- Joined
- Jul 23, 2023
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- 2
My dad gave me his old Gerber MK II a couple of years ago, but other than he bought it while he was in the navy and that it's a cool knife, I don't know much about it. What can you folks tell me about it?
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My dad gave me his Gerber MK II
- Thread starter bushmaster06
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- Aug 20, 2022
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It's sentimental and a user.
If you are a casual knife user, store this away and use other knives.
Don't lose that blade!
If you are a casual knife user, store this away and use other knives.
Don't lose that blade!
Looks like a 1971 with L6 steel
- Joined
- Jul 23, 2023
- Messages
- 2
It's definitely sentimental. As a kid I always gravitated to this one when he'd break out the ammo can it and other knives were kept in.
Nice old Gerber, Congrats that's something to be proud of. Welcome to BladeForums as well. There is a lot of knife knowledge around here and a lot of great folks willing to help out also. Enjoy yourself there is a lot to see and learn about knives around here as well. Remember one thing about most knives and your knives will stay in good shape, don't use them as screw drivers or pry bars. Well unless you have one of those prybar knives, I guess. Anyways have fun and stay safe and maybe get some bandaids if you are planning on handling knives a lot. Stuff happens. 
- Joined
- Dec 27, 2007
- Messages
- 1,745
Nice! Looks unused. The sheath looks like it has never been on a belt too. Do not sharpen it. Keep some oil on it too.
If you still can, get your father to document it in some way. The date and place he bought it, what his service was, did he wear it on duty . . .that sort of thing. Is there a picture of him wearing it? This is clled establishing provenance. Then make up a shadow box for it with the picture and any other memorabilia from his service. Keep the sheath with it, but do not store the blade in the sheath.
This one has the smaller teeth which (I think) indicates it is a Viert Nam era production and sold in a PX.
I looked at getting one for our son before he deployed to Iraq n 2004, but got him something else instead. Some of these Mk-II knives scan be collectable and valuable . . .some are less desirable.
If you still can, get your father to document it in some way. The date and place he bought it, what his service was, did he wear it on duty . . .that sort of thing. Is there a picture of him wearing it? This is clled establishing provenance. Then make up a shadow box for it with the picture and any other memorabilia from his service. Keep the sheath with it, but do not store the blade in the sheath.
This one has the smaller teeth which (I think) indicates it is a Viert Nam era production and sold in a PX.
I looked at getting one for our son before he deployed to Iraq n 2004, but got him something else instead. Some of these Mk-II knives scan be collectable and valuable . . .some are less desirable.
Last edited:
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- May 9, 2002
- Messages
- 12,857
Excellent knife. The Mk ii is one of my favorite military fighting knives. It's purpose-driven and all business. It's not a "weak" design as some point out, as it was never intended to be a utility knife. It's made for one very grizzly purpose, and it is more than stout enough for that, even with a 2" tang epoxied into the grip. You've got a keeper there for sure.
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- Joined
- Jun 29, 1999
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- 10,063
Those old Gerbers were good knives; nice that you have one with a family history.
