I need help finding info on Ek knives...

J

jpvanhout

Joined
Aug 9, 2006
Messages
11
Ok, I'm new to BF, but have been reading through several forum threads and using the searches pretty smoothly. Why can't I find anything on Ek knives? Am I missing something here?? Why no posts??

Thanks...
 
This will get you started.....Check on the History Section on their site.

"Welcome to Ek Commando Knife Co.
Famous since 1941, our knives have been battle proven in five wars: World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War and Iraq. Now you can join the ranks of U.S. combat troops who own one."

http://www.ekknife.com/
 
Thanks !!
I found that sight too, but why no posts on BF? Every conceivable knife is written about, at least to a small degree, why not Ek? Are they junk? Too expensive? The best thing since sliced bread? I would think someone out there would have at least a passing interest in them and if not they'd write about that. Can anyone find anything on BF about any of them???
 
Ek rocks, it's just that since John Ek quit the business, his name has been under severe legal difficulty
 
Interesting... Even so, why would that prevent people on BF from going into gads of detail about the knives? It's as if Ek knives are unknown even though they've been around since 1941...
 
Eks aren't the most plentiful, or inexpensive. Except for the lower quality ones that were produced for a little while, which nobody wants.
 
Yup, I guess you're right. I seem to be expressing the same sentiment here over and over again, so I think I'll just sit back and let the thread hopefully grow. The Ek website gives a lot of info for me to ponder. I have two of these, don't even know how or where I got 'em. At this point I'm not sure which generation they are, Pre-Blackjack, Blackjack, or Post Blackjack. I'm pretty sure the Blackjack generation is the "lower quality ones that were produced for a little while, which nobody wants." that you mentioned. At any rate, thanks to those who have helped me out so far, and thanks for making me feel welcome, and thanks to the myriad of persons who are gonna now start to write the heck out of Ek !!!
 
Yes, it was BlackJack that destroyed the reputation.
However, before I start, I owe an apology to Mike Stewart of Bark River Knives. In my research, I uncovered incorrect information which pointed to him as being responsible for the drop in the quality of some Blackjack knives. I have recently been informed that such information is untrue and the truth of the matter is that Mr Stewart tried desperately to preserve the company and that the demise of BlackJack and the batches of low quality knives came after Mr Stewart's departure.

So Mike Stewart, If you're reading this post, please accept my apology. I stand at your call anytime to recant to anyone who asks about my persecution of you in the Blackjack debacle.

Now, to the knives.
The reason you don't see much interest in them is that they were mostly sold and given as prizes to military personnel and government paramilitary organizations. Up until the 70's and 80's, unless you were in the military, you didn't hear or know about these knives.

Since there hasn't been a whole lot of historically accurate research done on these knives, we glean what we can from tidbits of anecdotal evidence and from the museum and rather than rehash all the discussions, you can run a search on commando knives (ek is too short and the software won't run a search on that word). There are also several other very informed collectors here ("Barrabas74" and "bald1" being two that springs to mind) who can instantly tell you what you have and what you don't have. Each of their generations will have a slight difference in markings and appearance.

As for beginning a collection, you can pick a relatively good quality one off ebay from 75 to 150 for an Effingham specimen, and a Richmond made one for 150 to 300. Current Richmond production is among the best of any knives bearing the Ek name, so consider one of those if your budget allows it.

As for the crappy Eks, I'm not sure of the specific timetable, but just before and soon thereafter BlackJack went under, you had some atrocious knives coming out of the factory, or assembled from leftover parts. grind lines were off, beadblasting spotty, handguards improperly fitted and bad heattreats. Almost all of these sported the Effingham markings and/or a smaller Ek logo (the regular ek logo being about the size of a quarter, and the smaller about the size of a nickel)

Last but not least, there was also a line of knives called "Expedition Knives" which doesn't deserve being discussed here. They were an attempt at associating this line with John Ek and they weren't particularly well made or good looking.
 
The Ek knives look like they were meant for primarily stabbing and prying. I have never handled or seen one in person, but in my opinion the grinds on those blades seem like you probably cant get an Ek knife very sharp.

Am I completely off?
 
My daughter has a small Ek skinner that I bought her in 1986, when she was 5 years old, to take on her first deer hunt. (Incidently, she was a natural hunter. How many five year olds would sit still for five hours on a cold morning in hopes of seeing a deer?)

A few weeks after she was struck by a hit and run driver and was lying near death, when I was cleaning out her car prior to disposal, I found the little Ek in its sheath, stunk down in the seam next to the driver's seat. (She was always security and weapons oriented, just like dad.) I had no idea she still had it. Talk about the old man losing his composure!

Today it resides in her collection display case, along with her Busses and a Branton.
 
I have a late 80s Richmond Model 5, and it takes and holds an excellent edge.

We only ever had one Ek dealer here in Australia, and he only ever got one batch, so I’ve only ever seen mine and the ones that were in the display case with it.
 
psycho78 said:
your daughter ok? I'm not following.
Click to expand...

She has been defying doctor's expectations for four years now. Has to use a walker and can't speak very well. Tough as nails. Refuses to be kept down.
 
MelancholyMutt, you certainly lived up to your reputation !! Good info and thanks for the tip on using the search. I thought that I must have lost my mind. Now that I know it's a search glitch and keyed in "commando" instead of "Ek" all is right with the world again.

Would you help me pin down the details of what I own...


Here's what I think so far, I actually have three Ek knives, not two as earlier posted...

The first is a M3, blade and a half with a curved forward heavy brass crossguard and black Para-chord wrapped grip. It is marked with an Ek emblem on the front showing crossed knives and KOREA / WORLD WAR II / VIETNAM 1941 COMMANDO. There is no 'lower banner' or mention of "GULF WAR" or "IRAQ WAR". On the back of the blade it is marked "MADE IN USA EFFINGHAM, IL". The sheath is made of a black, relatively thin cordura material which is not load carrying equipment web belt material, does not have any Para-chord wrapped around it, is made with crummy rivets, the bottom corners are cut square, and has a tag sewn onto the back of it that reads "Handmade in U.S.A EK Commando Knife CO Effingham, Illinois".

I think I've narrowed this one down to a 'Blackjack Ek' - destroyer of the Ek reputation. But the quality seems ok to my untrained eye. Cost = $75 - $150. Am I right, any thoughts and can you help narrow it down any further???

The second is a M3, blade and a half with a curved forward heavy brass crossguard and olive drab Para-chord wrapped grip. It is marked with an Ek emblem on the front showing crossed knives and KOREA / WORLD WAR II / VIETNAM 1941 COMMANDO. There is no 'lower banner' or mention of "GULF WAR" or "IRAQ WAR". Under the Ek emblem it is marked "RICHMOND VA. U.S.A." The back of the blade is unmarked. The sheath is made of olive drab, heavy, load carrying equipment web belt material, has olive drab Para-chord wrapped around it and is made with nice rivets, and the bottom corners are cut at 45 degree angles and melted closed.

I think I've narrowed this one down to an actual 'Ek Commando' - Pre-Blackjack. Not an original John Ek, nor his son Gary's, but the quality seems good and is considered by most to be a very high quality and desirable knife. Cost = $150 - $300. Am I right, any thoughts and can you help narrow it down any further???

The third is a M5, bowie blade with a curved forward heavy brass crossguard and black Para-chord wrapped grip. It is marked with an Ek emblem on the front showing crossed knives and KOREA / WORLD WAR II / VIETNAM 1941 COMMANDO. There is no 'lower banner' or mention of "GULF WAR" or "IRAQ WAR". There is no place of manufacture on the front or back of the blade. The sheath is made of black, heavy, load carrying equipment web belt material, has black Para-chord wrapped around it and is made with nice rivets, and the bottom corners are cut at 45 degree angles and melted closed.

This one is a bit tricky for me, the blade seems early, as the Ek emblem has no 'lower banner' or mention of "GULF WAR" or "IRAQ WAR", but it does not say were it was made. It's a bowie style blade, which confuses me as to when they were introduced and/or re-introduced. The sheath is the higher quality type like that of my second knife listed above. Cost = ??? Any thoughts and can you help narrow it down any further???

Thanks in advance, I realize that this was a bit long and detailed, thanks for the time and sharing your knowledge...
 
Well, you're pretty much right on the first two. I would guess that the second one was made between 1982 and 1991, due to the "Commando" markings. The M3 was a common knife so the value is in the low range. The 5 is from the same era and I would pay about 200 for one of these. (assuming the knives are New in Box). There are a few limited editions, special editions and very rare knives like the model 6 from this era which push the 300 dollar mark. Once you move into the Miami knives and the Camden knives the value skyrocket from there. The highest valued knives are of course the serial numbered knives which have documented histories.
 
Cool !!

Thanks for the good news and the education. For the time being I'll keep all three. They are not new in the box, but have not been used either. They sport scrapes from sliding in and out of their sheaths. Maybe when I'm feeling benevolent, I'll give away the 1st one to some very appreciative, yet unknowing friend. I'll now start to keep my eyes pealed for Miami's and Hamden's...

Thanks again...
 
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