Bud Holzman, a United States Army captain, designed the weapon, and Gerber produced it from 1966 to 2000. Note the Gerber Mark II hanging on his belt. [2] It was designed by retired United States Army Captain, Clarence A. The Gerber spread among fighting men in Vietnam and also became a favorite of mercenaries in Africa. As it had the sharpening steel with it I fell in love with its L-6 blade. Your hand wont slip or slide into the blade as you stick and stab to kill a Commie for mommy. Here's my Vietnam era Mark II. The Gerber Mark II has a suggested retail price of $115,00. Not the deepest youll find on a knife, the serrations are still there to cut. In the spring of 1969 I was detailed to pick up my platoons mail at the company headquarters of C/75th Rangers in An Khe, Vietnam. A serrated edge essentially cuts by tearing rather than slicing. The impressive little rangefinder worked What Are Coach Guns? By It could penetrate the torso of a bad guy and be long enough to reach something vital from any angle. Also found at, 199? Its lighter than a bayonet and knives like the KA-BAR. As Bearmon points out, this isnt even a MKII. Donda Bernet). One big thing to remember is that the Gerber MK II is a fighting knife, not a utility one. The design is iconic, and they are still offered today. I had one other, made in 1979, that I carried on Desert Storm, and my son carried on OEF and OIF. As with many popular designs, various companies started producing their own version, hoping to get a part of the military and civilian markets. Fortunately for collectors, all Mark II knives, except the yellow-handled dive knives, are individually serial numbered, which makes dating easy. So, sometime after that date, Charlie's Mark II was purchased by a U.S. soldier and taken to Nam. When it comes to military knives, few are as universally beloved as the Gerber Mark II. Original Item: Only One Available. While 420HC is not a high-end stainless steel, it does produce a good knife steel with good corrosion resistance and fairly good edge holding ability. I got a Gerber Mark II knife. "It was the tradition that the honor graduate of each class at MACV Recondo School be awarded a Gerber commando dagger by the school's staff. Production continued until 2000, with an additional limited production run of 1,500 knives in 2002. I received my first Gerber Mk II, sn# 13000 in the fall of 1969 during my last full tour in Vietnam. Gerber Mk II found in a toolbox. Al Mar, who was working for Gerber at the time, added two inches of scalloped saw-tooth double serrations toward the hilt. Remember, that in the early years, Gerber did not keep careful records. The offset design was done so that the knife could be kept closer to the body when sheathed and to compensate for the natural bend of the wrist when the knife was held in the fencing foil grip. The canted blade led to a number of knives being returned to Gerber for having bent blades. Gerber discontinued the cant in subsequent production runs. The new Mark II uses the same classic dagger-like design and metal grip and handguard. This isnt the best steel, and I wouldnt take it to war. It even comes with a thigh strap to secure and keep it from jumping around. Holzman in 1966. Terry was originally a Marine who became a SEAL team member and was a medic, HM1. The Mark II is one of the best selling knives of all time. It is unknown whether the Mark II was possibly lost in the field and later found by enemy solders, or if the U.S. SF soldier was killed by some of the same NVA who died in the October 1968 Central Highlands ambush. The Gerber Mark II Is One Of The Most Famous Combat Knives Ever Issued To The American Military. Its fully jumpable. It was nearly 14 years later in 1981 that a table was compiled by Mr. Doug Hutchens, Survival Knife Historian at Gerber. This dual-edged blade, with its dagger point, will penetrate deep and with ease. I have attempted to use information from the lists to resolve some of the discrepancies, correct a few errors and insert more detail into the table. Black double guard. Free shipping for many products! A380 is one of the most commonly specified alloys for die casting, as it offers the best combination of casting, mechanical, and thermal properties. When they are released, they tend to sell out quickly, so keep your eyes open. The Gerber MK-II is said to have been designed around a drawing sent to the company by Army Captain C.A. But oddly enough, the MK I came after the MK II. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. It is made in the USA. This knife is good for one thing, and thats killing the enemies of democracy. Gerber designed the sheath to be multi-mount so that you could strap it to a belt or to your MOLLE gear. If you . The Gerber Mark II slid in and out of production over the years, but Gerber has recently re-released the knife in a very affordable package. The knife also incorporates an aggressive handguard to keep your hand positioned on the handle in a fight. When you work in conditions with strict logistics, youll take the weight of an aluminum handle over something fragile. [1][2], At 12.75 inches (32.39cm) long it has a 6.5 inch (16.5cm) 420 HC stainless steel double edged spear point wasp-waisted blade, weighs 8 ounces, and has a die cast aluminum handle. And its just as effective today at taking care of business as it was on the day it was introduced. MSRP: $115.00, Follow our regular channel at Spotterup on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1PXrpGGfAUtZC6IVhXg2-w, Follow our site at https://spotterup.com/, Follow on Instagram as https://www.instagram.com/spotterup/, Visit my store at https://spotter-up.myshopify.com/. In the 1940s, Gerber began making steak knives and eventually prized hunting knives in Portland, Oregon. The Mark II is a true classic that belongs in every knife collection. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. The first sheaths were leather. Israels Cutting-Edge Missile Warning System to Be Deployed in Ukraine This May, US Special Forces Evacuate Embassy Staff in Sudan: Other Americans Left Behind, Again, Navy SEALs David Goggins versus Dan Crenshaw in SEAL on SEAL Internet Death Match, Germany Seeks to Modernize Military with American Rocket Artillery System, War Games: 2027 Reveals Need for US to Arm Taiwan to the Teeth Amid Rising Tensions with China, Russia Threatens to Terminate Ukraine Grain Deal over G7 Export Ban, Taliban Kills Kabul Airport Suicide Bombing Mastermind, SOFREP Stands With Our Brothers Who Demand Responsibility for Disastrous Afghan Departure, Adam Brown: A SEALs Life of Courage and Redemption, Complete List: Ticonderoga-class Missile Cruisers To Retire By 2027, Nuclear Close Calls That Nearly Caused World War III, Russian Sausage Millionaire and Putin Critic Falls to His Death in India, Your Subscription Supports our Veteran Staff. My goal is to provide helpful information about old pocket knives relating to their identification and history. I don't believe it is a Vietnam era knife, the serial number doesn't look right. "Beach Jumper" was the cover name of U.S. Navy special warfare units. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty in North America and a 25- year limited warranty outside of North America. The downside is that the steel does not hold an edge for a very long time. Note the harsh wording in the advertisement with emphasis on the knife's "deadly" aspects. A fundamental part of intelligent behavior is planning. Canted blade Mark II - Serial Number 003934 - This knife was taken from a dead NVA soldier by SGT Charlie Sharps, an infantry platoon sergeant with the 173rd Airborne. Of course, each contained what was a unique concept for the time: a purpose built, commercial fighting knife, the Gerber MK-II Combat. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Vietnam Era Gerber Mk2 MKII survival knife 1967 004741 First Year No Sheath at the best online prices at eBay! When I was in Vietnam, my Dad saw an advertisement in the magazine for the "new" Gerber fighting knife. Thanks for the heads up, the serial number A5466S is from 1982. The handle on the Mark II is 5.25 inches long and has a flattened oval cross-section and tapered palm-swell design. Some can still be found with their original leather sheath. The engraving seems legit. Ep 25 | GWWM John Valentine Combatives, and Deeds of Arms, Where is combatives today. The handle is made from die-cast aluminum which helps keep the weight to just eight ounces. While 420HC is not a high-end stainless steel, it does produce a good knife steel with good corrosion resistance and fairly good edge holding ability. My experience has taught me that there's nothing like digging in and getting started. Its fully jumpable. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ , Pikes Manly Gift Picks: Knife Edition 2020, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Nice but seeing black grip and blade design is indicator of a later production Gerber with out the serial range chart(s) Also the black scabbards are not of the VN era unless dyed by the owner or painted etc Not trying to highjack this thread, but does anyone know if John Sabol might have any planes for all the information he collected on the Gerber MK 2's and their variants? Prototypes were field tested and evaluated at Fort Lewis, Washington by members of the Armys Fourth Infantry Division. The inspiration from the blade comes from the Roman Mainz Gladius. That is not a Gerber Mark Two it is a Gerber Command 1. One year in one direction or another makes a BIG difference in price. I have been told he based the "wasp waist" pattern of the double-edge 7-inch blade on . Aluminum is an unusual choice for a knifes handle, but it works here. Vietnam era vintage Jacques Garcia survival combat knife . Lance Gerber, courtesy Coachella. Blade length is 6.5 inches / 16.51 cm, blade thickness is 0.235-inch / 5.969 mm and blade witdth is 0.875-inch / 22.225 mm. The Gerber MK II features a 6.5-inch dagger blade. The Gerber Mark II is a fighting knife manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades from 1967 to 2000, with an additional limited run of 1500 in 2002, and full production resuming as of July 2008. . Others have called the MK-II an improved version of the WW-II Fairbairn-Sykes commando knife. The Mark II has outstanding balance And is lively in the hand. The Gerber MK II features a 6.5-inch dagger blade. As far as legendary fighting knives go, there are a few that stand the test of time. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Box 138 The Gerber Mark II is one of the best selling knives of all time. Also another retention strap snap has been added to the strap. They trusted the knife, and thats critical when its the last line of defense one might have. It is a good solid knife, was a carry knife for troops in Vietnam. It was called the Mark II combat knife and was fist produced in 1966. Not all brown ones are Vietnam, but all Vietnam ones are brown, if that makes sense. Yeah, the stores where Americas killers shop thought a knife was too untasteful. The knife, serial number 9537, is missing the two leading zeros. Mr. Scratch. The Gerber Mark II has a suggested retail price of $115,00. A surprising variety of sheaths have been associated with the Mark II. The blade has a zero-degree cant. In 2019 Vortex Optics released the Razor HD 4000 rangefinder with 4,000-yard reach (below). Gerber Mark II with after market coating on the blade. The handle was designed to be an effective yawara. Anniversary knives are not blade marked. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Of the 5,395 men admitted to the school 3,357 graduated as Recondos. Summary: This is an outstanding piece of Vietnam History from the estate of a true warrior that honorably served for over 33 years. This allows them to be sharpened at the same time as the blade and makes sharpening a breeze. At the Reconodo School, an MK II was given to the honor graduate of every class. dedicated to the commandos who carried the MK II with pictures of surviving examples. Vietnam Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII -Collection #10680 --1969 $1,750.00 stcroixblades (11,131) 100% Buy It Now +$16.95 shipping 10 watchers Sponsored Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife - Mk 2 Combat - Mk II - Vintage (1981) Pre-Owned $395.00 midwestknifetrader (32) 100% Buy It Now +$12.45 shipping 42 watchers Sponsored I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. The Mark II design was based on a sketch sent in by Army Captain C. A. These serial numbers consist of a single leading letter followed by digits from 0000 to 9999 followed by an "S" or "T". It has a 6.5" double serrated spear point blade that is .18" thick. Hello, On display is my 1968 model CT2 Gerber MKII combat dagger. Other makers offer knives similar to the Mark II, but if you want the real deal youll have to dig a little bit to purchase one yourself. The original purchaser was probably Special Forces as they trained to become jump qualified at Ft. Benning's jump school. The Gerber MK-II is said to have been designed around a drawing sent to the company by Army Captain C.A. Planning is thinking about a goal and then organizing the activities to achieve the goal. SpecialForcesHistory has an entire page dedicated to the commandos who carried the MK II with pictures of surviving examples. Somewhere there is a Gerber site that lists serial numbers and dates of production. Designed for maximum versatility, the sheath features a multi-mount system with belt loops, nylon webbing leg strap with side-release buckle and is MOLLE/PALS compatible. All Rights Reserved. In 1982 an alpha-numeric system was adopted. eBay. | Privacy. Gerber C.A. By Mr. Scratch, April 5, 2012 in EDGED WEAPONS. Frost Matrix - "Gerber Mark II Production History Matrix" by Robert Frost originally found at, 200? A serrated edge is also functionally longer cutting surface, so it will hold up longer without needing to be resharpened. The Mark II is a true classic that belongs in every knife collection. Followers 1. Many carried Gerber MK II knives. By the 1960s, Gerber decided to manufacture a knife that could be used in combat during the war in Vietnam. Its strong, and the material used for build various gun receivers, including AR 15, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Id like your opinion on something. I've been collecting and learning about the Gerber Mark II for over 30 years. Gerber should release a premium model in 154 CM or S30V, and Id gladly pick one up, even for the increased cost. A lot happened in that time, and along the way, the MK II became a well reputed Cold Warrior. The Mark II uses a dagger type design making it less of a slasher and more of a stabber. Share More sharing options. Black ballistic nylon sheaths were introduced around 1985. Support Veteran Journalism . You do not find many in country Gerber Mark II knives, let along one with such rich and well documented history of the soldier. It also cuts better than a plain edge when dull. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The Mainz Gladius was a short dagger that was given to senior officers in the Roman Army and was considered a prestigious status symbol. The Gerber MK II has constantly been featured in movies and series. Its a great and affordable item for any knife collection. Shooting the BulletSafe VP3 Soft Body Armor, Uberti Remembers John Wesley Hardin with this Top Break .45 Colt. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Vintage Gerber Mark II Knives are very collectible and a version of this knife continues to be produced to this day. The knife was never an issued one per se but became a favorite in Vietnam. However, the latest models are the closest collectors can get to a real MK II. Also no records exist for "S/Ns A3012S-A4010S (Ref. Asymmetry in blade design is a show-stopper - this actually being a Command II. Powered by Invision Community, US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY. Its strong, easy to sharpen and can become quite sharp as well. Check out the Gerber Mark II today and see why it was the choice of special operations troops for generations. Its a good choice when ease of sharpening and toughness are important. JMR Collectibles, LLC Cond, Gerber Mk2 Mark 2 MkII Mark II Stiletto Neck Knife RETENTION Sheath Only, Gerber Mk2 Mark 2 MkII Mark II Stiletto BeltKnife RETENTION Sheath Only, UNUSED 1973 Post Vietnam Gerber MK2 MKII Commando Fighting Knife with Sheath, LIMITED EDITION Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII, 20th Anniversary Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII # XX2112, 1983 Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII -Collection / Serial #B5789S, RARE US 1977 GERBER MK2 Commando Fighting Knife BLACK HANDLE w/ Sheath, SUPER RARE ORIGINAL 1968 GERBER MK2 KNIFE AND SHEATH VIETNAM WAR PERSONALIZED, Gerber MK ll MK 2 Fighting Knife Sheath Only No Knife, RARE ORIGINAL PRESENTATION GERBER MK2 DAGGER ZEBRA WOOD KNIFE WITH SHEATH, RARE VINTAGE ORIGINAL GERBER MK2 KNIFE AND SHEATH WITH SHARPENER MADE IN 1974, RARE ORIGINAL VIETNAM WAR GERBER MK2 PERSONALIZED KNIFE AND SHEATH MADE IN 1971, Vintage US 1978 Gerber Mark II Survival Fighting Knife w/ Sheath, RARE VINTAGE ORIGINAL GERBER MK2 KNIFE AND SHEATH MADE IN 1977, VINTAGE GERBER MARK II 1976 Gray Handle KNIFE W/ Non Original SHEATH, Gerber LMF II Infantry (Coyote) Brown Combat Knife Fixed 4.84" Blade 420HC Steel, RARE US 1978 GERBER MK2 Commando Fighting Knife ERROR # LOGO DIES BREAKDOWN, WW2 Canadian British No 4 Mk II Spike Bayonet & Scabbard 2, WW2 Canadian British No 4 Mk II Spike Bayonet & Scabbard, WW2 Canadian British No 4 Mk II Spike Bayonet, Korean War British Canadian No4 Mk II Spike Bayonet & Scabbard w/ 52 Dated Frog, GERBER USA LMF II Military Infantry Black Drop Point Survival MINT IN SHEATH, Vintage 1986 Gerber Mark ii Fighting Knife Dagger & Scabbard, GERBER LMF II Infantry Knife with Sheath Coyote Brown. If so, let us know in the comments below. by Wayne Goddard Gerber MK-II: Just as the Fairbairn Sykes is the Iconic knife of WW-II, the Gerber MK-II filled that role for the American soldier in Vietnam. First Sold in 1966, the Gerber Mk2 Fighting Knife quickly became a very popular private purchase weapon for soldiers stationed in Vietnam. Fighting knives are the best knives. A major disadvantage of most serrated blades is that they are more difficult to sharpen, requiring a special sharpening tool. I appreciate any traffic from these links as I earn commission from eBay and Gerber when an item is purchased, at no extra cost to you. One of the throat rivets tore out and was repaired with a rivet with a larger head. They were sold later as Model GB05705 "Mark II Wasp" w/ C3 Cordura sheath in the Blue and Black box. Its made in the USA at Gerbers Portland, Oregon factory. The MACV Recondo School operated from 1966 to 1971. Pictures of the actual knife that Terry carried are shown below. (tt) Blades etched in 3 lines on the Gerber logo side: GERBER / 70th. A plan is like a map. and No, its NOT for sale. March 28, 2021 in EDGED WEAPONS. MIA 4/24/1969 in Cambodia. And he designed it not just to be a tool but a weapon. It was advertised as a boot knife rather than a fighting knife. However there are some discrepancies between them. It is incredibly durable and very well made. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. The Mark II has outstanding balance And is lively in the hand. Free shipping for many products! View on eBay. Carried a MKII in a chest rig for quite a few years while in the AF.

Owen And Claire Fanfiction Pregnant, Cornerstone Family Physicians, Articles G