Classic Gerber Mark series knives

vjb.knife

vjb.knife

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This is what got me interested in Knife collecting back in the early 1970's. The Gerber Mark II just really struck a chord with me then and has alway been a favorite since.

I don't have too many really old ones any more but these are some that I really like. I also have a couple of old Mark I's that are pretty nice. I have some other old Mark I's, Command I's and Guardian Series that are kind of beat up, but these are the show pieces.

Bottom left going up and counter clockwise - 1976 Mark I, 1976 Mark II, mid 1980's Mark I, 20th Anniversary Mark II in oak box (made by me), 70th Anniversary Mark II in glass top display case, Cutlery Shoppe Exclusive Mark II, bottom right 20th Anniversary Mark II blackened blade in custom made Peloza Brothers Sheath with Gerber sharpening steel.

Gerber Marks.jpg
 
After I arrived in VN in early 1967, Dad sent me a package with a knife in it. A Swiss Army knife? Really? Oh well, Dad always was the practical sort and had my best interests in mind. But a Swiss Army Knife? :) No offense intended to SAK lovers.
 
Great collection! I always loved both of those early Gerber Mark models. Despite the fact that the Mark I held my fixation from the beginning, I never had the money to buy one as a kid (bought several knock-offs along the way instead) and ended up paying much more when I finally got one as an adult.

Here's my Mark II, a very unusual plain-edge model with the five-degree cant from a time period when Gerber wasn't making Mark IIs with those features (according to the serial number records).

IMG-0113.jpg


IMG-0116.jpg



I purchased it, with the accompanying well-made custom sheath shown, from a dealer at a show and don't know anything about its history. It has everything that I wanted from a Mark II, particularly the absence of serrations. Serrations were what kept me from buying the Mark IIs that I spent many an off-hour admiring in the base PX back when I was in the Army (though, in retrospect, I wish I'd bought one anyway given their current scarcity).

Better knives may have followed. But Gerber and Mar created a pair of iconic American fighters with the original Mark series.


-Steve
 
The Whip said:
Great collection! I always loved both of those early Gerber Mark models. Despite the fact that the Mark I held my fixation from the beginning, I never had the money to buy one as a kid (bought several knock-offs along the way instead) and ended up paying much more when I finally got one as an adult.

Here's my Mark II, a very unusual plain-edge model with the five-degree cant from a time period when Gerber wasn't making Mark IIs with those features (according to the serial number records).

IMG-0113.jpg


IMG-0116.jpg



I purchased it, with the accompanying well-made custom sheath shown, from a dealer at a show and don't know anything about its history. It has everything that I wanted from a Mark II, particularly the absence of serrations. Serrations were what kept me from buying the Mark IIs that I spent many an off-hour admiring in the base PX back when I was in the Army (though, in retrospect, I wish I'd bought one anyway given their current scarcity).

Better knives may have followed. But Gerber and Mar created a pair of iconic American fighters with the original Mark series.


-Steve
Click to expand...
Hey Steve,

If you don't mind sharing what is the serial number on your Mark II?
 
I like the Mark series but haven’t picked one up yet. I thought someone would release a modern version by now.
 
The Whip said:
Sorry, I haven't bothered logging in recently when perusing Blade Forums, so I missed your inquiry when you asked. Here you go.

IMG-0810.jpg



-Steve
Click to expand...
It is pretty rare black armorhide variant type 3, made in 1982. It would probably have come in a type PT5 leather sheath. You can probably get one on EBAY. I have seen them there fairly recently.

SheathPT5.jpg
 
The Whip.
Its Very rare! Epecially w canted blade, tool steel (letter T in serialnumber) and the wide wasp shape. The serialnumber says that your knife is made year 1983 (according to MilitaryCarryknives.com).
The Mark 2s without serrations is great looking knives!
I think that the proper sheath for your knife is the flat tipped black leather sheath (see picture below), sice that sheath model was introduced year 1982 (according to MilitaryCarryknives.com).

S1NDuoL.jpg


/Zeb
 
Last edited:
Zebs1 said:
The Whip.
Its Very rare! Epecially w canted blade, tool steel (letter T in serialnumber) and the wide wasp shape. The serialnumber says that your knife is made year 1983 (according to MilitaryCarryknives.com).
The Mark 2s without serrations is great looking knives!
I think that the proper sheath for your knife is the flat tipped black leather sheath (see picture below), sice that sheath model was introduced year 1982 (according to MilitaryCarryknives.com).

S1NDuoL.jpg


/Zeb
Click to expand...

Thanks for the information! I appreciate the sheath recommendations both you and vjb.knife vjb.knife have offered. I actually have a factory Gerber sheath for my knife that I bought after-the-fact, though it's probably not period-correct.

John Sabol's Web site is extremely thorough and an excellent resource. Thanks again!


-Steve
 
The Whip said:
Great collection! I always loved both of those early Gerber Mark models. Despite the fact that the Mark I held my fixation from the beginning, I never had the money to buy one as a kid (bought several knock-offs along the way instead) and ended up paying much more when I finally got one as an adult.

Here's my Mark II, a very unusual plain-edge model with the five-degree cant from a time period when Gerber wasn't making Mark IIs with those features (according to the serial number records).

IMG-0113.jpg


IMG-0116.jpg



I purchased it, with the accompanying well-made custom sheath shown, from a dealer at a show and don't know anything about its history. It has everything that I wanted from a Mark II, particularly the absence of serrations. Serrations were what kept me from buying the Mark IIs that I spent many an off-hour admiring in the base PX back when I was in the Army (though, in retrospect, I wish I'd bought one anyway given their current scarcity).

Better knives may have followed. But Gerber and Mar created a pair of iconic American fighters with the original Mark series.


-Steve
Click to expand...
Just so there's no confusion about your last sentence....the MKII was designed by Bud Holzmann, the MKI was designed later by Al Mar.
 
An interesting example of a Mark I with serrations on the tip end of the blade (the middle knife in the attached pic). It looks like a standard production MKI blade, that was placed on the serration grinding machine that was used for the Command I (top knife), but done on both sides. Gerber introduced the MKI Tactical in 1992 and placed serrations on both sides of the blade, but closer to the handle (bottom knife). The MKI with the tip serrations has serial number 054221 on it. Something different. Enjoy.
 

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