Ek Commando Knives

[hardcorps1775]

does anybody know the values on these two knives? i got them at a richmond gunshow from a guy who said he worked for ek knives before they went outta business.

the first one is engraved "usmc" on the blade and has a nice leather sheath. i've never seen this issued or carried in the marcor...

usmc ek commando knife, richmond, va
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/1394Ek1.jpg

this one isn't marked except with the ek brand...

ek commando knife, richmond, va
http://www.gunsnet.net/album/data//500/1394EkC1.jpg

[Sniperwolf]

i think i have seen blades like that called british commando paratrooper knives. the ones i saw were priced around $ 50.00-60.00. i like the bottom one alot, good fighting blades:)

[dfariswheel]

John Ek started making knives for military users 1939, and started full production in 1941 in Hamden Conn.
In the early days they were sold ONLY to military personnel, and were known as the Ek Commando Knife.

Ek had permission from the British to use the name "Commando, and his knives were owned by FDR, Patton, Clark Gable, and many others.

Among actual military users, the Ek knives were even more popular than the higher priced Randall knives.
The Randall's were mostly bigger knives, while the Ek was actually a more realistic combat knife.

Early Ek knives were registered in the owner's name, to insure only military personnel were allowed to have them, and this concern kept his sales numbers down, although Ek knives were used in every theater and were wildly popular with those who could get one.

In 1949 Ek moved to Miami Florida where production continued.

After Ek's death in 1976, the company moved to Richmond, VA.

There are many models of Ek knives, and a good number of commemorative models were made.
Ek was possibly the first knife maker to offer a knife with a parachute cord handle.

Standard non-collectible models of Ek knives were priced as cheap as possible so that ordinary soldiers could afford one.

Ek Knife is still in business, and still being used in places like Iraq and Afghanistan.
http://www.ekknife.com/

[hardcorps1775]

man, great gouge! so i guess these aren't really collectibles...oh well, guess my kids won't be going to harvard!:D

[recon]

Love those knives!

[Poodleshooter]

I've got a nice paracord wrapped handle Ek that I bought in the mid-90's. They're nice knives. I really should go visit their factory, since I'm only about an hour away.