Got my Ek #5 Bowie today...

MelancholyMutt

MelancholyMutt

Doggy Style
Joined
Apr 13, 2002
Messages
3,906
Thanks to Lagarto who pointed this Ebay offering to me, I have concluded a 15 year search for the Ek #5 bowie with walnut grips.

This bowie represents a childhood search and although disappointing as I will later point out, it is immensly satisfying and joyful as a fullfillment of a dream realized.

As a knife, This Ek is somewhat dissapointing. This particular #5 was a BlackJack creation. As many know, Blackjack of Effingham Illinois acquired the Ek trademark approximately (from memory rather than any documentation) a decade ago and manufacturing ended up in the Midwest. I've noticed the workmanship of knives made here pales in comparison with those made in Miami or COnnecticut, where the original shop was located. I like to think that the "pre-Effingham" Eks, those made in this original Virginia shop, are the "Original" Ek commando knives. Using my specimen as a gauge, I see that the wood slab handles ill fitted and incompletely carved. I may dare say that parts of the handles looked like it was carved by a child. One of the handle slabs did not meet the handguard by about two millimeters and that the same slab exhibited a long deep crack where I have no doubt that vigorous use would cause the handle to break. The bead blast finish seemed worn and inconsistent, but the steel seemed to take a good edge.

The good part? this knife is a piece of history as these are not made anymore, and it's one of the few knives which were produced as a subsidiary of "BlackJack". The steel seems to be of good quality and takes a nice edge. It is definitely a good knife for the money I paid for it today, and the amount it sold for ten years ago. An extra plus is that I've searched for this knife for a very long time and now it's in my grasp. For that, it is an excellent knife.
Mvc-2-02-055f.jpg


Edited... I made the mistake of referring to the "Original" shop being located in Virginia when it was actually located in Miami before that. Before then, it was located in Connecticut. Original thereby could mean the Connecticut, Miami, or Virginia production knives, but not Effingham. As a sidenote, when I was in Army ROTC in Boston, I occasionally heard that members of the Ek family was still serving in the military in the New England area.
 
I have an EK S/F 5 Bowie with an olive drab cord wrapped handle. I got mine from the Cutlery Shoppe around 12 years ago. It has a satin finish and a sheath very similar to yours. I like it very much. It also came with a small booklet entitled "Your silent partner". Very cool. I also have a catalog from EK postmarked May18 2000. I have been unable to find anything regarding the company now. Does anyone know if Ek is still around? I noticed in a recent A.G. Russell catalog Ek knives by Bark River? It said it was a company headed by former Blackjack owner Mike Stewart. It seems it is hard to find out what really has happened to EK in virginia.
 
I'm sure Mike Stewart is a standup guy, but as we know that there are a million things that can go wrong with running a large manufacturing company, something did go wrong with quite a few Ek knives that came out of Effingham. The bad thing about the two new companies that are out there, is that whatever reputation John Ek built up, BlackJack destroyed and I would not recommend for anyone to buy either until they have seen the knives, touched them, and is satisfied to pay good money for them.

Oh, yes, it seems that a few of the previous (I don't know that for fact, but I read somewhere) employees of the original Ek commando knife company got together and is producing the knives in Virginia. I have not seen any of the knives, but am looking forward to handling one in the near future. You can find them at Ekknife.com
 
I have one of these too. I also got mine fron Cutlery Shoppe. The handle is OK, but the blade grind lines are a little off. It took a LONG while to put a decent edge on it. I miss the original Ek Knives...

OT....Anyone remember those aluminum handled combat knives....Murphy...Dave Murphy I think?
 
They seem easy enough to make...

What would you guys think if we made about 500 blanks, heat treated, then hand ground by a reputable manufacturer in Taiwan (same guys who make knives for a few companies we all seem to like. We throw the handguards on, then we put either paracord, wood or micarta slabs on them. We make them really nice and sell them for pretty cheap... I'm thinking about 50 to 70 bucks. You buy extra handle slabs to suit your mood, or replace damaged ones, and change them with nothing more than a screwdriver, or hex key. We throw in a nice eagle sheath...

would anyone be interested in that? would it be ethical since no one is making the #5 in it's original configuration anymore?

would a custom or semi-custom maker want to go in on something like that?

Dammit, I love the #5, but can't stand the rubber handled one coming out of Illinois, and I don't see them offered in Virginia.
 
Works for me, I bought one a few years ago,(always wanted one since I saw one in the 70's), at a gun show, it was paracord wrapped, the knife was completely sterile, but the sheath said EK Effingham Illinois.

Were there any made sterile, with no markings on the blade?

If this is a knock off it's damn good, holds a razor edge, and take a hell of a beating, I use this knife nearly everyday to make kindling, and when I'm out waling around my property.
 
I have an Ek model 4 like this in shape, shiny blade, Micarta grips, and three brass screws to hold all together. Made by Ek in about 1988. Outstanding fit and finish. I can put a quarter on a table and pick it up with the tip of the blade, it is so sharp.

Is it for sale? Hell, no!!!!!!
 
Hey Mad Hungarian,
A lot of people have said that Ek made sterile knives... I've never seen documentation, but have heard bits and peices from people at knife and gun shows and read little tidbits here and there. Seeing as John Ek had been documented to work for the CIA and supplied many CIA operatives (this from the Ekknives.com), it would make sense that sterile Eks are floating around. It would also make sense that when Blackjack picked up the Ek company, that they would also continue the trend.
My Ek has the "Ek Korea, WW2, Vietnam 1941 Commando" crossed dagger logo, but is also without location. I think that the only way of distinguishing between the original and the Effingham made knives is with the sheath.
 
I was looking at an article in an old Tactical Knives, about WW-II Ek's, this morning. I've always really liked the look of Ek knives, theres just something about them. Those originals, the WW-II models, really have something to them... I'm gearing up to make a couple reproductions of a couple of those old ones, just to tickle my own fancy, who knows how long it will take me, but thats okay, its just for fun anyhow.
Looking at this Blackjack Ek, theres still something to these knives... the shapes, the materials, the style. Something that sets them apart from the Black-T coated, micarta handled, kydex sheathed "uber-combat wonder-knife" things running around today... and that makes them cool.

Difference is good.
 
I had not seen that webpage... now that I have, I'll be getting in touch with them and if I'm lucky, getting one.
 
I'm getting an EK Mod 5 made in Richmond sent to me soon. I've been looking for a pre-Blackjack one ever since I saw one as a little kid. They cost only $90 then.
 
Got it for $195, made in Richmond, Va., so it's P.B., has box and everything down to the "Your Silent Partner" booklet.

Black micarta handle, there's another knife for $10 less that had the walnut grips, but I went for the micarta.
 
Nice looking EK. I really like the #5 with the para cord wrapped handle, and hopefully one day I will find one at a decent price. Great find, and congratulations.
 
My John Ek Knife is signed, and has the stamped serial number C 772, written with a vibropen, his name and Hamden Conn. Well used and carried by my father in WWII. The wood hasn't shrunk, the blade has no rust I fell in love with her when I first saw her.
Contrary to popular belief the wood handle is large but won't float the knife in water.
 
Eddie, you got a wet dream piece of history, you do...
You make sure your kin appreciates it as much as the rest of us would if our daddies carried that sucker in WW2
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top