Gerber Mk II Questions...

[JohnKSa]

I have a Gerber Mk II that I purchased new sometime in the early 1990's from the Cutlery Shoppe. It's not serrated (yes that's original, the serrations were not ground off--there never were any), has the 5 degree blade offset (yes, I'm certain) and also has a gray, sandpaper textured grip that contrasts both in color and texture with the black anodizing of the guard & pommel portions of the grip. It's serial numbered XX4264. The "XX" is actually part of the serial number, I'm not trying to conceal the number.

I can't remember any of the specifics about this knife and since it's no longer sold, I can't find any information on it.

Is this a decent knife in terms of materials? I remember having some very minor rust issues with this knife years ago so I've kept it oiled since then. I'm guessing it's not stainless, or at least not one of the more rust resistant varieties since it's never been in anything approaching a hostile environment.

It seems reasonably close to the Applegate-Fairbairn design although perhaps the blade is a bit long and the guard is the wrong material. I know that a version of this knife garnered something of a reputation in Vietnam, but what's the general thinking about the utility of this knife for its intended purpose?

 

[sixgunner455]

As I recall, those long bladed Gerber daggers came in two blade styles -- one had serrations near the hilt, the other was a normal plain edge all the way out. Usually, again IIRC, the pictures I saw had the plain edge blades mounted in nicer handles than the serrated ones. Coated aluminum is what I'm remembering for the serrated ones.

As a kid, I always wanted one of them, but never could justify the money. When I handled them, they seemed like solid knives. Don't have any personal experience beyond that, but I know some guys who carried them in war zones, mostly Vietnam. Maybe some guys like that will be around to discuss.

 

[hso]

JohnKSa,

It is Gerber's reissue of their Vietnam era knife. The offset and "cat's tongue" grip are what makes it different from the other MkIIs.

The knife is designed as a weapon so the utility of it is limited, but collectors hunt for them all the time so it is valuable if in good condition (particularly valuable if you have the box and papers).

Here's John Sabol's page on them (the most exhaustive study of them I've seen). http://www.militarycarryknives.com/Introduction.htm

If you want more info just google "Gerber cat's tongue" and you'll get tons.

 

[JohnKSa]

Thanks for the information. That's a very good website. According to it, my knife is a CT3N and has the L6 tool steel blade which explains the rusting issue I noted.

I like the knife and it's doing SD duty of a sort so I'm not really interested in selling it--which is fortunate, I suppose, since if I still have the box & papers I don't know where they are. Mostly I was interested in knowing if it was a solid knife or just a collectible wall-hanger.

I've heard some rumors about this knife being relatively fragile, I assume that relates more to the 440A knives and the presentation editions...

 

[Mike OTDP]

It's not so much fragile as not a crowbar. Which some people will use a knife for.

 

[hso]

Mike OTDP is right on target. It is a weapon and not a utility knife and shouldn't be treated as one. Think "rapier".

 

[bannockburn]

JohnKSa

I had one of the GA4 or GA5 knives back in the mid '70's; gave it to a buddy of mine several years later. Don't know if he still has it, though I know for sure that one of his dogs used the tan leather sheath for a chew toy though. Later on I picked up one of the BA2 knives, but I've never felt it was as well made as the first one I had. Actually my favorite Gerber knife is the Mark 1, which also has the gray armorhide handle, no serrations, and the tan sheath.
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[mercop]

That Al Mar is too sweet. The only knives i "collect" are Gerber MKII and Eks. BTW Gerber is making the MK II again.

 

[JohnKSa]

They are? Who's selling them? I poked around for awhile and came up empty...

 

[mercop]

Spoke to the Gerber guys at SHOT and they showed them to me, give them a call.

 

[JCF]

OMG I want that Al Mar.

 

[sadlsor]

I'm no expert; I bought a Mk II as one of my first "defense" knives. While handling it, I dropped it once. Yeah, I'm a klutz... keep the delicate things away from me.

Bent the tip when it hit the floor, and have never been able to get it straight again. The edge wasn't all that sharp, and it doesn't sharpen easily for me.

Curse Cold Steel all you want; I've never damaged one, and I've never bought any other brand since the Gerber. Have about 14 or 15 now from this forum's favorite whipping boy.

Your exerience may vary... probably does.

 

[JohnKSa]

sadlsor,

Was your knife one of the L6 tool steel knives, or one of the later stainless steel knives?

 

[106rr]

I remember seeing two guys playing "chicken stretch" in I Corps 1967 with Gerber Mk ll and a bayonet. The Gerber quickly got a snapped point and the bayonet quickly got bloody. Oooooops! Nice guy from Hawaii got a real impressive limp out the deal. The Mk ll was one of the most sought after edged weapons of the war. When we found out the M16's weren't reliable there was a scramble to get any other weapon. We had only one in the whole platoon. It was re sharpened after the point snapped but it was never the same.

 

[Crow1108]

I have one of the 90's models with the nylon sheath and serrations. Got it for Christmas one year (Smokey Mountain had a clearance sale on them and they were about 40 bucks appiece back in the late 90s. Asked for it for Christmas and received it). It seems pretty sturdy. As noted, I wouldn't use it as a utility knife, but as a weapon I'm sure it would do the job. I keep it in my nightstand next to my 1911.

 

[GrampsWhite]

Gerber Mk II Question

Stumbled on this websight looking for info on Gerber. Now I see it is more then just an interest in knives but an interest in RKBA! A RIGHT we must keep!

Believe the Mk II you have with a serial number starting with "XX" is a 20th Anniversary model. I, too , have one (XX4846). There were 5,000 copies in this set. According to the Certificate of Authenticity that is with mine, it is a numbered limited edition knife that is an exact replica of the Mark II as originally manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades in 1966. The certificate is signed by Pete Gerber.

 

[blindhari]

I bought my best and last friend (Gerber Mk I) at the Ft Lee scool for wayward boys in 1966. Eight years ago a kid we helped train in search and rescue came back wearing Sgt stripes to thank my wife and I. I gave him my Gerber and $100 for lessons in knifefighting. He was headed for afghanistan. I pray he never needs to use it.

blindhari
Sgt Ranger

 

[mercop]

Outstanding, the knife above all else is a perfect warrior to warrior gift.

 

[TeamRush]

I don't 'Collect'...
I 'Accumulate'... And after 16 year active military, I've 'Accumulated' several that DID, and some that 'DIDN'T' work so well.

I used a Gerber Mk II on three continents, and I have to say, for an 'assault' type 'fighting' knife, it's REALLY hard to beat!

DO NOT confuse the long, thin, double edge blades of the Gerber combat knives with 'Fighting' knives,
They are strictly ASSAULT knives intended for taking out humans at 'Contact' range.

Something else you should know,
The 'Commemorative' or 'Collector' editions of the Gerber knives have extra nickel in the blades to keep corrosion to a minimum when displayed.
Nickel makes steel more corrosion resistant, but it also makes them softer than the 'Fighting' steel formula would.

You will also find high nickel content makes the blades hard to put a very fine edge on since softer metal 'Smears' and creates a 'burr' on the edge when sharpening,
Instead of being harder, and the metal coming off clean when you hone it.

Try and extra hard 'Finish' surface when you sharpen, like a piece of smooth pine wood instead of a cloth or leather strop for final hone.