No firearms of interest today at one of my favorite pawnshops, but prior to leaving I spy with my little eye a box at the rear of a display case.

LNIB Gerber Mark 1, all paperwork, vapor wrap paper, and scabbard. Figure circa 1970s with pricing sticker on box listing $32.00. Factory razor sharp and not a nick or scratch on it. Literally like out of a time machine. Rather remarkable imo.

Just a good old American made boot knife that had a pretty good following amongst military and LEOs before Chinese imports changed the country forever.

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I assume you snatched it up.

Indeed they are, often times in many ways.

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Shooting Comfort is bilateral.

Did you get it for $32.00?

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

The suspense is killing me! How much did you get her for?!

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Find a way or make one.

Certainly hope you bought it !!

I remember those always wanted one as a youngster
I inherited a couple skinners with that same handle material
Feel natural in the hand and aren’t slippery when your hands are covered in blood
The blades aren’t fancy but they certainly do the job

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the rules? there are no rules

I’ve had mine for years, carried it clipped to my vest inside my uniform shirt.

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I am a sheep dog!
1601 (ret)

Some here who perhaps don't know me will assume I'm stretching the truth, but plain fact is I got it out the door for $60 plus tax.

I knew they had become something of a collectable, but cheapest I've seen today on national auction sites is $175. Highest, approaching the condition of this piece, is in the $300 range. Didn't know they'd moved that much.

So I think I'm going to be OK on this one. 🙂

On a side note, I've talked to some people today who own this model or the larger Mark 2. The Mark 2s have seriously appreciated in value in the last several years, now being in the $700-1000 range, depending on condition. So you might want to check out your gear boxes. 🙂

My brother died a couple of years ago, leaving me a sizable knife collection both commercial stuff like that and many high end customs. There was one of those in excellent condition. I consigned it at a local shop and it sold. I can't remember for how much.

I shop Pawn Shops on a weekly basis We Have 2 larger Chain Pawn Shops here with multiple stores in Town Have picked up a few Guns over the years including a 80's 4" Stainless Python years back for $500,I mainly shop for Snap On Tools & Higher End Fishing Stuff

the complete Mk1 like yours goes for 300 bucks around here... got mine in about 1980 new.. black sheath I believe it was less than 40 bucks...

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I had a Mk 1 and Mk II back in the late 70s. Traded both off along the way, along with a Puma White Hunter. Should have kept all of those. Nice snag.

I wasn't aware that they became collectible. I have one for many years that I had bought used for $15 and have a black leather and black cordura sheath.

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FFL08

yours should be old enough to have a serial number... mine from 1980 +or- is 08483X for reference.

IN about 1985 a Herrman's Sporting Goods store got down graded from a type III (a real sporting goods store) to a type II store (Typical mall stuff) They discounted all of the better merchandise to keep from embarrassing the junk they replaced it with! I got two Mark I's for 85% off of the $45 price tag, along with every other Gerber and Vistronix knife they had left. The next gun show I did, the knife sales were quite brisk and I didn't go home with one of those knives.

Ivan

Thought the older one's were worth more. made in U.S.A. being the reason? So many knives used to be made here but now China or elsewhere. Pays to check those Pawn shops or even yard sales often. Had quite a few sheath jobs and folders as a kid and only one I held onto was that Puma Skinner made in 1966 according to the marking. Ran me $26-27 new back then. Guess that was still a chunk of change back then.

It does.

It's either 002XXXX or 02XXXX I think

I don't have it with me at the moment, will check when I get home tonight and edit this post.

Okaaay...a little digging on bladeforum.com in archived threads seems to show that the Mark 2s have more documentation than the Mark 1s.

But with that being said, from the dark green/gray handle and brown scabbard, mine would have been an early produced knife the 1976-77 range as 1978 saw the introduction of the black sheath which remained standard thereafter. Additionally, the blade is of L6 tool steel (and the product card mentions tool steel as well and the need for rust protection).

So an oldie, but a goodie. 🙂

Mine is S/N: 134051.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

Serial Number 021165

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The Oregon Gerbers were great knives. They also owned the Wilkinson Sword brand for a while.

I used to carry a Guardian 1 when I was a cop. It's sad to see the deterioration of a great name.

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Even older, even crankier....