Overview
From the excellent resource of militarycarryknives.com:
"The BA2 knives have the "wide wasp-waist" blade profile and the 8 teeth per inch serrations. These 8 TPI serrations, started with the gray handles are the standard for all future Mark II serrated knives.
Again, there is a lot of variation in these knives with regards to the blade profile with the early knives of this type having a very noticeable wasp shape and others almost none. Later knives have the straight blade profile.
The BA2 knives are found on mid 1977 to late 1981 knives in the approximate serial range of 060869 - 111914.
The BA2 knives were produced in both L6 and 440C. Production was supposedly switched from L6 to a blanked, 440C Stainless Steel, straight profile blade on 1 Dec. 1979. Assuming a steady production rate, a 1 Dec. 1979 knife would have a serial number around 084250. But I've noted many knives with wasp blades much later than this. There are two possibilities: 1) The information is wrong and the 440C Stainless Steel, straight profile blades were produced at a later time or 2) The production was changed and both types were produced concurrently.
I've noted one knife in this serial number range that is stamped with an "S", BA2 knife 096939S. The "S" indicates that the blade is made of stainless steel. This is a roughly Aug. 1980 knife and is somewhat puzzling as supposedly Gerber switched to Stainless steel around 1 December 1979 which would be around serial 084250. So why stamp an "S" on a knife made 8 months later? Gerber may have considered continuing the 6 digit numerical numbering system and just adding an "S". Instead they chose to adopt an alpha-numeric system."
This one is near mint condition with the sheath.
Blade Steel: 440C