Something a little different - an Iranian Gerber

[eisman]

Here's one I picked up last month, still in the original box. A Gerber lockback marked "Iran - The Crash of 79". I've never seen one like this before. Does anybody have any history or details on these?

 

[SBuzek]

I'm thinking the "Crash of 79" is refering to the failed hostage rescue attempt.Don't know if Gerber actually put out the knife or if someone had it ingraved as a reminder.Just a wild guess on my part.

Stan

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

I'm betting that was engraved after the fact, as a commemorative (as described by Stan above; a description of the failed rescue mission is linked below). Maybe belonged to someone in the military at the time, possibly purchased at a PX or Exchange on a base somewhere. Pretty common to find items embellished like this in military circles (lighters, knives, belt buckles, coffee mugs, etc.).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Eagle_Claw

Reading the above article, it seems the rescue attempt was made in 1980 (April 24). Maybe a reference to the Iranian Revolution (February 1979; see link below) which preceded all that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidation_of_the_Iranian_Revolution

(quote excerpted from above linked article)

"The consolidation of the Iranian Revolution refers to a turbulent process of Islamic Republic stabilization, following the completion of the 1979 Revolution. After, the Shah of Iran and his regime were overthrown by revolutionaries in February 1979, Iran had been in a "revolutionary crisis mode" from this time until 1982[1] or 83.[2] Its economy and the apparatus of government had collapsed. Military and security forces were in disarray." (...)

David