Okapi

[John A. Larsen]

Watched a video on You Tube last night titled: "Two Maasi Spears and A Shield-Recorded in the Maasi Mara". The men used pangas to cut down the spear shafts and cut off bark. Heated up scrap metal to make the spear heads, but when it came time to do the final shaping of the shaft, or trim the cow hide for the shield, they all were using Okapi's. From the way they were cutting into the wood, and the cow hide, looked like they knew how to make them sharp. John

 

[dogstar]

A knife's a knife, and Okapi is a good'un.

 

[Wild Willie]

As a fella who enjoys honest, affordable working knives I've always admired the okapi. Unfortunately I've found them rather elusive, must be looking in the wrong places.

 

[JPD1998]

It's inexpensive and the carbon steel blade sharpens up with a few swipes on a ceramic rod.
The Cold Steel version is no slouch either, but the Okapi is easier to open and close.

 

[Rsmith_77]

Watched a video on You Tube last night titled: "Two Maasi Spears and A Shield-Recorded in the Maasi Mara". The men used pangas to cut down the spear shafts and cut off bark. Heated up scrap metal to make the spear heads, but when it came time to do the final shaping of the shaft, or trim the cow hide for the shield, they all were using Okapi's. From the way they were cutting into the wood, and the cow hide, looked like they knew how to make them sharp. John

I watched the same video!!
And commented on it in the traditional forums

Small world

 

[ErikMB]

I'd love to see that video, sounds really interesting. Can we post a link, if there is one?

 

[tltt]

I'd love to see that video, sounds really interesting. Can we post a link, if there is one?

.

The Okapi action is sprinkled throughout, interesting video.

 

[ErikMB]

That was brilliant! Thanks for posting the link!

 

[cbach8tw]

Thanks for the video.

 

[Angry Angus]

Old thread but I came across 2 Okapl knives in my dad's belongings. Is there any way to date these? Thanks for any info.

 

[knarfeng]

Old thread but I came across 2 Okapl knives in my dad's belongings. Is there any way to date these? Thanks for any info.

If you can make out a country of origin, it would give you a clue.
Okapi's were originally made in Germany. They moved production to S Africa in 1987.

 

[Angry Angus]

If you can make out a country of origin, it would give you a clue.
Okapi's were originally made in Germany. They moved production to S Africa in 1987.

Thanks! Both are Germany. Long story, but I found them with a lot of Pennsylvania hunting items. So knowing my dad and his father hunted there during the late 60's to early 70's I was guessing they both purchased them during one of those trips. Quite a guess, but I'll go with it. Those items were also with some of my grandpa's items my dad gathered after his passing in the early 80's. Could have belonged to him and be older than that plus or minus 1970 timeline. Cool little knives. I had never seen them before and my dad and I were always buying and playing with knives. My guess is he also forgot about them.

 

[greater]

As Mr Spock once said of a bladed instrument "crude but very effective."

 

[cbach8tw]

As Mr Spock once said of a bladed instrument "crude but very effective."

That is a logical conclusion.

 

[cbach8tw]

As Mr Spock once said of a bladed instrument "crude but very effective."

I think that was the episode where Abraham Lincoln,Sarek, and the others fought in a planet against evil ones so the flaming rock alien could understand the differences between good and evil. Spock was referring to the spears.

I am taking this “to boldly go where no one has gone before.”

 

[Henry Beige]

Old thread but I came across 2 Okapl knives in my dad's belongings. Is there any way to date these? Thanks for any info.View attachment 2530784

Those do not look like any of thr models I came across when I was buying Okapis.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

Great video T tltt .

Old thread but I came across 2 Okapl knives in my dad's belongings. Is there any way to date these? Thanks for any info.

These are two of mine, one South African that I bought about ten years ago, it arrived blunter than a butter knife, it needed not only sharpening but totally re-profiling & re-finishing. Once that was done it's actually a great knife.
The small one is German, bought NOS off eBay just to have a German example, it came sharp & is actually a lovely little "Gents" knife. Estimated to be pre 80's.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

As a fella who enjoys honest, affordable working knives I've always admired the okapi. Unfortunately I've found them rather elusive, must be looking in the wrong places.

Just watch out for fakes, there are more fakes than genuines now especially on the big auction site.
Look out for flat sides on light coloured wood & a very shiny stainless blade. Just some of the tell tales of a fake.
Real Okapi's are a resin impregnated oval section handle which gives them a plasticky feel/look, they are only ground on one side of the blade also, like a full flat grind on the opposite side to the stamped side with a small secondary bevel on both sides & very roughly finished. Hope that makes sense.

They make good "kit" knives to finish yourself!!

 

[Wild Willie]

Just watch out for fakes, there are more fakes than genuines now especially on the big auction site.
Look out for flat sides on light coloured wood (real Okapi's are resin impregnated to give them a plasticky feel/look), & a very shiny stainless blade. Just some of the telly tales of a fake.
Real Okapi's are only ground on one side of the blade also, like a full flat grind on the stamped side with a small secondary bevel on both sides. Hope that makes sense.

I took a gamble on a couple of stainless ones a while back. They're single ground, and I did see that they used some stainless. I'm still not entirely sure that they're legit, but from what I was able to find it seems likely.

 

[I'mSoSharp]

I took a gamble on a couple of stainless ones a while back. They're single ground, and I did see that they used some stainless. I'm still not entirely sure that they're legit, but from what I was able to find it seems likely.

Post an image. I don't actually know if S.A Okapi are using stainless or not, they might be now.