There are some serious, legendary fighting/combat knives out there such as the Ka-Bar, the Bowie and Fiarbairn-Sykes, but one of the most forgotten ones is the Gerber Mark II. It was first introduced in 1966 after being designed by a former Army Captain, and was specifically designed for combat operations during the Vietnam war.
At first glance, everything about the Gerber Mark II screams combat knife. The Mark II has a 6.5-inch blade with a dagger type design which in combination with the blade length allows for either slashing or stabbing motions. The blade is dual edged so if needed, the Mark II will penetrate deep without hesitation. Now don’t think the Mark II is not meant for utility too, as the blade is not only dual edged but dual serrated edge for utility purposes. Basically, if you need this knife to cut ropes, brush or anything else in the field, it well.
The blade on the Mark II is 6.5 inches in length as already mentioned, with a blade made out of 420HC steel. This is an easy steel to sharpen and it keeps it’s edge without issue. 420HC steel has carbon and vanadium in it which means it has good wear resistance and with 13% chromium in it you don’t have to worry about corrosion. Gerber took things further with the Mark II by coating it in black oxide to add one more layer of corrosion and rust protection. From a tactical standpoint, the black oxide will also prevent light reflecting from the blade which could be important depending on how you intend to use this knife.
Moving down to the handle, the Gerber Mark II features a handle that hasn’t really changed in 40 years. There is good reason for that, It’s perfect. The Mark II handle is solid and has a good feel to it because it’s made out of aluminum giving it the perfect weight. There is an exaggerated bolster to the handle which basically ensures you grip this blade perfectly and allows for both the forward and reverse hand positions. Finally, there is a guard on both sides of the handle which prevent your hand from slipping down the blade when in use.
Like I said, this is an old knife that has been around the block and seen some things. Gerber has kept the Mark II essentially the same for decades because it works. The Mark II won’t try to sell you something it’s not, and you won’t see it marketed as some ultimate tactical knife. Gerber knows it just has to sell it as the Mark II, the knife that’s been prove in conflict and war zones over and over again. I would highly recommend the Mark II if you are after a true combat knife. 9/10.
