Gerber Fighting Knife

I haven't figured out what I am fighting yet.

But, I bought this really nice knife in case I ever figure it out.

Love it.

Watcha got for 'fighting knives'? Or, Combat knives. I guess that's what mine is really defined as.

Air 'em out folks.

enjoy,

bdGreen








Award-winning knife designers William W. Harsey and Chris Reeve teamed up with the director of the world's largest military hand-to-hand combat schools, Matt Larson of the Modern Army Combatives Program, to create the ultimate grappling weapon. They collaborated with Gerber to manufacture a knife that will last many tours. The LHR's full tang construction offers unsurpassed strength and balance. The handle is has grippy TacHide scales and a glass breaker pommel. The patent pending sheath incorporates an innovative retention mechanism to secure the knife from unwanted removal. The sheath's adjustable leg strap and MOLLE compatible belt loops are meant primarily for right side carry. The LHR is proudly made in the USA.


Overall Length:12.50"
Blade Length:6.87"
Blade Style: Drop Point
Finish:Black
Edge Type:Serrated
Handle Material:Rubber
Color:Black
Weight:11.20 oz.
Sheatholymer
Knife Type:Fixed Blade
Brand:Gerber
Model:LHR
Model Number:30-000183
Best Use:Tactical
Blade Material:Stainless Steel (I believe it's 154CM Stainless Steel, bdGreen)
Handle Length:5.63"
Country of Origin:USA
Product Type:Knife

KUKRI

Nepalese Government issue KUKRI.

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My dad picked up a batch of these when he was flying in and out of Kathmandu, Nepal from New Delhi, India, where we were living at the time (1970-1972). My dad flew in and out of Kathmandu on average, every six weeks or so, a trip that could be quite hazardous.

Does look awesome bd. What steel is used on that blade?

Don't have one. I had a 70's vintage Gerber MKII I got off an Air Force pilot in a trade about 1976. When my son's friend joined the USMC I gave it to him at his deployment party just before he left for Afghanistan. I figured he needed it more than I did, and the knife should fulfill it's destiny. Plus I made him promise to bring it home with him. He did. He still has it. I'm happy with the outcome.

Best I can do is my old Gerber Mark I boot knife/dagger and included sheath. Wore it some back in the day. Purchased it around 1978 I think. I still see these old ones on Ebay once and awhile.

Anybody know how to date these blades? My serial number is 012257

mauser9 said:

Does look awesome bd. What steel is used on that blade?

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Blade Material:Stainless Steel (I believe it's 154CM Stainless Steel, bdGreen)

bdGreen

Before I went to Vietnam in 1968, I bought a Gerber Mk 1. It had a leather sheath with a sharpening steel included. I broke the guard, one side. All in all, it was an impractical knife for anything but last-ditch combat. I also carried a Marbles sheath knife which I got lots more use out of until I lost it.

I guess it was SS, the Gerber. Wish I still had it, could have got it fixed if I'd been stateside.

I bought this at a knife show over 20 years ago, a Cold Steel Recon Tanto. It was a factory second.



Don't have any intentions of fighting with it, but I think it's a cool knife. Haven't tried hammering it through the side of a 55-gallon drum, but supposedly it can be done without damaging the tip.

I couldn't tell you what kind of blade steel it used, as I believe it's changed a time or two over the course of the product line.

Some 30+ years ago, I spoke with Bob Terzuola at SOF in Vegas. I later ordered his Combat Master model. It was $225.00, big bucks for me to spend on a knife at the time. It has "Combat" in the name, so this must be my "fighting knife"

Always wanted a V-42. Few years ago saw Boker had made a V-42. Bought it. Really nice. I keep it on my desk... either at the parsonage or at the church. It isn't really a fighting knife. After all ... most people don't expect a pastor to take a knife and fight. If that becomes necessary ... I turn the other cheek. When I run out of cheeks ... I get a grip on my Sig 226. I prefer to use the V-42 as my "tactical letter opener." Sincerely. bruce.

The closest things I have to fighting knives are a USMC Ka-Bar Conchita gave me and my big Anzas. The Dune Field, in the middle, has a 5 3/4” blade. The Dune Slayer, with a 7 3/4” blade, just came today; no pics yet. The name says “mall ninja”, and it has some of those attributes. Not sure what I’m going to do with it, but I was so pleased with the Dune Field I couldn’t resist when I found one at a great price*.

That is a very nice looking Gerber fixed blade.

Rock185 said:

Some 30+ years ago, I spoke with Bob Terzuola at SOF in Vegas. I later ordered his Combat Master model. It was $225.00, big bucks for me to spend on a knife at the time. It has "Combat" in the name, so this must be my "fighting knife"

Click to expand...

I wrote a profile on Terzuola for a knife magazine and recall examining his wares and being very impressed.

I think he called your model the M-30A1, and I think blade steel was D-2. Cutlery Shoppe later had a version made by high grade shops in Seki City, Japan, with 154CM blades. It's a terrific knife if you can find one. I have it in both the bright blade version and the dull gray finished one. Handles are checkered Zytel, pretty impervious to the elements. Alas, the sheaths disappointed me.

This is a very impressive combat and utility knife. Bob told me he got the idea for it from talking to CIA paramilitary people operating in Guatemala, where he lived at the time.

They were limited to describing what they'd seen, and the old M-3 trench knife was a favorite. Terzuola started there and refined that profile into a truly superior combat knife. Bob is a very gifted designer. You are quite fortunate to have that knife.

I've talked to some Special Forces men and they almost all favored the Randall Model 14. I like it a great deal.

The S F men who cited anything else weren't really into knives and were happy with the issued Ka-Bar knife made famous by the Marines..

When my son deployed to Iraq, I gave him a Fallkniven S-1. He thought it was too nice to risk and carried a Ka-Bar. I would have offered an A-1, but the smaller S-1 is handier for most needs and ls less likely to upset a commander who might ban large knives.

Today, my son uses his S-1 as a hunting knife and has an A-1 on his utility belt, which he wears on his land. Most of that property is wilderness and hosts wild pigs, deer, snakes, and he's seen two cougars.
Coyotes and bobcats thrive there. He wears a pistol, too, and occasionally wears a machete in the more remote areas.

Don't neglect a machete where it's practical. Mine are a 12" blade one from Corneta in El Salvador and an 18" blade with wood handle from Tramontina in Brazil. The latter has had the proud wooden handle sanded down to fit the tang well and was custom honed.

If I was deploying today, I'd probably agonize over a Terzuola M-30A-1, a Fallkniven A-1 or S1 and a Buck Model 119. The last is cost effective and if lost, can often be replaced at a PX or BX store for modest cost. Put green tape on the shiny butt and guard.

If I was aircrew, I'd choose the Fallkniven S-1. Most pilots prefer knives no larger. Cockpits are often pretty cramped, especially in fighters. I understand the S-1 fits the sheath on US survival vests and the knife has passed grueling Swedish and US trials and is available for unit purchase, having a National Stock Number for ordering.

Don't neglect to study how to use a knife in battle and where to stab or slash. The late Col. Rex Applegate did a pretty good job of describing that in his classic volume, Kill Or Get Killed. Fairbairn's booklet for British Commandos also shows vital arteries, etc.

I bought a Cold Steel SRK probably 25 years ago. Haven't had a decent knife fight since, darn it. It will still shave the hairs clean off your arm with just the weight of the blade pressing down. I don't have any recent photos of it.

However I do have a picture of the Edge Mark 469 I bought on a whim not long ago. It's a shaver too.

I've never considered myself a knife fighter either, but, more out of curiosity or what you might call an urge to collect interesting stuff, some years ago I acquired the two combat knives in use by the German army. They both have "Kampf" in the official name, so they're obviously for fighting

The "Kampfmesser KSK" is the all-black version of the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife made by Böker. It's in use by special operations forces; it looks cool, but is really not good for anything other than stabbing people, or maybe spearing cheese cubes at a party. 440C steel.



The "Kampfmesser Infanterie", trade name KM 2000, made by two manufacturers, is the general issue combat knife. Interestingly, it has a tanto blade. Initially, 440A steel, like this one, in 2009 upgraded to Böhler N685.



Both knives entered service just before German forces deployed to Afghanistan in 2002; they're still there, and as units have rotated back over the years, used KM 2000's show up on the surplus market complete with Afghan dirt, indicating serious use, although likely not heavy knife fighting.

Not a “big” fighting knife, but my issued Benchmade AFOII is built as an all-purpose military knife, and I would not feel unarmed with it:

Texas Star, My Terzuola knife is D-2, but is a model 18.

Never saw the need to anything bigger than my 5" Ka-bar reproduction WWII MkI Deck Knife..............until I watched my first season of "The Walking Dead"!!!

I've added a Hogue EX-FO1 and a Ka-bar D2 Extreme Duty to my Zombie outbreak response kit!

Though I think the Short 5" Ka-Bar would be more practical in Penn's Woods.

kraynky said:

I bought a Cold Steel SRK probably 25 years ago. Haven't had a decent knife fight since, darn it. It will still shave the hairs clean off your arm with just the weight of the blade pressing down. I don't have any recent photos of it.

However I do have a picture of the Edge Mark 469 I bought on a whim not long ago. It's a shaver too.

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Now that's a knife!

armorer951 said:

Best I can do is my old Gerber Mark I boot knife/dagger and included sheath. Wore it some back in the day. Purchased it around 1978 I think. I still see these old ones on Ebay once and awhile.

Anybody know how to date these blades? My serial number is 012257

Click to expand...

I've got one of those, I think? It's put away if I didn't sell it. Also a kukri my dad brought back from Burma. My brother stole the one he carried there.

My personal "fighting" knife is a 1970's Randall No. 1. Standard 6" with leather handle and stone in the sheath.