New Gerber MK II's

[DBrew]

Hi all,

I have a question about the new MK II's out. I noticed Cabelas has them and I'm wondering if anyone picked one up yet and it they like it.

Thanks,

-Dave

 

[KNorth]

They aren't that new. I've had my gerber for almost a year now. I'm in the military and frankly, I don't carry it in the field. For the 4.5 inch blade, its hefty enough that its a choice between the gerber or two extra tshirts to carry.

Edit. Messed it up with a LMK II, sorry.

 

[johnu2]

I remember someone saying they were happy with he's. He mentioned that it was made in the USA

 

[borrowed time]

Im planning on getting one after saving up. i called Gerber and they are indeed made in the USA. it is made of 420HC, good enough for me! - Eric

 

[iBlade]

I just sold my old mark II after discovering that they are not full tang blades...

 

[johnu2]

I'm not surprised it isn't full tang since daggers aren't designed for hard use.
Rat tail tangs do not always mean the knife will be weak too. Kabars use rat tail tangs

 

[superc]

During WW2 enough Ka-bar tangs failed in use that there was a study to figure out why they kept breaking and the blame for the failure was put on the stamped name rather than the tang.

 

[DBrew]

Gentleman,

Thank you very much! I think I will pick one up.

Thank you all,

-Dave

 

[vjb.knife]

Gerber Mark II - Why oh why can't they either do it right or let it die? It is 420HC, has stupid serrrations and a crappy plastic and nylon sheath made in Vietnam. This is the knife that got me interested in knives and knife collecting and Gerber has for about the tenth time turned it into crap. I am disappointed once again. In 1967 they got rid of the canted blade, that sucked. In 1968 they got rid of the Cat's tongue grip, that sucked. In 1973 they got rid of the narrow blade, made the serrations standard and changed from L6 tool steel to 440C, that triple sucked. In 1976 they went to larger serrations and that sucked. In 1980 they took away the gray handle, that sucked. At that point I did not ever collect any more of them except for the 1986 20th Anniversary model which was very nice. The 35th Anniversary model was nowhere near as nice as the 20th and there was another black handle Limited edition which sucked as well. I wouldn't give a warm glass of spit for any Mark II after 1976 (except the 20th Anniversary and the Cutlery Shoppe specials) and that includes this one even more than the rest.

Pictures from November 2008 Tactical Knives Magazine.

 

[Hammer27]

I'm happy they brought it back but I'd prefer to see it offered without serrations and with the wasp-waist.

 

[Jay Maines]

I have been repairing and rehandleing the Gerber Mk II for a number of years now. Each one I take apart, the old ones and the new ones, only have a thin, narrow tang, that is 1 3/4 inches long. I too was greatly surprised and disapointed, in finding this design flaw. If it wasn't for the molded aluim. handle/guard, which does give the handle some stiffness, the handle wouldn't hold up to any type of hard use.

Best Regards,
Jay Maines
Sunrise River Custom Knives

 

[vjb.knife]

I have been repairing and rehandleing the Gerber Mk II for a number of years now. Each one I take apart, the old ones and the new ones, only have a thin, narrow tang, that is 1 3/4 inches long. I too was greatly surprised and disapointed, in finding this design flaw. If it wasn't for the molded aluim. handle/guard, which does give the handle some stiffness, the handle wouldn't hold up to any type of hard use.

Best Regards,
Jay Maines
Sunrise River Custom Knives

It wasn't designed for hard use unless you consider slitting throats and cutting out kidneys hard use. It is not a camp knife or a utility knife by any means.

 

[The Moose]

From what i understand there not that good...

 

[zignal_zero]

it would look nice in a case next to one of the really old ones, but i wouldn't carry one. even purely as a weapon, i have my doubts

 

[RogerWilco]

I have a gray handle Mk II with leather sheath I picked up in the 70s. It has always been surgically sharp. I have used it on deer but never in combat. I have wondered about the blade breaking at the serration area in combat.

I also have the Blackie Collins Shive and the short double edge with black leather sheath. I like them both as fighting knives but not enamored of the handles.

I recently bought a Boker Applegate-Fairbairn Besh wedge and was very disappointed. This knife never carried in combat by any military service I know. I had to use a hair dryer just to get the knife out of the kydex sheath. The edge is like a letter opener and the wedge is an ingenious solution to a non-existent problem. Don't waste your money guys.

As for bringing a knife to a gun fight, well... I love my Sig 229 with SRT in 9mm with AWC suppressor. I can not see a need to carry any knife other than my Kershaw Leek.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

Three year old thread, beaten to death already.