KA-BAR Ek Commando Short Clip
Commemorative Commando!
To their credit, KA-BAR, who designed and produced perhaps
the most famous military knife in military history, has seen fit
to pay tribute to John Ek’s Commando Knife.
The John Ek Commando series knives grew up in the shadow of the famed “KA-BAR Knife” during WWII and since, but it doesn’t detract from the important place these knives had in cutlery history.
The Ek Commando Knife Company was established in 1941 and, though they were never issued by the U.S. military, those who knew of John Ek’s work cherished them not just in WWII but the Korean and Viet Nam Wars. It’s even said President Franklin D. Roosevelt displayed an Ek Commando on his desk in the White House.
Ek’s fixed-blades were exclusively Daggers for many years but the Clip Point was eventually added. Ironically, KA-BAR produces the Jon Ek Commando Knife line today. The Short Clip version is featured here.
The Ek Short Clip’s blade is 1095 Cro-Van high-carbon steel with a black powder-coat to help deter corrosion. The 1.31″ blade is teamed up with a 4.125″ “stick” handle done up with black Ultramid polymer handle scales held together with Ek’s signature oversized screws. There’s a short finger guard below the blade, sufficient to get the job done without snagging your shirt when drawing the knife. The symmetrical handle has a lanyard hole at the base. The Ek Short Clip is a very manageable 10.84 oz. and is delivered with a modern black molded Celcon and Nylon MOLLE compatible sheath with an MSRP of $154.04. In a nutshell, this is a modernized version of the Ek Short Clip still retaining the appearance and spirit of the original.
The Ek Commando Short Clip’s sheath is the most noticeable
change to the modern version. This is a welcome addition over
the old leather version when battling the elements.
Why you’ll like it
The Ek Commando is a slender knife but wide enough to offer up game processing and field chores. Its straight handle is not as cushy as modern space-age fare but you’d be surprised at how many outdoor knives still sport such sparing handles — eschewing the fancy stuff — and still get the job done with no complaints. Perhaps best of all there’s just something esoterically pleasing about using this historic send-up to warm the cockles.
