CLASSIC 1-7 MODEL EFFINGHAM il

shawn242010 · Jul 11, 2015

Hi all i have posted in a while been working alot i got a nw blade from a local gun shop. I was not certain what it was i just knew i liked it.when i got home i looked it up.i found its a classic 1-7 orignal black jack made in effingham il.i have two questions.first i found a bunch online with stacked leather handles but mine has a wood handle looks like cocobolo wood.but i can only find the leather and micarta ones.does anyone have any in put on these and how will it do as a basic camp hiking knife.?it is convex ground and almost the sharpst knife i have and i have many high end blades.thank you for any info

tidefan · Jul 11, 2015

Those Blackjack knives are outstanding!! They came in many handle configurations and were made with A2 tool steel. As a camp knife it will be excellent and will last more than a lifetime.

tltt · Jul 11, 2015

Blackjack used a few different woods during the Effingham years, it should be a fine knife, if you like the length and can work around the double guard, if it has one. Very few things to find fault with in that (Randall influenced) design.

shawn242010 · Jul 12, 2015

it does have a double guard i saw some dont .I can get around it i think,from what i can tell just by handlin it at home.I cant say one way or another as far as field use im goin campin next weekend.If i cant deal with the guard should i mod myself or send it away to someone.If i do it myself any tips on how\what tools to use.Oh yeah sorry about my spelling my lap top is on its last leg and a bunch of keys are stickin.Makin it seem like i spell worse than i already do.I probly should be payin to fix it instead of buyin more knives

nick21 · Jul 12, 2015

Wow, Effingham? Really? I live within a few miles of there. Small world.

22-rimfire · Jul 12, 2015

The only Effingham Blackjack I own is the Trail Guide (4.5") which has Dyamondwood handles with a chestnut grain. Buck still uses this material on knife handles as my C Alaskan Guide Series knife has these handles.

I have the current 1-7 made by Bark River. It should be a good camp knife. For general trail use, I would find the 7" blade a tad long, but I certainly could get accustomed to it. I prefer the 125 (5") or the new 124 (4.1") size more.

If you would like to modify the guard, I would suggest you contact Bark River. Mike Stewart owns Bark River and he made the Effingham Blackjacks as well back in the 1990's under a different company name.

scottyj · Jul 12, 2015

Congrats on the fine blade, but you forgot to post the PICTURES of said knife.

shawn242010 · Jul 12, 2015

pics will be coming soon i dont think im allowed to right now.but i think im gona buy a gold membership this week.I would like to share some pics of my ever growing collection.Plus i have a brkt i would like to sell .Can i do this with a gold membership?I know it is a bit of a large blade for camping and hiking.but i have a buck 119 i use alot as a camp knife,and the 1-7 is only slightly larger.Im gona try to get used to it that knife just speaks to me for some reason.I really like the look and feel of it.I know its not full tang but i use my blades for cutting.i save the heavy stuff for my ax.Although im shure it could handle processing some kindling .How do you like the trail guide ?Im eyeballing one of those at the same gun shop!

bdmicarta · Jul 13, 2015

shawn242010 said:
pics will be coming soon i dont think im allowed to right now

Upload your photos to something like photobucket and then just put links in your messages.

The Blackjack 1-7 is a very good blade for camp utility use. I don't know if they made any in stainless steel so you will have to take care of your blade a little bit to prevent corrosion.

22-rimfire · Jul 13, 2015

shawn242010 said:
<snip> I know it is a bit of a large blade for camping and hiking.but i have a buck 119 i use alot as a camp knife,and the 1-7 is only slightly larger. Im gona try to get used to it that knife just speaks to me for some reason.I really like the look and feel of it.I know its not full tang but i use my blades for cutting.i save the heavy stuff for my ax.Although im shure it could handle processing some kindling .How do you like the trail guide ?Im eyeballing one of those at the same gun shop!

I think it will work just fine. It is full tang. The tang is just reduced in width to fit inside the handle. I wouldn't beat on it too hard. The 1-7 SPEAKS to me too. Every time I pick it up, I just go "wow". Wipe it off with some oil when you are done using it or it gets wet, and it shouldn't rust. Be sure to store outside the leather sheath, just in case. It's a great knife. I am always surprised that the Blackjacks don't get more attention on this forum, but I like the old classic Randall look.