Gerber Guardian early 80's vintage - what steel was used?

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Ross99

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May 31, 2011
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Also looking for any information on the history of the Gerber Guardian.
Thanks in advance,

Ross
 
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According to multiple online sources (an example here), they were 440C.

I had a Guardian II with the camo cordura sheath when I was in the Army way back when.
 
Hi evilgreg, Thanks for the information and the link, just what I was looking for. Any more information out there(just spent the better part of an hour with Google)?
 
I have several vintage Guardians and sadly I haven't come across a whole lot of info on them. It's not like the Mark II where they can tell you the home address of the guy who boxed it up at the factory 35 years ago just by looking at the serial number. :D The link Evilgreg posted is the only thing I've found that gives any decent info.

edit: Regarding the tang, Gerber used stubby little stick tangs on all their daggers of that era, and the aluminum handles were cast in place right over the tang. Post #73 in this thread has a pic of a Mark II blank where you can see the tang: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1267917-Cast-in-place-aluminum-knife-handles/page4
 
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By the time the Guardian came around, they had switched from L6 to stainless for the "Mark" series. I found that out the hard when when I went replace my late 70's L6 Mk. I which got misplaced or stolen in the early 80's.
 
Bummer that it could be 440A, 440C would be great. Could the first years production be 440C?
 
evilgreg said:
According to multiple online sources (an example here), they were 440C.

I had a Guardian II with the camo cordura sheath when I was in the Army way back when.
Click to expand...
I also have the Camo version of the Guardian but I believe mine's the Mk1 as the sheath was upgraded for the MkII, which I also acquired whilst a squaddie (British Army) back in the 80's. Have had to do running repairs on the sheath, again its the corder version but its still one of the most favourite knives I own. The blade is still in excellent condition (serial number I2790S).
 
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