Recommendation? Original Mk 1 Edge (Gerber)

[The Zieg]

Want to reestablish the original point and edge on a late '70s to early '80s Gerber Mark 1 boot knife. IIRC there is no secondary bevel. How to describe the original edge: Appleseed? Zero edge?

Looking at a sharpening service for this (seems Gerber does not offer sharpening), so I want to know what to ask for.

Advice? Should I go with a different edge?

 

[donnord]

I had a very similar gerber guardian with the same problem, mine also had the blade etched with Loveless name on it. I let a sharpening "pro" reestablish the edge. Well he ruined the knife and buffed off most of the Loveless etching, seriously I almost stabbed him when handed the knife back to me. Anyway that gerber went to Afganistan with a young man who needed it more than me.
Anyway, that is a tricky edge to establish I would call it a zero edge kind of like a Rockstead. You might want to send an email to Gerber and ask how they originally did it in the first place. I think you will find it is a slightly convex edge with no bevel.
If I had to it again I would measure the angle of the blade, coat the blade with dykem blue or sharpie, then mount the knife in jig and use stones in a fixed system set a couple degrees steeper than the main angle. I would use a very fine stone as a tester to see where it is hitting the edge, then slowly and carefully work towards the final edge.

 

[The Zieg]

I had a very similar gerber guardian with the same problem, mine also had the blade etched with Loveless name on it. I let a sharpening "pro" reestablish the edge. Well he ruined the knife and buffed off most of the Loveless etching, seriously I almost stabbed him when handed the knife back to me. Anyway that gerber went to Afganistan with a young man who needed it more than me.
Anyway, that is a tricky edge to establish I would call it a zero edge kind of like a Rockstead. You might want to send an email to Gerber and ask how they originally did it in the first place. I think you will find it is a slightly convex edge with no bevel.
If I had to it again I would measure the angle of the blade, coat the blade with dykem blue or sharpie, then mount the knife in jig and use stones in a fixed system set a couple degrees steeper than the main angle. I would use a very fine stone as a tester to see where it is hitting the edge, then slowly and carefully work towards the final edge.

Great suggestions!

 

[Gottagofishn]

I sharpened a friend's Mark 1 earlier this year. I used a Rikon 1× 30 to put a convex secondary bevel on it. It came out very nice. I did have a tough time getting it really razor sharp. I think it ended up testing 160 on the BESS.
Good enough to stab something I suppose.

 

[eveled]

Tough one for sure. I have the same knife with a secondary edge bevel.

I really can’t see a way to do a good job getting that original single bevel back. Maintaining the crisp center line is going to be hard, and the sweeping grind at the Ricasso would be impossible to get right.

Its like it wasn’t meant to be sharpened.

 

[zorandjurkic]

Want to reestablish the original point and edge on a late '70s to early '80s Gerber Mark 1 boot knife. IIRC there is no secondary bevel. How to describe the original edge: Appleseed? Zero edge?

Looking at a sharpening service for this (seems Gerber does not offer sharpening), so I want to know what to ask for.

Advice? Should I go with a different edge?

It depends what sharpener You have. I don't remember what steel is and what property so it's hard to recommended something. Good luck !