Fixed-Blade, Storage Handle Gerber Mk series?

Cutshaw

Cutshaw

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Help me out if you can. I was racking my brain the other day trying to remember what happened to a knife I had in high school circa 1984-1987. I bought it at a Cutlery Shoppe in the mall. I can't sweat to it, but I am pretty confident it was a Gerber. I bought two, one camo handle with polished blade and one black handle with a black blade. It looked just like the MkII and Guardian series, just no serrations. Same basic size... same guard. The kicker is that both of these knives had a storage/hollow handle... tiny inside but still there. The camo one had a little, flush compass and the black one had a simple metal screw-on plug.

Anyway, I wanted one again so looked through ebay. I've gotten quite an education from both Gerberguy site and the archives here, on the Mkii and Guardian, but I can't find which model this was... anyone? TIA
 
I am pretty confident there were no Gerber's at alll like that...especially the MK series.

You might be thinking of a knife made by Taylor or Valor. Both did copies of MKII's
 
There was a knife by Benchmark the looked just like the Mark II, but I dont' remember what it was called. It had the same style blade, and a hollow handle. It came out right about the same time as the Rambo-knife craze if I remember correctly.

Chris
 
Thanks - I would like to replace the knife but am cautious enough (and financially strapped) that I hesitate to spend the $100-$200 necessary for a real MkII, though I am certain they are worth it.

Any good suggestions for a decent MkII clone? I would prefer a very close resemblance but am considering the CS Peacekeeper I or II. Is the 420 steel *that* bad?

Thanks, again.
 
A good alternative is the Gerber Guardian II which IMO is a little better than the Mark II. Since it is not as popular as the Mark II you can find it for less. I've found a couple for less than $100.00 each.

If you shop around you might be able to find the "Big Smoky Toothpick" which is a MK II clone from Parker Knives made during the 1980s. They are usually around $50.00.

As for the hollow handle, in 1984 at a gunshow I saw several knives that were almost MK I clones which had hollow handles. One type had a slightly oversized hollow handle (for a full sized kit) and the other looked more like a regular MK I but with a slightly rounder handle (it could fit a few matches but not a regular hollow handle kit.) IIRC they were made by Parker, Valor, or Taylor.
 
No problem Paddling Man. Let us know how the knife is when you get it. I've always been a bit curious about them myself. Oh, and welcome to the forums.

Chris
 
Well, it came. The clerk on the phone, who worked VERY hard to track down the last display model, told me it would take seven to ten days to arrive at my zip code. It only took three. Not bad. I can't overstate how helpful eknifeworks were in the area of personal service. That just about completes the good part of this experience.

1- Getting the knife out of the sheath. Now, I'm a patient enough guy in regard to mechanical things; I'm an engineer by trade. I could see how the thumb release was supposed to work, it just didn't. You are suppose to push down (toward the pointed end of the sheath) on a hollow cylinder. The inner wall of the cylinder compresses a pair of flared pegs that then allow the hole in the knifeguard to pass... in theory. However, one has to push and flex toward the inner or outer edge to force the guard out past the stop. Oh, well. So it's an awkward case? I'll get another case! Let's get the knife out!!

2- "Oh. Hmmm. It's out. Hmmm. Well, I guess it's not too bad. Is it?" Yeah, really it is... The handle seems like a very soft plastic. It feels more like the plastic used on cheap kitchen knives. You know, the kind that come in a block of 24 at the local Big Lots? It was the display model, so I was prepared for it to not look NIB. However, it was troubling how quickly the guard holes appeared to be eroding. Then again, maybe everyone had trouble getting it out...

3- The blade. Hmmm. What can I say. It is sharp, I'll give you that. But it seems to have an incredible about of flex. The finish is okay, I guess. The serrations seem more like an afterthought. Almost like they were done with a Dremel or benchgrinder. That may seem a little harsh but by this point in the inspection I am pretty down about having a knife that I consider to be a total POS.

I have been involved in several sports/hobbies; for instance, whitewater kayaking, performance vehicles, competitive cycling, sailing, firearms, and I know a bit about IT/broadcast video. I have BEEN an elitist about certain things. I am guilty of being an "equipment snob" from time to time. I know that some of you readers will recognize that I paid ~$60 for this knife and think "what else does he expect?" But, I gotta tell ya. This isn't a "$60 cheap knife," this is a "$10-$15 cheap knife" for which I paid about $60.

Wait, the eknifeworks invoice includes a return form! A couple of the options are "I changed my mind" and "Quality was less than I expected." That about sums it up. I'll be sending it back tomorrow.

So, I am looking again. I think I am between a Gerber Guardian Backup, and a LTSPECPRO CS Peacekeeper II Carbon V (though I dislike black blades.) Also, though it is a very different kind of knife, a Becker Crewman Utility.

Any suggestions or feedback would be appreciated. I'll start searching the archives now. :p
 
Well that's no good. Sorry to hear the knife was such a disappointment. I guess sometimes you DON't get what you pay for.


Chris
 
Hey, you never know until you try! It looked great on the web page!! I would hae rather gone through the trouble of getting it, then sending it back, than to have been disappointed that they were out of stock. I'll just keep looking! Thanks!
 
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