Mordax et al

The origin of Sabretooth’s original adamantium as introduced in Wolverine #126 (which is the same adamantium that plates Wolverine’s skeleton from Wolverine #145 onward) is– as far as I’ve been able to tell– never directly stated.

However if we go through the evidence carefully we can find the likely responsible party.

Mr. Sinister can’t possibly be responsible for Sabretooth’s original adamantium plating because he doesn’t have a copy of Sabretooth’s DNA on file in Gambit #9.

Sabretooth is highly unlikely to have chosen to have his skeleton plated consensually. Sabretooth’s a boastful character who likes to make it known when he feels like he’s won something. Since Sabretooth says nothing about the addition of the adamantium when he first confronts Wolverine with it other than that there have been “some changes” we can infer that the origin of the adamantium is not something that Sabretooth feels positive about, and didn’t chose to do himself.

It is theoretically possible that Apocalypse is the one who initially gave Sabretooth his adamantium, as Apocalypse is well known for powering up mutants that he uses to serve him. However, this is unlikely, since we can be reasonably sure that Sabretooth is acting on his own intentions and without external influence for at least several months while he has the adamantium. Apocalypse is unlikely to have given Sabretooth the adamantium and then let him run around crashing Wolverine’s wedding and doing whatever he was doing before Wolverine was kidnapped by Apocalypse and forced to challenge Sabretooth for the mantle of Death.

The most likely culprit is the US government and Weapon X project itself.

Firstly, during Wolverine #162 and #164 Weapon X project members make repeated mentions to Sabretooth having had and then lost the skeleton and that they hope ‘this time he keeps it’. This certainly seems to allude to them having been the ones to give it to him, and being annoyed that he lost it.

Secondly, We know that Sabretooth was exploited and manipulated by the government during X-Factor, and they continued to keep tabs on him for at least a while afterward,while he worked loosely with and for them as a ‘Hound’ during the time of Project Zero Tolerance.  

It’s likely that what happened is that some time early in publishing year 1998 that after the fall of Project Zero Tolerance their assets and files were reclaimed by other government entities, including the Weapon Plus/Weapon X Program which would have been in the early stages of reconstituting itself at that point. Given that they would know that the government had just successfully held and controlled Sabretooth for several months, he would have been their ideal candidate for capture and experimentation in the early phases of re commissioning the project in test phase.

I submit that Sabretooth was likely lured in by his government contacts, tricked and captured by Weapon X and submitted to the adamantium bonding procedure, before quickly escaping and going his own way. Likely this took place during the empty space between Maverick #7 (March 1998) and Wolverine #126 (July 1998).

Follow the timeline below for more detail.

X-Factor #119-135 (February 1996 – June 1997): Sabretooth is inserted into X-Factor as a plant by  members of Operation Zero Tolerance (Bastion) in the US government who now have control over him as a sleeper agent called a Hound. During this time he is controlled by means of a neurological shock collar, and goes on missions both for X-Factor and for the government outside of the scope of X-Factor.

X-Factor #136-138 (August – October 1997): Just before Operation Zero Tolerance is about to activate the Hounds, they lose contact with Sabretooth, who has broken through his control collar. However, as he escapes he declares he intends to continue his government work ‘on his own terms’.  He meets up with another Hound called Stone at the designated drop point who tells him that his choices are to join the Hounds or  be hunted by them.  

Sabretooth joins up with the Hounds but defiantly kills the mutants he’s sent after rather than bringing them into the program as ordered. He is attacked by Omega Red, who accuses him of being a puppet, but Sabretooth claims no one holds his leash. Omega Red wants him in conjunction with Elena Ivanova and the carbonadium generator. At the end of #138 Sabretooth attacks Stone and demands an audience with the boss of the Hounds, basically saying he’s not working for them any more.

X-Men #70 (December 1997): Operation Zero Tolerance is brought to an end within the US government by SHIELD.

X-Men Unlimited #17 (December 1997): This is the last issue in which we can be certain that Sabretooth can’t possibly have Adamantium lacing his skeleton. In this issue he and Logan switch bodies, and Logan doesn’t notice any Adamantium. Logan would certainly not fail to mention it if Sabretooth’s body had adamantium, since Logan’s skeleton was currently stripped of his own. Sabretooth calls this out in the comic, saying that without the adamantium, Logan’s body is not half as good as Sabretooth’s is.

Sabretooth is working for Sebastian Shaw here. He is trying to get at Worthington’s company because they have secretly been working on the technology of Forge’s neutralizer. The facility that has the neutralizer is supposedly a government contract for a camouflage process.

X-Factor #142 (February 1998): Sabretooth’s next appearance after X-Men Unlimited #17. This is the first issue in which it is unclear if Sabretooth has had the adamantium put in yet or not. If he does, no one mentions it, and it isn’t relevant to the story at hand. Sabretooth isn’t on the job for anyone here; he just shows up to ruin Val Cooper and Wild Child’s christmas.

Maverick #6-7 (February – March 1998): Next appearance after X-Factor #142. No apparent adamantium. Not working for anyone, rather turning the tables on a stalker with a grudge, and an old team mate from the Team X days. Elena Ivanova and Maverick respectively. It’s likely that if Sabretooth DID have adamantium here, Maverick would have commented on it, as he does comment on Sabretooth’s increased pain tolerance (which was due to having to resist the X-Factor prisoner arc shock collar).

There are no Sabretooth appearances between Maverick #7 (March 1998) and Wolverine #126 (July 1998).

Wolverine #126-128 (July-September 1998): This is the first time Sabretooth definitively appears with an adamantium plating. He shows up to wreck Wolverine’s wedding to Viper, and ends up teaming up with Kitty Pryde (and Wolverine) to fight Hydra. Sabretooth gets a taste of Wolverine’s honor due to a spell by the Hand. He disappears after the fight is finished.

On the subject of adamantium, Sabretooth does not reveal much. He says to Wolverine “Guess what, boy? There’ve been some changes since we last met.” This pretty definitely states that the adamantium happened sometime X-Men Unlimited #17 and now, since that’s the last time that they met on page. Of the adamantium, Sabretooth also says “My skeleton’s laced thick with the stuff.” Sabretooth does not comment or explain further on how he came to have the adamantium during these issues. “There’ve been some changes” is all we get.

There are no Sabretooth appearances that occur chronologically between Wolverine #125 and the flashback in #145. Gambit issues #8-9 (September-October 1999) were published during that time.

Wolverine/Punisher: Revelation #1 (June 1999): First published appearance of the Skrull Imposter Wolverine who takes Logan’s place when he is captured by Apocalypse and assumes the mantle of Death.

Wolverine #145 (December  1999. Flashback. Occurs roughly during the events of issues being published around June 1999.) Apocalypse kidnaps Wolverine and Sabretooth and forces them to fight for the title of horseman of Death. When Wolverine wins this battle Apocalypse then steals the Adamantium from Sabretooth in a horrible and painful procedure, and gives it to Wolverine.

Gambit issues #8-9  (September – October 1999): take place directly after the events of the #145 flashback. Sabretooth is being worshipped as ‘the god of the hunt’ by a tribal cult in the Andes mountains in Argentina. Gambit comes looking for him, and the cultists tell Gambit that Sabretooth is dying, and has had his healing factor knocked almost completely out. Sabretooth agrees to help Gambit access Mr. Sinister’s lair in exchange for Gambit’s help in return. Once there, Sabretooth is knocked out. Mr. Sinister implies that he knows what was done to Sabretooth, but doesn’t elaborate any further than we already know. Sinister agrees to help restore Sabretooth’s healing factor, and attempts to take Sabretooth himself in the bargain, wanting a new sample of his DNA. Gambit refuses, making a different deal and takes Sabretooth back to the cat cult.

Gambit #11 (December 1999): Gambit has taken a still-dying Sabretooth to the New Son to try to heal him. According to the New Son, Sabretooth’s body has become dependent on the adamantium in some way. Gambit gets into contact with Constrictor, who donates the adamantium from his mechanical coils to Sabretooth to stabilize him. It’s unclear what exactly is done to Sabretooth with the adamantium to achieve this.

No Sabretooth appearances between Gambit #11 and Uncanny X-Men #388.

Uncanny X-Men #388 (January 2001): First appearance of Sabretooth’s tattoo. Sabretooth is working with Mystique and Toad in the capacity of Brotherhood of Mutants, to kill humans with a modified Legacy virus. This is the first time Mystique and Sabretooth work together post X-Factor. They are close enough to share a dance and a kiss. The status of Sabretooth’s adamantium in this issue is unclear and unaddressed.

Bishop: The Last X-Man #16 (January 2001): Continuation of the storyline in Uncanny X-Men #388. The status of Sabretooth’s adamantium is just as unclear and unaddressed in this issue.

Wolverine #160 (March 2001): Sabretooth is lured under pretense of being hired for a job to an anonymous location. He is drugged and captured by someone who says that Sabretooth will be working ‘exclusively’ from now on.

Wolverine #162 (May 2001): Sabretooth’s captors turn out to be a continuation/recreation of the Weapon X/Weapon Plus Project. The Project forces him to undergo another adamantium application. The architects of the project say that “Sabretooth will have his adamantium skeleton back in no  time.” “Let’s just hope that he holds on to it this time.”

Wolverine #164 (July 2001): The adamantium bonding process is complete and the scientists warn Sabretooth to his face: “be more careful with it this time. They don’t grow on trees you know.” Sabretooth tries to kill them, and they reveal that he has once again been mentally inhibited from doing so.