Gerber, Mark II style, no serrations

T

tomservo

Joined
Jul 31, 2004
Messages
3
Greetings,

First time poster here, go easy on me this round :cool:

A long time ago, I saw a gerber fixed blade knife, the design was almost identical to the Mark II/Command II series, but there were no serrations on the blade at all, it was straight blade all the way. I have looked for this knife on and off for years now, when I ask most people about it they look at me like I have three heads. Does such a blade actually exist? Was it ever manufactured? I wrote Gerber but sadly never heard back...

Any thoughts?

Patrick
 
If it was a Gerber it could either be a Mark II without serrations (some models were plain edged) or a Guardian II. If the handle was different, a little flatter than the Mark II's and shaped somewhat like the 1980s Guardian's handle, then it was a Guardian II.
 
Benjamin Liu said:
If it was a Gerber it could either be a Mark II without serrations (some models were plain edged) or a Guardian II. If the handle was different, a little flatter than the Mark II's and shaped somewhat like the 1980s Guardian's handle, then it was a Guardian II.
Click to expand...

You know, to be honest I have no idea with regard to whether the handle was flatter or not, I was unaware that some Mark II's were plain edged, I've always assumed the knife I was looking for went by a different name. Any idea where I could locate - or at least see - a plain edged Mark II?

Thanks for the info!

Patrick
 
I had one of the first ones out. The blade was not serrated. They did not serrate the blade for a few years after the first one came out.

Stupidly sold it for $125 a while back. Of course it was only MINT and had not even had the tie-down leather unwrapped.

:grumpy:
 
I'm not sure what you mean by it was a straight blade all the way. Do you simply mean that it had no serrations or do you mean that the blade did not have a curved in area in the middle. When the Mark II was introduced around 1966/1967 it was very unusual looking. It not only had a narrow waist area the blade was also tilted slightly to the side so that it would fit closer to the body when worn. Around 1968 they got rid of the tilt, but kept the narrow waist on the blade. A couple years later they started adding serrations. They have done some special runs since then without the serrations, but I generally think of the non-serrated blades as the older ones. I have one made in 1968.
 
Apologies for the terminology. I simply meant no serrations. Though granted the look I had at it wasn't enough to determine whether the blade had a curved center or not...at least I know what to look for now, though I'm afraid of what I find out the price range will be...thanks!
 
The original MK II was wasp-waisted and presented a 5-degree angle to the blade.

The wasp waist was designed in the belief it would allow for a more aggressive penetration / cutting action when used in close quarters combat. The five-degree angle was designed in the belief that when used to attack a sentry from behind, and to deliver a strike to the kidney, when the blade was thrust staightforward in the small of the back, on either side of the spinal column, the five-degree angle would align the blade with the position of the right or left kidney and thus penetrate these organs as if driven down a antomical highway.

The knife was originally sold in military PXs but as Vietnam was winding down the PX system dropped the knife for politically incorrect reasons. Gerber, via Al Mar, introduced the serration feature and retitled the MK II as a "survivial knife" as opposed to a "fighting knife". The PX system bought off on it and again stocked the MK II for sale.

Gerber has since offered a straight, no serration variation and Cutlery Shoppe offers a Gerber special edition, or run, replica of the original MK II complete with "Cat's Tongue" handle -
 
I have a Gerber Guardian II in really decent shape, I don't think it has ever been sharpened. The origianl sheath is gone but I have a heavy cordura nylon sheath on it now. The blade is not serrated. Any Idea as to what this thing is worth? I have no need for it now and would like to sell it

Thanks


Yerby Ray
r_y_ray@yahoo.com
 
I have a Gerber MkII, bought in the early 90s (I think!) costing about £80.00 Ive NEVER used it, and I think the tie-down cord on mine is still tied up. Its the version with the Cordura sheath, I hadnt realised quite how rare these beauties were.
 
Try www.michiganknives.com look under vintage knives in the micselaneous section. They have a Gerber Guardian II for $149. I havent ordered from them but it looks like a fine place. Good luck.



John
 
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