Some initial impressions of the Ka-Bar EK 44

Lately I have been restoring a Gerber BMF and a MarkII (1986). The EK44 reminds me of the MarkII a little...and I like that knife a lot. Curious to feel what the weight of the EK44 would be and where weight is distributed on the blade/handle during use. Hard to spend the money on the EK44 when I could get another BK9 like I've been wanting...decisions, decisions...
 
Lately I have been restoring a Gerber BMF and a MarkII (1986). The EK44 reminds me of the MarkII a little...and I like that knife a lot. Curious to feel what the weight of the EK44 would be and where weight is distributed on the blade/handle during use. Hard to spend the money on the EK44 when I could get another BK9 like I've been wanting...decisions, decisions...

I've looked at it from the opposite viewpoint since I saw my first MK2 back in the 70s. Gerber's MK2 came out in 1967 and I have always viewed it as an EK 4 copy, since Mr. Ek started producing the 4 back in 1941-42.

I feel that many of the Ek WW2 knives were heavily influenced by fighting knives and daggers prior to WW2. I also consider the Randall daggers of the VN period to be "influenced by" Ek WW2 knives or maybe variants of the F-S Commando daggers. I know that every dagger/pig sticker I have played with designing and making draw elements from Case, Union Cutlery, EK, Randall, Gerber and other knives from the 17th to 19th centuries. A well-made dagger is going to have a resemblance to any other good dagger made in the last 300 years. The differences are in the details.
 
Looks like it would be pretty good for wild pig/boar hunting out in Texas...

I have my dad's old M7 (which I love) but the 44 has HIGHLY piqued my interest.
 
Whilst dagger type blades have limited useage (not for bushcraft, unless you want a trip to the ER), I did enjoy making my own (with a lot of help) about 20 yrs ago. It's what got me into a love and appreciation of what goes into metal and heat treatment and all. Also how to acid etch onto steel too.



 
Last edited:
Whoa - that EK 44 is very cool. I haven't typically been a fan of the style, but that beauty has me turning my head and whistling. Good stuff.
 
stabby stabby?

choppy choppy

CA_07131523000892-X2.jpg


seasoned oak. 3.5 inches. not spectacular, but no hotspots, and the blade still sliced paper after...
 
Hmmm, pretty nice. But how uh, does it fillet Tuna? In a kind of "stabby fashion"? I shouldn't wonder! Yar ... :emot-yarr:
 
Great, now I've got another blade on the list. I already want a 15 (and that's going to come first). This one does look interesting. Thanks for sharing your opinions, Uncle E!
 
i was just admiring these over at tomars, i may have too indulge my knife passion. besides i have not done it in awhile so the wife may be understanding of the need!
 
ZZ,

Your last sentence speaks to the concept of universal truths in design.

Overly simplified for the purposes of illustration, if several independent designers were tasked with figuring out how to make an axle roll, eventually they would all likely come up with a wheel or wheels - they would all be round (one would think). And so it is with knives and many other devices. Learning from someone else's putt is not unfair in golf and reverse engineering, at some levels, is not necessarily untoward - hence the influences of design and commonality of theme you so aptly recognized and shared.
 
I am not a own or carry a knife for fighting guy, but I have always had the same reaction to the original EK knives as well as really any well executed boot knife or dagger. I cant seem to help it, despite the fact that I never want to have to use a knife for that intent. The new KA-BAR ones look soooooo good.

This sums it up for me as well. No need for double edged knives, but this one is VERY appealing to me. I really waiting on the 5. ;)
 
This sums it up for me as well. No need for double edged knives, but this one is VERY appealing to me. I really waiting on the 5. ;)

this is a very weird knife for me.

if i had never seen one, other than a catalog, i would probably have ignored it . completely.

having SEEN one in person. wow.

having HELD one ... damn. it's alive.

stroked and felt it? solid. the parkerized finish alone, won me over...

but

it's thick, and solid, and the grind.... wow...

the sheath doesn't seem so good. at first. a lot of arm chair guys pickup a sheath, take a hit of their "bud light", watch some bear grillllllls, and go "mmm, i do not like this sheath based on my decades of sitting in a chair expertise"...

but that sheath on your actual hip, keep in mind, this factory sheath is "free" and costs $1.00 more or less. YOU are literally not being charged for a KaBar sheath. consider it a safe way to carry/ship a knife.

it's a GOOD sheath for free. you're going to pay $40++ for a "so called" upscale sheath. leather or kydex or ... but consider. the soldiers that carried a knife like this? from the factory? they PROBABLY carried the "as isssued" sheath. sure sure, some of them complained, but 99% did nothing about it.

enough about the sheath.

i've had this knife a few many weeks now.

solid.

it's not my PERSONAL choice as a SURVIVAL knife.... though man, does it chop...

but if it was my as issued by god govt knife? i would be hard pressed to complain. it does all the jobs i could see it doing.

plus, it is fearsomely stabby :D

wow

that's all i can say.

home run!

if you don't have one, if you have not handled one, and esp if you have not USED one, pardon my French, and pardon my bias...

but you can just shuddup right now. your opinion does not matter, even if you handled older Eks... this one? they knocked it out of the park

and my pardon if *I* in my personal opinion, because KaBar does not actually PAY ME my opinion, and really, this Ek guy/estate, who could (call me) but hasn't, ..., ..., and you are offended, or think i'm bought, or ... first you must redress your wrong by buying me a Krekkel at your cost, but then, no less than $$$$ in trade value, plus your first 25 PS4 games. then you may complain, at which point i'll probably make you drink brandy and then you drop your case...

cuz, wow :D

saber ground 16 in s30v :D how many times has that request been done? I'm quite happy with my BK, but of course I would buy one like that, no-brainer.

That, sir, is what is affectionately known as the Becker Brute (BK1)
Let me be the first to say "I want one", lol (that will be a common theme to following posts)

To get your images to post, use the actual IMG code provided by photobucket, rather than copying the URL.

Bladite,

You read my mind. I was thinking of getting 8 and building a custom wood kitchen block. If they were stainless that would be perfection. Maybe you can use your pull with the boss to get a custom sprint run to celebrate the Fisk inspired design before they are discontinued. :thumbup:

Zathras can never have anything nice....

About half a dozen have tapped out.



These are a thing in Texas.


Lets finish this heifer. :D

 
Back
Top