Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent original 1974-dated Gerber Mark II “Narrow Wasp” Fighting Survival Knife, complete with its original black leather scabbard and GERBER-marked whetstone, still secured by its leather lanyard. Bearing serial number 039155, this example dates to the closing years of the Vietnam War and represents one of the most recognizable American fighting knife designs of the Cold War period. The knife retains its distinctive double-edged, wasp-waisted blade, together with a black and gray Armorhide-type handle and the correct Gerber trademark and Portland, Oregon address markings. The original leather scabbard is also Gerber marked and remains in good condition, retaining both the whetstone pouch and an additional leather lanyard at the bottom. The knife itself remains in very good overall condition, making this a particularly interesting surviving example of the early Gerber Mark II design.

A former Army Captain designed the Gerber Mark II. And he designed it not just to be a tool but a weapon. The Mark II has a 6.5-inch blade. That length allows the blade to strike something vital in the torso from almost any angle. The Mark II uses a dagger type design making it less of a slasher and more of a stabber. This dual-edged blade, with its dagger point, will penetrate deep and with ease.

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.

At 12.75 inches (32.39 cm) long it has a 6.5 inch (16.5 cm) 420 HHC stainless steel double edged spear point wasp-waisted blade, weighs 8 ounces, and has a die cast aluminum handle. It has a distinctive look similar to that of the Fairbairn-Sykes Fighting Knife developed during World War II for the British Commandos.

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 14 teeth per inch 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. It was also reduced in size somewhat down to 12 inches, with a 6 inch blade.

This very nice “Narrow Wasp” example is in very good condition, complete with the original scabbard, which is fully intact with the original GERBER-marked whetstone in the front pouch. The knife is marked with serial number #039155, so it was made in 1974, shortly before the end of the Vietnam war. It features a black and gray "Armorhide" type handle, and has the correct Gerber trademark logo and address marking on the ricasso of the wasp-waisted blade:

(Logo)
GERBER
PORTLAND ORE USA

The black leather sheath is also marked with the correct Gerber stamping and is in good shape overall. The whetstone is attached to the original leather lanyard which is tied to the belt loop. A separate leather lanyard is attached at the bottom of the sheath.

This 1974 Gerber Mark II Narrow Wasp Fighting Survival Knife represents an important stage in the development of American military fighting knives during the Vietnam War and early Cold War period. Its recognizable blade configuration, 039155 serial number, and Portland, Oregon manufacturer markings establish its identity within the early Mark II production family. The survival of the original Gerber-marked scabbard and whetstone, together with both leather lanyards, provides additional evidence of its original equipment configuration. Although no individual military service history has been established, the knife's production period and design place it within the generation of Gerber Mark II knives closely associated with American military personnel during the later years of the Vietnam War. Its condition, identifiable markings, and accompanying accessories make it a particularly representative example of this influential American fighting knife design.

Dimensions:
Blade length: 7”
Blade Style: Spear Point Knife
Overall length: 12”
Crossguard: 2”
Scabbard length: 8 1/2" with belt loop - 14" overall