EK Knife.

[50 Shooter]

I finally finished the one I was working on, bought a couple years ago as a blank off of eBay. The first thing I did was send it back to the factory to have the brass guard installed. From there its basically sat while I got all the paperwork and box that went along with the knife.

I already have an EK knife that I bought when I was in the Army back in the 80's but its a model SF-3 which has the regular edge and a false edge on half the other side. This one is a dagger model with both sides sharp.

The last part just got finished, I was thinking about putting regular handles on it after seeing I think it was RC's with them on his. The problem with that is I wanted them to be lead rivets if I used wood for the handles. One of the guys I work with does all that stuff with paracord and I asked him if he wanted a project. I showed him pics of my other knife and asked him if he was interested and said yes.

So, follow the linky to see a few pics of the knife now finished. http://www.daplane.com/50shooter/knife_show/

 

[rcmodel]

Nice job!

Where did you find the box & papers?

rc

 

[50 Shooter]

Had to go through EK, wasn't that expensive but you get the bag for the knife, all the paperwork, wax paper to wrap it all in and the box. I had to search eBay for the patch and the dog tag though.

Originally I was gonna do all this quick and flip it but after seeing it finished, its mine all day! I have less in it then what they sell it for but feel that its way better then factory. If I find another blank I think I'll try the lead rivets. I really like EK knives, the history back to John is amazing.

 

[rcmodel]

Here is the one I made black Micarta scales & brass bolts for.



Here is the lead rivet one.





rc

 

[50 Shooter]

Yeah, those put the idea in my head. I like both styles and could still do either with this knife as all I need to do is take off the paracord. Trying to find another blank is the question, the guy that used to sell them must have run out.

I prefer the dagger style but I wouldn't say no to a blank like my original.

 

[hso]

I would expect any blanks that are available would come from the old Blackjack Knives inventory after they went under.

FYI, the knives put out today are not quite like the ones that John Ek produced unless they're specific "WWII" repros. He took a utilitarian approach to making a combat knife for American troops that most folks don't want to pay for these days unless they're enthusiasts.

 

[lemaymiami]

If you do attempt a wooden handle with lead rivets -the originals had rock maple handles... On another thread I described actually meeting the old man down here in paradise in a dusty storefront around forty years ago. I can still recall a bunch of old slightly rusty blade blanks that I could have bought for pennies.... They were a far cry from the carefully finished commercial product that was available to grunts headed for their 'senior trip' in the sixties...

At the time I had no clue about the WW2 knives that he produced for our soldiers...

 

[hso]

FYI

Robert Buerlein sold Ek Commando Knife Co. to KA-BAR this past May. According to KA-BAR, its Ek knives will be available for purchase in 2015.

 

[AJumbo]

Are those lead rivets poured, or peened in? I can't imagine molten lead not scorching the maple scales...?

 

[rcmodel]

The ones I did on the bottom knife in post #4 were poured.

The scorching from the over-pour comes off with the excess lead when you shape the handle.

rc

 

[50 Shooter]

Let's hope they keep the two companies seperate as it wouldnt help either companies reputations if the knives werent kept up to standards of their past. Right now there are some really cool original EK knives on eBay for sale. Better have a deep wallet, none of them are cheap.

 

[rcmodel]

And I'd lay money about 85% of them on eBay & gunshows are fakes too!

When it comes to original WWII EK's, the buyer better really know his stuff!

rc

 

[hso]

50 Shooter,

The Ek knives will be made in the same plant as the rest of KaBar's products. Considering how basic John Ek knife designs are it won't be any problem for KaBar to keep up with the quality.

 

[rcmodel]

Maybe, maybe too?

They may high gloss polish them?
Or powder coat them?

It would be kinda neat if they would just revert to a crudely ground & finished one like the original WWII one that made EK knives famous.

But they won't.

I don't think they can program a CNC grinder to produce something like that out of a machine stamped blank!

rc

 

[hso]

RC,

I think they're going for WWII, but we'll have to see what they show at SHOT before we know for sure (unless I can get my hands on a proto).

 

[50 Shooter]

RC,
Is yours with the lead rivets an original? From the look of the blade it looks like it or really close, I'm liking the rivet look the more I look at yours.

 

[rcmodel]

No, it is not.
I think it is an old hog sticker someone made.

A friend found the blade in a flea market for 50 cents.

The actual handle is shorter then a real EK.

rc