Gerber Mark I

[Midnight Scout]

Hey Guys,

I am usually in Wilderness and Survival Skills (Whoo-hoo!), but I was at a gun show last weekend and saw a Gerber Mark I "boot knife" being sold for $125!

I bought one in 1987 at the PX for $20 or so. It was marketed as a survival knife and I bought for field use not knowing any better at the time that a dagger like that has limited application for the field. I tossed it in a box and basically forgot about it.

Anyone know why they are so expensive now? Or was it over priced at the gun show?

Thanks,

Scout

 

[mdauben]

Anyone know why they are so expensive now? Or was it over priced at the gun show?

Like any OOP product, if there is still a demand for it priced tend to rise. That said, I think the gun show offering was overpriced, unless maybe it was some NIB early production model?

The Gerbers in general have never been more than solid production knives, and the Mk I never really had the "vietnam veteran" mystique with collectors that the larger Mk II does. With a bit is patience you can find them for well under $100 on evilbay (still more than you paid for them 20 years ago, but more in line with what similar new knives are going for these days).

 

[fireballxl5]

Inflation?

Back then I reckon there were about $80AUD here is Aussie, and I was earning about $125AUD.
Now if I were in the same job I estimate I'd be earning about $500AUD and the $125USD would tranlsate to about $150-170.
So I think they may be bit cheaper now than then.

 

[mhawg]

I picked up my first one for about $50 USD but it was stolen from my tool box years later. I found a used one on the bay for $50 USD to replace it and still have it. A damn sturdy blade but not so much for survival unless you need to inflict deep puncture wounds to survive.

 

[vjb.knife]

The Mark I was designed by Al Mar when he worked for Gerber and was first produced in 1976 and the original models had OD green handles and OD Green leather Sheaths with forged L6 tool steel blades. I sold a couple a few months ago for about $250 that were new in the original white cardboard boxes. The next year they went to black handles and black leather sheaths and for a while still had the forged L6 blades and they can still fetch close to $200 in mint condition. Within a year or so they went to a hand ground 440C blades with black handle and leather sheath and should still get in the upper $100 range in mint condition. The later models with letters in their serial numbers are less desirable and went eventually to cordura sheaths. They have been out of production for some time now and and have gained some popularity like their bigger brother the Mark II.

 

[Midnight Scout]

Thanks for the info guys. I am going to keep mine, but I was surprised to see it become a collector for some. I'll have to see what else is in my "Knife Box" and see if any of them have gained in value.

Scout