The old Gerber Mark 1

I've got one that was one of my first knives. It's too thick to be much use and too short for a fighter. It does look nice and scary so it sits on my wife's side of the headboard as her last ditch defense if she's ever surprised in bed and can't get to her gun ; )

I do like the sheath.
 
Was watch the SMKW show and they are supposed to have the new Mark 2 in Sept. It'll be interesting to see if it's made in China. A losing bet.
 
They are definitely limited in their use but I still like them. Here are a couple of very early ones. The green OD ones were the first to come out in 1976.

mk1.jpg
 
winchester73 said:
Was watch the SMKW show and they are supposed to have the new Mark 2 in Sept. It'll be interesting to see if it's made in China. A losing bet.
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Personally I think the only ones made after 1976 that are worth buying are the 20th anniversary models and some special models made for the Cutlery Shoppe that are similar to the old models.

I am not expecting the newest reincarnation to be worth buying, especially if it is made in China or Taiwan.

mk2.jpg
 
Here's mine -
DSC02281.jpg


The bigger Gerber with the serrated edges was once used by a client of mine to neatly, and surgically, remove his wife's lover's head.

Yeah. An interesting case.

Andy
 
They might be valuable or collectible someday - my wife and I buy them whenever we can, I think we have close to two dozen now...one from each era, and a buncha the earliest versions - most are NIB
 
Andrew Colglazier said:
Here's mine -
DSC02281.jpg


The bigger Gerber with the serrated edges was once used by a client of mine to neatly, and surgically, remove his wife's lover's head.

Yeah. An interesting case.

Andy
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I thought I had some crazy work stories...

I've got one from the 70's. It's nice enough, but it just sits there in the collection...
 
The Gerber Mark I is the iconic boot knife. It's designed to provide a last chance weapon in the event the wearer is disarmed of his primary weapon(s) or overpowered and grounded. In this role it's perfect. Worn inside or outside the boot, on the "inside" side so as to afford access with either hand. Most sheaths have a boot clip and a ring at the bottom to secure the sheath with a thong (extra bootlace) if worn outside the boot. Duct tape works as well. Most combat boots, including jungle boots, fit too closely to permit carry inside the boot. I've got an early 80s version with leather sheath and late 80s with nylon. Both are Gerber at its best. Mark Is engraved with the officer's initials were given to officers completing their tours in certain of SAC's elite munitions units, such as the 7th MMS during the 1980s.

The smaller Gerber Guardian was usually secreted elsewhere such as somewhere on the belt but inside the pants under the shirt.
 
They beat most folders in effectiveness and they look serious. I have an early one with the cat's tongue finish on the handle. When I lived in LA I would sometimes carry it in my pocket if I went to the ATM late at night.
 
Jeff Clark said:
They beat most folders in effectiveness and they look serious. I have an early one with the cat's tongue finish on the handle. When I lived in LA I would sometimes carry it in my pocket if I went to the ATM late at night.
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You must mean the larger Mark II, as the Mark I never was made with the cat's tongue handle.
 
I Love both the MK I and MK II. I am eagerly awaiting the release of the new MK II so I can finally pick one up at a decent price. I stupidly sold my MKII years ago and my M I was stolen from my truck. I'm making do with a 1980's Smokey Mountain knock off of the MK I right now.

Patrick
 
I found it was most "handy" clipped to my belt upside-down on the strong side. Discreet and very quick to deploy.

Wearing it that way probably saved my life in a bar one night when an extra large biker tried to pull my own knife on me. I don't know why, he was big enough not to need it. Thankfully, he was too drunk and/or dumb figure out what he was doing wrong, gave up and walked away. I was so drunk I just let him tug away, not realizing just what it was he was doing- I knew he was pulling on the wrong end- just couldn't figure out why.

I found out later he was known for stabbing people with their own knives- thought it was the height of cleverness. One of the (many) reasons I don't drink anymore!
 
This is mine;











Made a new leather sheath for it as the original nylon one wasn't too good.
It's fitted with a thick piece of nylon reinforced rubber that holds the knife sheated while still providing a quick-draw when the need arises.
 
I have never seen a MK.I with those double serrations.Was that a European only release ?
 
I have no idea, i got this one from a deal with a friend of mine who bought it about 20 years ago in a Dutch store called 'The Old Man' in Amsterdam.
Would like to see this model and it's bigger brother revived with CPM3V blades,
 
piglipsticker said:
I have never seen a MK.I with those double serrations.Was that a European only release ?
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I recall seeing them available in North America, even into the '90s, if I'm not mistaken. The Cutlery Shoppe, Brigade Quartermasters, etc., used to carry them.
 
I've got both Mark 1 and Mark 2's. I guess I'll have to take another look at my Mark 1, it definitely has a gray handle, my memory may fail me on the cat's tongue surface. My Mark 2 is from 1968 and my Mark 1 pretty old as well.
 
MVF said:
I've got one that was one of my first knives. It's too thick to be much use and too short for a fighter. It does look nice and scary so it sits on my wife's side of the headboard as her last ditch defense if she's ever surprised in bed and can't get to her gun ; )

I do like the sheath.
Click to expand...


Didn't John Bobbit say that also?
 
piglipsticker said:
I have never seen a MK.I with those double serrations.Was that a European only release ?
Click to expand...

The Mark I with the serrations was called the Mark I Tactical and was made from 1988 to 1994 in a satin finish and from 91 to 94 with a blackened blade.

It was sold world wide but was not as popular as the plain edge so it is a little rare.
 
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