Experience with Northfield (UNXLD)?

R

RobbW

Joined
Oct 15, 2003
Messages
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I'm thinking of getting a single-bladed folding knife for my back pocket to use as a camping knife. I've never owned a Northfield before, but the blade shape, natural scale materials, and overall look of the Pioneer model #23-S seems quite good from web pics. Plus, it's a Made in USA knife.

I use my knives for cutting, not prying or screwdriving. I like thin blades and thin scales--something thin enough I can make good fuzz sticks with, and not be too thick for shaving other woodcraft projects--shelters, tent pegs, campfire utensils, etc.

What is the rep. of Northfield, and would the single-bladed #23-S have a fairly thin blade?
 
I've only had the opportunity to inspect one and I'll give you my impressions.

It was a Northfield 23-S with Green Tea jigged bone scales.

Pros:

1095 blade, sharp out of the box.
Good size, weight and slim dimensions for back pocket carry.
Reasonably good fit and finish.

Cons:

Excessively strong backspring. (I like 'em strong but this was overkill.)
Blade slightly off center. (Not rubbing liners.)
No thong hole.
Way too much blade etch for my taste. (I don't need "1 of 100" etched on the pile side of my blade in large characters. I wanted it for carry/use.)
The "Green Tea" jigged bone (imho) looked like plastic/delrin. Possibly this was due to the shallow jigging, or perhaps just the dye used. In any case, I didn't care for it and I generally like bone with an older, antique look.

In the end, I decided that I just didn't like the knife enough to keep it and ended up sending it back. I wouldn't hesitate trying another if it was a pattern and scale material I liked without all the extaneous blade etching. (I don't mind the number on the bolster.)
 
Thanks for the feedback, Blues. I agree with you on the etching. I don't like my knives to look like billboards. I'll keep my eye out for some locally available models I can handle first, to see if they are all nail breakers or just yours, and to make sure I don't get one with all the etching.

Glad to hear it was sharp with good F&F. Nice to see 1095 being used. I love carbon steel. That's what drew me to start looking at Northfield in the first place.
 
Northfield is actually one of several brands revived by the Great Eastern folks...

http://www.greateasterncutlery.net/

I'm not afilliated in any way, that is just for information.

The principals worked for or with Queen, before starting the relatively new company. My opinion of the various knives ( I've had 8 different models, still have 2 ) would mirror Blues' opinion, for the most part.

The Green Tea knife was purported to be dyed with.....well, Green Tea!

Bill
 
RobbW said:
I'll keep my eye out for some locally available models I can handle first, to see if they are all nail breakers or just yours, and to make sure I don't get one with all the etching.

Glad to hear it was sharp with good F&F. Nice to see 1095 being used. I love carbon steel. That's what drew me to start looking at Northfield in the first place.
Click to expand...

My understanding is that they come with stout springs but whether mine was particularly recalcitrant or not I can't say. It was unpleasant to open at best. (And I have no finger or nail issues and like mine on the firm side as I mentioned.)

Bill can probably fill in greater detail since he's had many more to gather experience with. Also, I imagine there are several other members here that have quite a few of the Northfields and they should be able to give you more data points.
 
I have a Great Eastern Tidioute single blade Beaver Tail in carbon with natural smooth bone scales.

PROS
Good finish on the one I have, no rough edges or gaps.
Sharp with a nice Sodbuster style blade.
Reasonably slim and not too heavy.

CONS
Could be slippery to use as the bone is very smooth
Backspring is strong, not a nail breaker but hell of a rat-trap when shutting so watch out:eek:
Some might not like the blade etch BEAVER TAIL:D with a picture of that large rodent too.I don't mind and patina will soon take care of it.

Got a Great Eastern Sheffield Scout in stainless as well. This is a 2 bladed knife and the con part for me is that it's a bulky heavy knife.Many like this though. Backspring is a bit heavy but I've known a lot worse(Nail benders rather than breakers:eek:) Pro parts are high finish on mine,really attractive jigged bone handles and acorn shield.They come in good looking tube packets too.

Have a small Outer style Great Eastern sheath knife as well. This is sharp,well finished and useful. Some could find it a bit small if you have a yeti hand. Sheath works well but rather lack lustre finish,this is not uncommon with many manufacturers though.

My advice, try one.The Beaver Tail I wrote about is functional,nice looking and unusual.:thumbup:
 
I have a Northfield Pioneer 23 in beautiful bubinga wood. It has a strong backspring and nice halfstop, and opens with no difficulty. I asked the vendor to select one that opened easily. This was after I had experience with a real nailbreaker that, once opened, would shut dangerously fast like the proverbial alligator. I plan to order another Northfield or two and have the vendor check the backspring action. As for the lettering on the blade, the lettering disappears once you get a nice dark patina. The Pioneer 23's afford a very comfortable four-finger grip. I really love mine.
 
These knives look real nice
Most carbon steel blade slips I've had,that I used,the etch wore off pretty quick.
-Vince
 
I don't worry about the etching either. They disappear pretty quick.
Greg
 
I have two of the Un-X-LD "Scouts" as they call them, in 1095. They are very nice. My only complaint is the overly strong spring that others have mentioned. I've cut the hell out of my finger twice when closing them and they are a pain to open. The 1095 steel is sweet and mine has taken on a nice patina.
 
Zuchus said:
I have two of the Un-X-LD "Scouts" as they call them, in 1095. They are very nice. My only complaint is the overly strong spring that others have mentioned. I've cut the hell out of my finger twice when closing them and they are a pain to open. The 1095 steel is sweet and mine has taken on a nice patina.
Click to expand...

I've said this times before
When you get into the larger size/blade length slips,too strong a spring is way too dangerous,IMO

This is one nice feature of a Mt Man lockback,at that size,there is no hard snap to fight & w/she's open,she's locked & even if the lock is not dead solid,when properly used (the knife) it is all the lock you'll need
No doubt,too hard a snap is NG
-Vince
 
Thanks for all the information. I have to admit, I'm gun-shy concerning strong springs. I had a Laguiole with a real nail-biting spring. As I was closing it with my fingers safely out of the way, my 3-year old daughter jumped on me in a kind of running-from-behind-the-back-hug. The blade rat-trapped on my left index finger. I probably should have visited the ER--it was years before the hard, knotty swelling and pain completely disappeared.

Stout spring = bad in my book. Still, I like the look and steel enough I'd try any in person to see if I could find a weaker spring.

What are some alternatives? Similar knives? Cycling with lapping compound? Stretching the spring with a mallet and punch?
 
I'd check out the Queen Mountain Man in 1095 or D2. Cumberland Knives usually has 'em in stock and the lockback version will take care of the backspring issues.

The D2 version I have in carved stag bone locks up like a vault and actually came with a good edge on it.

Anyway, food for thought.
 
Wow, you're lightning fast. And I notice that was your 5000th post. Congratulations and thanks for the advice. I've ordered from Cumberland twice, and wouldn't hesitate to do business with them again. I'll look at the Queen Mt. Man there.

I also see the 3-3/4" Northfield #73 UNXLD Sambar Stag is coming out in a 1 bladed version with a liner lock. Too bad it wasn't the 4-1/4" #23 Pioneer version coming out with a liner lock. I'd have been all over that. The Mt. Man looks good, though, just the size I want.
 
I got a couple Great Easterns. A Northfield Scout trapper and a Tidioute Sarpent which has the single spey blade.

The Tidioute backspring was ridiculously strong. A nailbreaker for sure, it was almost impossible to open. Springs on the Scout were not nearly as bad but still a little too stiff.

Other than that I like them a lot.
 
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