info and picture of old blue there.  :D

I'm the milk man!


us Offline captain spaulding

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #14 on: January 14, 2014, 08:50:37 PM
I love them all but the removable plier head and reversible at that is insane,  WOW Gerber!!!!  Gerber if you are out there watching or reading this please bring back the Build your own Gerber program again, PLEEEEASE.


Yes, yes, and yes...... I would be in heaven if they did.
I'm the milk man!


scotland Offline Gareth

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #15 on: January 14, 2014, 08:59:20 PM
Some real special Gerbers in there Bob. :drool:

I particularly like the one with the reversible head, a forerunner to the MP650 concept perhaps?
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ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #16 on: January 14, 2014, 09:54:35 PM
Some real special Gerbers in there Bob. :drool:

I particularly like the one with the reversible head, a forerunner to the MP650 concept perhaps?
+1 :tu:
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us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #17 on: January 14, 2014, 09:59:00 PM
Some real special Gerbers in there Bob. :drool:

I particularly like the one with the reversible head, a forerunner to the MP650 concept perhaps?
+1 :tu:


I am thinking so too. :salute:
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


ch Offline Etherealicer

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #18 on: January 14, 2014, 10:06:47 PM
Some real special Gerbers in there Bob. :drool:

I particularly like the one with the reversible head, a forerunner to the MP650 concept perhaps?
+1 :tu:


I am thinking so too. :salute:
Could you please make a picture of the slot, where the plier-head goes in? Please?
It wouldn't be the internet without people complaining.


it Offline SolomonKane79

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #19 on: January 14, 2014, 10:11:06 PM
W-o-w.  :drool:
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au Offline gregozedobe

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #20 on: January 14, 2014, 10:33:06 PM
The awesome awesomesness of this haul has almost left me speechless  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:

Some absolutely fabulous Gerbers there, and what a great score.  2014 has been a great year for you and it has only just started.

It's good to see my Lime Green MP600 is almost certainly an official Gerber prototype, not a home made mod.  I thought it probably was official, as the finish was much the same as my other coloured ones.  I wonder if I sent mine to you for stud purposes we could breed some more Lime Green ones ?   :rofl:

You need to increase the insurance on your collection, just these alone will have bumped up the value quite a bit.  Or maybe start up a "pliery" multi-tool museum and employ yourself as acquisitions manager, curator and get a rabid Rottweiler as security consultant ?   :pok: (but never ask a Doberman to guard a Teddy Bear collection unsupervised, someone once did and it destroyed many valuable collctor quality teddy bears   :o :D  ).

Thank you for sharing  :)
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us Offline jerseydevil

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #21 on: January 14, 2014, 10:43:08 PM
 :o  Those are just  :drool: Bob!  Thanks for sharing with us!
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us Offline ducttapetech

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #22 on: January 14, 2014, 10:50:06 PM
Those are SWEET!

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us Offline Lynn LeFey

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #23 on: January 14, 2014, 11:10:15 PM
This collection is like a museum archive. Frickin' awesome!  :tu:


ca Offline Syph007

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #24 on: January 14, 2014, 11:15:30 PM
That reversible head one is the coolest gerber Ive ever seen!  Id buy that in a second if it was ever a production model.
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us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #25 on: January 14, 2014, 11:26:45 PM
Some real special Gerbers in there Bob. :drool:

I particularly like the one with the reversible head, a forerunner to the MP650 concept perhaps?
+1 :tu:

I am thinking so too. :salute:
Could you please make a picture of the slot, where the plier-head goes in? Please?


Sure thing! :tu: You mean from the end, like this?

In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


us Offline J-sews

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #26 on: January 14, 2014, 11:28:50 PM
The awesome awesomesness of this haul has almost left me speechless  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:  :drool:

Some absolutely fabulous Gerbers there, and what a great score.  2014 has been a great year for you and it has only just started.

It's good to see my Lime Green MP600 is almost certainly an official Gerber prototype, not a home made mod.  I thought it probably was official, as the finish was much the same as my other coloured ones.  I wonder if I sent mine to you for stud purposes we could breed some more Lime Green ones ?   :rofl:

You need to increase the insurance on your collection, just these alone will have bumped up the value quite a bit.  Or maybe start up a "pliery" multi-tool museum and employ yourself as acquisitions manager, curator and get a rabid Rottweiler as security consultant ?   :pok: (but never ask a Doberman to guard a Teddy Bear collection unsupervised, someone once did and it destroyed many valuable collctor quality teddy bears   :o :D  ).

Thank you for sharing  :)


I'd forgotten about your lime green one Greg! Did we ever get to see any pictures of it? Does it look the same as the one shown here? :)
In order to be certain of having the right tool for every job.........one must first acquire a lot of tools


ca Offline CanadianLMfan

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #27 on: January 14, 2014, 11:40:58 PM
This.......is.......just.......................................awesome. :clap:
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ca Offline Chako

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #28 on: January 15, 2014, 12:23:08 AM
Now that is just  :drool: worthy Bob.
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us Offline Yadda

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Re: Some Gerber prototypes from late 1990's/early 2000's
Reply #29 on: January 15, 2014, 02:10:27 AM
Just further proof of your scrounging prowess!  I am once again in awe of another stunning acquisition.  Salute!
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After I count down three rounds, in Hell I'll be in good company" -  The Dead South


 

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