Fighting Knives

1 rare vintage ID’d U.S. Vietnam War Gerber Mark II combat knife.  This 1967 Gerber Mark II was ordered by U.S. Colonel George A. Browning III–a career Air Force pilot who served in 3 wars–World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam.  This knife would make an exceptionally rare addition to any collection. 

Colonel Browning ordered this Mark II from Gerber while serving as a Staff Officer in Vietnam with the 7th Air Force.  His original order form, and the original box are still with this knife–this is super rare.

The address on the box, ‘APO San Francisco, California’, shows that this knife was sent to Tan Son Nhut Air Force Base in Vietnam.  Note the ‘AIR MAIL’ stamps on the outside of the box.  The postmark on the box is ‘OCT 28 ’67‘.  The photos show that this knife was received in Vietnam on ‘3-11’ (November 3rd).

This early Gerber Mark II has the 1967 serial # ‘004002‘.  The typewritten slip from Gerber Legendary Bladeswith the paperwork notes: “We are continually improving the Mark II in order to make it the finest weapon of its type available.  As a result of extensive field use in Vietnam, we are making the Mark II with the blade straight and without the 5 [degree] offset as in earlier models.“

As noted above, Colonel Browning’s original order form is also with this knife.  He opted for the more expensive sheath option that had the piggyback sheath with the Sportsman’s Steel.  Colonel Browning also paid to have his name and Serial No. engraved on the blade–‘GEORGE A. BROWNING III   FR 33934‘. 

Colonel Browning flew B-17’s in World War II.  He was shot down, and served as a POW in Germany.  After the War, he flew B-29’s and B-36’s.