Let's talk Northwoods

spyderg said:
My Everyday Barlow was trash. I really should have sent it back but turned it into a project instead. I've redone the covers, ditched the original bolsters, turned the oddly shaped spear into a clip point. Did my best to eliminate ridiculous blade play and get it somewhat centered in the process. Seriously there was nothing to like about it. The bone was warped and cracked and horrible dye job. The bolsters weren't even straight. The pins had sharp flakes of brass hanging off and little slivers of brass kept working there way out from under the covers.
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I see the Everyday Barlows being sold for big bucks on the interwebs. How disappointed those buyers must be. Caveat emptor.
 
Crazy Canuck said:
Think that was the second last pattern from Queen for Northwoods. After the Barlow they had the Gunstock that were all seconds. All GEC made since.

Thankfully my Barlow was actually pretty well done, even with a lighter pull than I'd prefer.
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Do you happen to know what year these (the barlow and gunstocks) were made? I have two Queen-made Northwoods, a dogleg splitback whittler and large toothpick in Sambar stag and they are both beautifully made, with no issues at all. I acquired them both from KSF shortly after their purchase of the Northwoods name.
 
From my receipts, November of 2015 was when the Gunstock was released. Barlow was in October of 2015.
 
Crazy Canuck said:
From my receipts, November of 2015 was when the Gunstock was released. Barlow was in October of 2015.
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OK. That explains it. By all accounts Queen was really in trouble by then. I bought mine circa 2010 and, if I recall correctly, the knives were made prior to the KSF acquisition and came along as back stock. In any case, I believe it is true that the earlier Queen-made Northwoods are beautiful and well made, similar to the earlier Queen-made Schatt & Morgan knives.

I was a big fan of Queen knives. It is so sad what happened to them.
 
LastRodeo said:
Didn't Derrick end up giving the gunstocks away with a purchase, instead of selling them?
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Possibly later on if they were hanging around for a while. My account shows it was the only item for that order.
 
Here are the only Northwoods knives I have made before the GEC production began. I believe they were made by Queen just shortly before KSF bought the brand. It is interesting how the style of the knives changed after KSF started having GEC make the knives (the movement toward more single blades, wharncliffes, and saber grinds) . Personally I really like the before and after knives a great deal. These two have exceptional build quality.

Smooth Bone Splitback Whittler (Wharncliffe main)

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Burnt Sambar Large Toothpick (exactly the same size and shape as a Queen large toothpick)

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