The handle on the 2008 version is a one-piece solid A380 aluminum alloy casting that includes the guard, grip and pommel in a single piece. 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. The modern Mark II is a bit dated in design, but the Mark II is also a historic knife worth preserving. The Ka-Bar, the Bowie knife, the Fairbairn-Sykes, and the often forgotten Gerber Mark II Combat Knife are all famed fighting knives. These include changes in blade steel, blade profile, blade serration, handle material and color. Its strong, and the material used for build various gun receivers, including AR 15 80% lowers. The handle was famously made from aluminum and designed for a fencing-style grip. Followers 1. When the alpha letter changes during the year, a double calculation is done. [1][2] This design feature led to a significant number of knives being returned by users for having a "bent blade", so Gerber discontinued that element on subsequent production runs. In 1982 an alpha-numeric system was adopted. 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. If you are looking for an all originalVietnam one, you dont have to look at any in a black sheath. By the 1960s, Gerber decided to manufacture a knife that could be used in combat during the war in Vietnam. [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. Like the F-S, the Mark II has a slender, double-edge spear-point / dagger blade for maximum piecing capability and a distinctive foil-like handle. Members of MACV SOG famously loved the knife and many of these commandos carried it into battle. Base PXs carried the MK II up until they decided it wasnt a politically correct enough blade. Return of the Classic Gerber Mark II Dagger - Army Rumour Service Pictures of the actual knife that Terry carried are shown below. Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. 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. Ep 25 | GWWM John Valentine Combatives, and Deeds of Arms, Where is combatives today. *Lighting a path to truth* Former Navy JAG Worldwide U.S. Military Defense. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Original Item: Only One Available. Free shipping for many products! If so, let us know in the comments below. Note the Gerber Mark II worn in an inverted carry, fastened to web gear on his left side. Also no records exist for "S/Ns A3012S-A4010S (Ref. The honor graduate knives from the 1969 era are engraved "DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE / MACV RECONDO SCHOOL". I don't believe it is a Vietnam era knife, the serial number doesn't look right. During the Vietnam War, the first production run of this knife had a five degree offset between the blade and the grip in order to ride in the sheath more comfortably, and give the user a grip similar to that of a fencing foil. Mr. Scratch. 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. NOTE: See the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site http://www.virtualwall.org/ds/ShriverJM01a.htm for more details about MSG Shriver. Aluminum is an unusual choice for a knifes handle, but it works here. 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. Id like your opinion on something. This 40 year-old jewel features a black oxide coated 420 HC double serrated blade and die cast aluminum handle. Serrations were added to the Mark II in the 1970s. In either case, the knife was obviously created to be a deadly weapon first and a tool second. At the Reconodo School, an MK II was given to the honor graduate of every class. So I looked up the Gerber Command 1 but it seems a lot smaller than this one. I wouldnt hesitate to use the Mark II for hard and heavy work, but Im not often knife-fighting. Black butt with lanyard hole and leather lanyard. The knife, serial number 9537, is missing the two leading zeros. Gerber Mark II knife review - YouTube The Mark II has a 6.5-inch blade. A serrated edge essentially cuts by tearing rather than slicing. Gerber Mark II Combat Knives - Old Pocket Knives for sale Gerber Mk II found in a toolbox. 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. 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. 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. Yep .. you beat me to it re: not a MK-II. By the 1960's, Gerber decided to manufacture a knife that could be used in combat during the war in Vietnam. The blade is 6.5 inches long, and contemporary versions of it are made from 420 HC stainless steel. eBay. Not all brown ones are Vietnam, but all Vietnam ones are brown, if that makes sense. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()); Caribou Media Group | All rights reserved. FREE shipping Add to Favorites . 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. Probably the finest school of its kind anywhere in the world, this was the 'finishing school' of long range patrolling. *The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. After a lot of use, the straps stretched increasing the chance of losing the knife. In the 1940s, Gerber began making steak knives and eventually prized hunting knives in Portland, Oregon. Its ridiculous to think that the PX, of all places, wouldnt want to arm fighting men with a fighting knife, but here we are. For more information about the Beach Jumpers in Vietnam see: http://www.psywarrior.com/beach.html and scroll down to Vietnam. In 2019 Vortex Optics released the Razor HD 4000 rangefinder with 4,000-yard reach (below). Well, they are at least the most fascinating knives one can get their hands on. 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. Donda Bernet). A lot happened in that time, and along the way, the MK II became a well reputed Cold Warrior. Overview The Gerber Mark II features a 420 high carbon stainless steel blade with a black oxide coated finish and a full tang construction. Gerber has remade the knife and releases batches at a time. Read Next: Pikes Manly Gift Picks: Knife Edition 2020. A major disadvantage of most serrated blades is that they are more difficult to sharpen, requiring a special sharpening tool. Gerber Mark II for sale - Blade HQ GERBER MARK II SITE AUTHORS I served in the U.S. Navy from 1959-1963 but saw no service in Vietnam. The Mark II stands out thanks to its blade design. Gerber Mark II A Timeless Classic Spotter Up Yeah, the stores where Americas killers shop thought a knife was too untasteful. When I enlisted in the Marines, I had a subscription to Leatherneck magazine sent to my parents home. It allows for an ice pick style grip, a fencing grip, or a standard hammer grip. Manufacturer: Gerber Model: Mark II Length:12.75 in. This includes thick ropes, roots, and heavy canvas materials. 420HC is a martensitic 420 series stainless steel. It has a 6.5" double serrated spear point blade that is .18" thick. Gerber Mark II Fighting Knife W/Sheath USA MKII Vietnam Era 1970 . Its a good choice when ease of sharpening and toughness are important. GERBER MKII, Mark2, FIGHTING KNIFE, VIETNAM ERA, 1972, 024632, GERBER