Old Friends Friday

[screened porch]

I was sent this EKA 88 - with Normark branding - for review, in the early 90's. It used to be one of my regular winter coat pocket carries, but I don't think I carried it last year. I've had a lot of Scandanavian knives over the years, but don't recall another folder

View attachment 3031442

I have that one and a couple of plastic-handled slip-joints, all with the fail-safe stacked springs.




I can't have had this one more than 33 years, it would seem.
It isn't the best choice for cardboard boxes or chives, but it "lives in the hand" (Thank you to Oakeshotte (sp?) for the phrase).
I think the glue on the stitching was from a tube of "sneaker cement". I used to carry the knife around the house and yard stuck in my belt.

 

[Jack Black]

I have that one and a couple of plastic-handled slip-joints, all with the fail-safe stacked springs.


View attachment 3031444
View attachment 3031443
I can't have had this one more than 33 years, it would seem.
It isn't the best choice for cardboard boxes or chives, but it "lives in the hand" (Thank you to Oakeshotte (sp?) for the phrase).
I think the glue on the stitching was from a tube of "sneaker cement". I used to carry the knife around the house and yard stuck in my belt.

Interesting Jer I like that phrase, and the knife - What model is it? - And your hat

 

[screened porch]

Interesting Jer I like that phrase, and the knife - What model is it? - And your hat

Thanks!
It's a Nighthawk. I did a little looking up of it, because I had no idea how old it is. And it's a good thing I remembered, because the knife doesn't say Buck or Nighthawk or anything else on it. They came out in the early 1990s, and were submitted to the Marines and the Navy for trials, at which they did very well. It's just under 1/4" thick. Tops still makes them, but with tactical holes in the flats.

And here is my black Normark EKA with the broken point. I just made a second effort at repointing it, and I'm happy now.

 

[Jack Black]

Thanks!
It's a Nighthawk. I did a little looking up of it, because I had no idea how old it is. And it's a good thing I remembered, because the knife doesn't say Buck or Nighthawk or anything else on it. They came out in the early 1990s, and were submitted to the Marines and the Navy for trials, at which they did very well. It's just under 1/4" thick. Tops still makes them, but with tactical holes in the flats.

And here is my black Normark EKA with the broken point. I just made a second effort at repointing it, and I'm happy now.
View attachment 3031696View attachment 3031697

I thought the name sounded familiar Jer, but I might be thinking of the TOPS one. Do you know if it was a Blackie Collins design by any chance?

When I was a boy those EKA/Normark folders, and fixed-blades, which were actually made by Martinni were marketed in the British fishing press, and popular with anglers as a result. That model looks like what Normark called the Big Swede.

 

[screened porch]

I thought the name sounded familiar Jer, but I might be thinking of the TOPS one. Do you know if it was a Blackie Collins design by any chance?

When I was a boy those EKA/Normark folders, and fixed-blades, which were actually made by Martinni were marketed in the British fishing press, and popular with anglers as a result. That model looks like what Normark called the Big Swede.

I think you're right about the Big Swede. I gave a locking version to my little sister long ago.
And now for something pretty similar:

I got that one cheap from a dealer who generally has prices way too high for me. I think he must have just looked at the plastic and thought China.
Nice flat grind on that one.

 

[kyhunt]

I have that one and a couple of plastic-handled slip-joints, all with the fail-safe stacked springs.


View attachment 3031444
View attachment 3031443
I can't have had this one more than 33 years, it would seem.
It isn't the best choice for cardboard boxes or chives, but it "lives in the hand" (Thank you to Oakeshotte (sp?) for the phrase).
I think the glue on the stitching was from a tube of "sneaker cement". I used to carry the knife around the house and yard stuck in my belt.

Awesome knife. I bought my kid brother one for Christmas one year . I should have picked myself one up to. No telling what ever happened to that knife.

 

[Jack Black]

I think you're right about the Big Swede. I gave a locking version to my little sister long ago.
And now for something pretty similar:
View attachment 3031721
I got that one cheap from a dealer who generally has prices way too high for me. I think he must have just looked at the plastic and thought China.
Nice flat grind on that one.

There was a Big Swede and a Little Swede, but from what I remember, the Little Swede was quite different, and had a spearpoint blade I think. I like the flat-ground model. Here, they advertised a fixed blade filleting knife, and a hunting knife alongdide them, both of which I've had.

Awesome knife. I bought my kid brother one for Christmas one year . I should have picked myself one up to. No telling what ever happened to that knife.

They must have sold a lot of those knives, they were around for decades

 

[kyhunt]

There was a Big Swede and a Little Swede, but from what I remember, the Little Swede was quite different, and had a spearpoint blade I think. I like the flat-ground model. Here, they advertised a fixed blade filleting knife, and a hunting knife alongdide them, both of which I've had.

They must have sold a lot of those knives, they were around for decades

They were around for a long time. Back then I just figured they would be around forever. Then I got away from Bucks for several years only to return to them several years ago,

 

[John A. Larsen]

I thought the name sounded familiar Jer, but I might be thinking of the TOPS one. Do you know if it was a Blackie Collins design by any chance?

When I was a boy those EKA/Normark folders, and fixed-blades, which were actually made by Martinni were marketed in the British fishing press, and popular with anglers as a result. That model looks like what Normark called the Big Swede.

Jack Black, In 1990 we had 4 men from B Squadron, 22nd SAS come to Fort Lewis, WA to go on an Exercise in Montana. The Team Leader had a Puma White Hunter, the other 3 men all carried EKA Big Swede folders. John

 

[Jack Black]

They were around for a long time. Back then I just figured they would be around forever. Then I got away from Bucks for several years only to return to them several years ago,

I know just what you mean

Jack Black, In 1990 we had 4 men from B Squadron, 22nd SAS come to Fort Lewis, WA to go on an Exercise in Montana. The Team Leader had a Puma White Hunter, the other 3 men all carried EKA Big Swede folders. John

That's very interesting John, the Puma White Hunter was also one of the first imported knives I remember seeing for sale. I used to know a couple of guys in the SBS (they both had secondments to the Navy Seals in California in the early 90's). One of them carried an Opinel

 

[screened porch]

I thought the name sounded familiar Jer, but I might be thinking of the TOPS one. Do you know if it was a Blackie Collins design by any chance?

I forgot this bit.
I don't see any mention of Blackie Collins. I get the impression that Buck designed the first Nighthawk, then later collaborated with Tops Knives to design the Nighthawk with holes in it. But it's not at all clear.
From seeing the names always together, Buck/Tops, I had thought that Tops was a line of Bucks.

 

[Jack Black]

I forgot this bit.
I don't see any mention of Blackie Collins. I get the impression that Buck designed the first Nighthawk, then later collaborated with Tops Knives to design the Nighthawk with holes in it. But it's not at all clear.
From seeing the names always together, Buck/Tops, I had thought that Tops was a line of Bucks.

Thanks for the reply Jer. The past couple of years, I've tried not to buy any more fixed-blades, with limited success. I only have one TOPS knife, which was a 50th birthday gift from my mate Wolfie. Unfortunately, it's a great big clunking thing that I have never carried

 

[screened porch]

Thanks for the reply Jer. The past couple of years, I've tried not to buy any more fixed-blades, with limited success. I only have one TOPS knife, which was a 50th birthday gift from my mate Wolfie. Unfortunately, it's a great big clunking thing that I have never carried

Bear Grylls agrees with us on the five inch blade's being the best compromise between tree-falling and brain-surgery. I got his Stay Alive book for free from my next door neighbor, who is moving back to Georgia unless they come to their senses, but Mrs. next door neighbor's job requires it, so...

I've never actually tried this one on chives. It has a high hollow grind and might do all right.

 

[Jack Black]

Bear Grylls agrees with us on the five inch blade's being the best compromise between tree-falling and brain-surgery. I got his Stay Alive book for free from my next door neighbor, who is moving back to Georgia unless they come to their senses, but Mrs. next door neighbor's job requires it, so...

I've never actually tried this one on chives. It has a high hollow grind and might do all right.
View attachment 3032342

Hope your replacement neighbours are acceptable Jer

This is the Blackie Collins-designed Gerber Patriot (a knife I was sent for review in the early to mid 90's).



And here's that great clunking TOPS! Strange, I didn't know I'd got one of those valet trays in green, wonder where that is!

 

[screened porch]

Hope your replacement neighbours are acceptable Jer

This is the Blackie Collins-designed Gerber Patriot (a knife I was sent for review in the early to mid 90's).

View attachment 3032373

And here's that great clunking TOPS! Strange, I didn't know I'd got one of those valet trays in green, wonder where that is!

View attachment 3032374

I see why you thought of Blackie Collins with the Nighthawk. And I see what you mean about the Tops.
Those three little holes are what they put in their version of the Nighthawk.

 

[Jack Black]

I see why you thought of Blackie Collins with the Nighthawk. And I see what you mean about the Tops.
Those three little holes are what they put in their version of the Nighthawk.

I think the 3 holes are their signature

 

[Jack Black]

I really like the French L'Alpin, and this one I was gifted by Jean-Marc is a great size for UK EDC. It's beautifully made, with a Clean and Square joint, and I think it pairs nicely with the Lambsfoot I'm carrying today, which is almost exactly the same size

 

[screened porch]

I don't know how many decades I've had this one, and it's only just occurred to me that that handle looks like it would slip off quite easily.


Maybe I could just flip the guard over and see how that looks/feels/fits the scabbard.

 

[Jack Black]

I don't know how many decades I've had this one, and it's only just occurred to me that that handle looks like it would slip off quite easily.
View attachment 3037034
View attachment 3037035
Maybe I could just flip the guard over and see how that looks/feels/fits the scabbard.

BIt of history there Jer

 

[Jack Black]

The first of Charlie's Ancient Barlows This knife stuck like glue in my pocket for a long time