Gerber Mark II
{{Infobox weapon
| name = Gerber Mark II
| origin = United States
| image = Gerber Mark II.jpg
| image_size = 300
| caption = Gerber Mark II with after market coating on the blade.
| type = Dagger
| is_bladed = yes
| service = 1966
| used_by =
| wars = Vietnam War
| designer =
| design_date = 1966
| manufacturer = Gerber Legendary Blades
| production_date = 1967–2000
2008–2022
| variants =
| length =
| part_length =
| blade_type =
| blade_steel =
| hilt_type =
| sheath_type =
}}
The Gerber Mark II is a fighting knife manufactured by Gerber Legendary Blades from 1966 to 2000, with an additional limited run of 1500 in 2002, and full production resuming as of July 2008.{{cite journal |last=Dick |first=Steven |date=November 2008 |title=Vietnam Legend Returns |journal=Tactical Knives Magazine |page=30 }}
Design
The Gerber Mark II was designed by retired Army Captain, Clarence A. “Bud” Holzmann, based the pattern on a Roman Mainz Gladius.{{cite book |title=100 Legendary Knives |last=Pacella |first=Gerard |year=2002 |publisher=Krause Publications |location=Iola, Wis. |isbn=0-87349-417-2 |page=145}}
At 12.75 inches (32.39 cm) long it has a 6.5 inch (16.5 cm) 420 HC stainless steel double edged spear point wasp-waisted blade, weighs 8 ounces, and has a die cast aluminum handle.The Mark II page at the Gerber website: [https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/mark-ii-22-01874 www.gerbergear.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101050630/https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/mark-ii-22-01874 |date=2020-11-01 }}
The Mark II has a distinctive look similar to that of the Fairbairn–Sykes fighting knife developed during World War II for the British Commandos.{{cite book |title=Battle Blades: A Professional's Guide to Combat/Fighting Knives |last=Walker |first=Greg |year=1993 |publisher=Paladin Press |location=Boulder, Colo. |isbn=0-87364-732-7 |page=30 }}
= Vietnam War variant =
During the Vietnam War, the first production run of this knife had a five degree offset between the blade and the grip in order to ride in the sheath more comfortably, and give the user a grip similar to that of a fencing foil.
This design feature led to a significant number of knives being returned by users for having a "bent blade", so Gerber discontinued that element on subsequent production runs.
Use
The Mark II was commonly carried by troops for the United States in the Vietnam War, and was second only to the Ka-Bar knife in fame.
In the 1970s, the military's base/post exchanges discontinued selling these knives, reasoning that they were "not in good taste" or "too brutal".
Al Mar, then working for Gerber as a knife designer, added the sawtooth serrations toward the hilt, marketing the knife as a "survival aid", making it more appealing to the PX System, which resumed selling the Mark II as a survival knife, rather than a fighting knife.
Variant
= Mark I =
The Mark I was a scaled down version of the Mark II. It had a 4.75 inch (12 cm) blade and was marketed as a boot knife.{{cite book | last = Loveless| first = Bob| author-link = Bob Loveless|author2=Richard W. Barney|title = How to Make Knives | publisher = Krause Publications | year =1995 | location =Iola, WI | page =71| isbn =978-0-87341-389-3 }}
Users
- {{flag|United States}}
In popular culture
- The MK II was the suggested blade in Paladin Press's controversial how to book, Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors.{{cite book |title=Hit Man: A Technical Manual for Independent Contractors |author=Feral, Rex |publisher=Paladin Press |location=Boulder, Colo. |year=1983|isbn=0-87364-276-7}}
- The Mark II gained additional fame when it was used by Mel Gibson in his role of Max Rockatansky in the film of 1981, The Road Warrior.
- The black coated blade model of the Mark II was used during the mess hall knife game scene in the science fiction film Aliens.
- The film Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) features the Winter Soldier using a Mark II in a fight with Captain America.
- During a scene in Man of Steel (2013), Colonel Nathan Hardy (portrayed by actor Christopher Meloni) uses a Mark II in an attempt to fight the Kryptonian lieutenant Faora Hu-Ul, before Superman intervenes.
- Casey Ryback (Steven Seagal) uses a Mark II throughout the film Under Siege (1992) most notably during the finale against William Strannix (Tommy Lee Jones)
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.gerbergear.com/ Official Gerber Website]
- [https://archive.today/20130204063006/http://thegerberknives.com/mark.html Details on the Mark, Command, and Guardian series of Gerber knives]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070308132137/http://home.comcast.net/~rfrost70/Mark2.htm Gerber Mark II Production Matrix]
- [http://militarycarryknives.com/ Detailed information on the Mark II] including production variations, packaging, advertisements, and accessories
- [http://www.mrbill.net/gerber Images of the Gerber Mark II 20th Anniversary Edition prototype]
{{Fiskars}}
{{Knives}}