JOHN EK - THE PERSON

Hamden Photo - Photo of John Ek being interviewed about his knives. According to Robert Buerlein the author of "Allied Military Fighting Knives And The Men Who Made Them Famous", the photo was taken in 1944. The woman is holding a #9 Paratrooper knife while John holds the laced sheath for the knife. In the background is what appears as a display case of knives.

Elsa Ek Photo - Photo of Elsa B. Ek, 8/1/1919 to 5/13/2008. Elsa was John Ek's wife and worked for U.S. Naval Intelegence. The photo was taken sometime in the 1940's.

Framed Medals: A frame containing medals awarded to John Ek.

MEDAL #1, First from the left, is the AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL, dated on the rear 1939 and 1941, and comes with the matching ribbon mounted below it.

MEDAL #2 is the ARMY ORDNANCE ASSOCIATION MEDAL engraved: "JOHN EK For services rendered to US FORCES World War ll dated 4-4-46" and has the matching ribbon underneath it.

Note: This medal is struck from bronze taken from a 6-inch British howitzer which was captured by German forces on the Russian front during World War I. Reconditioned by the Germans, the weapon was put in service on the Argonne front where it was captured by the 77th Division, American Expeditionary Forces.

MEDAL #3 is a Colt Civilian Marksman's medal, dated on the back "1963 Colt's S.R.P.C.P.M."

Underneath Medal #2 is a miniature ribbon that is not clear but could possibly be an AMERICAN DEFENSE SERVICE MEDAL mini ribbon.

Underneath Medal #3 is a colored pin for "Citizen's Military Training Camp"

Note: Citizens' Military Training Camps (CMTC) were military training programs of the United States that were held annually each summer during the years 1921 to 1940. The CMTC camps were a month in length and held at about 50 Army posts nationally.

Pistol Carry Card: John Ek's personal carry permit card from Clinton CT, dated 16 Sept. 1952. As noted, John was licenced to carry either a High Standard Sport King 22 or a Colt Cobra 38 special. The reverse of the card is signed in ink by John Ek. The Permits were only valid for one year and only within the specified city.

Pistol Carry Card: John Ek's personal carry permit card from Clinton CT, dated 17 Oct. 1953. As noted, John was carrying the S&W airweight 38 special at that time. The reverse of the card is signed in ink by John Ek. The Permits were only valid for one year and only within the specified city.

Ek Currency Collection - Photo of a part of John and Elsa Ek's coin and paper currency collection. The display was on a wall in their North Miami home.

Ek Investigator Electronics - Photo of John Ek Private Eye Office Studio Circa 1960's. John was a Private Investigator and ran a company, Sunny Isles Security Corporation in Miami.

Ek Gun Collection - Photo of a part of John Ek's gun collection. I believe this display was on a wall in a room in their North Miami home.

Chief Of Detectives ID card - Photocopy of both sides of John Ek's Chief Of Detectives ID card dated 9/27/1963. It was for the city of Pembroke Park, FL.

This copy was made on 25 April 2005 and signed by Robert Buerlein, president of the Ek Commando Knife Company.

John Ek's Wallet - A handmade leather wallet with floral design and "J. EK" monogram. The wallet sold on eBay on Oct 08, 2007. Included was a tattered, taped together 1923 "Silver Certificate" One Dollar bill that Mr. Ek carried around for most of his adult life.

John Ek's Cigar Case - A handmade case that will hold two cigar tubes. Belt loop at the top. The front has a "J E K" monogram. The back is stamped on two lines in three places "HAND CRAFTED BY" / "JOHN EK". The case holds two Garcia y Vega cigar empty plastic tubes.

John Ek Photo - Photo of John Ek in his North Miami workshop. The photo was taken sometime in the first half of 1975 when Sid Latham spent several days talking to John Ek and his son Gary and observing them grinding blades as well as other knife building operations.

John Ek Photo 2 - Photo of John Ek taken at a knife show by the purchaser of a set of Boot knives made by Gary Ek. Photo was taken in Oct. 1975 about a year before John's death.

Ek Memorial Card - John Ek 09/29/15 - 10/21/76 passed away on 21 October 1976. This is the memorial card presented at his funeral. The size is 3-1/4 x 5 inches folded and 6-1/2 x 5 open as shown.