Both the Gerber Mk I and Mk II are essential additions to your survival/combat gear. The company is US based and I believe the manufacture is still in the US. both the Mk I and Mk II are well balanced and made of 440 steel. i have bought seveal of these knives in the last 30 years and have been satisfied with their performance. the Mk I is the smaller 'boot' styled knife and the Mk II is the full sized knife. The Mk II has seen service since Vietnam and have been highly prized by those that carried them in combat. The sheathes have evolved over time fom a simple leather design to what seems to be a composite plastic. The leather type always required a heavy coat of boot wax or mink oil in wet enviorments. I am new to the plastic and nylon sheathes... I would caution buying one used. you sometime find the person that last sharpened it has ruined the blades cutting geometry. This style of knife requires exceptional skill to sharpen properly. Even though the blade may require a professional knife sharpening service from time to time, the quality and performance in the field certainly tip the scales in favor of this above others in its class.Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
First of all, know you are buying a "dagger," not a conventional knife. This type of knife is very poor at cutting and is meant to be a stabbing weapon. Despite sometimes being marketed as a "survival knife," the Gerber Mark II would be a very poor choice for a survival, work, or camp knife. As a personal defense item, however, it excels. PROS: -Excellent penetrator. It pushes extremely easily through cardboard boxes and meat. This is important because the dagger will be able to stab through a thick coat should you need to use it to defend yourself. -Made of stainless steel, so it does not need a lot of oil maintenance and will be very resistant to rust. -USA-made with a warranty. -Very well balanced, comfortable, and good grip. -Good "deterrent." While the serrations on the blade are not of much practical use, they make the dagger look very scary. You should know how and be prepared to use any weapon you carry, but the Mark II, especially when drawn, will deter a lot of attackers who expected an "easy target." The best way to win a fight is to avoid one entirely. CONS: -Stainless steel is harder to sharpen than high carbon steel, and is more brittle, so is more prone to breakage. I chipped the tip of my Mark II pretty easily by accidentally dropping it on a glass table. -Daggers are meant for stabbing and not cutting. The Mark II specifically has a rhomboid cross pattern with a large angle (this is to create a large wound cavity when stabbing), so even when properly sharpened, it is poor for slashing attacks compared to a curved knife such as a classic KA-BAR. -Aside from intimidation, the serrations are pointless. They were added to the Mark II during the Vietnam Era to "disguise" it as a "survival knife," after it had been criticized for being "too brutal." This not a knife you are going to use to saw through rope or cut your steak. ALTERNATIVE: if these cons deter you from buying the Mark II, a good substitute dagger for about the same price is the KA-BAR EK 44. Its blade does not have serrations, and it is made of high-carbon steel, and so is more durable and easier to sharpen. This is at the cost of having to oil the knife periodically, and dry and oil it after every time it gets wet so it does not rust. CONCLUSION: for a quality weapon, I think the Gerber Mark II is a good value...when it is reasonably-priced. The dagger seems to jump from $75 to $105 in cost, and I personally believe over $80 is too much. These tools ARE very collectible, however, and will hold their value over time.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
This is a beautiful knife, a work of art, and I debated about buying it for weeks. My big disappointment is the blade, which forms about 3/5's of the knife. For an out-of-the-box item, the blade seems not to have been sharpened sufficiently. Better quality control on the sharpening process should have been employed. I will need to take it a blade sharpener (along with my kitchen knives) to sharpen the blade and, perhaps, the serrations. Very well balanced and terrific sheath.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Essentially a premium production knife, from a long time, top tier manufacturer. I read several complaints online regarding fit, finish or sharpness; but my example has no issues. No flaws in fit, and quite sharp out of the box. While not a premium boutique steel, this 420HC, when properly treated, is very good for a short, thick, non-utility blade like this (as is good old 440C). Has that old-school charm of Huey Cobra gunships circling a besieged firebase.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I collect knives but I like to have knives that can work and not just look pretty. This knife is made by a respected manufacturer so I was sure the quality would be there. It is! This knife feels solid and balanced in your hand and is good for utility but is, if it should come to that, not only an excellent survival knife but also a formidable fighting knife.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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