Old EK Knife Question

[Skofnung]

Well, it looks like one of the knives I've had for years (since I was 11 or 12 years old) is an EK, made in Hamden Conn., and I didn't even know it.

I was wondering if any of you knew anything about EK knives. I've been looking all over the web trying to find info on them and I've found some cool stuff, but nothing quite like the one I have.

Mine is well worn, but if you look very closely on the right side of the blade you can see ..."K* Knife", and below that, "Hamden. Conn" (the H in Hamden being worn quite a bit but visible.) I'm to understand that the Hamden knives were made no later than 1949.

At the ricasso, the number 11 is stamped, and below that, either O923 or 0923.


Thanks

* The "K" is in script

 

[CWL]

John Ek knives, ~100K made during WWII & sold directly to soldiers. They are quite collectible and sell on eBay for ~$300s-$800s. Yours is probably in the $600 range. The straight 'pig-sticker' style is more common than your bowie style, don't know if that means if yours is more valuable or not.

Your knife # is probably "D"923. "D" = the number "4" so your knife is #4293 of this pattern, which would make it a very low serial#. Didn't know the models ran up to #11.

There is a website www.ekknife.com but i couldn't open it so I don't know if it is live anymore.

I know there is also a book about Ek knives, maybe you can find a copy on Amazon or a library.

 

[hso]

don't know if that means if yours is more valuable or not.

Oh yes, much more valuable than the pig sticker. Oil it up and treasure it. IF you can find the booklet that came with it you're in even better shape.

 

[Joe Demko]

What is the provenance of the knife?

 

[Skofnung]

What is the provenance of the knife?

I traded for it. A close friend of my father's was a FDLE agent and he had a ton of knives. I collected knives and bayonets as a kid, and I had an old beat up 98k Mauser that I didn't like. My dads friend offered me three knives in trade, one being the EK. Truth be told, the other two knives were the ones I wanted, and the EK was thrown in at the last minute, to even the deal.

I have no idea where he got it. Unfortunately, both he and my father have gone on to their rewards, so I don't get to ask.

I always thought that it was a homemade fighting knife, as it is quite crude. I happened to stumble upon a photo of an EK #1 yesterday, and I thought, "hey, I've got one kinda like that!" The sheath that it came in is not right for it (an old Buck sheath), but the knife is sound. There is no paperwork.

Where could I find the specific value of such a piece?

 

[hso]

Try Knifeforums to see if anyone can tell you what it is worth. You'll need pictures of the other side as well as what you have so they can help.

Also, do you have the sheath?

 

[Skofnung]

Also, do you have the sheath?

Unfortunately no, it came to my possession in an old, ill fitting (but well made) Buck sheath, marked on the back "120-S Custom"