New Knife Company- Jack Wolf Knives

southpaw357 said:
I can confirm these are being made by Reate and will update my website accordingly.

I hope you will find that these knives are a step above some other options in the market. They feature bead blasted titanium liners with integral fluted bolsters, polished titanium hardware, m390 hollow ground blades that are ground by hand, and micarta covers (amongst other impervious materials I am considering). The spring will be flush in all 3 positions.
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This right here is compelling, thank you! I know exactly what I'm getting from a Reate-made knife, and I'd love to see what that feels like in a slipjoint.

I look forward to your updated photos. :)
 
I'm always excited for something new. I'm a fan of the Lionsteel offerings so far, but they haven't made a Eureka. So Jack Wolf Knives has a good opportunity to make me a customer early on.

I agree 100% with hoping for a shield. I also would like bone/wood, but fully understand the reason for trepidation. There are some pretty fancy micartas out there that I'd love to see on these. To be 100% honest, I'm a little burnt out on the commonly used micartas.

Regardless- I'm looking forward to seeing the progress!
 
JTB_5 said:
Someone needs to manufacture knife humidors.

I have a bittersweet feeling about your new company, Benjamin. It is exciting to see traditional slip joint knife patterns becoming popular and tapping into the possibilities that modern technology and materials afford. But having held both modern traditional knives and older knives manufactured with the older equipment, there is just something unique and desirable about the old traditional knives that I've yet to see captured in the modern versions. Perhaps it is the human factor--human "tolerances" make for a different product than a machined version, it seems. Or maybe it is a result of the materials. I couldn't say with any knowledge or certainty, but I do experience a difference that I think is more than some sort of nostalgia (I'm not an older fellow who "remembers the good old days" so much as a younger fellow who has become enthusiastic about older knives).

If you and Reate can somehow capture the spirit of traditional knife making while using the newer materials, then what a happy marriage it will be. If not, I still think the modern knife market will be greatly enhanced by your offerings.
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Josh, I understand that sentiment. After all, it is the classic nature of traditional knives that drew me in and blew me away. All I can hope is that when I present the timeless patterns done tastefully in modern materials, that you and others like you can find a place in our heart for them. I really appreciate your feedback, the compliment, and I am always here to lend an ear or answer your questions. Benjamin
 
Dadpool said:
This right here is compelling, thank you! I know exactly what I'm getting from a Reate-made knife, and I'd love to see what that feels like in a slipjoint.

I look forward to your updated photos. :)
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Thank you sir! I am going to start a thread later today or tomorrow to house ongoing updates for the Company. I am grateful for your interest!!
 
Sabercat said:
I'm always excited for something new. I'm a fan of the Lionsteel offerings so far, but they haven't made a Eureka. So Jack Wolf Knives has a good opportunity to make me a customer early on.

I agree 100% with hoping for a shield. I also would like bone/wood, but fully understand the reason for trepidation. There are some pretty fancy micartas out there that I'd love to see on these. To be 100% honest, I'm a little burnt out on the commonly used micartas.

Regardless- I'm looking forward to seeing the progress!
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Thank you for the feedback Ryan! My goal is have some interesting / premium micarta in every production run. Working through sourcing that stuff currently. I am also a huge fan of the more unique stuff, so I want to make sure you gets get a stab at some of it ;) .
 
LOL
beezwax said:
lol what? no! Pour a dram of OE on the ground when a Rough Ryder goes missing. You're carving out space in the market at a different altitude, I'm going to need some more rarefied spirits sir.
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LOL! Duly noted! Tell you what, if we ever end up next to each other at the bar, I will buy you a shot of whatever is your favorite spirit, my treat, to remember the one who left too soon.
 
Maybe I missed it but where are Reate and subsequently these knives going to be manufactured and/or assembled? The Pena X series looks nice on paper, curious to see how Jack Wolf Knives pans out in the next few months.
 
ddavis said:
Maybe I missed it but where are Reate and subsequently these knives going to be manufactured and/or assembled? The Pena X series looks nice on paper, curious to see how Jack Wolf Knives pans out in the next few months.
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Hello sir, Reate is out of China. The knives will be manufactured and assembled in their facility. They will be packaged in the United States. I am working on something really cool for packaging, that I hope you guys will like.
 
Jack Wolf Knives said:
Hello sir, Reate is out of China. The knives will be manufactured and assembled in their facility. They will be packaged in the United States. I am working on something really cool for packaging, that I hope you guys will like.
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Thanks for the quick reply. Certainly Chinese factories are putting out some very high quality knives and tools, often way better quality than something similar made here or in Western Europe. But at that price point you’ll have competition for peoples business (custom makers, modified traditionals, other modern slipjoint makers, etc.). Personally speaking I wouldn’t drop that amount of money on a knife like that, but I am rooting for you and wish you success.
Great pics of GECs on your IG page by the way.
 
JTB_5 said:
Someone needs to manufacture knife humidors.

I have a bittersweet feeling about your new company, Benjamin. It is exciting to see traditional slip joint knife patterns becoming popular and tapping into the possibilities that modern technology and materials afford. But having held both modern traditional knives and older knives manufactured with the older equipment, there is just something unique and desirable about the old traditional knives that I've yet to see captured in the modern versions. Perhaps it is the human factor--human "tolerances" make for a different product than a machined version, it seems. Or maybe it is a result of the materials. I couldn't say with any knowledge or certainty, but I do experience a difference that I think is more than some sort of nostalgia (I'm not an older fellow who "remembers the good old days" so much as a younger fellow who has become enthusiastic about older knives).

If you and Reate can somehow capture the spirit of traditional knife making while using the newer materials, then what a happy marriage it will be. If not, I still think the modern knife market will be greatly enhanced by your offerings.
Click to expand...

You make a good point about the feel of modern traditional vs. traditional. I only really have one truly modern slip, a Lionsteel Dom. I love that knife--it really ticks so many boxes for me, and because of that I have a Barlow caplifter on order from CK (whenever Lionsteel gets around to making them). But I just don't get the same warm fuzzy feeling from it that I do from my jigged bone 15, even with its goofy holes where I removed the bail and chain. Just something different about the old materials and construction, I guess.

I will say though that my Peña front flipper trapper is absolutely exquisite, and the lines on that knife are perfect and very pleasing. If someone's going to make a good modern traditional, Reate has as good a shot as anyone.
 
southpaw357 said:
Hello gentlemen, I am Benjamin Belkin, the owner, operator, and designer of Jack Wolf Knives. First and foremost I am a slip joint fanatic, a collector and lover of GEC & the No. 15 pattern (amongst others), and also a collector of customs from Pena, Dowell, Romano, and Ryu Kawamura. I truly appreciate all the dialogue here and I want you to know that anybody can reach out to me at anytime. I don't visit here as much as I used to because I seem to be consumed by Facebook & Instagram. But you can PM me here, you can DM me on FB or IG, or you can email me at the support email found on my website www.jackwolfknives.com .

I understand people's concern with the pricing; however considering manufacturing & packaging costs, current second hand pricing and general availability of quality slip joints, I believe my target price is reasonable. The market, ultimately, will decide that. I can confirm these are being made by Reate and will update my website accordingly.

I hope you will find that these knives are a step above some other options in the market. They feature bead blasted titanium liners with integral fluted bolsters, polished titanium hardware, m390 hollow ground blades that are ground by hand, and micarta covers (amongst other impervious materials I am considering). The spring will be flush in all 3 positions. If you have seen a Pena X-Series front flipper trapper, then you are familiar with the quality in machining and craftsmanship that Reate is able to produce. Please don't get me wrong, I have nothing ill to say about any of the slip joints on the market. I love them all, and truly respect the knives and the makers/businessmen that I am competing with.

I should have my first set of prototypes (the first 5 knives I designed) in a few weeks. I secured a table at Blade Show, #16C, to exhibit my prototypes and gain feedback from knife users such as yourselves. If you plan to be there, please stop by and say hello. Once they are in hand, I am going to update my website and social media with high resolution photography, so you can get a better idea of what I'm working on.

As far as shields go, this is a top priority on my list. If I can sort that out with the factory to my liking, you expect that down the pike.

I would love it if you would follow me on instagram at @bennyb357 which is my personal account; I have been posting photos of a different GEC daily for the past several months as I ramp up Jack Wolf Knives which is truly my dream project. My business instagram is @jackwolfknives if you would like to follow there too. Anybody who follows me, I follow back.

Lastly, I will sign up as a paying manufacturer on this website. I am happy to support Blade Forums as I have made a lot of friends here and scored some killer slip joints from the exchange to boot.

Sincerely,

Benjamin Belkin
Jack Wolf Knives
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Benjamin, I recognize your username from the past and I just want to say that it’s great to see a forum member bring a dream like this to reality.

Wether I buy any of your knives or not, my hat is off to you Sir.
 
ddavis said:
Thanks for the quick reply. Certainly Chinese factories are putting out some very high quality knives and tools, often way better quality than something similar made here or in Western Europe. But at that price point you’ll have competition for peoples business (custom makers, modified traditionals, other modern slipjoint makers, etc.). Personally speaking I wouldn’t drop that amount of money on a knife like that, but I am rooting for you and wish you success.
Great pics of GECs on your IG page by the way.
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Understood and thank you for the feedback and the well wishes!
 
Railsplitter said:
Benjamin, I recognize your username from the past and I just want to say that it’s great to see a forum member bring a dream like this to reality.

Wether I buy any of your knives or not, my hat is off to you Sir.
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Thank you Rick, that means a lot to me, truthfully. It's a lot of work and a big risk but I am having more fun doing this than anything I can remember. I really enjoy slip joint knives, the knife community, CAD design, and entrepreneurship; this really brings it all together for me.
 
If I'm reading this right, they're Chinese made knives in the $275.00 price range with cutesy names? No thanks.
 
Dadpool said:
This right here is compelling, thank you! I know exactly what I'm getting from a Reate-made knife, and I'd love to see what that feels like in a slipjoint.

I look forward to your updated photos. :)
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This right here. To be honest, when I saw the pricing I more or less wrote the knives off, considering we have Viper/Lionsteel and a few others filling the modern traditional niche for half the price, but after seeing what Benjamin is going for with these knives, I'm much more open minded. If the fit and finish is where it should be (and I know Reate can do that), I'll be in for at least a "Laid Back Jack."

I'm intrigued. :)
 
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