New Knife Company- Jack Wolf Knives

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Thank you for addressing my post, Benjamin. Much appreciated.

My pleasure sir!

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Good luck to you for your endeavors! Just happy you are brining another flavor to the traditional/modern market. Really excited and hope to keep up to date with your releases.

My guess is that you had to do a lot of digging and shopping around to get to the price point and quality you'd like to achieve. I'm sure there is a huge range of price/quality combinations.

Thanks again and I will definitely be following!

Thank you for the well wishes, I really do appreciate it! I did attempt to deal with a few other manufacturers. Ultimately I went with Reate due to their quality, reputation, and responsiveness. Also was highly recommend by my good friend Enrique Pena who made the introduction to the factory for me, and also gives me technical and stylistic feedback on my designs.

 

[euroken]

Although not knife related I feel this IS related to understanding the costs and what small companies deal with when having things manufactured in China. Also this I feel adequately addresses the "wont buy made in China because I want my money to support U.S. businesses" ect. arguments.

Note also China is the current leader in titanium manufacturing.

Thanks for sharing that. Gives a perspective on how difficult it is to separate a product from all those impacted by it around the world.

 

[euroken]

Thank you for the well wishes, I really do appreciate it! I did attempt to deal with a few other manufacturers. Ultimately I went with Reate due to their quality, reputation, and responsiveness. Also was highly recommend by my good friend Enrique Pena who made the introduction to the factory for me, and also gives me technical and stylistic feedback on my designs.

Did you say, Pena's technical and stylistic feedback?

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Did you say, Pena's technical and stylistic feedback?

A man of fine taste I see! I have several myself. He is my favorite maker and a close friend.

 

[Misplaced Hillbilly]

Jack Wolf Knives
I'm not sure if you have a similar situation as Mr.Canterbury but felt it was pertinent to the conversation. People need to understand that it takes quite a bit of back and forth and sometimes months before your idea comes to fruition. I hoped it would help people to understand how the process works for U.S. based companies that have knives made in China.

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Jack Wolf Knives
I'm not sure if you have a similar situation as Mr.Canterbury but felt it was pertinent to the conversation. People need to understand that it takes quite a bit of back and forth and sometimes months before your idea comes to fruition. I hoped it would help people to understand how the process works for U.S. based companies that have knives made in China.

Yes sir! It will be a full year from when I conceived the project to when I have inventory for sale. I have learned a lot along the way, that's for sure.

 

[Pàdruig]

I read through this thread with some interest this morning. When I saw the CAD drawings, I immediately thought that another entity was going to be working with Maniago but a closer look obviously demonstrates otherwise.

I have some mixed feelings on this. On one hand, being a big fan of the Italian "modern" traditionals, another option on the market with a varied selection of patterns to choose from is highly appealing. On the other, it is a little disappointing that we aren't seeing more makers rise up to take a place in the market alongside GEC and Case. In my opinion, comparing traditional American cutleries and modern factories is as apples are to oranges and though I think there is lots of room in the market for both, it's a wee bit sad to think about the state of the traditional cutlery industry these days.

One of the great appealing factors of Maniago's offerings is that they are not shy about offering natural cover materials (i.e. wood, horn, and stag). Though it has been said that the factory that will be producing these is a step or two above that of lionSteel and/or Viper, offering natural materials is a big draw for me and I'd be more inclined to swallow the increased price if that is something that is offered in the future. I have not had the pleasure of experiencing Pena's knives - custom or otherwise but the ones I have seen seem to demonstrate quality.

The "modern" traditional market is not a crowded one, in my opinion. Companies like Benchmade and such have tried and missed the mark but firms like lionSteel and Viper (with the collaborative influence of Ck's Mike) have produced hit after hit. Some of these patterns that are being suggested here look fantastic and I will look forward to seeing how they do once produced.

More options in fine cutlery is always a good thing.

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Th

I read through this thread with some interest this morning. When I saw the CAD drawings, I immediately thought that another entity was going to be working with Maniago but a closer look obviously demonstrates otherwise.

I have some mixed feelings on this. On one hand, being a big fan of the Italian "modern" traditionals, another option on the market with a varied selection of patterns to choose from is highly appealing. On the other, it is a little disappointing that we aren't seeing more makers rise up to take a place in the market alongside GEC and Case. In my opinion, comparing traditional American cutleries and modern factories is as apples are to oranges and though I think there is lots of room in the market for both, it's a wee bit sad to think about the state of the traditional cutlery industry these days.

One of the great appealing factors of Maniago's offerings is that they are not shy about offering natural cover materials (i.e. wood, horn, and stag). Though it said that the factory that will be producing these is a step or two above that of lionSteel and/or Viper, offering natural materials is a big draw for me and I'd be more inclined to swallow the increased price if that is something that is offered in the future. I have not had the pleasure of experiencing Pena's knives - custom or otherwise but the ones I have seen seem to demonstrate quality.

The "modern" traditional market is not a crowded one, in my opinion. Companies like Benchmade and such have tried and missed the mark but firms like lionSteel and Viper (with the collaborative influence of Ck's Mike) have produced hit after hit. Some of these patterns that are being suggested here look fantastic and I will look forward to seeing how they do once produced.

More options in fine cutlery is always a good thing.

Thanks for the feedback Dylan! And I agree with your sentiments here.

I really do intend to offer natural materials once I can prove out the concept. The decision to offer impervious materials in the beginning was one I did not make lightly. However this is a marathon and not a sprint, so eliminating shrink/swell risk was one way I saw to get off on the right foot, so to speak.

 

[Pàdruig]

Th

Thanks for the feedback Dylan! And I agree with your sentiments here.

I really do intend to offer natural materials once I can prove out the concept. The decision to offer impervious materials in the beginning was one I did not make lightly. However this is a marathon and not a sprint, so eliminating shrink/swell risk was one way I saw to get off on the right foot, so to speak.

I did mean to add the caveat that starting with robust materials like micarta is a smart way to go (at least in my mind). Such options are always popular and when getting a new venture off the ground, it seems a bit safer to me.

 

[Quiet]

[Sees renderings of upcoming offerings]: I could possibly be interested.
[Sees price and country of manufacturing origin]: Not only am I out, I'm OUT out.

Best of luck with it all.

 

[Steven65]

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

Well done to you Benjamin for having the courage of your convictions to make your dreams a reality. It is to be admired.

I wish you everything of the best with your new venture and I look forward to seeing your knives in the future.

I will definitely be a customer!

 

[knifeswapper]

Good to see the modern traditionals trend growing. The lionSteel Barlow has now been featured in 2 of the last 3 Blade Magazine issues; so I think the market has been primed over the last 3-4 years. And good to see that a peer traditional nut is in the drivers seat. The chinese top end knife market has really collapsed the last 18 months from my perspective, hopefully this will turn that trend around. Benjamin is in a tough spot on pricing but I totally understand. The connection was setup by Pena and has a lot of similarities to Pena offerings - thus you are somewhat prohibited from pricing them significantly below his offerings. But hopefully the brand will be well received and it will be a booming success...

 

[spritt3293]

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

Very interested to check these out. Wishing you luck in your endeavor!

 

[jku]

Please note that the Pena X-Series Zulu also does not have metal liners, rather the liners are G-10 just like the covers. That is a big distinction that affected the manufacturing cost of my knives. It is not cheap to machine Titanium, and when I added the integral bolsters, the price went up even more. But I really felt it was a touch that was needed, especially when I look at all my custom knives. Integral fluted titanium bolsters, I just love everything about that lol.

That’s a great point about the liners, and one I hadn’t considered. The only real difference then is what goes into manufacturing a locking knife vs a slipjoint, and there are obviously tolerances to deal with on both. Think I’m out of the complain-about-the-price camp now.

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Well done to you Benjamin for having the courage of your convictions to make your dreams a reality. It is to be admired.

I wish you everything of the best with your new venture and I look forward to seeing your knives in the future.

I will definitely be a customer!

I am extremely grateful for the support and encouragement Steven! That's all I could ever wish for.

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Good to see the modern traditionals trend growing. The lionSteel Barlow has now been featured in 2 of the last 3 Blade Magazine issues; so I think the market has been primed over the last 3-4 years. And good to see that a peer traditional nut is in the drivers seat. The chinese top end knife market has really collapsed the last 18 months from my perspective, hopefully this will turn that trend around. Benjamin is in a tough spot on pricing but I totally understand. The connection was setup by Pena and has a lot of similarities to Pena offerings - thus you are somewhat prohibited from pricing them significantly below his offerings. But hopefully the brand will be well received and it will be a booming success...

I owe you a huge debt of gratitude Mike. Not only for being my favorite dealer over the years, but as you said for priming the pump and whetting the appetite of folks for these modern interpretations. That was a big risk on your part to wade into those waters back when you kicked off your project. I can only wish to be half as successful as you have been in your ventures. I really look up to you and all that you have done for the community; your words of encouragement really mean a lot to me. Thank you very much!

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

Very interested to check these out. Wishing you luck in your endeavor!

Thank you for your interest!

 

[Jack Wolf Knives]

That’s a great point about the liners, and one I hadn’t considered. The only real difference then is what goes into manufacturing a locking knife vs a slipjoint, and there are obviously tolerances to deal with on both. Think I’m out of the complain-about-the-price camp now.

I appreciate your open mind on the subject! The tolerances required to produce either slip joint or locking knife at that level of quality are insane. There are no short cuts in either circumstance. It's a lot of machine time, hand grinding of blades, and assembly required in both circumstances.

 

[beezwax]

...it is a little disappointing that we aren't seeing more makers rise up to take a place in the market alongside GEC and Case. In my opinion, comparing traditional American cutleries and modern factories is as apples are to oranges and though I think there is lots of room in the market for both, it's a wee bit sad to think about the state of the traditional cutlery industry these days.

Comparing the output from contemporary traditional cutleries and from "modern traditional" factories may be apples/oranges, but so are the requirements for becoming one or the other. A single person with vision (and some CAD experience and start-up capital) can engage with an existing OEM factory to bring a new brand to market, as Benjamin is doing. Night & Day to what you'd need if attempting to get a truly new cutlery off the ground, or attempting to resurrect one as Gilbert Cooper is trying to do with Schatt&Morgan. The difference in overhead (equipment, floor space, skilled labor) is huge and surely accounts for why we aren't seeing more makers rise up.