I have a 1975 Gerber MKll dagger with 6-3/4"  that came with most of the paint removed. See photo attached. Anyone know of a source for Armorhide gray paint? Specialty Enameling, Portland Oregon, painted the Gerber knives in  the 60's and 70's, they are no longer around. I was hoping to find something similar. The manufacturer of the paint was originally John L. Armitage in Tennessee and they don't list the Armorhide grey paint on their website. I was thinking just maybe a company makes a similar industrial textured paint for cement floors. Maybe a trip to Sherman Williams is in order. Be nice to find a similar epoxy paint in a rattle can. I'd appreciate any suggestions. Ideas? Thanks 

 

VNAMVET70, the process to coat the handles was similar to powder coating where they were then baked to cure.  You can paint it with any paint, but they had a texture to them that is hard to replicate.  Salt oxidation is the number one cause for the Armorhide to corrode off the handle.  I had a MKII similar to yours and just blued the blade and painted the handle OD green.  I have never checked with Sherman Williams, but new paint is being developed all the time, so you might just see what they offer.  Good luck and I would like to see what you end up doing.

opseccc, There is a anti-chip texture coating made by SEM that comes in a rattle can for restoring/painting automobile bumbers, dashes and car tops. It will require a top coat of preferably an epoxy paint.  The part number is #39853. It is intended for plastics/fiberglass, but I feel with a special coating first the SEM product will work. In the SF Bay Area there are a few NED's automotive paint stores that sell it. Orielly auto part stores may be able to order it. It is $40.00 a rattle can. I have used SEM products in the past when I restored classic cars  and their products are second to none. Still want to inquire with Sherman Williams. 

reach out to Gerber. They may be able to restore it for you.

 

doyler & all, do not waste your time with Gerber.  They really care about looking forward.  After Fishers purchase Gerber in Jan 1987, they have never been the same.  They have kept no records on any knives older than 2001 and few of more modern knives.

 

VNAMVET70, I look forward to seeing how you knife turns out.  Keep up the great work.

I echo everything that opseccc said above.

I had a number of customers in Portland and spent sometime when I could at Gerber, Leatherman, and Danner.

I used to cross paths with Phil Rodenberg, the author of "A Chronology of Gerber Legendary Blades  1939-1986".  We've lost touch over time

Fiskers is OK but Gerber is not the same company today.

Update on Gerber MK ll.  I'm experimenting with textured paint. Applied a coating to the handle that required heating in my oven at 200 degrees for couple hours to tighten the texture. The handle now feels more like armorhide. I'm very surprised with the results so far.  Waiting on the gray paint to arrive. Hopefully the feel of the handle will still feel like armorhide after the non-textured gray paint is applied over the black textured coating between the pommel and finger guard.  Can't find a textured coating in gray. 

Brownells used to have a spray paint that was rough (sandpaper type) finish. I've forgotten the name, but it was inexpensive and seemed to work well.

Great transformation so far!

All things considered, think it turned out okay.Obviously, the knife with the paper masking paper on the blade is the one that was painted. The gray will become more matte/flat as the coat dries out more. Still stinks like paint after three days of curing. 

That looks really good!  SKIP

SKIPH, Thanks Skip. Had my doubts. Almost stopped to start over during the three gray coats. Had some hiccups. What is surprising is the surface of the textured handle now feels like armorhide.  I had to apply the black first and then the gray paint second, Whereas, Gerber sprayed the gray paint first and the black second because both their colors contained armorhide. BTW, did not use the SEM product shown above. The texture of SEM is more like a spatter and not a tight texture,  

Great job.  It looks fantastic. 

opseccc, Thank you for the compliment. It was a fun project.

On 4/27/2024 at 5:23 PM, sactroop said:

I echo everything that opseccc said above.

I had a number of customers in Portland and spent sometime when I could at Gerber, Leatherman, and Danner.

I used to cross paths with Phil Rodenberg, the author of "A Chronology of Gerber Legendary Blades  1939-1986".  We've lost touch over time

Fiskers is OK but Gerber is not the same company today.

 

 

I had seen a post either here or another forum where a MKll was returned to Gerber I recall with broken cross guard. They replaced the handle and restored the knife.

 

here is the old topic from 2017 for reference and the replaced handle is shown on post #32 on the second page.  

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/285302-1972-gerber-mk-2-mint-blade-but-broken-handle/

21 hours ago, VNAMVET70 said:

All things considered, think it turned out okay.Obviously, the knife with the paper masking paper on the blade is the one that was painted. The gray will become more matte/flat as the coat dries out more. Still stinks like paint after three days of curing. 

 

 

Turned out very nice. 

57 minutes ago, doyler said:

 

 

Turned out very nice. 

doyler, I appreciate the kind remark. I was a bit nervous when heating the knife to 200 degrees to create the handle's texture. The fumes are horrible. It is kinda hit and miss with how many coats of color get the desired results. Ended up applying four coats of black to get the correct tight texture. Then, applying three coats of gray on top of the black. 

3 hours ago, doyler said:

here is the old topic from 2017 for reference and the replaced handle is shown on post #32 on the second page.  

 

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/285302-1972-gerber-mk-2-mint-blade-but-broken-handle/

Yes I remember that thread.  Unexpected happy ending to that one.  If a similar outcome can be achieved seven years later, with Gerber no longer providing this model today, I'd be pleasantly surprised again.

VNAMVET70, I have observed two Gerber knives that were or are now available on eBay that had their handles refinished.  Both had Gerber's aluminum Armorhide handles that were refinished with Brownells Aluma-Hyde II applied as the refinish.  One, is a MK1 on eBay now, eBay item number:405006793271.  It might be worth checking out.   

opseccc, I checked out the eBay Gerber knife #4050006793271 and it turned out nice. If I ever recoat a Gerber handle again I  will try out Brownells Aluma-Hyde products. Thanks