It sneaked past us, but a new Ek design popped up from Ka Bar right before Christmas 2023, so now it gets to be our first news bit of 2024. The aptly-named Ek Folder is a flipper with caged-bearing action, a slim profile, and a powder steel blade.
Quick Specs:
| Overall Length: | 9.19” |
| Blade Length: | 4.0” |
| Blade Steel: | CPM-S35VN |
| Lock Style: | Liner |
| Open System: | Flipper tab |
| Handle Material: | Glass-filled nylon |
| Carry System: | Deep-carry wire pocket clip |
| Made in: | Taiwan |
The design echoes the growing trend of slim, gentleman’s carry knives like the CRKT CEO and the Ocaso Solstice. This quite a bit longer than those designs, though, with an overall length of nine inches and a four-inch blade. The handle is also a bit larger in proportion to the blade, so it looks to be a little more grip-conscious than other dressy carries.
Still, as the first and (currently) only folder in the Ka Bar/John Ek line up, it’s the best of those options for an EDC outside of the wilderness. It’s also the only newer Ek design currently available with a powder stainless steel, and its appearance here does breed some hope about what kinds of designs and materials we might see from Ka Bar later this year.
It’s worth noting this is made in Taiwan. That’s not out of the norm for folders under the Ka Bar umbrella, and anyone who’s found themselves happy with the Dozier or TDI shouldn’t concern themselves too much about the origin.
The Ka Bar Ek Folder is available now from the Ka Bar site and a smattering of vendors, but should be trickling into the common fair in the coming weeks.
