What the EK?

[stabman]

So, back in August of 2018 I believe it was, I came across an Ek knife at a local pawn shop. Leather sheath, talked them down to $60 for it.

Checked out an area on the way home where I sometimes do charity with the homeless people camped out there, and a guy starts yelling gibberish, and walking towards me waving an 8 inch blade butcher knife around. Okay...knife stays in the plastic bag from the pawn shop, but pepper spray gets slipped from the pocket...

Halfway there, he puts the knife into the cardboard and tape sheath he was wearing. Turns out English is not his first language; guy was trying to speak English, wondering if I wanted to share some food he had. Thanks but no thanks; time to head home with new knife.

Looks like it's a PG-6 double edged Bowie.

Redid some of the sheath paracord in that manliest of colours...pink camo.

Looks rather neat in the back alleys of the (somewhat) big city.

Well, my wife got me a Combat Master sheath for it, and I picked up a couple other Ek's; a model 4 dagger, and the Ka-Bar EK 43.
The sheaths for the Ka-Bar AND the Model 4 both sucks donkey private parts, so I bought a new leather sheath for the EK43, and put the 4 in the sheath that came with the PG-6.

And I re-wrapped the handle of the PG-6 in that manly pink camo as well.

Well, then I got the Ka-Bar Ek44 dagger, and decided to test it out maintaining a trail that I have been taking care of over the past bunch of years. It makes a great short cut through a wooded area; pretty sure I know who first made it. But the temperature rose, the ground got flooded, so I decided to check out the surrounding area instead. First up was the abandoned building that has seen gang and hobo activity over the last couple of years; it is now boarded back up again.

 

[stabman]

Well, into the wooded area, and what's that over there? Looks like someone has made an encampment. The Ka-Bar EK44 worked well for clearing a path around the flooded path created by the homeless folks carting their trash into the area.

As I got closer, the scale of trash became evident. Mounds of garbage, piles of stolen bikes and bike parts, and a sharps disposal box too.

After checking to make sure no one was currently there, time to get a few knife shots.

The guard was wiggly after one usage as a trail clearing knife...more on that later.

The internet has said that there was a tag in the belt loop of the Ka-Bar sheath saying made in China. The box says sheath made in USA...well...

My personal thought is that Ka-Bar DOES make the Celcon sheath in the USA, but the loop is made in China. By the way, two of the sheaths I examined came from authorized Ka-Bar dealers, so they weren't fakes.

 

[stabman]

Okay, time to take the Ka-bar Ek45 Bowie blade out to see how it fairs maintaining that trail (ground frozen again).

Eeet will stab!

Oh yeah, remember this shelter?

Well, now it is this:

Oh well.

Now, the complaint people have had about the Ka-Bar Ek knives has been that using them makes the guard wiggly; this is true enough.
However, this is because the guard is held in place solely by the scales, so when they move, the guard can wiggle.
The solution is to take them off, clean it all up, then put them back on.

Here are the first disassembly pics I've ever seen of any Ka-Bar Ek knife:

 

[stabman]

Oh yeah, the final "What the Ek" moment?
The Model 4 fell tip first to the linoleum, and the tip snapped off.
So, I put a new tip on...with a file!!!
So the Richmond Ek knives had a magical steel that managed to be both soft and brittle at the same time; quite a feat.

 

[3fifty7]

Ok, I like and encourage posting pictures more than most but 30 something...reel it back in a little.

Congrats on the new blade.

 

[stabman]

Ok, I like and encourage posting pictures more than most but 30 something...reel it back in a little.

Congrats on the new blade.

I had more pictures.

 

[22-rimfire]

Looks like you're on an EK binge. In the early 90's, I bought the EK bowie that you found (with walnut handles) at a gun show. I believe it was my first "survival knife" in the vein of John Rambo. It was about the time when I purchased a couple Randall's and the beginnings of my "higher end" fixed blade purchases. The EK was an impulse buy at the time. I haven't used it for squat but I have enjoyed fondling it over the last 20+ years from time to time.

One advantage of the EK design is the easy to take the handles off. I had been impressed by the Kabar versions, but put off by the black paint/finish.

Back around 2006, EK had a booth/tables beside Bob Dozier and AG Russell at the Blade Show in Atlanta GA. (You were still a young pup then Stabman.) I believe that was when I first "discovered" Bob Dozier knives and I purchased one. But the humorous thing was that I had walked into the EK booth to get a better angle to fondle the Dozier blades. EK didn't like it one bit. I probably wouldn't have either. I chuckle about it now, but I know I was a bit of an asshat at the time.

Edited for grammar.

 

[jdm61]

They must be using that German kitchen knife super steel. Chip and roll on the same edge. I had the single edge version of that knife. Still have it somewhere. Never could get a really nice edge on it.

Oh yeah, the final "What the Ek" moment?
The Model 4 fell tip first to the linoleum, and the tip snapped off.
So, I put a new tip on...with a file!!!
So the Richmond Ek knives had a magical steel that managed to be both soft and brittle at the same time; quite a feat.

 

[Tommy-Chi]

Okay, time to take the Ka-bar Ek45 Bowie blade out to see how it fairs maintaining that trail (ground frozen again).

Eeet will stab!

Oh yeah, remember this shelter?

Well, now it is this:

Oh well.

Now, the complaint people have had about the Ka-Bar Ek knives has been that using them makes the guard wiggly; this is true enough.
However, this is because the guard is held in place solely by the scales, so when they move, the guard can wiggle.
The solution is to take them off, clean it all up, then put them back on.

Here are the first disassembly pics I've ever seen of any Ka-Bar Ek knife:

Moar pics!

I like EK Knives, but do not have any yet.

I know abt the guard wiggle, but I never read how to stop it, and that is why I'm hesitant to buy one. HOW did you stop the guard from wiggling and does it come back with use?

 

[AntDog]

Oh yeah, the final "What the Ek" moment?
The Model 4 fell tip first to the linoleum, and the tip snapped off.
So, I put a new tip on...with a file!!!
So the Richmond Ek knives had a magical steel that managed to be both soft and brittle at the same time; quite a feat.

Been there, done that. Such a sickening sound when it hits and you just KNOW it snapped...

 

[GIRLYmann]

What an awesome post!
pretty Ek-citing pictures too

 

[stabman]

I know abt the guard wiggle, but I never read how to stop it, and that is why I'm hesitant to buy one. HOW did you stop the guard from wiggling and does it come back with use?

When you put the scales back on, snug them up against the guard.
Crank the bolts tighter than the way they come from the factory.

If you use it enough, the wiggle will come back eventually, but then you just loosen, snug the scales against the guard, and tighten again.

 

[Tommy-Chi]

When you put the scales back on, snug them up against the guard.
Crank the bolts tighter than the way they come from the factory.

If you use it enough, the wiggle will come back eventually, but then you just loosen, snug the scales against the guard, and tighten again.

Sounds easy enough! I'll buy a few in 2019.

 

[DocJD]

Great pics and story !

I've never experienced the Ek brand, but some such might be OK for the occasional stabbing but not so great for bushcraft ?

 

[22-rimfire]

Great pics and story !

I've never experienced the Ek brand, but some such might be OK for the occasional stabbing but not so great for bushcraft ?

That is my take as well. EK didn't even list the steel type on the late 80's > early 90's Comando Bowie that I own. Have little use for this knife. But as I mentioned, it has been fun to fondle from time to time. So, I think it has served it's purpose for me. It was my first "survival knife" in the vein of John Rambo. Never had to survive anything in the woods and haven't attacked any POW camps lately. I always wanted some of the actual Rambo knives, but I knew the commonly available ones were pretty much junk and I had no use for such a knife even if it was a practical design.

 

[The Whip]

Nice photos, nice write-up, and nice score on that Model 6, Stabman! I've always thought that was one of Ek's best designs.

Thanks for sharing your Ek saga!

-Steve

 

[stabman]

Great pics and story !

I've never experienced the Ek brand, but some such might be OK for the occasional stabbing but not so great for bushcraft ?

That is my take as well. EK didn't even list the steel type on the late 80's > early 90's Comando Bowie that I own. Have little use for this knife. But as I mentioned, it has been fun to fondle from time to time. So, I think it has served it's purpose for me. It was my first "survival knife" in the vein of John Rambo. Never had to survive anything in the woods and haven't attacked any POW camps lately. I always wanted some of the actual Rambo knives, but I knew the commonly available ones were pretty much junk and I had no use for such a knife even if it was a practical design.

I think the Ka-Bar EK45 will do okay.
I plan on taking it out sometime when it can get more extended use to tell for sure, but it has a basic blade shape, single edge, and a good steel, so it should do alright.
That rear guard will be a tad annoying, but I can work around that.

Nice photos, nice write-up, and nice score on that Model 6, Stabman! I've always thought that was one of Ek's best designs.

Thanks for sharing your Ek saga!

-Steve

I'd have to agree that it's a pretty great design.
Looks like the previous owner actually used it too for legitimate knife tasks, judging by the work I had to do on the edge. Nice when people use their knives, especially ones that at first glance you wouldn't expect them to.