EK Knives Aussie Bowie

No takers eh? lol I believe it's one of the Blackjack models made in Effingham. I did manage to find out it's made of 440c and 3/16 thick. I did'nt find too much in the search function, it crashes because EK is only 2 letters.
However, I did gather the Blackjack models of the EK knives could be quite variable when it came to things like steel quality and heat treatment.
So I suppose I'm wondering if they are they worth considering at all?
thanks, Rod.
 
The knife came to being after the name was licensed to Blackjack. Quality varies on the BJ's from very nice during the beginning and the middle to really shoddy close to the end of blackjacks existance.
The Aussie bowie was going for $30 to 40 on ebay just a few month ago. For 40 bucks, it's a nice knife... for a hundred, you could do better.
 
They are more novelty than user knives. OK for collecting but that's about it!

$100 is way too much.

They're cutting performance is equally poor as the Glock field knife.

Collecter
 
Oh well, that settles it. MAYBE if I got one really cheap but if it does'nt work to start with they're no good to me. Thanks for the input, Rod.
 
There appears to be some new production out there of some older EK models, such as several variations of the Commando Boot Knife, Commando Bowie, Commando Aussie Bowie and etc. No info as to who is producing them, but I believe Bark River owns the EK name now.

Distributor has no descriptive info or pictures posted yet.

Sure would like to know more......
 
Owning and licensing are two different names... I think the reality was, Stewart was licensed, but believed he completely owned the name... lawsuits were engaged, yet Ek still exists in Richmond Virginia under it's original name, and Mike Stewart produces knives as "Expedition Knives"... I'm an idiot so don't take stock in my conclusions.
 
Per Mike, IIRC, when he discovered he did not have exclusive rights in the name, he stopped marking knives "EK." Some he made before that decision point are still being sold from time-to-time.
 
How does one "discover" that he does not have exclusive rights to the name... he never had exclusive rights to the name... his story does not add up to what happened...
Licenses and Rights are very different things...
 
MelancholyMutt said:
How does one "discover" that he does not have exclusive rights to the name... he never had exclusive rights to the name... his story does not add up to what happened...
Licenses and Rights are very different things...
Click to expand...

One might be told something that is not true. Or it could be an honest difference of opinion. Ever happened to you?

At this point, Mutt, why don't you ask Mike. He's explained it at his forum at the other place.

Having said that, a license gives you rights. That's what it's all about. :rolleyes: (Let's see, how many license agreements did I draft for United Features Syndicate?)
 
Well, it has to be recent, since they are A2 steel. Bark River is a pretty new company and they use A2 exclusively
 
Thomas Linton said:
One might be told something that is not true. Or it could be an honest difference of opinion. Ever happened to you?

At this point, Mutt, why don't you ask Mike. He's explained it at his forum at the other place.

Having said that, a license gives you rights. That's what it's all about. :rolleyes: (Let's see, how many license agreements did I draft for United Features Syndicate?)
Click to expand...

I've seen Jason Stewart at the other site berate the original Ek about not stopping production and being dishonorable about the whole licensing thing. In the manufacturing world, a license means a licensee can make a product under a name. Since I'm not a paralegal or a lawyer, perhaps it is my choice of words that are mistaken. I should have said ownership rather than rights. Several makers can have licenses, and at the same time, the original owner still retain the ownership meaning he can sell more licenses and/or continue making products. Take in consideration the BlackJack/Randall Clone. BlackJack made it, Randall made it previous to, during and after BlackJacks existance.

Anyway, I spoke to Richmond Ek employee in 1991 back when the whole BlackJack/Ek thing started. It drew my attention because a few of the guys in ROTC was going to drop out and enlist as E-2's because everyone thought the first Gulf War was going to be a long drawn out war. If I went, I wanted a Richmond Ek to take with me. I was told that Blackjack had bought the license to make "production" knives, that they did not "own" the name, and that the Richmond Ek shop still made the models 1 to 4. Now, what we have here are two very conflicting stories. Mike's story, however, makes less sense... why would you give up a perfectly good license and mark your knives deceptively (Expedition Knives) when you owned the license legitimately? It's a shame we don't have a copy of the licensing agreement. It would clear up a lot of confusion.
 
MelancholyMutt said:
Take in consideration the BlackJack/Randall Clone. BlackJack made it, Randall made it previous to, during and after BlackJacks existance.
Click to expand...

The patent on the 1-7 design ran out decades ago -- if there was a patent. Anyone can make that pattern. They cannot use the Randall name without a license.
. . .
MelancholyMutt said:
Anyway, I spoke to Richmond Ek employee in 1991 back when the whole BlackJack/Ek thing started. . . . I wanted a Richmond Ek to take with me. I was told that Blackjack had bought the license to make "production" knives, that they did not "own" the name, and that the Richmond Ek shop still made the models 1 to 4. Now, what we have here are two very conflicting stories. Mike's story, however, makes less sense... why would you give up a perfectly good license and mark your knives deceptively (Expedition Knives) when you owned the license legitimately? It's a shame we don't have a copy of the licensing agreement. It would clear up a lot of confusion.
Click to expand...

How about because you invested $$ to make a lot of knives, then found out you didn't have the right to use the EK name that you thought you had and don't want to be associated with that name? Trash the knives? Apply a name that you CAN use? Not a tough choice unless you're made of money. These are all small businesses.
 
Yes, Thomas, the point IS that Stewart somehow, does NOT have the full right to use the Ek trademark. his knives are thus marked EK, expedition knives and would pass as an Ek knife to the casual observer or novice (why not call them bark river knives).

It's funny that if a white guy in the midwest clones a knife and sells it with a name that is deceptively close to another trademarked name, it's a matter of business, and if someone in China or Japan makes a clone, then they are evil and thieves.

Thomas, not many people want to defend Stewarts position because they are not as stellar and pure as they make themselves out to be and arguing with them is a lost cause. Being an avid Ek collector, I've followed the story since it started way back so I'm not gonna buy any b*llsh*t story...
 
Well this is the thing..I started to follow the EK business story and just got confused. I thought that I would like an EK of some description and thought the Aussie bowie might be worth a try. It isn't..:) What about those ones shown at the AG Russel site? Are they worth considering? Thanks, Rod.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top