Thank You, Robert Buerlein

Robert A. Buerlein is the President and Founder of Ek
Commando Knives and the American Historical
Foundation.

Mr. Buerlein has authored a book called "Allied Military
Fighting Knives and the Men Who Made Them Famous"
with a chapter on the history of Ek Commando Knives
with photos/illustrations of over 100 Ek knives.

This specific collection, Number 1996 of 2500 of The
Vietnam Tribute Collection will be shown in Robert
Buerlein's next book along with other knives that he
has produced over the years.

Through phone conversations and emails, I have been
able to learn some important information about this
collection, thank you Mr. Buerlein for your time
and information in researching this collection. I
look forward to seeing my photos of this collection
Serial #1996 in your next book!

Robert Buerlein also Co-Authored "Knives of War"
with Gordon Hughes (U.K.), and Barry Jenkins (U.K.).

Welcome to the Vietnam Tribute Collection Blog

Hello and welcome to the Vietnam Tribute Collection Blog.
This collection of knives has been in my family since they
were issued in 1982 by The American Historical Foundation.
Never displayed, the knives were kept in an air conditioned
room for over 20 years. During the Summer of 2003, I was
going through the room and rediscovered this collection of
knives that I had all but forgotten.

In the beginning of August of 2003, I began my research
on the Collection and I have continued to research the
Collection since then.

The photos that I have on this blog now are just to give
you a general idea of what the knives look like. Click on
the link below to see more photos of each knife on my
Webshots page.

Click here for my Webshots Albums!

As you look at each photo, look to the right and click on
"Full Size" to see the high resolution original size
photos.

THE VIETNAM TRIBUTE COLLECTION issued by The American Historical Foundation

The American Historical Foundation issued a series of four
commemorative combat knives called the Vietnam Tribute
Collection. The four knives honors the service of the United
States Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines in Vietnam from
1961-1973. The knives were manufactured by Gerber
Legendary Blades of Portland, Oregon. The type of knife
used for this collection was the Gerber Mark II.

Each knife handle has its own camouflage scheme relative to
that specific branch of the United States Armed Forces. The
only exception to this is the United States Navy Knife which
has the solid colors of green and gray with a gold rope
wrapping around the handle seperating those colors. On the
handle of each knife is the seal for that specific branch of
the United States Armed Forces.

Each knife is unique, and the blades are made of stainless
steel. Each knife blade is individually hand ground, so there
are slight differences in the blade lengths. The display side of
the blade has an insignia or patch relative to that specific
branch of the United States Armed Forces. The rest of the
display side of the blade has a stunning engraved combat
scene with banners on each side. For example, The Marine
Knife says "In Honor of the United States Marines" to the
left of the engraved combat scene and "Vietnam 1961-73"
to the right.

The back of each blade has the Gerber Legendary Blades
logo, below the logo is the word GERBER in capital letters.
Below GERBER, in smaller capital letters it says
PORTLAND, ORE. U.S.A. and below that is the serial
number.

Each Knife has its own case made of Mahogany. Inside of the
Wooden Knife Case is its own Embedded Certificate of
Authenticity that tells you the specific branch of the United
States Armed Forces for the Knife, and Serial Number.

At the time of issue, you could also purchase from the
American Historical Foundation a Master Box that would
hold all four of the wooden knife cases.

The American Historical Foundation produced a Gold Leaf
Wall Display Mount to enhance the presentation of the four
commemorative combat knives in the Vietnam Tribute
Collection. The Gold Leaf Wall Display Mount has dark green
felt. On the top center of the wall display mount is a black
plate with gold lettering. The plate has the serial number
for this limited edition collection which matches the serial
number on the back of each knife and the serial number on
the embedded certificate of authenticity inside each knife
case.

There were a total of 2500 Vietnam Tribute Collections
produced worldwide. This limited edition collection of Gerber
knives is very rare. At the time of production, each knife sold
for $259, the Mahogany Case for each knife with Matching
Serial Number was available for an additional $39. For
example, if you bought the U.S. Army Knife with Serial #1997,
you would pay an additional $39 for the U.S. Army Mahogany
Case with Serial #1997.

The United States Army Knife

One of 2500, the United States Army Knife issued by the
American Historical Foundation and manufactured by
Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Oregon is very rare.
Displayed here in its own hand crafted Mahogany Case, the
United States Army Knife honors the Service of the United
States Army in Vietnam from 1961-1973.



Inside of the Mahogany Knife Case is its own Embedded
Certificate of Authenticity that says United States Army
on the top with the United States Army Seal. Across the
center, the certificate reads THE VIETNAM TRIBUTE
COLLECTION and then certifies the Authentication of
the Collection.



The United States Army Knife Armorhide handle has a
combination black, olive green, green and light green jungle
camouflage scheme. The display side of the handle has the
Seal for The United States Army. For this collection, the
shoulder of the The United States Army Knife blade had the
MACVSOG as a standard patch. This particular Knife was
special order with the United States Army Fifth Special
Forces patch and Airborne attachment, very few had this.



The rest of the display side of the blade has a stunning
engraved combat scene with soldiers firing an M-60 Machine
Gun, and M-16 Assault Rifle. In the background are soldiers
jumping out of a United States Army Huey "Slick" and in the
distance are more Hueys flying over the jungle bringing in
more soldiers for support. The United States Army Knife
says "In Honor of the United States Army" to the left of
the engraved combat scene and "Vietnam 1961-73" to the right.





The back of the United States Army Knife has the Gerber
Legendary Blades logo, below the logo is the word GERBER
in capital letters. Below GERBER, in smaller capital letters it
says PORTLAND, ORE. U.S.A. and below that is the serial
#1996. The Serial Number on the back of the Knife matches
the Serial Number on the Embedded Certificate of
Authenticity inside of the Mahogany Knife Case, and the
Serial Number on the plate for the Gold Leaf Wall Display
Mount.

The United States Marine Corps Knife

One of 2500, the United States Marine Corps Knife issued by
the American Historical Foundation and manufactured by
Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Oregon is very rare.
Displayed here in its own hand crafted Mahogany Case, the
United States Marine Corps Knife honors the service of the
United States Marine Corps in Vietnam from 1961-1973.




Inside of the Mahogany Knife Case is its own Embedded
Certificate of Authenticity that says United States Marine
Corps on the top with the United States Marine Corps Seal.
Across the center, the Certificate reads THE VIETNAM
TRIBUTE COLLECTION and then Certifies the Authentication
of the Collection.




The United States Marine Corps Knife Armorhide handle has
a combination light and dark green jungle camouflage
scheme. The display side of the handle has the Seal for
the United States Marine Corps.




On the display side of The United States Marine Corps Knife,
the shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the United
States Marine Corps Third Amphibious Battalion. The rest of
the display side of the blade has a stunning engraved combat
scene with United States Marines firing M-16 Assault Rifles,
M-60 Machine Guns, M-79 Grenade Launchers, there is a
Mortar Crew in the background and a Marine CH-53
helicopter off in the distance. The United States Marine
Corps knife says "In Honor of the United States Marines" to
the left of the engraved combat scene and "Vietnam
1961-73" to the right.





The back of the United States Marine Corps knife has the
Gerber Legendary Blades logo, below the logo is the word
GERBER in capital letters. Below GERBER, in smaller capital
letters it says PORTLAND, ORE. U.S.A. and below that is the
serial #1996. The Serial Number on the back of the Knife
matches the Serial Number on the Embedded Certificate of
Authenticity inside of the Mahogany Knife Case, and the
Serial Number on the plate for the Gold Leaf Wall Display
Mount.

The United States Navy Knife

One of 2500, the United States Navy Knife issued by the
American Historical Foundation and manufactured by
Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Oregon is very rare.
Displayed here in its own hand crafted Mahogany Case, the
United States Navy Knife honors the service of the United
States Navy in Vietnam from 1961-1973.



Inside of the Mahogany Knife Case is its own Embedded
Certificate of Authenticity that says United States Navy
on the top with the United States Navy Seal. Across the
center, the certificate reads THE VIETNAM TRIBUTE
COLLECTION and then certifies the Authentication
of the Collection.



The United States Navy Knife Armorhide handle has the
solid colors of green and gray with a gold rope wrapping
around the handle seperating those colors.


The display side of the handle has the Seal for the United
Navy. The shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the
United States Navy Seventh Fleet. The rest of the display
side of the blade has an engraved action scene with a United
States Navy PBR in the foreground and a Gunboat in the
background. There is a group of A7 Corsairs flying overhead.
The United States Navy Knife says "In Honor of the United
States Navy" to the left of the engraved action scene and
"Vietnam 1961-73" to the right.



The back of the United States Navy Knife has the Gerber
Legendary Blades logo, below the logo is the word GERBER
in capital letters. Below GERBER, in smaller capital letters
it says PORTLAND, ORE. U.S.A. and below that is the
Serial #1996. The Serial Number on the back of the Knife
matches the Serial Number on the Embedded Certificate of
Authenticity inside of the Mahogany Knife Case, and the
Serial Number on the plate for the Gold Leaf Wall Display
Mount.

The United States Air Force Knife

One of 2500, the United States Air Force Knife issued by
the American Historical Foundation and manufactured by
Gerber Legendary Blades of Portland, Oregon is very rare.
Displayed here in its own hand crafted Mahogany Case, the
the United States Air Force Knife honors the service of
the United States Air Force in Vietnam from 1961-1973.



Inside of the Mahogany knife case is its own embedded
certificate of authenticity that says United States Air Force
on the top with the United States Air Force Seal. Across
the center, the certificate reads THE VIETNAM TRIBUTE
COLLECTION and then certifies the authentication of the
collection.



The United States Air Force Knife Armorhide handle has a
combination light green, dark green and khaki jungle
camouflage scheme. The display side of the handle has the
Seal for the United States Air Force.



On the display side of The United States Air Force Knife,
the shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the Pacific
Air Forces. The rest of the display side of the blade has a
stunning engraved combat scene with United States Air
Force F4 Phantoms and B52 Bombers in the background. The
United States Air Force Knife says "In Honor of the United
States Air Force" to the left of the engraved combat scene
and "Vietnam 1961-73" to the right.





The back of the United States Air Force Knife has the Gerber
Legendary Blades logo, below the logo is the word GERBER
in capital letters. Below GERBER, in smaller capital letters it
says PORTLAND, ORE. U.S.A. and below that is the serial
#1996. The Serial Number on the back of the Knife matches
the Serial Number on the Embedded Certificate of
Authenticity inside of the Mahogany Knife Case, and the
Serial Number on the plate for the Gold Leaf Wall Display
Mount.

The Four Knives Displayed

The Four Knives from the Vietnam Tribute Collection
arranged on the Wall Display Mount from left to right,
Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force.



For this collection, the shoulder of the The United States
Army Knife blade was special order with the United States
Army Fifth Special Forces patch and Airborne attachment,
very few had this.


On the display side of The United States Marine Corps Knife,
the shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the United
States Marine Corps Third Amphibious Battalion.


On the display side of the United States Navy Knife, the
shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the United States
Navy Seventh Fleet.


On the display side of The United States Air Force Knife, the
shoulder of the blade has the insignia for the Pacific Air Forces.

The Mahogany Master Cabinet

Hand crafted from Mahogany, the Master Cabinet holds the Four
Knife Cases for the VIETNAM TRIBUTE COLLECTION. You could
only purchase the Mahogany Master Cabinet if you bought all four
knives and their knife cases. Only a couple of hundred were
produced, at the time of production in 1982 they sold for $39 each.

Gold Leaf Display Mount

As shown in the photo on the top of this blog when looking at the Gold Leaf Display Mount, the knives are arranged left to right as follows, Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. During my interviews with Robert Buerlein, the Producer of the Vietnam Tribute Collection, he was very careful to point out that only a couple of hundred of the Gold Leaf Wall Display Mounts were produced. You could only buy the Gold Leaf Wall Display Mount after you purchased all four knives with their knife cases and the Mahogany Master Cabinet. At the time of Production in 1982 the Gold Leaf Wall Display Mount sold for $249.

A Word about Value

I backdated this post so it flows better with the rest of the
blog, and I wanted to mention value last. This post was
created November 2012.

Its important for anyone wanting to buy one of these knives
to understand the value of this collection. The knives in the
Vietnam Tribute Collection are proudly displayed and are
considered to be Family Heirlooms.

I am showing here some that have sold on Ebay over the
years. Going into 2013, the knives should command over
$500 each if the Mahogany Knife Case with matching Serial
Number is included, both being in Mint/Near Mint Condition.

I have only seen the Master Mahogany Cabinet available
when all four knives were sold together, this is very rare.

In almost 10 years of researching this collection, I have
never seen the Gold Leaf Display Mount for sale anywhere.

Please beware of other sites that have copied and pasted
our research here and have also used our photos without
our permission. Also beware of their incorrect information.