Gerber Mark II in Vietnam
 

Group

I was told years ago by a SF vet that the Mark II was the unofficial "official" knife of SF- that after the Q course "everybody" went to the PX at Bragg an bought a Mark II, with a few getting Randalls, but the Mark II was the knife going to Vietnam with SF. Was this the norm?

Thanks

Rick

Yes. I got one, carried it and gave it to my interpreter when I left. I still have the Browning Hipower that I took!!

I wore one (with the grey handle) on my kit when I was in Afghanistan. Good knife but they are getting to be just as expensive as Randalls for the older ones.

The Search button is your friend.

http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/...ad.php?t=31725

TR

Yes, I read that thread, but was hoping to get more first-hand feedback from the Vietnam troops. Also, how did the knife hold up in Vietnam? Did it work OK as a general duty knife(like a Kbar), or was it limited in this role by its design? Just curious from a historical standpoint.

Thanks

Rick

I carried one on my second tour and it was great. The third tour, some ARVN Ranger (BDQ) stole it and I couldn't figure out who!

I'm going to go out tonight and see if it is a full moon.

The Man sticker....
 

Nick named "Gerber Man Sticker", it wasn't considered a general purpose knife as the K-Bar. Could stab or otherwise cut tissue ;), but by design not so good with work related/survival issues.
I had one, loved it, used it once, and then sent it home to my brother...
Wouldn't mind having another for collection.

Bought one in the PX on Bragg in 68, carried it and lost it on a jump over Sicily before I ever got out of Tng Grp. :(

Day jump with the then new MC1. My first in that canopy. Cost me a knife instead of beer. :boohoo

Agree with Blitzz, it sucked for field work and I have learned that a little sticky knife sucks for chopping shit in th field.

Back in the '80s I remember a number of soldiers buying them before we deployed to Mackall for Phase I of the SFQC. Agree with the others that they weren't a perfect field knife. If I were going to use a Gerber in a hand to hand engagement I would probably chose the Mark I. A smaller knife is quicker and easier to wield in a fight. For field work I would chose something along the lines of a KABAR or Randall.

Me, I like bigger, so I can cut the arm off or make it feel like I did. :munchin

It is amazing how fast a big knife can be. :D

Mark II
 

Ditto.

Bought one while in 7th Group in 1975~1976. Why? Because it was so phallic.
Looked lean and mean, but damn near worthless since -- to be honest -- I didn't get into any knife fights where I needed such a lethal dagger.

My knife is somewhere vicinity Sicily North, when I started the operation it was tucked inside my boot (looked really cool) but when the operation was over the sheath was still inside my boot but the knife was long gone.

One of my friends got one when we were assigned from SFTG to the 5th at Ft Bragg in 1971. He thought he was really cool because he could flip it and catch it by the blade without looking. When he did look, his hand looked like he tried to catch a spinning razor blade...

RE: Gerber Commando knives - I saw quite a few young guys buy them and take them to the field...one time...and then they went and found a worthwhile knife to carry other than the demo knife in their pants pocket. The older SF guys used to get a kick out of watching the younger guys go through the process of learning how to select a knife you could actually use and want to carry. ;)

Richard :munchin

I got mine back around '76 on Sicily North. It just fell out of the sky and landed next to me. I don't have a sheath, though! :D:D