It comes with a limited lifetime warranty in North America and a 25- year limited warranty outside of North America. For your consideration is this vintage Gerber MK II fighting combat knife in original leather sheath and Gerber steel in original leather sheath. Great condition. Pre owned but in nice condition Gray Armorhide (cat's tongue) handle. First Introduced In 1966, It Still Endures Today. Terry was originally a Marine who became a SEAL team member and was a medic, HM1. A Vietnam era knife. It's easy! Particularly, the Mark II became a favorite with the MACV SOG teams that were the premier special operations unit in Vietnam. Gerber Mark II with after market coating on the blade. Bud Holzman, who served with the 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) in the European theatre during WWII. The handle was designed to be an effective yawara. Black ballistic nylon sheaths were introduced around 1985. The Mark II was designed by retired US Army Captain Clarence A. Its a good choice when ease of sharpening and toughness are important. As Bearmon points out, this isn't even a MKII. Recommended Posts. It was called the Mark II combat knife and was fist produced in 1966. Somewhere there is a Gerber site that lists serial numbers and dates of production. You have entered an incorrect email address! Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. 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. Weight saving was important, and the knife weighs hardly anything. 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. I am now retired. (tt) Blades etched in 3 lines on the Gerber logo side: GERBER / 70th. Below are some pictures of my Gerber Mk-II combat knife. Overall length is 12.75 inches / 32.385 cm and weight is 8.0 ounces. The MK I was a smaller variant of its predecessor and featured a 4.75-inch blade. Al Mar, who was working for Gerber at the time, added two inches of scalloped saw-tooth double serrations toward the hilt. And its just as effective today at taking care of business as it was on the day it was introduced. Thanks and keep up the good work! Your hand wont slip or slide into the blade as you stick and stab to kill a Commie for mommy. The handle was famously made from aluminum and designed for a fencing-style grip. The design is iconic, and they are still offered today. It featured a double edged dagger blade and a tough, textured aluminum handle for a better grip. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ 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. 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. Jesse, oldpocketknives.com, Oldpocketknives.com Although a variety of handle materials have been employed for the Mark II, the majority are die-cast aluminum. Anniversary knives are not blade marked. 1970-1974 yellow-handled dive knives have no serial numbers. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. When it comes to military knives, few are as universally beloved as the Gerber Mark II. The Gerber Mark II: A Historic Fighting Knife, Best Ka-Bar: Modern Options Of The Historic Knife, Knifemaking 101 Read This Before You Make a Knife, 8 Things You May Not Know About Forged in Fire. Bud Holzmann, who based the pattern on a Roman Mainz Gladius. 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. It popped up in the hands of everyones favorite fraud raven Seagal in the film Under Siege, as well as in the Road Warrior, in which Mad Max tucks one into his boot. All Rights Reserved. (qq) Blades etched in 2 lines on the Gerber logo side: Mark II / 35th Anniversary 1966 - 2001 . In the 1970s, the military's base/post exchanges discontinued selling these knives, reasoning that they were "not in good taste" or "too brutal". This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Gerber spread among fighting men in Vietnam and also became a favorite of mercenaries in Africa. 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. Its one of the best selling knives of all time and continues to see action around the globe. The handle on the Mark II is 5.25 inches long and has a flattened oval cross-section and tapered palm-swell design. The page isn't dated but from the article about the Manila Mayor, I'm pretty sure it was the Dec. 21, 1966 issue. Is it possible it's a gerber command 2? Summary: This is an outstanding piece of Vietnam History from the estate of a true warrior that honorably served for over 33 years. In addition, the original retaining strap has been replaced with a nylon strap with velcro closure. The knife is 12-3/4" overall and weighs 8 ounces. Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors, List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces, Details on the Mark, Command, and Guardian series of Gerber knives, Images of the Gerber Mark II 20th Anniversary Edition prototype, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gerber_Mark_II&oldid=1152588055, The Mark II gained additional fame when it was used by, The black coated blade model of the Mark II was used during the mess hall knife play scene in the science fiction film, This page was last edited on 1 May 2023, at 03:59. Cason. NO RESERVE-GERBER"71 MARK II VIETNAM FIGHTING KNIFE 5 DEG CANTED GREY ARMORHIDE . Over time the MK II design evolved slightly but has always remained a dagger-style fighting knife. Gerber Mk II found in a toolbox. A serrated edge can clear a cut and can start cuts in materials where it would be difficult to do so with a straight edge. It was advertised as a boot knife rather than a fighting knife. [4], The MK II was the suggested blade in Paladin Press's controversial how to book, Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors.[5]. Its a long blade but matches the themes of the time for fighting knives. Mr. Scratch. 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! Many carried Gerber MK II knives. dedicated to the commandos who carried the MK II with pictures of surviving examples. Its fully jumpable. 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 Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. [1] [2] Note the Gerber Mark II worn in an inverted carry, fastened to web gear on his left side. A380 is one of the most commonly specified alloys for die casting, as it offers the best combination of casting, mechanical, and thermal properties. Trzaska Table - Gerber_Numbers.jpg - Found at Frank Trzaska's site at, 199? First Designed in 1966 Standing there waiting for the clerk to bag up our mail, I glanced over at this wall. If you are looking for an all originalVietnam one, you dont have to look at any in a black sheath. The all-metal grip is made of aluminum. As it had the sharpening steel with it I fell in love with its L-6 blade. 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. "Bud" Holzmann, who based the pattern on a Roman Mainz Gladius. [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. 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. . RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Production Number Explanation Mark II serial numbers were all numeric from 1966 through 1981 and a simple subtraction plus 1 gives the total knives made in a year. The modern Mark II is a bit dated in design, but the Mark II is also a historic knife worth preserving. Ep 25 | GWWM John Valentine Combatives, and Deeds of Arms, Where is combatives today. Kasey, Your email address will not be published. This dual-edged blade, with its dagger point, will penetrate deep and with ease. Gerber should release a premium model in 154 CM or S30V, and Id gladly pick one up, even for the increased cost. Share #1 Posted April 5, 2012. The knife also incorporates an aggressive handguard to keep your hand positioned on the handle in a fight. Check out the Gerber Mark II today and see why it was the choice of special operations troops for generations. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world. I hope your weekend went well. Fortunately for collectors, all Mark II knives, except the yellow-handled dive knives, are individually serial numbered, which makes dating easy. The Gerber MK II features a 6.5-inch dagger blade. It even comes with a thigh strap to secure and keep it from jumping around. MIA 4/24/1969 in Cambodia. The modern knives run for around 70 bucks but are made from 420 HC. The handle on the Mark II is 5.25 inches long and has a flattened oval cross-section and tapered palm-swell design. I have been told he based the "wasp waist" pattern of the double-edge 7-inch blade on . 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. Box 378 Red Hook, New York 12571 United States. The MACV Recondo School operated from 1966 to 1971. Not all brown ones are Vietnam, but all Vietnam ones are brown, if that makes sense. The Mark II design was based on a sketch sent in by Army Captain C. A. | Privacy. The handle is made from die-cast aluminum which helps keep the weight to just eight ounces. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. With robust designs and vintage classic style, discover the heritage of military timepieces today! It was nearly 14 years later in 1981 that a table was compiled by Mr. Doug Hutchens, Survival Knife Historian at Gerber. I really enjoy knives that are engraved like this one. 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. It also cuts better than a plain edge when dull. THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING VETERAN JOURNALISM - JOIN SOFREP+ . Not all brown ones are Vietnam, but all Vietnam ones are brown, if that makes sense. "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. Sign up for a new account in our community. One of the throat rivets tore out and was repaired with a rivet with a larger head. Lance Gerber, courtesy Coachella. Canton, MI 48187 The grip is also super comfortable and conforms well to the hand. 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. 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. Nkumburis, Engraved on the blade has a master parachutist badge, Hal Left, and a parachute. Made in 1972. View on eBay. As is the case with the F-S, the Mark II is a purpose-built combat dagger with excellent penetration and reach. Hello, On display is my 1968 model CT2 Gerber MKII combat dagger. Also have the MK I as an excellent boot knife. Loved your article on the Mark IIyou didnt repeat the same things that everyone else reprints. The NVA soldier was killed in an ambush in Vietnam's Central Highlands, somewhere west of Buon Ma Thout, in October of 1968 . In America, the design of fixed-blade fighting knives has changed over time based on contemporary tactics and trends, and the wars being fought. Here's my Vietnam era Mark II. RecPak is a meal replacement for the outdoors that saves you weight, space and time in the most challenging environments, just add water. Used, a little bit of stitching coming undone, but all correct. So I looked up the Gerber Command 1 but it seems a lot smaller than this one. As is the case with the F-S, the Mark II is a purpose-built combat dagger with excellent penetration and reach. I recently discovered that I was wrong about the original designer. 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. 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JMR Collectibles, LLC Free shipping for many products! Keep Reading. Gerber is, of course, still in business and thriving, but go to its website and you wont find a Mark II for sale. Prototypes were field tested and evaluated at Fort Lewis, Washington by members of the Armys Fourth Infantry Division. Description Vietnam War era GERBER 1969 MARK II Fighting Knife-rare one of a kind field-modified slim profile dagger in original custom-made scabbard Rare circa 1969 fighting dagger by GERBER, USA that has been field-modified to be a slim, practical, and very effective killing tool. In 2019 Vortex Optics released the Razor HD 4000 rangefinder with 4,000-yard reach (below). 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's one of the best selling knives of all time and continues to see action around the globe. I believe this to be a picture Larry Flannagan from the 1st Brigade 4th Division LRRP (Long Range Recon Patrol) taken in 1967 or 1968. 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Some can still be found with their original leather sheath. These knives were produced commercially by Gerber and favored by troops in Vietnam. Nice to know. They trusted the knife, and thats critical when its the last line of defense one might have. Date or production tables relate Gerber Mark II serial numbers to the years they were manufactured. The Mark II has a 6.5-inch blade. However, the ones of recent make that are available are reasonably priced at right around $100-$115. 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. The first sheaths were leather. Of course, each contained what was a unique concept for the time: a purpose built, commercial fighting knife, the Gerber MK-II Combat. It is incredibly durable and very well made. 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. The Mark II uses a dagger type design making it less of a slasher and more of a stabber. 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. In 1982 an alpha-numeric system was adopted. It also comes with a ballistic nylon sheath. However there are several serial range differences that I could not resolve. The long serrated edge makes it super easy to cut through thicker and denser materials. Manufacturer: Gerber Model: Mark II Length:12.75 in. Car & Truck Safety & Security Accessories, Vietnam Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII -Collection #10680 --1969, Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife W/Sheath USA MKII Vietnam Era 1970, 1977 Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII -Collection #55636/lw, 1977 Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife/Mk 2 Combat/MkII -BLUED BLADE #58859/lw, Gerber Mk Mark II 2 MK2 MKII Mark2 MarkII Commander Sheath OD Green Black Tan, 1986 Gerber MK II 20th Anniversary Limited Edition Knife with Box and Papers, Vintage 1981 Gerber Mark II MK 2 Fighting Knife Dagger with Sheath #104896, Vintage GERBER MK2, MKII LEATHER SCABBARD, Vintage 1977 Gerber Mark II MK 2 Fighting Knife Dagger Exc. I have been told he based the wasp waist pattern of the double-edge 7-inch blade on a Roman short-sword (I assume that would be the early Mainz pattern gladius). These include changes in blade steel, blade profile, blade serration, handle material and color. Its fully jumpable. 5.11 Molle Packable Slingpack and Backpack, Rites of Passage: Coming of Age in Cinema, Role Models and the need for boys to partake of them, Andy Curtis former Green Beret- Faith Love and Violence. It utilizes an active retention strap but is quick and easy to draw. When the alpha letter changes during the year, a double calculation is done. The use of stainless steel does prevent corrosion and is often a great choice for survival tools. It can be sharpened tom a very fine cutting edge and has excellent corrosion resistance. 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. 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. They specialized in deception and psychological warfare (psyops). A surprising variety of sheaths have been associated with the Mark II. 2023 The SOFREP Media Group. Its old school cool. The Mark II also has a double-edged spear point blade but with one massive exception: the wasp waist.