Need Gerber MK 1 Expert

[Legendary_Jarl]

https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/is-this-normal-for-a-gerber-mark-i-blade.326338/

There is also this from this forum from a few years ago. I suspect manufacturing defect.

https://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=102076#/topics/102076?page=1

May have been the same person.

 

[AndrewH60]

Thanks for all these links everyone . I’ve come across them previously searching for info about mine but it’s good to have them all together.
For interest this is the offset on mine.

 

[Catman Is God]

Thanks to everyone that has replied here or sent me a PM. I have been contemplating starting a website on the MK1. Does anyone have an opinion? What should it contain? Ideas or suggestions? I realize that reliable information is lacking on these knives, even from Gerber. I just don't know if a website is going to be useful or supported. At a bare minimum, I would like to try to get a database of s/n and which ones are canted and which ones had brown sheaths as well as black w/white stitching... and all other variations.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

Thanks to everyone that has replied here or sent me a PM. I have been contemplating starting a website on the MK1. Does anyone have an opinion? What should it contain? Ideas or suggestions? I realize that reliable information is lacking on these knives, even from Gerber. I just don't know if a website is going to be useful or supported. At a bare minimum, I would like to try to get a database of s/n and which ones are canted and which ones had brown sheaths as well as black w/white stitching... and all other variations.

Maybe you could contribute to what this guy has or base your website on his information.

http://www.knifecollector.net/GerberMKI_Info.html

 

[dirc]

or even just keep an updated thread here, since a lot of knife info, history and discussion tends to gravitate here anyway due to the large user base and high activity

and google seems to have the threads indexed out the yingyang

 

[AndrewH60]

Thanks to everyone that has replied here or sent me a PM. I have been contemplating starting a website on the MK1. Does anyone have an opinion? What should it contain? Ideas or suggestions? I realize that reliable information is lacking on these knives, even from Gerber. I just don't know if a website is going to be useful or supported. At a bare minimum, I would like to try to get a database of s/n and which ones are canted and which ones had brown sheaths as well as black w/white stitching... and all other variations.

I think here at this stage as I’m not sure how much more can be obtained other than the s/n d/base you suggest. I know I had trouble finding anything date wise on mine and sometimes it was obvious that it was getting confused with the MK2. I did come across a dating of the different stamps somewhere but don’t know where now.

 

[Catman Is God]

The Mark I you describe (i.e. with OD handle and brown sheath) is one of the earlier ones... closer to 1976 than 1981.

I have discovered that this is not entirely correct. From what I am finding, the earliest were black w/white stitching. Then they went to brown, followed by black w/black stitching.

I have:
s/n 15xx that is black w/white stitching and not canted. Green handles.

s/n 8xxx that is black w/white stitching and is not canted. Green handles

s/n 11xxx (not original sheath) but is canted. Green handlesl

s/n 12xxx that is black w/white stitching and is not canted. Green handles.

s/n 20xxx brown w/white sheath and canted. Green handles.

s/n 26xxx brown w/white sheath and not canted. Green handles.

s/n 27xxx brown w/white sheath and not canted. Green handles.

s/n 78xxx black w/black sheath and is not canted. Black handles.


I have discovered an additional sheath variation. This is the sheath from s/n 15xx. If you notice the thumb snap on the retaining strap. It only has one rivet. It is missing the small metal plate as seen on later sheaths which have 2 rivets. Even the (black) sheath on s/n 8xxx has this "release assist".

 

[AndrewH60]

Interesting I didn't know of that sheath, or of the black ones being first maybe. That is a nice selection of early to earlyish MK1's you have. I thought I was doing well just to have my one. Are they all the same steel do you think?

 

[Catman Is God]

I am fairly certain that the ones with green handles and the ones with black sheath w/white stitching and brown sheaths all have the same L6 steel.

 

[Catman Is God]

I doubt anyone actually cares, but....

And now there are 3. Yes, I just picked up another MK1 with a canted blade, but that is just the start. There are variables here that I have never seen before. First, there is a black snap on the sheath. I have never seen one of this era with anything other than silver / nickel. Another variable is that the cant is reversed. It is canted TOWARDS the logo side. All others that I own or have seen cant away from the logo side. One other noteworthy point is that the S/N is 57xxx which puts it after the era that "I" thought that the canted blades were from. This also puts it with a black handle and a black sheath w/black stitching.

 

[AndrewH60]

That must be #4 for the thread then? My personal feeling is that the method for aligning the blade whist the epoxy set was not sound, and if the cants were of all different degrees I would lean towards this theory even more. Maybe the space I the handle was too large.
Mine that I posted cants toward the Gerber Logo as well.

 

[Catman Is God]

Sorry for the delay. Here are the pix I promised. The oddest part here is the black snap. It is not painted (after the fact) It appears to be a black finish on top of a brass snap. This is another variation that I have not seen. Also notice, the logo is upside down on the belt clip. When did this happen?



Here are the usual pix of the cant.






As always, input and information is welcome.




.

 

[AndrewH60]

I’m not familiar with your coins. Would that be roughly the same as the little less than 1/4” cant on my knife in post #22 ?
That stamp on the clip is weird.

 

[Legendary_Jarl]

I think that Gerber just has poor quality control and that is the cause for the canted blades. I have 4 Gerber Mk 1 35th anniversary edition daggers and they are not consistent.

https://imgur.com/a/PfqWF4I

I wanna say the middle one is about 1/8 shorter than the other two. The two to the left came with imperfect tips. Only the one to the right was optimal and that's when not looking closely. The fourth one is not in the picture but it also has an imperfect tip which I think the previous owner tried to fix by sharpening with a WorkSharp and it partially messed up the grind.

It might all be because it was "hand sharpened". But ffs, it's supposed to be a limited edition dagger at least have consistent quality control!! My point is, if it is 2011(when these were made), they are collection pieces and they don't have optimal quality control what can you expect from the 70's/80's for pieces that were meant for army use.

 

[Wunderbar]

I paid $30 for a Mark I in 1987. It came with a black sheath and the steel was 440A. A few years later Cutlery Shoppe was selling them listed as 440A steel. Pretty sure 440C was never used from '87 on.

 

[KML]

Here is my Gerber Mark 1, I'm assuming. Not sure if it's "vintage" or worth much.

 

[qballwill]

I know thos thread is 4 years old, but I picked up a early 90s Mark I Tactical with a canted blade.

https://flic.kr/p/2p2udUT

https://flic.kr/p/2p2sXAx