EKA knife from Eskilstuna

[trail]

Desktop's post on knives from Eskilstuna got me thinking that I would like to have a Swedish knife in my collection, so I ordered this EKA locking folder.

I'm cribbing this straight off the EKA website:

http://www.eka-knivar.se/index.asp?lang=UK

Company story
EKA has manufactured quality knives for more than 125 years
EKA-knivar AB was founded in 1882 by Hadar Hallström, under the name Hadar Hallström Kniffabriks Aktiebolag. In 1917 the company name was changed to Eskilstuna Kniffabriks Aktiebolag - later abbreviated as EKA-knivar AB.

Until the middle of the 20th century Eskilstuna was a real “knife town”. More than 40 factories specialising in knife manufacture resided in the city.

With its focus on quality and its will to develop, EKA managed to stay in the market. Today we are northern Europe’s leading folding knife

Already in the year 1894 the sharpness of the EKA knife was worthy of all respect. Messrs. Olsson, Jansson and Berg made a wager as to who, in less than five hours, could most speedily carve through a 12½ inch tree trunk. Olsson won. He was finished in 4 hours. His EKA knife is today framed in EKA’s office in Eskilstuna.

[Desktop]

That's a nice looking folder!
Great info - never seen the EKA web site before!

[troyl2]

your probably going to dissapointed when you recieve your knife and find that its made in china i was when i bought my swingblade

[trail]

I have received the knife and I can find no evidence it was made in China. The only markings on the box read EKA Eskilstuna Sweden. The tang stamp reads EKA Aus-8. There are no other markings.

[Desktop]

your probably going to dissapointed when you recieve your knife and find that its made in china i was when i bought my swingblade

All EKA knives are made by Eskilstuna Knivfabriks Aktiebolag (EKA) in Sweden, no China.

[troyl2]

I BEG TO DIFFER,THAT THEY ARE ALL MADE IN SWEDEN I HAVE THE SWING BLADE IN MY HAND AND IT IS AUS-8 STAINLESS PATENT PENDING AND UNDERNEETH BARLEY VISABLE WITH NAKED EYE SAYS CHINA, YOU MIGHT ALSO BELIEVE ALL KNIVES MARKED SOLINGEN ARE MADE IN GERMANY

[Hukk]

AUS - 8, Japan's steel, I don't recall seeing many European makers use that steel - if any.

[trail]

No sign of China on the tang of mine - still, the point regarding AUS-8 is well taken. I have an email in to the importer to get his take. I'll let you know what he has to say. I also have an address for the company in Sweden and I'll contact them as well.

Regardless of it's provenance, it is a beautiful and well-made knife. Still, for the sake of documentation and history, I'd like to nail down the country of origin.

[trail]

Good call, Troy. I received an email from the seller today as follows:

"I was surprised as you will be to read the answer from our
eka distributor."

"The EKA 8 Lite is made in China. It is the ONLY knife they produce in China
that we sell. They do make one more over there. It is the Slingblade. They
did that in collaboration with Outdoor Edge knives"

Hukk, thanks for your input. That really prodded me to get this issue resolved.

Desktop, we live and learn. I'm still indebted to you for your earlier post that introduced me to Eskilstuna and Swedish knives. Someday I will have one, if it is meant to be. For the meantime, I'm glad to have the EKA that I do, regardless of its provenance it's a well designed and well made knife.