Eka 38

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Aug 10, 2013
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I'm thinking of picking one up. I know the steel, but other than that I know next to nothing about it. Anyone here familiar with it more than just in passing? Impressions?
 
I like mine a lot. I got the blue handled black coated carbon steel blade version. Takes a really great edge. Is a great useful size if a bit big for some folks taste in pocket carry. Very satisfying snap. The thing to watch out for is the handle plastic is a bit thin feeling. Also some times the open and close action of the blade can actually loosen the screws on the pivot. I'm sure there are some easy fixes for this (and one of these days I may make some wood scales for it) but I find its not such a big deal to take a dime and tighten it back up. A drop of lock tite would probably do it fine.
 
Dear leghog, please find two pictures attached (one of them out of an article I wrote and photographed) and a quote by the current owner of EKA knivar:

"Dear Oliver, according to the history book “knivar från Eskilstuna” (attached), in page 67 mentioned about the Swede 38, that it has been in the market for a while before getting improved in 1970, and I still have the original royalty agreement between EKA and Prince Sigvard Bernadott dated 1966, so I guess the knife was ready for sales in 1968, and improved in 1970. Hope this information would be helpful for you. Best Regards, Johny"

In my opinion, the Swede 38 is a solid knifed with brass liners under kind of cheap looking but rugged enough plastic scales which are available in a lot of colours. It was designed in the 1960s by a Swedish industry designer.
The blade is of moderate stock and ground flat from the back. The 12C27 gets really sharp and hold an edge. The EKA 38 may be disassembled easily and has a strong backspring (older models were mere friction folders...).
It's a reliable knife and a great cutter! I would buy it again any time.

Hope this helps

Oliver

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Thanks, ots 15! I'll take the plunge. Think I'll like it better than the Case Sodbuster/Sodbuster Jr.
 
I don't have experience with the Swede 38, but had a Swede 60 for several years. That was a good quality blade and I liked it how easy it was to disassemble for cleaning. Over the years one of the plastic scales broke though, as you can see in the picture below. There's a burst near the screw. Probably I once put too much pressure on the screw.

 
The EKA 38 is a great knife to work with!
I had an early 38 as boy, with wooden handles.
Now I have an inherited one in blue plastic.
It has had a hard life and I had to give it a thorough cleaning, reshape a broken tip and a new edge.
That turned the 38 into a really good performer, with very good ergonomics and edgeholding.

The above posted pic of an EKA No 6 made me realize that I have the copper version of this model.
Thanks for sharing!


Regards
Mikael
 
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