What the Ek?

The one in the first pick had a flat steel guard in the 80s and 90s, so it should be 440A if I am not mistaken. The ones with the brass guard had a 440C blade. Blackjack as a separate company went out of business in 1997. The Black jack classics line are now being made by Bark River.
 
Charlie_K said:
Alright, I'm glad I clicked on this thread. I'll admit that I didn't know that about the original Ek knives and their quality at the time of their coming into existence. But now that you mention it, it makes a lot of sense that fit and finish quality would take a back seat to functional quality and mass quantity.
Click to expand...

Actually the quality of the original EK knives were just fine.

If the quality is measured by the implements ability to do, what it was made for and keep on doing it for a long time.

The EKs were just not fu-fu gussied up knives.

Solid, simple, sturdy and excellent knives.

Another excellent quality knife is the WWII made Cattaraugus 225Q (which is NOT a quartermasters knife for opening crates but a utility/fighting knife).

Its an underrated knife flying under the radar in comparison to for example the more famous Ka-Bar.

The Cat is how ever a very well made knife from a company, which made quality knives for a long time.

Yet another solid and sturdy knife.
Id take a Cat 225Q over a Ka-Bar any time.

Some of my 225s are as rock solid as when made during WWII in regards to the guard and leather washers.

A couple of my Cattaraugus 25Qs

C5yIv38.jpg
 
You have to be careful with the Blackjack era ones, they kept the Richmond Va around a while, then they went to Made In USA, then The Effingham stamp. Also there were tons of odds and ends made up withe Ek stamp.

If you have the box handy, look for the BJK on the label, quickest way to tell if it's from that era.
 
I assume that Mike Stewart made the Blackjack EKs in Effingham. My EK Comando bowie (bought in the 90's) has the walnut handles and brass fittings, but I don't recall that the steel type was stated in the box materials. After I learned a few things, I always assumed it was 440A.
 
BladeScout said:
Actually the quality of the original EK knives were just fine.

If the quality is measured by the implements ability to do, what it was made for and keep on doing it for a long time.

The EKs were just not fu-fu gussied up knives.

Solid, simple, sturdy and excellent knives.
Click to expand...

Actually I was talking about the fit and finish quality. I know the knives themselves were quality made. I read up on them and it's certainly an interesting history.
 
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