Okapi people...

[evan61]

Hello, i hail from California. The closest i've come to Africa is through my parents who've been there a handful of times....South Africa, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast...recently interested in Okapi knives and its history. I understand the original factory was in Germany and that it was a popular knife with german soldiers WWI and II. Now the factory is in South Africa...

I'm interested to see any pictures and find out more about the history of the spring back folder (where the spring straddles the folder) which i understand is a few centuries old...

Jacques Mongin is a well known and respected maker in France who makes this type...photo attached...Cold Steel makes a copy of the Okapi called the Kudu...

all the best...

[lohengrin]

Hi Evan

do you want an okapi knife?

I have a couple of spare ones lying around and I can send you one...

[Myal]

I have a few Okapis ....

had an interest in them since I was a kid , its big enough interest know that I buy in bulk direct from Okapi South Africa

apologies for the cruddy pics













I kinda like Okapis

If you are looking for one and I got it , ask , Ill sling it over to you .

All I know about the history of the ring lock knife is its turned up in medi evil times in europe from France thru to russia , it wasnt unique to anywhere aparently really , it was the lock blade for a long long time , tho it looks funny , the ring doesnt get in the way when the knife is being used .

Their webpage is here http://www.okapi-knives.com/ tho I think its undergoing the long awaited revision I heard rumours of a couple year ago ...

[Myal]

this is the culprit that got me into Okapis so many years ago


this is the state of affairs today tho



well actually that was an old pic , things just got worse since then ...

Im done bragging about it now tho

[Buffalohump]

The ring lock Okapi is an interesting design. Unfortunately the materials used are so crappy I've never bothered to pick one up, even though they cost next to nothing out here.

It would be great if someone would start making a version of it with decent steel and wood. Its a cool design, just needs some quality craftsmanship to make it worth owning.

[Myal]

The ring lock Okapi is an interesting design. Unfortunately the materials used are so crappy I've never bothered to pick one up, even though they cost next to nothing out here.

It would be great if someone would start making a version of it with decent steel and wood. Its a cool design, just needs some quality craftsmanship to make it worth owning.

it needs better quality control as far as fit and finish goes true

I disagree about the steel not being decent tho , the blade is often badly ground new , but if you can sharpen a knife , they are not bad at all for the money they cost .

here the options for a knife under $10 is chinese mystery metal , opinel or okapi , the opinels and okapis both have hi carbon blades , and that alone is why I buy them .

[worldknives]

Hi Evan61-
I came across a few 12 packs of new/old stock German Okapi shotgun shell puller if you want one. Someone told me they were WWI era, but I don't have anything to back that up. They are marked 1913 and I want to go with that, but it could be the date the company was established? Any ideas Myal?

They are cool, but they are really poorly made.

I will post a couple of pictures in a little bit.

WK

[worldknives]

This is my first try at posting pictures. So hopefully this works.

To be clear from my last e-mail I am not trying to sell these. I have a pack that busted open and if Evan61 and Myal are interested I can send you each one for free.

By the way Myal you have a few models I have never seen. Cool!

[Myal]

Worldknives
I never knew what that kind of hilt was for , thanks for that !
they are oldies too , the 1913 date stamp is something that is only getting a hell of a lot rarer !

I thank you for the offer of the free knife , but I also know the prohibitive cost of mailing from the US to here too .

I found these recently , Im a bit happy cos they are unsharpened still


one of them came from Israel ... a well traveled knife indeed

[worldknives]

Hey Myal-
That first hunter looks like about the best quality Okapi I have seen. I had no idea that so many models existed. I have imported 4 of the inlaid wood/pulp handle models and seen a few more, but you have an impressive collection going on.

My offer is still open. First class should only be a few bucks. If you feel bad about you could always keep your eye out for old Solingen marked knives. That is what I collect now. I'm working on a documentary about Solingen, Germany and the history of knife production there. I'm hooked!

Thanks for sharing those pics.

Chris

[ausjulius]

ah my other okapi fans,....
ill have to sya these knives are realy good knives for the money.
aspecialy the solid working of the lock.. and for the price , ther eis nno better knives, they are, well above the opinel,, and much better for working,


outside transit ministry in moscow,



in the australian bush in the northen territory




ive taken this knife in a compleat circle around the world once and about 1/2 times more, it realy has proven very good for the price,, it was a gift by a czech knife shop owner,
alas recenlty it was stolen from me,.
it has been on 4 continents and about 14 countries..
i miss it greatly :S .

[ausjulius]

[ausjulius]

the first pic in the secound post, it is ,, well an esample of 3 very chap things that lso work well,

[worldknives]

Hey my Brother down under-
Thanks for the photos of the Okapis in action. Cool to see them being used and not only collected.

Cheers!

Chris

[Myal]

The knife on the bottom of the picture , please tell me , what is it , where can I get my hands on one ?
Thank you !

[Diamond Dog]

Nice pics of everyone's okapi knives! These knives look like good work horse knives. Myal, do you still have some okapi's for sale?

[Myal]

Diamond Dog , email me an address howyergoin@bigpond.com , you can have one , no worries .

[ausjulius]

[i suppose it is the only okpai ever to visit dagestan haha





in kizlyar factory where i once worked , big contrast , one costs 250 times more than the other :O

[ausjulius]

This is my first try at posting pictures. So hopefully this works.

To be clear from my last e-mail I am not trying to sell these. I have a pack that busted open and if Evan61 and Myal are interested I can send you each one for free.

By the way Myal you have a few models I have never seen. Cool!

have you any better pictures of these knives.
i have never seen these before,

[worldknives]

I never thought I would see a connection between Kizlyar and Okapi knives! That is a sweet Kizlyar!

Chris