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I’ve always been a fan of Ek Commando knives. They have a certain look that distinguishes them as their own entity, and now KA-BAR, a knife giant in and of itself, announces the acquisition of the Ek Commando Knife Brand.

Ek Commando Knife was created in 1941 by John Ek in Hamden, Connecticut. During World War II, Ek Commando Knives were restricted to military personnel. The knives featured serial numbers that were recorded and kept for tracking and identification. Luminaries ranging from Gen. George Patton, President Franklin Roosevelt and actor-turned-soldier Clark Gable owned Ek Knives during the Second World War.

Ek Commando Knives have served our military in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and countless other hotspots around the globe. Today, Ek continues to be a staple of the United States military.

Ek Commando Knives made by KA-BAR will be available for purchase in 2015. For more on military knives, click here.

KA-BAR announces an exciting project to manufacture and release a limited edition of 350 iconic E.W. Stone WW II theater knives. E.W. Stone, Jr., Stone’s son, has collaborated with KA-BAR to use his father’s original handle casts of what has now become legendary to WW II knife collectors—skull and cobra grips. The grips will anchor 350 KA-BAR USMC Fighting/Utility knives with blued blades.

The climate and the nature of combat in the South Pacific led to the creation of the Stone Knife.  The leather handle of the KA-BAR USMC Fighting/Utility knife often fell prey to the humidity, rainfall and combat conditions of the Pacific campaign. Though the blade remained intact, the handles occasionally suffered from jungle rot. In a display of resourcefulness, E.W. Stone, Sr., who worked in the foundry of the USS Holland, cast new handles onto the KA-BAR blades. Stone salvaged material from downed Japanese aircraft to make his signature handle. Approximately 250-300 E.W. Stone theater knives were made during World War II, and according to his son in a video (see video at end of story), about 95 percent of the cast handles were on KA-BAR knife blades.

The modern KA-BAR E.W. Stone Knife features a JRE semi-custom sheath, a golden oak Gerstner display case, an informational booklet and DVD, and a certificate of authenticity signed by KA-BAR President John Stitt and E.W. Stone, Jr.

The KA-BAR E.W. Stone Knife can be purchased only at KA-BAR.com, or by calling KA-BAR at 800-282-0130. The cost of the E.W. Stone is $1,000.  The E.W. Stone Knife is sold on a first come first serve basis and is limited to five per customer.

Make sure to watch this fascinating video interview with E.W. Stone, Jr.:

KA-BAR E.W. Stone Knife Limited Edition from KA-BAR Knives on Vimeo.

For more on military knives, click here.