UBB.threads Forums General Militaria United States Militaria Gerber MK2 1974

So about a month ago I post a photos of my wrought iron coat tree in the Community Center forum. Member ed783 ask about a fighting knife I had hanging on the wall. So my daughter and I are getting ready to set up at our once a year show this weekend and I was down packing up some things and thought I'd look up the serial number on the Gerber site to confirm the date. Honestly I've never given much attention to this piece it just hangs on the wall. So the serial number comes back as early 1974 Ed, I was off a year I think. I always wondered about the missing leg tie down tab. So I shot a few pics and fired off a message to John Sabol. He is one of the bigger go to guys for Gerber info and co runs the Gerber site. I am by far not a Gerber person. The knife was in a group of fighting knives and bayos I picked up. John hit me up right away. Yesterday after he had a look,John said the scabbard is a rare variant that he has never encountered. So thanks to Ed773 for getting this rolling to ask me about the Gerber.
John's Gerber page
https://www.militarycarryknives.com

Bret
Nice Gerber, glad you found out about it. Great shape for a 74. John IS the MarkII guy, I have a few of his knives.
That is a keeper with the sheath. I had one when I was in the Army in Korea in 69. I gave it to a friend when I went stateside. Have been wanting to get a replacement for it,
but the 68s and 69s are way out of my price range, if you can find one for sale.
Ed

Ed
The guy that had this(no idea if it was his or he was just a passing owner) Said that he removed the info written on the back of the scabbard. I've got a lot of stuff that's had things written on it and then removed. Sabol suggested that maybe the scabbard was a "lunchbox" piece from the factory but with the blade being serialized the workers wouldn't have taken it from the line. His view is the scabbard is a one off made at the factory with out a USGI belt hanger or the leg tie down, for what ever reason? He was forwarding the photos to a few other guys to bounce it off them also.

I wonder if the factory did custom orders? Perhaps a retirement or exceptional employee piece?

--dj--Joe

Joe, I think anything is a possibility. It was the 70's.
Gunbroker has a Gerber, item 1034554293, hat has a odd sheath. These were not collector knives back then, just users.
But I like them all.
Ed

Gerber employees could make items over their lunch break. The knives couldn't be serialized however. I think the leather leg tie piece was removed. By who or when no idea. I can see why people get into the Gerber thing. Lots of variations and customizations happened. The quality is excellent. The other fellow who contributes to the Gerber site has ask for additional photos. So I'll get them off to him today. My deal was it doesn't show any time carried on a belt so and minus the USGI hanger at the top just why was that when even Gerber beaters have these two attributes. The Gerber page has a lot of great reading. Maybe even worth a email toTrzaska and see what his opinions are?

Ed
Is the GunBroker listing for the one with the square nose scabbard? I couldn't get the number to pull up on GB.

Yes, square nose with tiedown hole. The upper part is just a fold over without any stitch line for a US belt hanger.
Knife serial number is 059402.
The number 1034554293 works for me, just type in Gerber Mark II, that should work.

Bret
Forgot to say that Sabol lists this sheath as P1, presentation sheath first type, but not for that serial number range.
All kinds of things went on in the factories in those days, nothing got wasted.