New Scagel knife...

TLARbb

TLARbb

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Jan 24, 2010
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available and it looks very nice. Available with wharncliffe or long clip blade and several handle materials. Here's an example. It's a Scagel called the Fruitport. Looks great to me. (KSF photo0

scagel_fruitport_wharnie_stag_19.jpg


EJ
 
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Idunno. It's a Scagel thing. I think I could get used to it, but it is different. It is probably easier to pinch open than one with a standard nail nick.

EJ
 
That is a gorgeous design. I've had my eye on the clip point version of that knife, but I'm trying to buy only Cases at the moment. Those Scagel pulls (holes) are nice! They're the original "Spyderhole". Since Scagel used them, I would say they definitely qualify as "traditional"! I have one of the earlier Scagel repros, and the pulls work great.

[Edited to add] The Scagel pull is illustrated on pg. 52 of Stewart's sixth edition "Knife Collector's Guide". It mentions that the Scagel pull is patented, which may explain why you don't see it more often.
 
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Nice knife, but I cannot get past the head of the pin on the shield. Makes the knife too busy . Is that a GEC ?
 
tomcrx said:
Nice knife, but I cannot get past the head of the pin on the shield. Makes the knife too busy . Is that a GEC ?
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No, it's a Northwoods (partially made by Queen?). The scale is pinned that way because that's the way Scagel did it. He made his shields out of silver dollars, IIRC.

Edit: my mistake! It looks like KSF has obtained the rights to the Scagel trademarks and is now producing knives with GEC. Sorry for being stupid!

Not all of the knives are pinned like that, just the stag ones. Those knives sure are beauties.

fruitport_clip_bone.jpg
 
Considering Scagel was making folders with his Scagel slot well before WW2, any patent claimed today would be extremely questionable (plus I cannot imagine Scagel himself bothering to get a patent -- he would never have had that much to do with the forces of government and bureaucracy -- hell, he had a near lifelong feud with his local power utilities - wouldn't use them, ran everything off his own power).

The Scagel slot works great with knives with especially strong actions - you can get the whole tip of your thumb in there to lever it up (and yes, it helps a bit when pinching the blade too).

If you're looking at knives claimed to be "Scagel" style, please try to find out a little about what that really means. Yes, he normally used slightly proud pins on his shields (not nearly as much as this one though - his were carefully peened, shaped, and rounded over) -- the shields were usually hammered out of silver dimes. He would surface mount his shields and would form the shield very precisely to mate with the gnarly surface of the stag. His blades would be fully convex ground with very short tangs (he liked the maximum amount of edge possible -- didn't hold with taking up all that length with a long tang). The blades would also usually have distinctive full length swedges.

Most knives claimed to be "Scagel" style are really pushing that claim - they'll vaguely hit on at most a couple of features and yell "Scagel!" Ah well, at least they usually do include one or two features.
 
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There are several excellent custom makers who build knives honoring Scagel's designs as well.
 
I saw the add for this yesterday, I really liked what I saw, I am hoping to order one in the next day or two. I am sucker for warny blades and stag. Steven
 
zerogee said:
Considering Scagel was making folders with his Scagel slot well before WW2, any patent claimed today would be extremely questionable (plus I cannot imagine Scagel himself bothering to get a patent -- he would never have had that much to do with the forces of government and bureaucracy -- hell, he had a near lifelong feud with his local power utilities - wouldn't use them, ran everything off his own power).

The Scagel slot works great with knives with especially strong actions - you can get the whole tip of your thumb in there to lever it up (and yes, it helps a bit when pinching the blade too).

If you're looking at knives claimed to be "Scagel" style, please try to find out a little about what that really means. Yes, he normally used slightly proud pins on his shields (not nearly as much as this one though - his were carefully peened, shaped, and rounded over) -- the shields were usually hammered out of silver dimes. He would surface mount his shields and would form the shield very precisely to mate with the gnarly surface of the stag. His blades would be fully convex ground with very short tangs (he liked the maximum amount of edge possible -- didn't hold with taking up all that length with a long tang). The blades would also usually have distinctive full length swedges.

Most knives claimed to be "Scagel" style are really pushing that claim - they'll vaguely hit on at most a couple of features and yell "Scagel!" Ah well, at least they usually do include one or two features.
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Excellent post, Dwight. Couldn't agree with the spirit of your post more. :thumbup:
 
Since we're talking "Scagel" folders, here's a poor quality scan of my Northwoods Scagel. The scan doesn't do it much justice, it is a beautifully-made knife. No swedges on this one, Dwight, but at least the tangs are relatively short! :D I like the way the shield is worked into the stag on this one. This knife was advertised as a reproduction of an actual Scagel pattern, but I don't know if that's true or not. The GEC Scagel in the OP looks to be the new GEC trapper pattern, with a modified blade and Scagel shield and pulls stuck on.
northwoodsscagel.jpg
 
thejamppa said:
Looks stunning, though I am not fan of holes in my traditional knives blade...
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sappyg said:
same here.... the stag is beautiful but i don't get the hole in the blade either.

keith
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Although they appear "out of place", after seeing a Northwoods Scagel moose reproduction a couple weeks ago, I really like them, and would like to get one. Very smooth action, very robust folder. It was named something else, and I did not see them listed on the current dealers site. I have to admit, it was easier to open with the nail hole, more so than if it would have been a regular nail nick.
 
Without question, the original Scagels are both innovative and authentic Traditionals. The modern renderings, factory and custom do seem to try and honour this. That said, it's a type of knife that doesn't move me much at all. I don't favour those holes or the shields/pins. It's always interesting to consider the interpretations knifemakers and manufacturers make though,that's what makes our hobby so rewarding.
 
The scagels made by Dave Shirley, orginal Northwoods owner, were all copied from existing Scagel knives. That was part of the appeal. He retired and sold the mark. Does anyone know if the new owner is still commited to reproducing existing Scagel knives or if they are just using the mark and shield?
 
sappyg said:
same here.... the stag is beautiful but i don't get the hole in the blade either.

keith
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having enjoyed the custom skagel thread as well as this one i get the hole nail nick now. it actually makes a lot of sense. though i would rather have an origional skagel this one would do nicely.
 
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