2015 Northwoods Indian River Jack Smooth White Bone Review

Once again ...

BrotherJim said:
I will use and hopefully enjoy the knife. I really REALLY wanted an IRJ. I got one :)
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I don't want a refund. I WANT the IRJ. A replacement or rework wasn't offered. My guess is that it passed QC at Queen and was allowed to leave KSF, so the tolerances are acceptable and I have pointed out perhaps the extreme of those allowable tolerances. But if you can't understand the frustration and see the reason for disappointed, then you can't. I'm okay with that.
 
Here's a picture of the back side
The bone is flawless and just gorgeous on this knife !!!

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Stinks that you didn't get what you wanted, that's always a bummer.

Thank you for sharing your experience with KSF because it reminds me that I've had maybe five or six transactions with them and the one knife I wasn't 100% happy with was replaced by them TWICE until I got exactly what I wanted. And Derrick and Greg made sure I was happy.

I've never had the owner of such a large shop attend to me like that and with total customer satisfaction as the sole goal.

Those boys do it right and everyone should know about it!
 
I would gladly replace the knife, but, as you pointed out, they are all gone.

I am happy to work with you however you like. Just let me know. :)
 
I wish a replacement or rework had been offered. It just wasn't. Ample opportunity and even a hint was given.
I bet (good money) though if Derrick had a replacement he could have gotten his hands on he would have offered it.
There just aren't any.

I can find nothing bad to say about Derrick OR KSF ... but READ THE KNIFE I pictured and don't think about the maker or seller. What do YOU see?

I thanked Derrick, what, three times for his generous offer of a refund. What else can he do?

EDIT: I see Derrick posted as I composed this reply. Thank you Derrick. Ima use it like I stole it LoL. Have a Great weekend and also thank you for your personal attention in this matter. It means A LOT and is greatly appreciated by all of us :)
 
And just for grins and giggles ... What's the Internet without a selfie LoL
My frustrated and disappointed face I guess ... but anyway, moving on ...

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I have one that I was less than pleased with. Through direction from KSF, I contacted Queen and they had me send it back to them to be re-worked. They still have it but I'm hoping the results are good as I really like the pattern and the coloring. Maybe you can contact Queen as I did and have them take a look at it.
 
BrotherJim said:
Thanks "Big" !!! Seems a right reasonable thing to do and I hadn't thought of that
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I received a S&M that had bad vertical play. I e-mailed KSF about it, and they told me just to send it to Queen directly, since that's all they would do and it would save me some time. Queen fixed the vertical play and sent it back. KSF did tell me they would stand behind the product 100% if I was not satisfied. I appreciated that Derrick and KSF stand behind their products. They have excellent customer service. That's all you can expect from them...they don't manufacture the knives.

Oh BTW, I bought that same smooth white bone IRJ, and it is gorgeous, but I think yours might be prettier. Don't blame you for not wanting to part with it, just want it right....I understand. Good luck with getting the knife fixed. Queen will make it right for you. My repair form them took about three weeks.
 
Thanks Relee1. It IS gorgeous !!!

Out of the pouch, the blade edge isn't mirror polished but it is definitely shaving sharp !!! Despite the rather large taper on the tang and the resulting space between the tang and liners when closed, there is absolutely NO blade play in ANY direction either open or closed. The pull is REALLY strong but I know it will break in over time. Interestingly, there is no half stop but it dang sure functions as if there were one LoL ... with the last half of opening progressing to an effort required to stay safe and away from the edge and without using the long pull because it WILL chip or break a nail.

All knives are different. This has just been my experience and I honestly don't think it is indicative of product quality as a whole. Too many positive reviews out there. And I agree, Derrick and KSF have offered to do anything they could do to "make it right". I know I will grow to love this knife and the frustration and disappointment is just part of life sometimes, and it helps make it mine. Just wish I'd been luckier with luck of the draw. I suspect this knife has left KSF more than once. It now has a home :)
 
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... in well over 50 years of owning any sundry of knives, I have only ever had one "perfect" knife. All others have had something my eyes or hands could find although most all have had minor imperfections and it's just the nature of hand crafted/production knives. No problem.

For the price point and top shelf materials used, I think quality could/should be better than THIS IRJ knife and what amounts to basically and at the end of the day, a SFO arrangement.

Oh, and the perfect knife ... a little Case Peanut in jigged brown delrin I purchased in 1998 from the ships store while stationed aboard the USS Stephen W Groves FFG-29. I think I paid like $25 for the knife. BUT that does not mean the Peanut before or after mine on the line was "perfect" LoL. And ... AND ... in all honesty, I had to send it back to Case for rework because the main blade tip was just slightly proud enough to snag from time to time and annoy me while fondling it in my pocket. Case Repair is AWESOME. Communication is AWESOME. Now that little peanut is not only AWESOME ... it's perfect. I don't even use it much. It's not even my favorite knife LoL. I take it out from time to time just to marvel at American Craftsmanship.
 
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This evening, I carefully "encouraged" the v-shaped bolsters at the pivot end, to at least become a bit more parallel instead of v-shaped by using a heavily rubber padded vice. It worked a bit and the flaws are not as obvious and the spaces are slightly smaller. I'm thinking I can live with it. Even after encouragement, the blade rubs no where. Apparently not even on the tang, which is very cool (maybe ever so slightly at the broadest base of the tapered tang but not noticeable). Now for the off-center blade ... I don't think CPM 154 would much like any encouragement some other steels don't seem to mind and since it's not rubbing a liner. I'm thinking I can live with that too.

Ya know, I forgot to mention the leather pocket slip ... VERY Nice. I'll use it simple because I hate (<<< I know, a strong word right LoL) ... HATE to get a pocket knife filled with dirt and lint. In fact, the nice leather pocket slip influenced my final decision a bit and is appreciated. I'll at least give it a try for a while.
 
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Jim I was the one that purchased the last IRJ in bone from KSF about 2-3 weeks ago. I know because I tried to buy 2 and I couldn't. When I get home I will post some pics. GEC might have slightly better fit and finish but the IRJ has 154cm vs. the high carbon in the GEC. So IMO it's an all around better knife to keep in your pocket. You won't run into any rust issues. As far as KSF, they're an amazing company. I have nothing but praise for them and I've ordered several knives
 
Thanks for the response AusLoX !!! I've calmed a bit and she's coming round. I like that. Gonna love this knife ... just know it.
 
From one Navy to another, glad to hear you will put her to use, as long as there isn't any blade play side to side, I wouldn't have any objections on hanging onto it either. Really nice scales on that and a great blade shape that will perform just about any cutting chores you may have need to do.

And thanks for the selfie, it is good to put a face to a name sometimes, and on the left side of the photo, above your shoulder, that looks like an angel wing??? :)

If you ever have need of getting her sharpened up, just pop me an email, be happy to help out.

G2
 
Thanks Gary !!! If my thirty something year old diamond Lansky set can't handle CPM 154, believe me, I will be reaching out. In fact, it's already crossed my mind to do so as need be.

The IRJ really is a beaut and I am very grateful for Derrick's revival of this pattern. My knife just has some F/F issues ... but shouldn't affect performance.

I realize my post (in some regards, a rant of sorts) could easily be construed as casting aspersion on Derrick and/or KSF and I apologize for sounding like that. They had NOTHING to do with my frustration (CC fraud, postal delivery) or disappointment (Queen QC). In fact, Derrick offered the only solution he could ... a full refund and I greatly appreciate the personal customer service which is a hallmark of his integrity and widely acknowledged. I'm already feeling a little ashamed for posting this thread to begin with. There was a lot I said that need not to have been said and had nothing to do with a review of the IRJ.

Awaking this morning and walking into the kitchen, the first thing that caught my eye was a gorgeous knife laying on the counter ... the IRJ. Made me smile ... a lot.

Oh, and the angel? ... that's Grace. She lives in my kitchen window and watches over me and the dogs. If she could shake her head, I think she would right now ;) LoL

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That's good ! someone to watch over you, always a welcome thing!

And yep, diamonds, tried them but always ended up unseating the diamonds and ending up with shiny metal and nothing cutting, so I've gone to Shapton stones and hand sharpening, suits me better and works out quite well.

I like the photos too, nicely done sir !
G2
 
BrotherJim said:
I realize my post (in some regards, a rant of sorts) could easily be construed as casting aspersion on Derrick and/or KSF and I apologize for sounding like that. They had NOTHING to do with my frustration (CC fraud, postal delivery) or disappointment (Queen QC). In fact, Derrick offered the only solution he could ... a full refund and I greatly appreciate the personal customer service which is a hallmark of his integrity and widely acknowledged. I'm already feeling a little ashamed for posting this thread to begin with. There was a lot I said that need not to have been said and had nothing to do with a review of the IRJ.
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No worries! Enjoy the IRJ. :)
 
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