Northwoods as users (i.e. worth it at current prices?)

prairie.dog

prairie.dog

Joined
Apr 10, 2018
Messages
337
I'd like to move away from modern folders and edc a traditional. Unfortunately for me, the Northwoods knives really speak to me more than anything else I've seen. I love their aesthetics and blade shapes. I understand their secondary market prices are probably mostly to do with collectability, but I don't plan on getting into collecting at the moment, just really want a great companion. Would you say the going market rate of $275+ is worth it if I intend to make it a user?
 
CVamberbonehead said:
If theyre worth it to you, sure. I dont worry about that stuff, just use the knife. Its just stuff, you cant take it with you when you go.
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Totally hear what you're saying, and I agree that worth is impossible to decide for someone else. I guess what I want to know is if the premium you pay is purely for rarity, or if these knives are just truly a step above other GEC made knives. Another way of asking might be, are they a bargain at retail price?
 
I ask myself that question about custom traditionals as users. For me, the answer is "no". But for some it is, and I'm a cheapskate.
 
With their high prices and how tough they are to obtain, I stay away.
The regular production GEC models are easier to get and cost a lot less.
But I'm not you, and you're not me, you'll have to make up your own mind.
I see nothing wrong with people spending big dollars if it's something they really want.
 
prairie.dog said:
I'd like to move away from modern folders and edc a traditional. Unfortunately for me, the Northwoods knives really speak to me more than anything else I've seen. I love their aesthetics and blade shapes. I understand their secondary market prices are probably mostly to do with collectability, but I don't plan on getting into collecting at the moment, just really want a great companion. Would you say the going market rate of $275+ is worth it if I intend to make it a user?
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Depends upon how patient you are. If you are willing to wait for the next Northwoods release, you can usually beat the mad rush by going straight for the stragglers--the last few releases have included older patterns on a separate page (Northwoods are released exclusively by Knives Ship Free). The other route is to put up the pattern you'd like on the "want to buy" section of the Exchange here on the forum (you'd need to buy a Basic membership to Blade Forums first, but it is well worth it--even the Gold membership is well worth it). Although there are plenty of folks who sell on the Exchange at a high mark up, there are also a good number of folks who keep prices closer to the original retail. You might be able to pick up a user Northwoods from someone.

If you are just looking for a good looking, well made traditional pocket knife, I agree with the others who recommend getting a Great Eastern Cutlery that isn't Northwoods. They are just as well made (sometimes better made), and do have a better slicing geometry, if that matters to you.
 
The Northwoods knives are the same quality as the other GEC produced knives. They are just highly collectable.

Personally I don't like the massively thick saber ground blades, and they also suck at actually cutting things.

I do like some of the older Northwoods knives that have normal blade geometry and carry a few of those.


As far as the price, that's a personal decision. I carry $400 Case Bose knives with my keys and some pocket change and don't give it much thought.
 
People who are familiar with the low budget I set for myself for buying knives and the sorts of knives I typically buy will think that I must have become possessed by some sort of extravagant knife-buying demon when they read what I write here. :rolleyes: But this is an argument that can certainly be made, and is actually quite persuasive for some folks.

If you buy a knife you really like for $275 and use and enjoy it daily for a year, it costs you about 75¢ per day. Is that worth it to you?
(Of course, the per day investment keeps dropping the longer you use the knife - e.g., 15¢/day for 5 years etc.)

- GT
 
I think the folks at KSF usually hit it out of the park with these. For me my only chances to get them have been out of the classifieds here.

Your best bet is to salt the money away so it's ready. Figure out what you want to start. No point in spending large on something you don't like just because it's for sale. Then watch the classified section here. Those knives sell in minutes though if they're popular and lots of folks don't price them out of reach. You just have to be patient.

For the new runs sign up on KSF's Instagram, Facebook, and email alerts so you're aware and watch in here too for news.
 
Northwoods Knives are nothing more than a rebranded GEC. Some were made by Queen before Dave Shirley sold the marque to Derrick Bohn.

If their aesthetics appeal to you, then have at it. Personally they don't do anything for me and if I saw them on a table I'd pass them right over in favor of their GEC counterparts. That's even before I compare prices. Paying a premium for the Northwoods name? No way.

Others have already touched on the saber ground blades found on Northwoods. That's the other reason I stay away. No reason for that on a pocketknife IMO. For a knife that folds, I judge its merit based on its cutting ability, not its strength. Thick saber ground blades are a hindrance, not a benefit.
 
There's some really great info on this thread, everyone's opinion is really appreciated!! It sounds to me that Northwoods actually aren't exceptional users, which is what I'm after. To be clear, it's not the cost in general that would give me pause, it's whether the value/usefulness is there to back it up. I wouldn't give a second thought to carrying around a $300 knife. Actually, I was having this conversation with my wife the other day. I find it laughable that so many people say they would never carry an $xxx dollar knife, but a good chunk of those same folks likely have a $500+ smartphone on them at all times, which is infinitely more delicate and depreciates far faster than a knife. Seems to me I need to familiarize myself more with some other GEC patterns and keep my eyes peeled on the exchange here. I will say, before Northwoods, the first traditional that really caught my eye was a TC barlow, but those seem to be almost as elusive as the Northwoods :rolleyes:.
 
prairie.dog said:
There's some really great info on this thread, everyone's opinion is really appreciated!! It sounds to me that Northwoods actually aren't exceptional users, which is what I'm after. To be clear, it's not the cost in general that would give me pause, it's whether the value/usefulness is there to back it up. I wouldn't give a second thought to carrying around a $300 knife. Actually, I was having this conversation with my wife the other day. I find it laughable that so many people say they would never carry an $xxx dollar knife, but a good chunk of those same folks likely have a $500+ smartphone on them at all times, which is infinitely more delicate and depreciates far faster than a knife. Seems to me I need to familiarize myself more with some other GEC patterns and keep my eyes peeled on the exchange here. I will say, before Northwoods, the first traditional that really caught my eye was a TC barlow, but those seem to be almost as elusive as the Northwoods :rolleyes:.
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Although it isn't a barlow, you can grab a #15 boys knife (with the bail & chain) on GEC dealers websites right now. If you don't the bail and chance you can remove them, but the #15 makes for an excellent user. Do you have particular use in mind, or just an all around pocket knife?
 
You know I've seen those bail and chain and wondered why they seem to be the only ones that are consistently available. At least about every time I check they seem to be. Don't like the bail and chain. Good point about just removing. As far as use, all around. Box/letter opening, breaking down cardboard, some food prep if/when I ever go back to the office, lol, and also we do a fair bit of yard work, maybe using it to dig out a weed out if I don't have the cobrahead weeder next to me, etc.
 
If you are looking for a good user, Northwoods is not what you want. They look nice and have decent build quality, they have a really good variety of pretty handle scales too, but those qualities don't make a knife a good user. There have been a few Northwoods that have good blade grinds, but for the most part recent offerings with the thick spine and almost scandi grind don't cut real well. The Madison barlow is pretty good, the Dogwood is an exceptional slicer, the Norfolk whittler cuts pretty good too. If you want a pocket knife that is a good user that won't kill your wallet, get a Case trapper or large Copperlock.
 
mrknife said:
that shield shape is also... well this is a family friendly area. Jokes aside, if one could get them at retail price that'd be alright. But to see what they were going for on the secondary pass :rolleyes:o_O.
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Lol, read you loud and clear on that shield ;) it's actually one thing that's always given me pause on them :D
 
I wouldn't pay current secondary market prices for a Northwoods...then again, I won't pay the current secondary market prices for certain GEC models, either (thinking specifically of the 77, which I usually see at at least 3x the original selling price. Annoys the heck out of me that I lost one of mine)
 
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