HOME BLUING BOTTLE LEG STRAP 5-INCH STEEL W/ SCABBARD 5-INCH STEEL W/ HANDLE 8-INCH STEEL W/ SCABBARD 8-INCH STEEL W/ HANDLE PROTOTYPE STEEL HANDLE A-W SHARPENING STONE S-C SHARPENING STONE FIELD SHARPENING KIT GERBER OIL COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE MISCELLANEOUS

Copyright ©2008 by John T. Sabol

BLUING BOTTLE

During early production of the Gerber Mark II, one of the accessories offered was a small plastic bottle of Blueing (sic) Solution. These small plastic bottles contained Numrich Arms 44/40 cold bluing solution and have complete instructions printed on the bottle. It was advertised as an "easy ten-minute do-it-yourself operation" that allowed a knife owner "to field blue your combat knife for camouflage purposes." Original price was 50¢ However this accessory was short lived. My understanding is that since the bluing solution was poisonous, the US Postal Service prohibited Gerber from shipping the bottles through USPS package mail. As a result of the USPS prohibition, as well as most users discarding them after bluing their knives, these little bottles are very rare.

LEG STRAP

The accessory leg strap is designed for strapping the combat knife to the calf or leg. It is 1 inch wide by 18 inches long, 3/32 inch thick oil treated cowhide strap with a non-corroding metal buckle. It could also be ordered in a longer length. Original price was $1.00. Although similar in appearance to the leather dive sheath straps, the leg straps are made of a thinner leather and there is no bevel on the inside strap edges. However, they do use the same non-corroding metal buckle. Note that the Gerber name/address stamp on the strap has both a period and comma between ORE and U.S.A. This period and comma is also used on the SLANT 1 Gerber logo used on Mark II knives between 1967 and 1971. Due to their scarcity, I don't believe these straps were offered for more than a few years.

5-INCH STEEL W/ SCABBARD

For those individuals who did not order the Mark II with the sheath with the piggyback scabbard for the steel, Gerber offered the steel in a small separate scabbard that could be carried in pocket or pack. The scabbard had a loop on the rear that also allowed wearing on a belt. Gerber sharpening steels are flat steel bars, approximately 5-inches long, 7/8-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick. The long outside edges are slightly rounded, have a rougher surface than the smoother flat sides and are intended as the main sharpening surface. The flat sides are intended for final honing. The bottom 1-inch is tapered to form a 7/8-inch wide chisel tip. The chisel tip can be used for hacking, prying or splitting. The top end is flat with a 3/16-inch diameter hole 5/8-inch from the top. The hole is treaded with a 12-inch loop of leather tie to aid in extracting the steel from the scabbard. Although commonly called sharpening steels, they are actually honing steels. Honing is a finishing operation. Small amounts of material are removed. It is not practical to perform substantial sharpening by honing. Most have the Gerber name stamped at the top of the steel above the hole. The sharpener is forged from 0-1 tool steel. Chromium carbide is bonded to the surface and makes the tool hard enough to dress the edge of Gerber's high-speed tool steel knives. The first image shows an SGSC 5-inch steel with the small Gerber name stamp. Note that the scabbard has a rivet as reinforcement at the throat. The original price was $6.95 so this example is not the earliest issue. The second image shows a later LGRC 5-inch steel with the large Gerber name stamp. Note that there is no rivet at the throat. The very early scabbards had no throat rivet, then a rivet was added for some period and later the rivet was eliminated on all further scabbards. The very early 5-inch steel scabbards had a simple Gerber name stamp on the rear of the scabbard rather than the 4-line stamp used for all later scabbards. The last of the 3 images shows the back side of the scabbards showing a very early and a later Gerber scabbard stamp. Also note that the later scabbards have the words "Sportsman's Steel" included under the Gerber name/address stamp. The "Sportsman's" name seems to indicate that Gerber was attempting to market the steel to a wider group of knife users. The later 5-inch Steel with Handle does not have "Sportsman's Steel" stamped on the handle. These steels came in the Green, Lion, Knight and Banner Box and later in small orange boxes. They were eventually discontinued, replaced by the steel with handle models.

5-INCH STEEL W/ HANDLE

The 5-inch Sportsman's Steel with Handle utilizes the same large Gerber name stamp steel as the later model 5-inch Steel with Scabbard. The unit consists of a 5" steel enclosed in a leather handle with a u-shaped design. The steel pivots around a two-part aluminum screw that passes through the handle and the hole at the top of the steel. A leather lanyard is threaded through a hole in the side of the handle. The handle provides a more convenient and safer method of honing a knife blade, keeping the holding hand away from the steel. These steels with handles eventually replaced the steel with scabbard models. Gerber sharpening steels are flat steel bars, approximately 5-inches long, 7/8-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick. The long outside edges are slightly rounded, have a rougher surface than the smoother flat sides and are intended as the main sharpening surface. The flat sides are intended for final honing. The bottom 1 inch is tapered to form a 7/8-inch wide chisel tip. The chisel tip can be used for hacking, prying or splitting. The top end is flat with a 3/16-inch diameter hole 5/8-inch from the top. Although commonly called sharpening steels, they are actually honing steels. Honing is a finishing operation. Small amounts of material are removed. It is not practical to perform substantial sharpening by honing. All have the Gerber name stamped at the top of the steel above the hole. The sharpener is forged from 0-1 tool steel. Chromium carbide is bonded to the surface and makes the tool hard enough to dress the edge of Gerber's high-speed tool steel knives. The first image shows an early version in a red-brown color. The second image shows a later model with the steel chisel tip painted blue and with dark brown handle and nylon lanyard. I believe the reason for the blue tip is to hide the discoloration caused by the chisel tip heat treatment. Although referred to as the "Sportsman's Steel with Handle", the handles do not have the "Sportsman's Steel" stamp included under the Gerber name/address stamp as the 5-inch Steel with Scabbard does. These steels came in the Green, Lion, Knight and Banner Box and later in small orange boxes. This model with handles eventually replaced the steel with scabbard model.

8-INCH STEEL W/ SCABBARD

At some time Gerber offered a sharpening steel, with separate scabbard, in a longer 8-inch length. The steel could be carried in pocket or pack. The scabbard had a loop on the rear that also allowed wearing on a belt. These longer steels were easier and safer to use compared to the 5-inch steel with scabbard. The Gerber long sharpening steels are flat steel bars, approximately 8-inches long, 7/8-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick. The long outside edges are slightly rounded, have a rougher surface than the smoother flat sides and are intended as the main sharpening surface. The flat sides are intended for final honing. The bottom 1 inch is tapered to form a 7/8-inch wide chisel tip. The chisel tip can be used for hacking, prying or splitting. The top end is flat with a 3/16-inch diameter hole 5/8-inch from the top. The hole is treaded with a 12-inch loop of leather tie to aid in extracting the steel from the scabbard. Although commonly called sharpening steels, they are actually honing steels. Honing is a finishing operation. Small amounts of material are removed. It is not practical to perform substantial sharpening by honing. All have the Gerber name stamped at the top of the steel above the hole. The sharpener is forged from 0-1 tool steel. Chromium carbide is bonded to the surface and makes the tool hard enough to dress the edge of Gerber's high-speed tool steel knives. The 8-inch scabbards have the words "Sportsman's Steel" included under the Gerber name/address stamp. These steels came in the small, long orange boxes. They were eventually discontinued, replaced by the 8-inch steel with folding handle. I have never seen an 8-inch steel with scabbard with a blue painted tip. If found, it is probably a later steel that has had the handle removed.

8-INCH STEEL W/ HANDLE

The 8-inch Sportsman's Steel with Handle utilizes the same long Gerber steel as the 8-inch Steel with Scabbard. The unit consists of an 8" steel enclosed in a leather handle with a u-shaped design. The steel pivots around a two-part aluminum screw that passes through the handle and the hole at the top of the steel. A leather lanyard is threaded through a hole in the side of the handle. The handle provides a more convenient and safer method of honing a knife blade, keeping the holding hand away from the steel. Gerber long sharpening steels are flat steel bars, approximately 8-inches long, 7/8-inch wide and 1/4-inch thick. The long outside edges are slightly rounded, have a rougher surface than the smoother flat sides and are intended as the main sharpening surface. The flat sides are intended for final honing. The bottom 1 inch is tapered to form a 7/8-inch wide chisel tip. The chisel tip can be used for hacking, prying or splitting. The top end is flat with a 3/16-inch diameter hole 5/8-inch from the top. Although commonly called sharpening steels, they are actually honing steels. Honing is a finishing operation. Small amounts of material are removed. It is not practical to perform substantial sharpening by honing. All have the Gerber name stamped at the top of the steel above the hole. The sharpener is forged from 0-1 tool steel. Chromium carbide is bonded to the surface and makes the tool hard enough to dress the edge of Gerber's high-speed tool steel knives. The first image shows an earlier version in a lighter-brown color. The second image shows a later model with the steel chisel tip painted blue and with dark brown handle. I believe the reason for the blue tip is to hide the discoloration caused by the chisel tip heat treatment. The later model also has two tags pasted on the steel. The first is a "Made in USA" tag and the second a tag indicating the chisel tip on the steel was heat treated. The USA tag was used around 1986-1989. Although referred to as the "Sportsman's Steel with Handle", the handles do not have the "Sportsman's Steel" stamp included under the Gerber name/address stamp as the Steels with Scabbard do. These steels came in the long small orange boxes. These 8-inch models with handles were eventually discontinued.

PROTOTYPE 5-INCH STEEL HANDLE

Photo: John Daniel

Photo: John Daniel

This red plastic handle is one of the prototypes for the 5-inch Sportsman's Steel with Handle. Little is known about this handle other than it came from the long time Gerber Representative in the Dallas area, Harold Bramer, after he had retired. It is unknown why Gerber didn't adopt this design but may have been due to cost.

ARKANSAS-WASHITA SHARPENING STONE

This is a combination sharpening stone consisting of a Washita "coarse" and Hard Arkansas "fine" stone, bonded together. The stone measures 4-1/2" long, 2" wide and 1" thick. This stone is more of a finishing stone as the Washita is about 350 grit while the Hard Arkansas is around 700 grit. These stones came in a Black box with Gold Sword in Stone logo and faint Knights and Banners background.

SILICON CARBIDE SHARPENING STONE

This is later combination sharpening stone consisting of two different grits of Silicon Carbide. A "coarse" 100 grit and a "fine" 240 grit are bonded together. The stone measures 4-1/2" long, 2" wide and 1" thick. This stone is far more aggressive than the previously described Hard Arkansas/Washita stone. These stones came first in a Black box with Gold Sword in Stone logo and faint Knights and Banners background. Later they were sold in a Small Orange Box.

FIELD SHARPENING KIT

The Field Sharpening Kit consists of an oil-filled sharpening stone and a honing steel enclosed in a dark brown leather carrying case. The stone consisting of two different grits of Silicon Carbide, which is described by Gerber as a course and medium-fine grit. The "coarse" grit seems very coarse, possibly around 50 grit. The medium-fine seems around 100 grit. The stone in this kit is again more aggressive than the previously described SC Sharpening Stone. The two stones are bonded together but note that unlike the previous stones on which the bond line is seen on the edge sides, the bond line on the kit stone splits the stone along the length on the top/bottom sides. The stone measures 5" long, 1-1/2" wide and 1/2" thick. These kits came in a Small Orange Flip Top Box. The 1979 price was $27.50

GERBER OIL

Photo: John Daniel

This is a plastic bottle of Gerber Sharpening Oil. The bottle contains 4 fluid ounces of a highly refined mineral oil. The label on the bottle states "Not hazardous in any manner with respect to health or food." The 1979 price was $1.25

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE

This is a wood display case for the 20th. Anniversary Mark II Commemorative. It consists of a 16-1/4"long by 6-1/4" wide by 1-1/8" thick block of wood. Two areas have been hollowed out, one for the knife and one for the sheath. Included is a sheet of clear Lucite plastic to act as a cover. A small envelope containing 4 brass screws is provided, to be used to fasten down the clear plastic cover. The box and cover are enclosed in clear plastic shrink wrap with original price tag of $30.00.

MISCELLANEOUS

This area is for miscellaneous Gerber Mark II related items.

This wooden shield, painted with the Gerber Sword in Stone logo was fastened to the top of the older wooden, knife-display cases. The shield measures 4-1/4 inches wide at the top and is 4-1/8 inches tall.

This is a Gerber factory display stand made for displaying the Gerber Mark II. It is 5 inches long, 3-1/2 inches wide and 2-1/2 inches tall. It is made of 2 pieces of wood glued together. In the center of the top surface, there is a square opening 1 inch long by 3/16 inch wide that contains a hard cork insert. The knife is displayed vertically by sticking the knife point into the cork. "Gerber Legendary Blades" engraved on bottom. The engraving on the bottom is "old style" similar to the 1960-1980's Gerber logo, however it is a more recent item. It is a non-catalog item made exclusively for the Cutlery Shoppe around 2004 or 2005.

This is a peel-off-back paper sticker. They came in two sizes, a 6-1/8 by 4-1/4 inch and a 3-1/2 by 2-3/8 inch, both in an oval shape. They are marked with the Fiskars name and were probably issued in early 1987 to promote the Fiskars association. (In January 1987, Gerber Legendary Blades was acquired by Fiskars Brands, Inc.)

These are vinyl decals. They depict the Slant 3 logo and therefore are of 2002 or later vintage. The size is 4 inches by 3 inches and come in either white or black. They are an aftermarket item.