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The wasp-waisted blade has a narrower section of steel, akin to how a wasps body narrows at its waist. The Mark II also incorporates a dual serrated edge to add to its utility. Gerber began adding sawtooth serrations near the hilt and marketing the Gerber MK II as a survival knife rather than a fighting knife, and the PX resumed sales. So I looked up the Gerber Command 1 but it seems a lot smaller than this one. The Gerber Mark II has a suggested retail price of $115,00. 2023 Old Pocket Knives - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, Case XX USA Canoe 1972 8 Dot 62131 Bone Handle Pocket Knife, Case XX Stainless USA 1971 9 Dot Bone 6246R Riggers Knife, Case XX Stainless USA 1965-69 Bone 6279 Equal End Pen Knife, Case XX SS USA 5207 SP SSP 10 Dot 1980 Stag Mini Trapper Knife. During the school's illustrious history, a large number of 101 st Airborne Division Lurp/Rangers won that coveted award, a testament to the quality of men who served in the division's Long Range Patrol units". My Gerber Mk-II combat knife - U.S. Militaria Forum Coach guns were typically double-barreled shotguns with short barrels that made them easy to maneuver in 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ The Mark II stands out thanks to its blade design. Hi! So (F9999S - F3523S + 1) = 6477 and (H4854S - H0000S + 1 ) = 4855. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Named 1st CAL 1970 Vietnam War Gerber Mark II Mk 2 Fighting Knife Watch Grouping at the best online prices at eBay! For your consideration is this vintage Gerber MK II fighting combat knife in original leather sheath and Gerber steel in original leather sheath. The knife was never an issued one per se but became a favorite in Vietnam. The Gerber has had its own rather interesting comeback in recent years. After my enlistment, I worked as a test engineer and software developer for the Aerospace Industry for 34 years. Vintage HTF Valor Miami USA 415 Ichiro Hattori Seki Japan Double Edge Serrated Tip Dagger Gerber Command 1 Clone Boot Knife & Sheath 5 out of 5 stars (1.5k) Sale Price $96.85 $ 96.85 $ 129.13 Original Price $129.13 . Praesidus brings homage to the military watch tradition. By the 1960's, Gerber decided to manufacture a knife that could be used in combat during the war in Vietnam. I received my first Gerber Mk II, sn# 13000 in the fall of 1969 during my last full tour in Vietnam. Using the 1988 year as an example: F3523S - H4854S indicates that the serial numbers for 1988 start at F3523S and go up to F9999S then switch to H0000 and end at H4854S. First Designed in 1966 Of the 5,395 men admitted to the school 3,357 graduated as Recondos. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. After the war, wondering about the history of the knife, Charlie wrote to Gerber (this was years before the internet) and sent a picture of the knife and its serial number hoping Gerber could tell him who had originally purchased it and when. When the alpha letter changes during the year, a double calculation is done. The Gerber Mark II was the iconic combat knife of the Vietnam War, much as the Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S) Fighting Knife (British Commando Knife), was the iconic combat knife of World War II. Its old school cool. It seemed like at least half of those pigeon holes had a long, narrow box in them shipped from a knife company in Portland, Oregon, called Gerber Legendary Blades. Of course, each contained what was a unique concept for the time: a purpose built, commercial fighting knife, the Gerber MK-II Combat. Check out the Gerber Mark II today and see why it was the choice of special operations troops for generations. A surprising variety of sheaths have been associated with the Mark II. The Gerber Mark II: A Historic Fighting Knife - BLADE Magazine Its strong, and the material used for build various gun receivers, including AR 15, PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States, P.O. Black ballistic nylon sheaths were introduced around 1985. http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/ShriverJM01a.htm. The grip is also super comfortable and conforms well to the hand. A major disadvantage of most serrated blades is that they are more difficult to sharpen, requiring a special sharpening tool. [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. The Mark II was designed by retired US Army Captain Clarence A. The Gerber MK II features a 6.5-inch dagger blade. A picture of Terry Bryant, VICTOR PLATOON, U.S. Navy ST1 (SEAL TEAM 1) taken in 1971 in Vietnam. [4] Al Mar, then working for Gerber as a knife designer, added the sawtooth serrations toward the hilt, marketing the knife as a "survival aid", making it more appealing to the PX System, which resumed selling the Mark II as a survival knife, rather than a fighting knife. and No, its NOT for sale. Share More sharing options. The knife, serial number 9537, is missing the two leading zeros. List - Info sheet by Donda Burnett, Gerber Consumer Affairs, 2008 Sarasota Info - http://simplysarasota.com/knifecollector/GerberKnifeDates.html, 2/10/09 Sarasota Table - http://simplysarasota.com/knifecollector/Gerber-MkII-Production-Chart.html. Vietnam mark II 1972 combat knife $ 650.00. As far as legendary fighting knives go, there are a few that stand the test of time. Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife W/Sheath USA MKII Vietnam Era 1970 . Pre owned but in nice condition Gray Armorhide (cat's tongue) handle. The sheath has been modified by cutting off the sheath back above the throat and adding webbing to the sheath back forming a belt loop. The Ka-Bar, the Bowie knife, the Fairbairn-Sykes, and the often forgotten Gerber Mark II Combat Knife are all famed fighting knives. The Gerber Mark II was the iconic combat knife of the Vietnam War, much as the Fairbairn-Sykes (F-S) Fighting Knife (British Commando Knife), was the iconic combat knife of World War II. I recently discovered that I was wrong about the original designer. 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. For utility purposes, there are better knives. It also cuts better than a plain edge when dull. However, the latest models are the closest collectors can get to a real MK II. While this carry position afforded quick access to the knife, part of the Mark IIs ricasso can be seen indicating the knife was barely being held in place by the sheaths retaining strap. [4] The Mark II was commonly carried by troops for the United States in the Vietnam War, and was second only to the Ka-Bar knife in fame. SpecialForcesHistory has an entire page dedicated to the commandos who carried the MK II with pictures of surviving examples. 1981 Hutchens Table - Mr. Doug Hutchens held several managerial positions at Gerber and was the Survival Knife Historian. | Privacy. *The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. The blade is 6.5 inches long, and contemporary versions of it are made from 420 HC stainless steel. 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. GERBER MARK II IN VIETNAM Photo: Medal of Honor winner, Jim Fleming A picture of Jerry Michael Shriver, Master Sergeant, CCS, MACV-SOG (5TH SF GRP), SPECIAL FORCES U.S. Army. A Vietnam era knife. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Caribou Media Group | All rights reserved. As far as fighting knives go, the Mark II is most certainly one of the most proven options out there, and its nice to see Gerber bringing it back so knife nerds can get their hands on one. Gerber Mark II In the 1940's, Gerber began making steak knives and eventually prized hunting knives in Portland, Oregon. For information about George Rex Grason see: http://www.beachjumpers.com/cason-gr.htm. One of the throat rivets tore out and was repaired with a rivet with a larger head. The knife is 12-3/4" overall and weighs 8 ounces. Although a variety of handle materials have been employed for the Mark II, the majority are die-cast aluminum. The Mark II was designed in 1966 and quickly became a popular choice with soldiers and Marines headed overseas. Others have called the MK-II an improved version of the WW-II Fairbairn-Sykes commando knife. That length allows the blade to strike something vital in the torso from almost any angle. Share #1 Posted April 5, 2012. Fortunately for collectors, all Mark II knives, except the yellow-handled dive knives, are individually serial numbered, which makes dating easy. In the numerous hot little wars, American and European fighting men rented themselves out to numerous governments. A surprising variety of sheaths have been associated with the Mark II. Used, a little bit of stitching coming undone, but all correct. A380 is one of the most commonly specified alloys for die casting, as it offers, the best combination of casting, mechanical, and thermal properties. However, the ones of recent make that are available are reasonably priced at right around $100-$115. One year in one direction or another makes a BIG difference in price. Return of the Classic Gerber Mark II Dagger - Army Rumour Service There are other serrated tactical knives but no Mark II. Yep .. you beat me to it re: not a MK-II. The handle on the Mark II is 5.25 inches long and has a flattened oval cross-section and tapered palm-swell design. The Gerber MK II is a product of its time, but it remains an excellent knife option to this day. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. 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 long serrated edge makes it super easy to cut through thicker and denser materials. [1] [2] Original U.S. Parker Brothers Copy of the Vietnam War Style Gerber Mk2 Aluminum is an unusual choice for a knifes handle, but it works here. The handle was designed to be an effective yawara. The Gerber Mark II - Vietnam Era Fighting Knife | SOFREP A serrated edge essentially cuts by tearing rather than slicing. Yes, you can, but its not so straightforward. 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. . In 1982 an alpha-numeric system was adopted. Its one of the best selling knives of all time and continues to see action around the globe. "Beach Jumper" was the cover name of U.S. Navy special warfare units. Although Captain Holzman reportedly base the blade profile of the Mark II on the Roman Mainz Gladius in the British Museums collection, the similarities to the F-S Fighting Knife are unmistakable. Gerber stated that their records were scarce, but they did know the knife had been included with four others sold to the Post Exchange (PX) at Ft. Benning, Georgia in October of 1967. First issued for use by U.S. service personnel in the Vietnam War in 1966, the knife has stayed in production since with the exception of 2000-2008. The all-metal grip is made of aluminum. GERBER Mark II PRODUCTION DATE INFORMATION Cason. The honor graduate knives from the 1969 era are engraved "DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE / MACV RECONDO SCHOOL". The Mark II was designed by retired US Army Captain Clarence A. Its strong, easy to sharpen and can become quite sharp as well. The Mark I had a 4.75 inch (12cm) blade and was marketed as a boot knife.[6]. According to some sources, this was done to make the knife more politically correct, while others say they were added as a result of suggestions from the field. These serial numbers consist of a single leading letter followed by digits from 0000 to 9999 followed by an "S" or "T". USAF Vietnam commemorative SOG style knife Murphy Combat Richmond VA . The Gerber Mark II Is One Of The Most Famous Combat Knives Ever Issued To The American Military. 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 You do not find many in country Gerber Mark II knives, let along one with such rich and well documented history of the soldier. You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article. Recommended Posts. It has a 6.5" double serrated spear point blade that is .18" thick. A major disadvantage of most serrated blades is that they are more difficult to sharpen, requiring a special sharpening tool. It's easy! Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. A fundamental part of intelligent behavior is planning. Manufacturer: Gerber Model: Mark II Length:12.75 in. If you . THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ Id like your opinion on something. Bud Holzman, a United States Army captain, designed the weapon, and Gerber produced it from 1966 to 2000. It was advertised as a boot knife rather than a fighting knife. In 1982 an alpha-numeric system was adopted. Aluminum is an unusual choice for a knifes handle, but it works here. Vintage Gerber Mark II Knives are very collectible and a version of this knife continues to be produced to this day. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. When you work in conditions with strict logistics, youll take the weight of an aluminum handle over something fragile. Is it possible it's a gerber command 2? GERBER MARK II SITE AUTHORS I served in the U.S. Navy from 1959-1963 but saw no service in Vietnam. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Hello, On display is my 1968 model CT2 Gerber MKII combat dagger. Pictures of the actual knife that Terry carried are shown below. I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer so I could test it and give my honest feedback. Other handle features are an angled-forward double guard and a tapered pommel with lanyard hole. GR or Rex as he was called was a Senior Chief Petty Officer Radioman with Team 13 of BJU1 (Beach Jumper Unit 1) and served in Vietnam in 1969-1970. [3] It has a distinctive look similar to that of the FairbairnSykes fighting knife developed during World War II for the British Commandos. Your hand wont slip or slide into the blade as you stick and stab to kill a Commie for mommy. Its ridiculous to think that the PX, of all places, wouldnt want to arm fighting men with a fighting knife, but here we are. Free shipping for many products! It was called the Mark II combat knife and was fist produced in 1966. Bud Holzman, who served with the 101, Although Captain Holzman reportedly base the blade profile of the Mark II on the Roman Mainz Gladius in the British Museums collection, the similarities to the F-S Fighting Knife are unmistakable. Al Mar, who was working for Gerber at the time, added two inches of scalloped saw-tooth double serrations toward the hilt. My goal is to provide helpful information about old pocket knives relating to their identification and history. Any vets in the audience have experience with the knife? 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The page isn't dated but from the article about the Manila Mayor, I'm pretty sure it was the Dec. 21, 1966 issue. One big thing to remember is that the Gerber MK II is a fighting knife, not a utility one. The general rule of thumb was that a six- to seven-inch blade was. 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. The Mark II was commonly carried by U.S. troops in the Vietnam War, . in North America and a 25- year limited warranty outside of North America. Note the Gerber Mark II worn in an inverted carry, fastened to web gear on his left side. The handle was famously made from aluminum and designed for a fencing-style grip. Its fully jumpable. Standing there waiting for the clerk to bag up our mail, I glanced over at this wall. After a quick Google search, I believe this is a Gerber Mark II knife. Also have the MK I as an excellent boot knife. If the leading alpha character doesn't change for the year, again simple subtraction plus 1 gives the total. Its lighter than a bayonet and knives like the KA-BAR. The Gerber Mark II - Vietnam Era Fighting Knife by Travis Pike Jan 18, 2021 As far as legendary fighting knives go, there are a few that stand the test of time. [2] It was designed by retired United States Army Captain, Clarence A. Holzman in 1966. Of course, each contained what was a unique concept for the time: a purpose built, commercial fighting knife, the Gerber MK-II Combat. After a lot of use, the straps stretched increasing the chance of losing the knife. Carried a MKII in a chest rig for quite a few years while in the AF. The Gerber Mark II is a fighting knife manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades from 1966 to 2000, with an additional limited run of 1500 in 2002,[1] and full production resuming as of July 2008. It is incredibly durable and very well made. Its a great and affordable item for any knife collection. The 2008 version ballistic nylon sheath has an injection-molded hard polymer liner and two nylon straps with snap closures for primary and secondary retention to secure the handle. Gerber Mark II | SMKW There have been many variations in the Mark II throughout the years of its production. Anniversary knives are not blade marked. The Mark II has outstanding balance And is lively in the hand. Thanks and keep up the good work! Gerber Mark II Combat Knives - Old Pocket Knives for sale A lot happened in that time, and along the way, the MK II became a well reputed Cold Warrior. In either case, the knife was obviously created to be a deadly weapon first and a tool second. Overall length is 12.75 inches / 32.385 cm and weight is 8.0 ounces. Jesse, oldpocketknives.com, Oldpocketknives.com This makes it much more efficient when cutting through fibrous or flexible material. 1982 American Historical Foundation Table - Probably done by Robert Buerlein, 1984 Pete Gerber Desk List - List found in Pete Gerber Sr.'s desk, 1986 Unknown Origin Table - Table of unknown origin, 1997 Levine List - Published in Bernard Levine's Guide to Knives and Their Values IV. The Gerber spread among fighting men in Vietnam and also became a favorite of mercenaries in Africa. I will do my best to provide opportunities for collectors to add knives to their collections through my shop and best of eBay pages. . The handle is made from die-cast aluminum which helps keep the weight to just eight ounces.