This snuck up on me. Those UP Michigan knifemakers are all pretty good. Today's mail brought a Northwoods Knives 'Gladstone Drop Point Cocobolo'. Okay, it's awfully brown for cocobolo - but nice scales anyway. The 3.50" edge is convex ground D2 and in need of a minor bit of honing to even it's hair-popping ability - no biggee. The feel in my medium-large paws is great - not squished a bit as the Bark River 'Fox River' I've pictured with it does. Also, the .146" tang is shaped into an effective finger guard, which my pointer finger appreciates since that Bark River LE North Star I like so much makes it's proximity to the blade edge give it a feeling of ominous sacrifice.
The uneven hair popping faded after the slight honing - at least as far as wood splitting, etc, was concerned. It feels similar, weight wise, to the Fox River - with the balance like the Fox River - about the second finger. No notches to wear on your thumb, either. The scales swell to a greater thickness between the first and second finger - ~.85" extreme - and thicker still at the hilt. My heftiest B R K&T is my Gameskeeper - much thinner, except at the equivalent thickness hilt. I love the feel of the Gameskeeper, but this 'little' guy made a few miles north 'up the road' from Bark River is quite good - a close second, at the least!
The sheath is simple - stitched/glued/thicker stock than the Fox River, and no firesteel loop. The blade will throw sparks with a ferrocerium 'Feerosteel'. It carries with the hilt lower, too, when on a belt, although the stiff loop will keep it canted.
As to value, it's half or less the cost of a Fox River or North Star - one tenth of that Bear Grylls Bayley knife. Yep, it is a bargain. Mine's got a home - it may just be in my 'kit' or 'B.O.B.'.
Stainz
The uneven hair popping faded after the slight honing - at least as far as wood splitting, etc, was concerned. It feels similar, weight wise, to the Fox River - with the balance like the Fox River - about the second finger. No notches to wear on your thumb, either. The scales swell to a greater thickness between the first and second finger - ~.85" extreme - and thicker still at the hilt. My heftiest B R K&T is my Gameskeeper - much thinner, except at the equivalent thickness hilt. I love the feel of the Gameskeeper, but this 'little' guy made a few miles north 'up the road' from Bark River is quite good - a close second, at the least!
The sheath is simple - stitched/glued/thicker stock than the Fox River, and no firesteel loop. The blade will throw sparks with a ferrocerium 'Feerosteel'. It carries with the hilt lower, too, when on a belt, although the stiff loop will keep it canted.
As to value, it's half or less the cost of a Fox River or North Star - one tenth of that Bear Grylls Bayley knife. Yep, it is a bargain. Mine's got a home - it may just be in my 'kit' or 'B.O.B.'.
Stainz
