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KJE 1706 Alaska

KJE 1600



In 1982 KJ Eriksson was asked by Alan Reed & Associates, an American customer, to make a copy of the famous Buck Knife, very famous in the EUA. This request will lead to the development and commercialization of the n. 1706 Alaska.

Correspondence between Alan Reed and Bo Eriksson, CEO of KJE at the time 

KJ Eriksson accepted the order of about 1000 pcs and produced the knife first batch of 1706, probably already in 1983. 

There were a few backorders of 500 or 1000pcs but never the big quantities the customer promised.

Around 3000 to 4000 were ever produced. Being the majority of the knives exported to the EUA and a very limited number of knives, probably no more than 100, sold in Sweden.

The last production run was May 1987.



The blade is made out of stainless steel 140mm long, with a black plastic handle and aluminum fittings. The aluminum back ferrule is just molded to the handle and is not fixed to the tang. This makes the knife very light, around 150g, taking into consideration its overall size.





Above: There are still some aluminum back ferrules in the Morakniv basement. Picture by Thomas Eriksson

The bloodline/groove on the blade was made in a press (stamping tool) and not ground like back in the days.

It comes with a black leather sheath with the outline of the Alaska state engraved on the front.

The packaging box is very similar to the one used in the 1701 Jagaren.

https://oldmora.blogspot.com/2020/10/KJE-Jagaren-1701.html


Above: image from the KJE 1985 catalog - 1706 only appears in the 1985 catalog. in the next known catalog, 1990, the model is already gone.

Due to the small numbers and low availability, this model has gain i high collectible value.


Special thanks
Bo Eriksson, former KJ Eriksson CEO at the time, for all the details regarding this model

Thomas Eriksson, for the continuous help and support of this project

Sverker Andersson, for the pictures that illustrate this article.





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