First JK knife....riverwoods companion vs. potawatomi

[TPVT]

hi all.
i saw john's New Orders link and originally posted this question in there, but john suggest it might get more responses if i post in the main forum.

i have been checking out JK Knives since i joined BF a month or so ago. And, i am ready to order. BUT...i need some help.

here's my deal....i do not even own a fixed blade knife yet (though i have a laconico EDC en route), so i do not have much personal experience to make my decision with....besides what i am learning here. i think i like the smaller knives. i.e. about a 3 in blade but with fullsize handle (at least a 4 in handle).

the two knives i am drawn to are the riverwoods companion and the potawatomi slim knecker. i am leaning more towards the riverwoods, but i love the overall shape of the potwatomi. i just wonder if i would like the slimness of the "necker."

i have already asked John if he would consider putting a full-thickness handle on the potawatomi and he said "of course."

looking for opinions from folks who have the RWC and/or the Potawatomi....or both!

what do you guys think? RWC? Potawatomi? hybrid?

thanks guys.

 

[JK Knives]

Maybe KYenglish will post photos and specs of his "Potawatomi Plus", an oversize version of the Potawatomi.

 

[TPVT]

Maybe KYenglish will post photos and specs of his "Potawatomi Plus", an oversize version of the Potawatomi.

oooh....would love to see that for-sure!

 

[MidwestDave]

My question would be what are you planning to use it for?


Dave

 

[Mr. Sogetsu]

I like ratio of the potowatomi better from the pictures I see. I think Jeff designed both of them, maybe he could help you decide.

 

[Tahts-a-dats-ago]

Hi TPVT,

I’m not sure how much help I’ll be, but I do own both knives you’re looking at.

I did a review of the Potowatomi Slim Necker here: Review


While that review is short and to the point, it is reflective of my views of that particular model. It is a very comfortable knife and a fantastic slicer with a lot of control. In reality mine is used mostly in the kitchen but this model would make an excellent choice for outdoor use (making traps, whittling, cleaning game). The handle gives you excellent control and is comfortable in a variety of positions.

I haven’t done a review (yet) of my Riverwoods Companion, but I’d say that this model is very comparable to the Potawatomi Slim Necker. The RC has a slightly longer blade and, in mine anyway, a slightly fatter handle. My RC was ordered with 1/16 inch steel, so it is a wicked little slicer. The handle is very comfortable in a variety of positions.

I personally would be hard pressed to choose one over the other; both are equally comfortable to use and both are well suited for the types of chores most likely to be done with a smaller knife.

I would make a couple of other model suggestions for your consideration:

The Michigan Trail knife has turned out to be my most used knife. I can’t really tell you why, it just is. The knife handle is extremely comfortable; being both larger and thicker it gives you a great deal of leverage while helping you avoid any hand fatigue with extended use. The blade isn’t much larger than the two models you’re looking at, and John would certainly make the blade smaller if you wished. I think this particular model gets over looked sometimes, as it really is perfect for everyday use.

Another model warranting serious consideration is John’s Semi Wharncliff EDC. It too has a handle that is both larger and thicker; making it an amazingly comfortable handle in use. The blade shape is quite a bit different, but really lends itself to precision cuts. I use this knife quite a bit (probably second to the Michigan Trail knife) and be perfectly happy if this were the only knife I owned.

If you’d like to try a slightly larger blade, I would suggest the following two knives for your consideration:

The JK Canadian Belt Knife; this is my personal favorite knife. It is a joy to use and works well at just about everything. If I could only have one knife, this would be it.

The Trapline: probably the single best knife for outdoor’s woods use. It simply excels in this environment and falls in the not too big, not too small category of perfectness. It probably wouldn’t be my first choice if my primary tasks were cleaning game, but it would certainly be adequate for that job too. Were I to be in the woods for an extended stay, this is the knife that I would make absolutely sure was with me.

Bearing in mind the fact that my style of use is almost certainly going to be different from your style of use, I would still highly recommend any of the above knives. If I were starting all over, I’d order the above six knives without hesitation.

If I were forced to choose between the Potowatomi Slim Necker and the Riverwoods Companion, I’d probably choose the Potowatomi Slim Necker. But that’s only because mine features the bright orange G10 scales and I’d feel much less likely to lose it in the woods. My hands are fairly large – XXL gloves I believe – but I find both knives to be very comfortable in the hand. I think either model would serve you extremely well and that your choice would largely boil down to which knife appealed to you more. In use, I doubt you’d find much difference at all. I know I haven’t.

 

[KYenglish]

I will as soon as I can tonight do nt have access right now sorry.

 

[jds1]

Hello TPVT,

If you hang out around here long enough, you'll probably end up getting the RWC and the Poto. I own both knives, but if I had to choose just one it would be the Poto. Don't be mislead by the Slim Necker part of the name. I just asked John to slim the scales a bit for possible neck sheath carry. Truth be told, I have only carried it in a back pocket sheath. It's a great small bladed knife that really melts into your paw. I wear an XL glove and find the standard scales to be very cozy, but a fuller, contoured handle would be nice too. I also think this would make a nice companion for the other fixed blade that you have on order.

Jeff

 

[TPVT]

thanks for the info guys. and MidwestDave...it did occur to me that i asked for a "tool" recommendation, but never did say what i would use it for. duh. i would want this knife to be my "utility knife", for lack of a better term. an EDC that i could use for whatever task was in front of me. my best guess would be kitchen/camp use, cutting rope/twine and cleaning the occasional fish.

jds1...i know you were the designer of both knives, so i was hoping you would chime in. thanks. i think i am leaning towards the potawatomi knife. i just can't stop staring at it. i am glad you mentioned carrying it in your back pocket...i was wanting to do the same.

i am pleased to hear both you and tahts say that you think the scales are comfortable to use as-is. so, maybe i will just leave it alone. i'll think a bit more on that.

thanks again all.

 

[TPVT]

oh...and btw kyenglish...i just saw your potawatomi plus pics in another post from JK, so don't worry about posting pics here.

i have searched the forums for potawatomi to look at the pics. one thing i have not seen is a "spine shot"...view from above. if someone could post that, i would appreciate it. thanks.

 

[KYenglish]

Okay, pictures up, instead of showing the usual ones I took a while ago (there around here a lot anyway) i though I'd try to take some comparison shots, figured it'd help given that you are looking for what you looking for, if that makes sense. Anyway unfortunately my camera( my wife's is now hidden from me) is not so good and the lighting here at night sucks, but hopefully you can get something from them. all sizes are from memory, whcih probably means they are terribly wrong, but if they are maybe some kind fellow around here will correct them for us.

It's nice to have jks to chose from- The Anniversary EDC in Rayban slacks, the baby Kephart, the JK Hiker and the already mention potawatomi plus:

the P plus (8.5 long with 3.5 cutting edge) and the Anniversary EDC (6.5 long with 3 inch blade):

For me the Plus is too big for EDC, in fact it compares with a Hiker:

But it does "grow up" very nicely, the ergos work well in the larger size and I imagine if you picked a different size this would be true still (it's a very good design, we have a lot to be thankful for in Jeff).

the previous two with a baby kephart (...going to say 5 inches long? I need to get my ruler out)

The plus in hand (I have wear a lareg sized glove but have "skinny" fingers):

The Baby Kephart in hand:

Anniversary EDC in hand (sorry at this point I forgot why i was taking them and was just having fun):

Anyway, good look on a hard decision, the good news is that you can't really get it wrong, they are all very good designs and Jk makes a great knife. But be careful, they tend to encourage each other, for example this is now just proof that I need a JK riverwoods companion for just such an occasion as we can all plainly see.

Nice to have someone else showing an interest as well, it's nice to meet you, don't know i said that yet.

Kyenglish
Peter

 

[KYenglish]

One last thought, might be a good idea to compare it to something you have a chance of actually seeing first hand or may have seen/own already. here they are next to a SAK cadet:

if there's one i didn't do you'd like to see, just let me know, I have to go right now because my wife's giving me the stop playing with knives look, it's not an encouraging one, joke,

 

[TPVT]

if there's one i didn't do you'd like to see, just let me know, I have to go right now because my wife's giving me the stop playing with knives look, it's not an encouraging one, joke,

that's funny. thanks for taking the time to take new pics kyenglish. much appreciated. and nice to meet you as well.

i have decided that i am going to get the potawatomi. and, last night, as i was laying down to sleep, it occurred to me that it is actually silly for me to try to customize a design when i really don't know what the heck i am doing.

i think the best way for me to figure out what i like best is to get some knives in my hand. THEN (and only then), i can decide how/if i want things customized for me.

thanks again guys. i am going to shoot john an email.

-todd

 

[KYenglish]

Not a problem, the potawatomi's a great knife.

 

[JackHammer]

The Riverwoods Companion was my first JK at 3/16" thick with desert ironwood. And my second JK was also a RC, this time 1/8" thick with black micarta. It's a good knife size for EDC purposes and I would highly recommend one.