Anyone have a chronology of this brand? I know they're supposed to be defunct now. But I'm confused with current ads for "Blackjack" and "EK" and "Blackjack EK's". Also, is Richmond, VA or IL the original manufacturing site?. Any info would be appreciated.
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
Price is $300 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.
What came first-Blackjack or EK, VA or IL??
- Thread starter Jumbi
- Start date
I got interested in them a few months back and started keeping a little history as a way to jog my memory when shopping. Here's what I have (most of this was clipped from other threads here at BF - sorry I don't remember who, or I'd give 'em credit):
Quote:
John Ek originally made knives starting in WWII. John died in the 70s and the trademark was sold to folks who formed the Ek Commando Knife Company in Richmond, Virgina. John's son Gary was making knives in the spirit of his late father, first in St. Augustine Florida (where I met him) and then later in Miami. The Richmond Ek knives are mass produced unlike those of the original father and son. But they are considered quality pieces with some new designs like the #5 bowie being introduced. The Richmond company is the one acquired by Blackjack. Quality of materials slid during the Effingham, Illinois Blackjack days until bankruptcy stopped everything.
So, in addition to the marks Prigger mentioned which identify John or Gary Ek's blades, those with the crossed blades and wreath citing WWII, Korea and Vietnam (and later the Gulf war) are either Richmond or Effingham. Many of the Blackjack Eks are stamped Effingham but not all.
Personally the least desirable are the late Effingham blades. Those called Warrior with brass riveted hardwood handles are poor, but the micarta handled M3,M4,M5 and M6 models are of better construction and materials. The Richmond Eks are the best of the mass produced and the original John Ek handmade knives are the ones with real collectors value.
The best were from Ek Commando Knife Company of Richmond VA before being bought out by BlackJack of Effington Ill. Both versions sport the classic wreath alluded to above. Some of the Blackjack production are stamped Effington, Ill. Be leary of the lower end models which have straight steel guards and brass riveted handles instead of curved brass guards and bolted on handles. The various models also were available with paracord wrapped handles instead of micarta, wood, etc.
John Ek knives made during the Vietnam War were marked "Miami, Fla." on the blade and had a serial number. The maple handles were secured by poured lead rivets that could be tightened in the field by smacking them with a rock. WWII Ek knives were marked Hamden, Ct. on the blade. The knives shown in the picture were made by the Ek Commando Knife Co. of Richmond, Va. which was eventually bought out by Mike Stewart of Blackjack Knives. The John Ek knives were excellent combat/fighters. I personally carried an Ek model 3 while "In Country" along with my trusty Randall model one
It should include where the knife was made and newer knives included the Persian Gulf in the list of Wars.
The only Ek knives that have proven to have collector value so far are the original John Ek blades. As far as being users, I wholeheartedly agree, especially if one considers the M5 bowie (which incidentally was introduced by the Ek Commando Knife Company of Richmond VA). I have long lamented their continuing unavailability. The now defunct Blackjack Knife Company held the rights to the name and models. One of the former principles, is now involved with Marble knives. Beyond that I really don't know what, if any, plans exist for the dormant Ek line.
END QUOTE
Thanks again to whoever it was that posted this earlier!
------------------
Knowledge without understanding is knowledge wasted.
Understanding without knowledge is a rare gift - but not an impossibility.
For the impossible is always possible through faith. - Bathroom graffiti, gas station, Grey, TN, Dec, 1988
AKTI Member #A000831
Quote:
John Ek originally made knives starting in WWII. John died in the 70s and the trademark was sold to folks who formed the Ek Commando Knife Company in Richmond, Virgina. John's son Gary was making knives in the spirit of his late father, first in St. Augustine Florida (where I met him) and then later in Miami. The Richmond Ek knives are mass produced unlike those of the original father and son. But they are considered quality pieces with some new designs like the #5 bowie being introduced. The Richmond company is the one acquired by Blackjack. Quality of materials slid during the Effingham, Illinois Blackjack days until bankruptcy stopped everything.
So, in addition to the marks Prigger mentioned which identify John or Gary Ek's blades, those with the crossed blades and wreath citing WWII, Korea and Vietnam (and later the Gulf war) are either Richmond or Effingham. Many of the Blackjack Eks are stamped Effingham but not all.
Personally the least desirable are the late Effingham blades. Those called Warrior with brass riveted hardwood handles are poor, but the micarta handled M3,M4,M5 and M6 models are of better construction and materials. The Richmond Eks are the best of the mass produced and the original John Ek handmade knives are the ones with real collectors value.
The best were from Ek Commando Knife Company of Richmond VA before being bought out by BlackJack of Effington Ill. Both versions sport the classic wreath alluded to above. Some of the Blackjack production are stamped Effington, Ill. Be leary of the lower end models which have straight steel guards and brass riveted handles instead of curved brass guards and bolted on handles. The various models also were available with paracord wrapped handles instead of micarta, wood, etc.
John Ek knives made during the Vietnam War were marked "Miami, Fla." on the blade and had a serial number. The maple handles were secured by poured lead rivets that could be tightened in the field by smacking them with a rock. WWII Ek knives were marked Hamden, Ct. on the blade. The knives shown in the picture were made by the Ek Commando Knife Co. of Richmond, Va. which was eventually bought out by Mike Stewart of Blackjack Knives. The John Ek knives were excellent combat/fighters. I personally carried an Ek model 3 while "In Country" along with my trusty Randall model one
It should include where the knife was made and newer knives included the Persian Gulf in the list of Wars.
The only Ek knives that have proven to have collector value so far are the original John Ek blades. As far as being users, I wholeheartedly agree, especially if one considers the M5 bowie (which incidentally was introduced by the Ek Commando Knife Company of Richmond VA). I have long lamented their continuing unavailability. The now defunct Blackjack Knife Company held the rights to the name and models. One of the former principles, is now involved with Marble knives. Beyond that I really don't know what, if any, plans exist for the dormant Ek line.
END QUOTE
Thanks again to whoever it was that posted this earlier!
------------------
Knowledge without understanding is knowledge wasted.
Understanding without knowledge is a rare gift - but not an impossibility.
For the impossible is always possible through faith. - Bathroom graffiti, gas station, Grey, TN, Dec, 1988
AKTI Member #A000831
You are correct - the aces and dagger logo is from the defunct Blackjack. BTW, I saw another post saying that Blackjack is being resurrected by Ken Warner. He bought the rights to the name after the company went belly-up. Their first offering is a new version of the Trailguide.
I can understand your confusion on the whole Ek/Blackjack issue. I spent the better part of the last year trying to figure out if an Ek Agent boot knife I purchased was an Ek Ek or a Blackjack Ek. I found even some of the people involved with the companies couldn't tell me if a knife was manufactured in Richmond VA or Effingham IL. I finally ended up sending pictures of it to the folks in Richmond who are now making knives under the Ek name. They informed me it was manufactured by Blackjack. The key was the "Made in U.S.A." stamp on the blade.
------------------
"I can't believe you stabbed me with this cheap piece of mail-order sh*t"
James Caan in 'Eraser'
I can understand your confusion on the whole Ek/Blackjack issue. I spent the better part of the last year trying to figure out if an Ek Agent boot knife I purchased was an Ek Ek or a Blackjack Ek. I found even some of the people involved with the companies couldn't tell me if a knife was manufactured in Richmond VA or Effingham IL. I finally ended up sending pictures of it to the folks in Richmond who are now making knives under the Ek name. They informed me it was manufactured by Blackjack. The key was the "Made in U.S.A." stamp on the blade.
------------------
"I can't believe you stabbed me with this cheap piece of mail-order sh*t"
James Caan in 'Eraser'
Esav Benyamin
MidniteSuperMod
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 90,915
That boot knife was a good-looking piece of equipment. I knew I'd get myself in trouble carrying it around NY, though, so I resisted temptation. (So now I carry around knives like a Sebenza and a Vaquero Grande I shudda stuck to boot knives!)
BTW, this is speedbuggy2's post today on reviving Blackjack http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/001054.html
[This message has been edited by Esav Benyamin (edited 06-07-2001).]
BTW, this is speedbuggy2's post today on reviving Blackjack http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum41/HTML/001054.html
[This message has been edited by Esav Benyamin (edited 06-07-2001).]
Codeman,
Much of what you cut 'n pasted in the quote above I wrote some time ago. I have a good number of E5 and E4 models as well as a boot knife. One in particular is special to me as I had the Ek Custom Shop do some work on an E5 blade in 1991. I then carved a finger grip handle out of cocobolo to finish it off. I had thought I was headed for the Gulf situation but my orders were eventually cancelled.
Here's a shot of some of the knives:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=53680&a=446662&p=11445194
------------------
-=[Bob Allman]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since the very beginning
Much of what you cut 'n pasted in the quote above I wrote some time ago. I have a good number of E5 and E4 models as well as a boot knife. One in particular is special to me as I had the Ek Custom Shop do some work on an E5 blade in 1991. I then carved a finger grip handle out of cocobolo to finish it off. I had thought I was headed for the Gulf situation but my orders were eventually cancelled.
Here's a shot of some of the knives:
http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=53680&a=446662&p=11445194
------------------
-=[Bob Allman]=-
I did NOT escape from the institution! They gave me a day pass!
BFC member since the very beginning