I just got my large Okapi 907E lockback yesterday. After having only good luck with the Okapi 1979/3 slipjoint, I decided to go whole hog! It was easy to sharpen & locks up like Fort Knox! The steel is like they used in the old carbon slippies in my opinion. Not the greatest in the world but, not shabby either. It is 5.5 inches closed with a 3.75 inch blade. Really pocketable & light for such a large knife.:thumbup:
Okapi Fever
- Thread starter pogo
- Start date
I recently bought a 907E also. The store I bought from (Ragweed Forge) put a grind on it for me for a couple dollars extra. The construction is rather crude, but it sure is a tight lockup.
I also have a couple of vintage Okapi knives that were made in Germany for export to Africa. The newer South African-made knives are much higher quality.
-Bob
I also have a couple of vintage Okapi knives that were made in Germany for export to Africa. The newer South African-made knives are much higher quality.
-Bob
Bob, I appreciated your comment to the effect that the newer Okapis made in South Africa are better than the older ones made in Germany. I've looked at the ads for Okapis, but was a little skeptical about the quality. I would not have expected it to improve with production moved from Germany to Africa. Now I'll have to try one I guess. Thanks for that info. 
Bob W... Thats where I got it from Ragnar! The Okapi is a really nice working man's knife IMHO. A few guys poo pooed it here but, they would also poo poo the old carbon slippies as well. The old carbon slippies got the job done without chipping out the blade like some modern steels are prone to do. The Africans that buy this knife would have quit buying them long ago if they were pure crud.
I'd say overall, taking price into consideration, modern Okapi are OK quality. For the same price Opinels are much better, especially the blade finish.
"Crud" is how I would describe the German-made Okapi knives. Mine have durable stamped metal handles and the blade finish is OK. But there is so much blade play as to make half of them unusable.
-Bob
Bob W.. Thanks for the input. I am glad to hear the South African Okapi's are better quality than the German made ones. I really like mine & is sooo easy to sharpen compared to some steels today. It is not the best knife in the World but, has a good price/performance ratio..IMHO. I think any Okapi would meet the average EDC knife that most folks carry today.