a question about Ek model 4 dagger

[fast14riot]

Hey guys, I am wanting to make my own version (not a direct copy) of an Ek Model 4 fighting knife. I have never seen one in person, so hopefully some of you here have, or own one, and can answer my question.

So far I have found the blade to be 6.6" and handle to be 5" with 3/4" tang past it for a "skull crusher" or pry bar end. Scales are 3/8" thick each and the whole thing is 1" wide. The model 4 has a double edge with guard. My question is about the guard, there doesn't appear to be a shoulder for the guard to rest against, and the originals had thin guards, to thin presumably to be pinned. How are the guards held in place? Is there a small shoulder and then its soldered on? Is it put on from the tip like a lovelace type knife? Doesn't seem to have a long enough taper to do that. Any help would be great, and if you have detailed pics that would be even better.

I hope I am asking in the right forum, if not please excuse me and mods feel free to move this.


Many thanx


-Xander

 

[ron_m80]

They are not soldered, and use a reduced tang IIRC.

 

[fast14riot]

They are not soldered, and use a reduced tang IIRC.

So they are press fit against a small shoulder and held in place by the scales? All the pictures I have found sure don't show it very well. So is the entire handle tapered? Sure looks like it isn't. I'm guessing the shoulder must be no more than 1/16" or so per side.

I am trying to make it look like the originals, not the new ones with more curves and shaping.


-Xander

 

[ron_m80]

So they are press fit against a small shoulder and held in place by the scales? All the pictures I have found sure don't show it very well. So is the entire handle tapered? Sure looks like it isn't. I'm guessing the shoulder must be no more than 1/16" or so per side.

I am trying to make it look like the originals, not the new ones with more curves and shaping.


-Xander

If you are ready to make a knife, I am sure you can come up with a mechanically secure method for fitting a guard on your "not a direct copy"' of a knife, that you are "trying to make look like the original". There are good pictures on google images when you enter "EK knives" as the search criteria.

An original EK knife.

 

[zerogee]

Here's a Vietnam era model 4 -- it's pretty obvious here that the tang is reduced to fit the guard:

 

[fast14riot]

Thanx Zero, I didn't find a picture with a straight on shot like that, they were either skewed one way or the other not really showing the guard area very well.

Ron, what I meant by not a direct copy of is I want it to be obvious in styling but in no way confused with an original, not that my skills are even close to that level yet. I really like the simplicity of it, and it is so simple it is hard not to directly copy it and still have it look like it. I may copy it exactly (as best I can) but in miniature, though.


-Xander

 

[ron_m80]

Ron, what I meant by not a direct copy of is I want it to be obvious in styling but in no way confused with an original, not that my skills are even close to that level yet. I really like the simplicity of it, and it is so simple it is hard not to directly copy it and still have it look like it. I may copy it exactly (as best I can) but in miniature, though.


-Xander

The EK's are nice and simple. I like them for that reason too. Good luck with your project.