The Knife Too SCARY To Sell | Gerber Mark II

[@grayhairedgear5992]

As a young paratrooper PFC in the 80's, I bought a Gerber Mark II. Its effectiveness on brown, plastic MRE bags was only matched by anything sharp.

[@IHateYoutubeHandles615]

At least you weren't like that Ranger officer I saw carrying a Buckmaster piece of crap knife.

[@user-ub9xw8ro3y]

That's not what it's designed for.

[@Mad_Alyx]

@@user-ub9xw8ro3ywoosh

[@Chilly_Billy]

😆

[@aaftiyoDkcdicurak]

Now if we only had light sabers. Just imagine how fast soldiers could dispatch MRE packaging.

[@World0fWowcraft]

Gerber: ''Our knives are made for woodwork and utility use'' Cold Steel: ''Our knives are made to kill people let me show you the damage to our dummies''

[@ZommBleed]

CS should make the Mk 1 for their customers.

[@THEBROKEWOODSMAN]

@@ZommBleedin my search for a mark ii i just decided on a cs drop forged wasp. it’s essentially a older mark ii without serrations anyways

[@bernardbarr2354]

Cold Steel was created because of the weakness of the Gerber point. Lynn said he kept snapping points while stabbing the knife into a tree while training

[@bernardbarr2354]

​@@ZommBleedthey made the Taipan to address the deficiencies of the Gerber.

[@ZommBleed]

@@bernardbarr2354 I was more into the tanto and SRK

[@jasonbrody8724]

The only thing intimidating about that knife is the price tag

[@hillbillyfromtheswamp6223]

If your interested in the design. Check into the Cold steel drop forged Wasp.

[@Psycho-Ssnake]

I worry about the heat treatment.

[@fivestarlimos]

🤣🤣

[@skwissgaar_skwigelf_kdz3251]

ive made a shit-ton of $$$ buying mk ii's (and other bladed goodies) and selling them on ebay in the last year, but there are some delusional sellers out there that dont realize that a newer mk ii isnt worth the same as a vietnam era mk ii and not all blades are created equally.

[@ths630]

Seriously. They used to be like $119

[@cormacsee]

“Born to kill, forced to carve” great writing and a great video thanks.

[@dfpytwa]

Your video prompted me to do dig through my stuff. I bought mine back in 1978 at a gun show when I was 14. That thing cost $50 dollars back then which was a lot of money for a kid to spend and it was new/old surplus. I carried that knife for years while doing long distance bicycle rides to get away from my dysfunctional family, later hiked the PCT with it, lived as a working homeless person with it while stealth camping, carried it while I was working for a PMC in the gulf and carried it somewhat concealed but within easy grasp on my various motorcycles over the years. I've moved 3 times in the last 5 years and now I can't find the damn thing which it should have ended up with the rest of my gun paraphernalia in the cupboard above me. I hope I didn't lose it in the last move. I'll have to dig through my container tomorrow and see if it ended up up in my motorcycle gear. That knife saved my life and other peoples lives on several occasions.

[@insurgentlowcash7564]

I hope you find it man. Know that feeling.

[@tigerboy60]

Maybe somebody borrowed (stole) it.

[@dfpytwa]

Found it. I forgot it was in a bag with some of my other mothballed bugout gear. It's something I don't have a use for anymore other than as a collector's item from my youth. I have a Bowie knife that I had a blacksmith modify the handle some time ago so it clips onto my AR-15 as a bayonet. Way better survival knife that I keep in my current bugout bag in my truck and not a uni-tasker like the Gerber Mark II which is strictly a stabby stabby tool.

[@raksh9]

Hope you find it! Care to share any sanitized stories?

[@insurgentlowcash7564]

@@dfpytwa awesome man, happy for ya. I found myself partial to the AKM bayo, just gotta sharpen them. That Bowie custom job sounds really cool.

[@stephengriffn9277]

I walked into the local sporting goods as a teenager and plonked down my $35 bucks and the middle aged man didn't bat an eye or ask a question as he took it out of a fairly large Gerber display case. It was the gray handle version with serrations and oxblood sheath. I was reading David Steele's book on knife fighting and there was no illusion about it being a survival knife.

[@MIKEYYYLIKESIT]

Ever use it in a fight ?

[@TheTAEclub]

​@@MIKEYYYLIKESITever been in a fight?

[@233kosta]

A combat knife IS a survival knife if you're out in the wild and attacked by a hungry animal (assuming you can't escape). You pretty much want the exact same features that make it effective for the military.

[@smokedbeefandcheese4144]

@@233kostayawn

[@coloradohikertrash9958]

@@TheTAEclub clearly you've never fought anything unless it's been in a video game.

[@jerrythomas463]

I carried a Mark I in Desert Storm. Loved it but it was stolen. Got a Mark II when they started back making them In 2008. Love the knife.

[@Frank75288]

Can;t trust those limeys

[@davidr6447]

My mom special ordered one for my dad in 1968 when he was going to Nam. It has the textured handle, the canted smooth razor-sharp blade, and the leather pouch with sharpening stone. It sits in my drawer along with his Colt Commander in mint condition. I still remember the day by brother almost cut his finger off while messing around with it! Very unique knife!

[@SoldierDrew]

You own two rare treasures.

[@williamneal7210]

I bought a Mark II in 1978 right out of boot camp. During my 15 years in the service I relied on my Kabar and Kukri for heavy work, and kept the Mark II in reserve for specific purposes. It did the job well. I ultimately broke it when I climbed a telephone pole to sever a comms cable and since it was easier to access from my boot as I hung there with my legs were wrapped around the pole I used it to cut the cable. The cable got cut, but only after the blade snapped at the serrations located at the wasp waste--my fault for using the knife to hack the cable in two against the wooden pole, but ever since I wished the Mark II serrations were only on one side and closer to the tip. About 10 years ago I bought another Mark II, but it's a completely different animal.

[@ahhamartin]

"Serrations on only one side and closer to the tip" describes the Command series.

[@JeremyMetcalf-w2j]

It didn't break due to its shape. it broke due to its heat treatment. I've seen KA-BARS snap like twigs.

[@MMattyOz]

BOOM BEER ME

[@MadDog8932]

I bought a Gerber Mark II in 1968 when i graduated from SF. I still have it and it has many memories associated with it. i served in RVN with SOA (CCC), 5th SFGA, 1st SF. For the uninitiated the unit was a part of SOG.

[@chrism3872]

I got my Mark II at Ft Bragg at the Smoke Bomb Hill SF PX in 1967 and I still have it. It has a low 4 digit serial number, and a case with no sharpening stone. The only thing I did to it was to blue the blade (thinking it would prevent it from shining at night). I served in II Corps at an A Camp for 6 months and then 10-1/2 months in the II Corps Mike Force. I wound up making a knife of my own design and carrying it in Nam rather than the Gerber. I still have them both, plus some other knives I have used over the years.

[@michaelsarkisian1047]

I bought my MKII from the BX during my first deployment in 75

[@mogamedfakier3592]

Lekker jy 👍

[@iamgroot4080]

There is no such thing like a deadly knife. There are well trained, deadly people

[@p99guy]

Military Armament Corp, has recreated the Grey handled, non serrated, wasp waisted Gerber. I got one recently and it scratched my itch for an example of this rare and very expensive Gerber. It’s reasonable in cost, and the sheith is a close copy of the original as well. The only thing the MAC MkII lacks is the “cat’s Tougue” sand paper texture on the grip.

[@pinkyellowblue007]

Oh thanks for this info, I didn't know about these. I've always wanted one like the originals but prices for them are too high, this will do fine for me.

[@grantmillard8387]

Bought myself a MkII many years ago. I'd never noticed the 5 degree cant but just went and had a look and yup, it's there. Always worth viewing these videos. Learn something new!

[@markbecker71]

Bought mine back in the 80s..great pokey poke..still have it.

[@judesheckelberg5135]

Bought one in high school, took it with me when I joined the military, jumped with it a few times, sold it and wish I had kept it.

[@joshchu]

You can tell the Mk2 is showing its age by the many times it needs the Schrade to act as it's stunt double in this video.😏

[@knifestory]

Wish I could've shown an original, but couldn't find any for less than $300 😢

[@ebla83]

@@knifestory I wish I had known. I have the 478th one ever made which my dad carried in Vietnam, and my own personal one which I bought.

[@JT-466]

@@knifestory get a Fox Knives Veleno, it seems like a new and improved version of the Gerber.

[@joshchu]

@@knifestory Felt you, I sold mine back in 2010', couldn't find another one since then. (at least one with reasonable price tag)😭 When the Schrade Needle was introduced, I bought 2 of them instantly. 😆

[@WreckTeam]

I the same my father gave me

[@floridadad2817]

Never saw how this was so much scarier than the old Fairbarin Sykes.

[@peterhuffam1006]

It’s a larger tool. The Fairbairn-Sykes is too small for larger hands to securely grasp when wet, and the texture design of the grip does not help with this problem, either. The Mark II is large enough for guys with bigger meat hooks to properly grasp, and the blade is sturdier than the F.S. commando. Don’t get me wrong, many a dead Nazi would attest that the FS is effective (if they could talk, and their throats hadn’t been carved wide open), but technology marches on.

[@ScarletRebel96]

sensitive people have always ruined good things

[@SquidGunman]

Amen!

[@CFox.7]

This is not actually a good thing - its next to useless. Not even a good diving knife

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

@@CFox.7Can you provide proof of your claims?

[@CFox.7]

@@FriedPi-mc5yt yeah, which US armed services uses this ? which world armed service uses this ? NONE. Read comments above from others - its useless as a slasher, useless opening cans.. so useless as a survival knife.. which knife the US use ?

[@farklestaxbaum4945]

yeah, boomers

[@WyattWillis88]

Used one made in the 70s for my first hog hunt in Texas 21 years ago. It slid effortlessly behind the shoulder through the heart and the tip could seen peeking through the front of the chest. With the smaller hilt it was easy to rock in past the crossguard and shove in past the handle

[@kennedymcleod1479]

"Schrade" also sells this knife at a very reasonable price with a leather sheathe which clips onto your belt or elsewhere

[@mako8091]

Schrade what?

[@slywolfe]

That's the whole name. Shit company tbh​@@mako8091

[@xAndrzej42]

Because its made in china, thats why its cheap. Bought once blade from that company. New blade, posing as sharp af. Couldnt even cut piece of paper properly.

[@jurajs.3599]

Also cold steel wasp is good, maybe even better alternative.

[@stevenhall2408]

Still have one on my old alice pack. Its the second one I have owned, the first came from a vet of the 173rd ABN.

[@SigmaSheepdog]

This is a knife that has always intrigued me, and I ended up amassing quite a collection over the years. I ceased knife collecting and ended up selling most of my Mark II's keeping only a few variations. I also have a couple of Mark 1's and a few Guardians. I had no idea that Al Mar was part of the design update. I have a few AL Mar folding knives in my collection.

[@somerabbit6909]

I had a Mk.II when I was in the Navy in 1974 and I have an original style Mk.II Vietnam War commemorative boxed set.

[@jeffbanks5103]

I've heard the story that constantly breaking his Gerber mark 2's in training caused Lynn Thompson to have the idea to start Cold Steel

[@ahhamartin]

He stated that in print in a early 90's interview I have (Fighting Knives Magazine) but keep in mind he was always a master marketer.

[@jeffbanks5103]

@@ahhamartin ALWAYS!!! But to me that's the absolute charm of Lynn Thompson. He's kind of like that cool uncle that you know is full of it, but his stories are fun anyway.

[@powersww1reset]

@@jeffbanks5103 Until you watch a video of his crazy ass, doing outlandish shit, that is somewhat pretty impressive for a fat man to be doing, and you realize that everything you ever heard, was actually true!

[@anonymousbosch9265]

My buddy in the navy who was a SEAL bought one in the late 90’s and he thought it was the coolest but it just made me glad I didn’t have his job

[@HootOwl513]

I bought a Mk II Survival Knife at the Marine Corps Exchange [MCX] at MCAS Cherry Point, NC in 1974. Straight Blade in the white, with the serrations. Light tan leather sheath had military bent-wire clip to go in the eyelets of the Issue Pistol Belt. Slots in the end of the sheath also allowed mounting on a regular belt. A Honing Steel holder was stitched on tthe top of the sheath. Only issue was the sharp tip pierced its way out of the end of the sheath. I wasn't a Recon wannabe, but I was an avid bowhunter, off-duty. Still have it.

[@mattnobrega6621]

Oorah! 😎👍

[@HootOwl513]

@@mattnobrega6621 Semper Fi, Brother.

[@mts0628]

I live in Winterville and am wondering, do you still bowhunt?

[@HootOwl513]

@@mts0628 Not any more. That was 50 years ago.

[@SteveAubrey1762]

I was in the Pacific islands in the early 70s. I did not use Grrber. I had an old WW2 Kabar. It served me well. I still have it

[@robmarshall11]

My Kabar snapped the first time I tried to use it in the field. Used the MK2 for 8 years.

[@janemarkham4133]

SHIT HAPPENS, DON'T IT??@@robmarshall11

[@williamgray9088]

1:59 The phrase "produce death" is now the proud owner of a comfy, central lot in the backwoods of my mind for the foreseeable future. Its so straight-up I can't help but laugh.

[@klackon1]

Whilst carrying out some work for the US Army in Germany in 1981, one of the American soldiers gave me his Gerber Mark II combat knife, which he had carried in Vietnam. I really liked it and attached it to my webbing when I returned to my regiment (my personal weapon was an SMG, so I did not carry a bayonet). Years later, I gave it to a friend who added it to her collection of knives and swords.

[@aegrotattoo9018]

Was unable to beat mine to death as a hiking/backpacking tool. Its still hanging on a beam out of sight, but great memories.

[@ASMRcigarlounge1865]

Knives are NOT meant to intimidate your enemy. If your enemy sees the blade BEFORE you gut him, you are NOT using it correctly.

[@rodbutler9864]

I had one in the mid '70s. The tip snapped off almost immediately. I had to grind it back, it was never the same.

[@ICU-Witness]

I switched to Fairbairn after the die cast handle of my Gerber broke in duty (Early 80's). I did like my Gerber, but I loved my FS for it's intended purpose.

[@joshchu]

The best chef's knife award winner 1992.

[@The_Assassin_of_The_Gray]

"it's not just a job . . . it's an *_ADVENTURE!"_*

[@jackwalker9492]

LOL, I was a professional soldiers (Infantry a long time). I carried a Swiss Army knife which was in high demand by the Rambos with their Gear Queer stuff, later, a multi.tool and a machete when I was in Panama for 4 years that I had cut down about 4 inches. Later, I bought 2 USD knives at Aubocaun Hardware as I stayed in the woods a long time and used it for the kitchen as well. This is pure fantasy for fools with zero experience

[@nakumastone715]

Is this a Casey Ryback reference?

[@joshchu]

@@nakumastone715 and nobody beats him in the kitchen.😏

[@ahhamartin]

What I recall most about these is carrying one in my engineer boot while roaming the wastelands in the last of the v8 Interceptors (seriously "the Road Warrior" deserves a place in your Hollywood photos montage).

[@Gigitygigity24]

"Born to kill, forced to carve." Fantastic line brother.

[@dalecrummie5818]

The serrations on the MKII made it useless, we had them in Central America, if you stabbed too deep the serrations would stick and you'd be unable to pull it out, we all bought the Sykes-Fairborne dagger and they worked great.

[@mrcrhartman]

This knife, the mark II and the guardian had one thing in common...the tips broke off if you did ANYTHING with it, so save it for stabbing a two legged mammal, its good for nothing else. That's for the Gerber versions, I'm sure knifemakers made copies in better steel, but I suffered through the factory models.

[@michaelsnyder3871]

I too suffered a broken tip (about 1mm) but I just ground it back into a point.

[@michaeldbhawker3556]

It was designed for nothing else

[@hitthelikebutton9611]

Haha I got mine in a trade for a case of beer in the early 90’s owing to the fact that the tip had 1/4 inch broken off. Some determination and elbow grease earned me a shorty Mk.2.

[@JosephDawson1986]

Well since its a fighting knife that doesn't surprise. It was designed to be an American version of the Sykes-Fairbairn fighting knife.

[@ahhamartin]

Interesting. I got mine in 87 and it went to Iraq twice. Still has the original tip.

[@alfredpaquin3563]

I bought mine in a cutlery store in Mass. The saleslady asked me what I was going to use it for, and I said work. She asked me what I did for work, and I said, "I'm a soldier." You could see the blood drain from he face.😂

[@acb9896]

Yeah, buddy... Nobody wants to piss off a....soldier. Want a cookie?

[@RussellBond-zh9qw]

I still own my Gerber mk2 that I bought at the rod and gun club on post over 50 years ago. My grandson drools at it and my model 1911 that I carried.

[@Char-nu9ir]

I had one in the Army back in the '80's. Opened MRE's with it.

[@johnwestervelt7454]

The Gerber mark 1 and mark 2 has been around since the Vietnam war. Which is why i own two of the Vietnam era and two from current models

[@seandoherty1507]

Carried one for 3 1/2 years,on 3 continents. I got no complaints.

[@tomahawk5118]

While in the 101st Airborne in the mid to late 1980’s, I had one of these as part of my kit and also a Gerber Tac2.

[@monroekelly9064]

This is stupid. I had one of these during the 80’s when I was based in Germany. It’s no more deadly than any other knife. Mine was great for opening 81mm mortar round canisters. This is all sensationalist hype.

[@joejones9520]

I still use my SX40D that I used back in '67 during Operation ML14-23, I was a sergeant in 2nd unit 567, division 67-T, first platoon WqRT frontline force 2112.

[@iwantyourcookiesnow]

I remember drooling over this knife at the knife store in the 80’s when I was a teen.

[@geoffreybudge3027]

Bought one in the 70s and returned it quickly . I’ve had big knives and small but that knife was made for only one thing and that was not as a woodsman’s knife .

[@TacDyne]

I bought mine in the early '80s to carry as a concealed weapon in high school. It was stolen in '86 and just last month it came up on eBay for sale. Yup, after all these years I got my knife back. :)

[@michaelrose4916]

I have both versions,either one capable of stopping your heartbeat.

[@AntOfEgypt]

Your videos are awesome, thanks for the time and effort you put into them! As a knife collector, this is a must-follow channel 💪🗡️

[@edwardbirdsall6580]

Any well made knife will do its job. Knives, like guns, are merely tools. It is the person using it who is skilled or dangerous.

[@gohldfingah]

Hear, hear -- well said.

[@cdhumiston]

I carried one of those in my boot for 20 years while in the USAF! Not scary...just lifesaving! I still have it today!

[@netminderchuck9320]

I have two I got in the 80’s. I used them for years in the Marines. Great knives. Gerber knew their audience as their advertising shows. I got mine because a lot of the Vietnam vets who were my early leaders in the Marines had them.

[@davidanderson3684]

My father, who was vet, owned a rare v42 special service knife and refused to sell it !

[@billkrussick6477]

bought mine in 78, still have it. definitely a keeper.

[@donaldwatson6621]

I bought my Gerber Mark II in 78 while at Benning. After watching half my classmates lose theirs by carrying it upside down strapped to their web gear (load-bearing suspenders), I kept mine in my ruck. I still have it in a drawer next to my alternate revolver.

[@fredrickbronisz7149]

The Army PX sold a lot of them. The tips always broke off.

[@IHateYoutubeHandles615]

I'd expect that of the stainless ones, but less so of the the original L6 tool steel ones. As long as you weren't prying with them that is.

[@Brimar7]

I have at least two. The first one was bought on my way to Desert Shield. My favorite knives…by far

[@paulmoss7940]

I have an Oregon made Mk1 with clip sheath I have had for over 40 years.

[@primeministersinister625]

I own a mark 2. I hate it for every purpose. Sending a shitty dagger that cant cut shit into a jungle was a terrible idea.

[@bobhope4949]

But if you need penetration it’s your best friend!!!!

[@G1NZOU]

I own a 3rd pattern Commando dagger, the type used from 1942 onwards, you can really see the lineage, though the Gerber is even thicker and the balance is almost exactly on the crossguard compared to just down on the handle for the commando.

[@user-ub9xw8ro3y]

These haven't been made of L6 steel for a loooong time.

[@karenstein8261]

Hate to rain on this love fest, but . . . Having once owned and put this knife through its’ paces, I am quite critical of it. In nearly every task the knife is nearly useless. Just try using it to clear brush, carve tent pegs, open crates, cut bamboo, or do almost everything you’d ask a knife to do. The handle gives a great grip in one position only, fails to resist twisting in the hand, and quickly becomes painful outside a very narrow temperature range. There’s not enough curve in the edges for very good slicing or skinning tasks.the slim blade gets too fat, too fast for good slicing, yet remains so thin the blade easily breaks at the least side (prying) force. I speculate a lot of these knives broke when owners attempted to duplicate that can’t in the field. The knife is superb for one task alone - as a fighting knife to be used in a stabbing manner. It’s probably more useful than a Fairbairn knife, but not as versatile as an Applegate. Now, were the knife to be widened perhaps 25% and the center strengthened, perhaps a decent bayonet would result. Alas, soldiers already had one of those!

[@knifestory]

It for sure wasn't meant to be a survival blade- I can't imagine trying to baton or chop with it.

[@raetiran463]

Knife doesn’t excel at tasks it was never designed for. Shocking. Gerber’s Strongarm would be a better choice for heavier survival work

[@markwalker4485]

@@knifestory the Gerber sucked for a combat knife compared to a real purpose made combat knife like a Bauchop. And you are a fool to think this knife was meant for anything other than kill. These types of knives “normally” are meant for special operations folks that do have another tools to do things like pry or clear brush. But the Bauchop made basically custom knife was invented by an SAS officer and stayed mostly with only those type of people. I did own a Gerber and a Randall model 2 and IF in a push I would pick the Randall but it still sucked but would not cut my fingers in training to “remove” sentries.

[@savageater57]

I bought mine at the PX in '70 . I think it was $20 at the time , still have it in my locker to keep the grandkids away from it . Holds an edge too sharp to touch .

[@chillios2222]

these knives were ok, not terrible

[@robertreese867]

Bought mine back in 1989 at Ft. Benning. Usually though in the field I carried a K-bar. Still have both of them.

[@waterbox4202]

As an archaeologist I find really moving how material and artifactual traditions in tools such as knives carry the "spirit" of some idea or innovation that becomes truly immortal.

[@zrazghost]

same but im just a troglodyte who doesnt have a degree

[@TigerMethodSeduction]

​@@viciousKevlol

[@wacojones8062]

I have a large collection of various Gerber knives plus some other interesting types. I have finish off wounded animals with a Mark 1 and taught several guides how to be more effective with less damage to the hides.

[@MasonKline-w5g]

I have the same exact knife at 0:55, never used,still in its original sheath. My dad bought it in 1986

[@thomasthomas8091]

I used to own 6 of them. Some for display, some for wear/EDC, and others to put away and wait 30 years since I bought them to sell them, in box, unopened. It was a fun time.

[@occamsrazor1285]

0:43 Did you think the 101st Airborne was a bomber wing?

[@astormofwrenches5555]

Looks like it

[@ahhamartin]

I wondered that too. Some C47 footage would have fit better.

[@luckyomen]

@Knife Story Have you seen the Cold Steel Wasp Dagger? It has a great steel composition and mimics the blade pattern more closely to the OG Mark II with a very different but potentially comparable handle that is part of the knife's single piece design. It seems like some real research and love went into it.

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

I’ve got one and it’s pretty nice. No lethal encounters so far. I hope it never sees any use. But it’s a good companion for a sidearm.

[@deenyc1049]

I have a cold steel drop forged boot knife. One piece steel handle, I love it.

[@gcvrsa]

I honestly had no idea the original design had that 5 degree bend. I got mine in the late 1980s at the Sharper Image store in Downtown Pittsburgh.

[@ThanxBeToGod]

If only the tips wouldnt break off. Notorious for that.

[@PercivalBlakeney]

That's basically a Fairburn - Sykes with ridges on the side. A good design endureth forever. 🌹

[@matthewbarnard8924]

I disagree. They are both daggers, but quite different. The Gerber has a wasp style blade with serrations, the FS does not.

[@sfmedicsmith777]

Carried the OG Mark II all over the world in the 80' and early 90;s and I still have it. It will be in my casket....just in case... ;)

[@BD-dr1hw]

Thanks for the history lesson! Got mine in 82, give or take, for self defense. Then got a custom one in 85 when my TBS class had some made as a souvenir of our mess night. Have the smaller Bauchop too. These are definitely not survival or camp knives!

[@bruceallen6016]

Interesting info. I don't know why this popped up in my feed but I'm glad it did. I've got a fairly mint one that according to the serial number was made in 1967. It's got the 5 degree bend and is stainless steel with the cat tongue handle texture. I've not seen another like it.

[@1dcondave]

The new Mark IIs were still popular at the PXs when I was in, 1989-1991.

[@bushcraft_in_the_north]

I have one,made in the early 80's. US made in good steel with serrated edge,thick spine and a good and stiff sheat. Got it from my best friend who was a Major in the Norwegian Army. Was in the Gulf war and in Lebanon in the old days. The knife is mint. And as a sticker it must be a grest one. The thick ridge line or shall i say diomond section makes a very wide open blood letting hole. It is sharp.

[@carlsmith8850]

I bought one of those in 1977 in the PX in Camp Lejune. It was a great knife. I never should have traded it away.

[@SoldierDrew]

In the 90s the most popular gerber knife in the Army was the gerber gator lockblade and the gerber multitool.

[@ed-straker]

This is funny. I had a Mark I and a Mark II way back in the '80s. Wish I still had them, so I could sell them.

[@potterj09]

The Kabar 1211 makes this thing look like a butter knife. I've used mine for 20yrs at home and on the job and still looks new.

[@PaulGriffin-ox1gp]

I've got a late 70's early 80's model. I love it for a defensive offensive knife.

[@scottbehr5690]

Love this knife...carried one when I was in the Army.

[@wallyzworld7108]

Bought mine at the local hardware store in the early 80s while still in High School. Came with the black handle and black leather sheath. Still have the original box around here somewhere.

[@dylano7242]

Cold steel was started by ex military because the gerber blades were crap and constantly broke.

[@simonlee2769]

Lynn Thompson is a vet?

[@tempo954]

Cat tongue was called for the coating on the handle!

[@jeffhunter3402]

Have 4 or 5 mkiis, love em. First one i bought when i was 17, still have it and love it

[@jedironin380]

I always liked the MkII, but never bought one. I have a variety of other knives, so I haven't "needed" one. I had not noticed this is the knife used by the Winter Soldier in the movie, though. Very cool!

[@Paladin1873]

I've owned a Gerber MK II since I saw an ad for it in Soldier of Fortune Magazine back in the 1970s. I think it and the leather sheath set me back about $25 or $30.

[@henrykfu]

I bought several Mark IIs back in the day as a paratrooper. The tip broke off on two of them as it was very brittle steel. It looked cool but the K-bar was a better field and utility knife which could be used for fighting. Never broke the tip on the K-bar no matter how rough I was and it wasn't so expensive that I would be afraid to use it to open cans.

[@weswolever7477]

I have the mark 2 that my dad carried in a boot sheath as a policeman, I also have the Tony Lama boots he had the sheath sown into

[@rebelbatdave5993]

Had one back in the 80's ! Haven't seen a full size one in years!

[@Luka-b7s]

Isn't that the Applegate-Fairbairn Command Knife?

[@ahhamartin]

I collect these.The L6 bandsaw steel "double edge razor", and the blunt final offerings are worlds apart in terms of usefulness.

[@tobyalsip9403]

I've got one similar to that I really like it it has a cupped serrated blade double edged nasty business

[@dalecrowe7757]

I preferred the Gerber Mk III "Survival" knife. Carried one on my LBE most of the time I spent in the Army.

[@Marlow224]

I found the extreem temper snapped at the hilt under hard use...never could break a Randall, of which I had 6. Eventually got tired of the more difficult to sharpen steel in 1980. Put my Gerber folders and fixed blades ( of which I had at least 12) in the drawer.