EK COMMANDO KNIFE ACCESSORIES






Copyright© 2018-2020 by John T. Sabol











ACCESSORIES INTRODUCTION

The items presented here, which I loosely call "Accessories", are organized into groups by location. This listing is by no means all inclusive. I'm sure there are other items that I have not encountered.

Listed below are all the "Accessories" related to Ek Commando Knives that I am aware of.

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HAMDEN ACCESSORIES

[Hamden Pencil]
PENCIL - This is an ordinary pencil with eraser, yellow in color and is 7-1/2 inches long. It has "JOHN EK COMMANDO KNIVES, HAMDEN, CONN." stamped in black ink on one of the hexagon flats.

Note the black eraser holder, which is different than the metal tubing used to attach erasers on today's pencils. This pencil was never used and is unsharpened.



[Hamden Display] Photo: ebay indiansilver
HAMDEN DISPLAY BOARD - This display board shows the steps done in making a Hamden era Ek Model 2 knife. The board measures 21 x 40 inches. The backing is a bamboo basket-weave material mounted on a wooden frame. It has a hanger on the back so it can be wall mounted.

Four blade blanks showing various stages of production and a finished knife are mounted on the board along with a pair of unfinshied handle slabs. All items are held on with thin wire. Each item has a leather label. There is also a large leather label at the top.

This display board is believed to have been made by Gary Ek sometime after 1974. Since it is made from authentic Hamden era parts, I've included it under the Hamden section.

Note: Another of these display boards, with examples of all the WW-II style knives, can be seen in Robert A. Buerlein's book "Allied Military Fighting Knives And The Men Who Made Them Famous" on Page 140, Figure 214. There was also a display board in the White House in 1944 which was later taken apart. Three of the knives from that board, a Style 3 Serial 3D233, a Style 4 Serial 4D234 and a Style 5 Serial 5D235 are also shown in Buerlein's book and were later sold on ebay.

There were probably other Hamden display boards made.

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MIAMI ACCESSORIES

[ORD1976-4] MIAMI SHOULDER RIG - Shown is a description by a person who purchased a shoulder rig and wanted directions on how it was to be used.

The only photo I have noted of the shoulder rig can be found in Buerlein's book on Page 139, Figure 211.

The shoulder rig is very simple design. It consists of two leather straps each connected at one end by snaps to a 2 inch piece of leather and at the other ends by a buckle. To use, I believe you just undo one of the snaps, put the 2 inch leather piece through the knife sheath's belt loop and redo the snap. Then put the loop over your head onto one shoulder with the knife hanging against the body underneath the opposite arm. The buckle allows adjusting for differences in body shape and desired knife position.



[Miami Display1] Photo: ebay relativethings
MIAMI DISPLAY BOARD 1 - This display board shows the steps done in making a Miami era Style 3 Ek knife. This board is a typical "Show Board" that was taken to gun and knife shows by John and Gary Ek as a promotional item.

Three blade blanks showing various stages of production and a finished knife are mounted on the board along with a raw handle slab and brass guard piece. All items are held on with thin wire. Each item has a leather label. There is also a larger leather label at the top. (Note that Vietnam is misspelled). The backing seems to be part of a sheet of wood paneling. The board measures 32-1/4 x 22-3/8 inches.

The board has two sets of notations on the back. "Not For Sale / John Ek / Knives / Miami, Fla" in the upper right corner and "Refurbished / By / Cheryl Respin / & / Gary W. Ek / 10/76" in the center at the bottom.

Note: The July-Aug. 1975 issue of Blade Magazine has an article entitled "JOHN EK, Custom Knife Maker by Sid Latham. The article features photos of 2 other EK display boards.



[Miami Display2] Photo: ebay wing_masterslim
MIAMI DISPLAY BOARD 2 - This display board shows the steps done in making a Miami era Style 4 Ek knife. This board is a typical "Show Board" that was taken to gun and knife shows by John and Gary Ek as a promotional item.

Three blade blanks showing various stages of production and a finished knife are mounted on the board along with an unfinshied handle slab and brass guard piece. All items are held on with thin wire. On this display, the finished knife is removable for inspection. Each item has a leather label. There are also 4 larger leather labels at the top. The backing seems to be part of a sheet of wood panneling.

The board is dated on the back "John Ek / Knives / Miami, FL / 1961.



[Miami Display3]
MIAMI DISPLAY BOARD 3 - This display board is in the shape of a shield and has two Ek knives and a sheath mounted on it's face.

This display board is odd as the left knife is a non-catalog Hamden Style 11 knife Serial 11/P??? (note the knife has a steel guard) while the other items are a Miami era green laced sheath and a Miami Style 2 Serial 2/100 knife. There is also one of the Miami red-logo silver foil labels at the top.

Probably made up by an individual rather than by John or Gary Ek.



[Miami Blade Stamp 1]
Photo: ebay duezygirl1
[Miami Blade Stamp 2]
Photo: ebay duezygirl1
[Miami Blade Stamp 3]
Photo: ebay duezygirl1
MIAMI BLADE STAMP - Original John Ek shop knife blade stamping tool from the Vietnam/Miami era. The 1st. photo shows the entire tool; the 2nd. image shows the engraved face as normally seen; the third photo is an inverted image of the 2nd. photo to show how the stamp on the blade appears.

Possibly a unique tool as these engraved stamps are expensive to produce.



[Miami Belt Buckle Knife Front]
Photo: ebay costumepirate
[Miami Belt Buckle Knife Rear]
Photo: ebay costumepirate
MIAMI BELT BUCKLE KNIFE - A John Ek belt buckle knife purchased in 1976 from John Ek in Miami.

Unmarked and rare as it is not a catalog item.



[Seminole GunShop Coin 1 Obverse] [Seminole GunShop Coin 1 Reverse] SEMINOLE GUN SHOP COIN 1 - One of two promotional coins from the Seminole Gun Shop at it's North Miami location. The coin is made of brass and is 1-1/8 inches in diameter. Writing on the obverse and an elaborate design with wings, an owl, a man with a club, several snakes, several animals and symbols on the reverse side.

The coin was good for $1.00 off on the purchase of a gun from the shop.



[Seminole GunShop Coin 2 Obverse]
Photo: worthpoint.com
[Seminole GunShop Coin 2 Reverse]
Photo: worthpoint.com
SEMINOLE GUN SHOP COIN 2 - One of two promotional coins from the Seminole Gun Shop at it's North Miami location. The coin is made of brass and is 1-1/4 inches in diameter. It differs from the first coin in that there is writing on both sides of the coin.

The coin was good for $1.00 off on the purchase of a gun from the shop.



[Miami Ballpoint Pen]
MIAMI BALLPOINT PEN - This ballpoint pen is another promotional item from the Seminole Gun Shop at the North Miami location. The pen is 5-1/2 inches long and 0.355 inches in diameter at the widest portion.

The pens were made by the US Pencil Co. NYC and is so marked on the pen's clip.



[Ek Custom Folder 1] [Ek Custom Folder 2] EK CUSTOM KNIVES FOLDING KNIFE - This 2 bladed folding knife is a promotional item for Gary Ek's business "Ek Custom Knives". The address printed on the knife is next door to the Seminole Gun Shop at the North Miami location.

The knife length closed is 3-1/2 inches. It has a 2-1/4 inch main blade and a 1-5/8 inch small blade. The main blade is marked "U.S.A.".

This knife was issued in the 1975 - 1976 time period.

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RICHMOND ACCESSORIES

[Ek Cap ]
EK CAP - The cap is one of three clothing items issued by the EK Commando Knife Company in Richmond, VA.

The Ek Cap is a baseball type cap with the Ek shield emblem embroidered on the cap's front. The picture shows the hat and T-Shirt ad from the Ek Catalog.



[T-Shirt-1] [T-Shirt-2] [T-Shirt-3]
EK T-SHIRT - This T-Shirt is one of three clothing items issued by the EK Commando Knife Company in Richmond, VA.

The 100% cotton EK T-Shirt is light gray with navy-blue print on front pocket and back. The back reads "America's Finest Military Knives . . .Battle Proven in Three Wars" above the World War II, Korea and Vietnam service medals. The front is marked with the crossed knives Ek emblem on a left side pocket.

There are two versions of the T-Shirt and differ only in the number of service medals shown on the back. The first version shows three service medals, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The later version of the shirt has the Gulf Service medal as well.

The T-Shirt was issued in Large or Extra Large size, rolled up inside a Richmond Black Flap Box.



[T-Shirt2-1] Photo: Mike Golden [T-Shirt2-2] Photo: Mike Golden [T-Shirt2-3] Photo: Mike Golden

EK T-SHIRT 2 - This T-Shirt is one of three T-Shirt designs issued by the EK Commando Knife Company in Richmond, VA.

The 50% Polyester / 50% Cotton EK T-Shirt is white with a dark navy-blue print on the front center. The image design differs from the other two designs and is identical to the design of the Richmond Blue Patch. The back of the T-Shirt is blank.

I'm not sure if this was the first, middle or last of the three T-Shirt types.



[Rich Belt 1 ]
Photo: ebay 2010
[Rich Belt 2 ]
Photo: ebay 2010
[Rich Belt 3 ]
Photo: ebay 2010

EK MILITARY STYLE WEB BELT - This belt is one of three clothing items issued by the EK Commando Knife Company in Richmond, VA.

It is a military style belt that made of dark blue, 1-1/4 inch width, webbing with brass fittings and brass slide type buckle. The buckle is marked with an crossed knives Ek emblem on the buckle front.

The belt was issued in sealed plastic inside a Richmond Black Flap Box.



[Ek Cloth] EK SILICONE CLOTH - The cloth is yellow, printed in a dark blue, with the Ek logo, crossed daggers, and the date the company was founded (1941), with a scroll with the wars in which the knives were used - World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War. The cloth dimension is 12 x 16 inches and was issued in a sealed plastic pack. The size of the logo is 3 x 3 inches. The cloth is impregnated with a silicone compound. Wiping the knife blade with this cloth will remove any fingerprints and leave a very fine film of silicone on the surfaces.

These cloths were issued in the 1990-1991 years.



[Blue Patch] RICHMOND BLUE PATCH - The Blue Patch was the first patch issued in Richmond. It is an embroidered patch 3 x 2-1/2 inches with white thread on blue cloth.

These blue and white patches were issued from sometime after 1982 in the Richmond era and again in the early years of the Richmond II era.



[Gold Patch] RICHMOND GOLD PATCH - The Gold Patch was issued to celebrate the 50th. Anniversary of Ek Knives. It is an embroidered patch 3 x 2-1/2 inches with gold thread on blue cloth. Instead of the single date of 1941 the gold patch has the dates 1941 - 1991.

These blue and gold patches were issued only during one year, 1991.

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BLACKJACK ACCESSORIES

[BJ Cap ]
BLACKJACK CAP - The cap is one of several clothing items issued by the Blackjack Knife Company in Effington, IL.

The Blackjack Cap is a red colored baseball type cap with the Blackjack "Ace & Jack Cards Pierced With a Dagger" logo embroidered on the cap's front. "BLACKJACK KNIVES" is embroidered underneath the logo.



[BJ Jacket ]
BLACKJACK JACKET - This jacket is one of several clothing items embroidered with the Blackjack "Ace & Jack Cards Pierced With a Dagger" logo.

It is a Hilton Brand nylon jacket and was embroidered at some period while the Blackjack Knife Company was in Effington, IL.



[BJ Shirt]
BLACKJACK T-SHIRT - This T-Shirt is one of several clothing items with the Blackjack "Ace & Jack Cards Pierced With a Dagger" logo.

The T-Shirt is dark blue with a circular printed white, black, red and yellow design.



[BJ Vest ]
BLACKJACK HUNTING VEST - The vest is one of several clothing items embroidered with the Blackjack "Ace & Jack Cards Pierced With a Dagger" logo.

It is a RedHead Brand hunting vest and was embroidered at some period while the Blackjack Knife Company was in Effington, IL.



[BJ Patch] TEAM BLACKJACK PATCH - This colorful red, white, yellow and black embroidered patch has the Blackjack "Ace & Jack Cards Pierced With a Dagger" logo as well as the words "Team Blackjack".

Size and date are unknown.



[BJ Mug] Photo: ebay mcalister555
BLACKJACK MUG - Blackjack Knives advertising beer mug. The mug is clear class with red graphics. The graphics appear on the front and on the back of the mug. The mug measures 5 1/2" tall.



[BJ Sign ]
BLACKJACK SIGN - This is a BlackJack / EK Cutlery Department sign printed on a flexible glossy heavy duty paperboard that measures 16 x 24 inches. It was printed for dealers in the 1993-1995 period when Blackjack and Ek knives were being made in Effingham, Illinois.

I've noted one of these signs autographed by Mike Stewart.

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AHF ACCESSORIES

NO KNOWN ACCESSORIES - I don't know of any accessories associated with the AHF (American Historical Foundation) knives.

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BARK RIVER ACCESSORIES

NO KNOWN ACCESSORIES - I don't know of any accessories associated with Bark River Knives.

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RICHMOND II ACCESSORIES

[Brown Patch] Photo: twitter.com/ekknives
RICHMOND II BROWN PATCH - The patch is almost identical to the Blue Patch but with black thread on brown cloth.



[Bad Patch] RICHMOND II MISSPELLED 6-WARS PATCH - This patch was issued in the 6-Wars design. The colorful patch is embroidered in yellow, dark blue, white and black thread and is 3-1/2 x 2-3/4 inches in size. Note that the word "AFGANISTAN" is misspelled (missing an H after the G).

Although I've seen corrected artwork of the 6-Wars design in print, I'm not sure that a corrected cloth patch was ever issued as I've never noted one.



[Rich II Tele Box ] MILITARY DOG TAG - These are military type dog tags that were issued with some of the Richmond II era knives. They are stamped in 5 lines: "EK COMMANDO KNIVES" / "AMERICA'S BEST" / "MILITARY KNIVES" / "BATTLE PROVEN" / "IN SIX WARS".



[Toggle ] TOGGLE - In late 2007, sheaths started being produced with the leg tie cord on the sheath tip wrapped around a toggle, to facilitate unwrapping and re-wrapping by the knife's owner. I believe the toggle measures 4 x 1 x 1/4 inches with two 1/2 inch holes centered 1/2 inch in from each end.

They were issued with sheaths from late 2007 up to the sale of Ek Knives to KA-BAR in 2014.



[NDZ DOG TAG ] NDZ DOG TAG - These are non-magnetic (not stainless steel so probably aluminum) dog tags that are painted black with the 6-Wars logo in white paint. The size is the standard 1-1/8 X 2 inches with the standard 1/8 inch hole at one end. They are flat with no rolled edges or index notch.

This is an aftermarket item that was sold by NDZperformance.com. The part number is DOGTAG-STD-BLK-927. The 927 is the image number.



[Whiskey Glass ] WHISKEY GLASS - This is a 14 Oz. Whiskey Glass. The glass is etched with the Ek 6 Wars Logo.

This is an aftermarket item.

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HISTORICAL EDITION ACCESSORIES

NO KNOWN ACCESSORIES - I don't know of any accessories associated with Bark River knives.

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KA-BAR ACCESSORIES

[Ka-Bar Patch Front]
Photo: www.kabar.com
[Ka-Bar Patch Rear]
Photo: ebay pyco_99
KA-BAR PATCH - This is KA-BAR'S Ek Commando Knife patch. The patch colors are yellow and blue and show a pair of crossed Ek Knives and the number "41", the year Ek Commando Knives was formed.

The patch is made of PVC plastic and has a velcro back. The patches are made in China and originally sold for $7.50

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