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

[JohnDF]

Northwoods... May be worth it for the nicer handle materials if you can get in on the loliscramble, not for secondary prices.
Case/Bose... Not paying that price for a knife that could potentially have gaps and blade wobble (as reported by members here on BF).

 

[JTB_5]

I will say that once a knife gets into the $300 range I begin to think, “What custom maker would I rather go with?”

 

[Chief]

Before you spend big money, try to figure out which traditional knife style fits your wants and needs. I prefer slim single blade pinchable styles, GEC 15 single clip is an example. Anything much larger is too big for my pocket. Between Case / Bose collabs and higher end GECs, prefer GECs due to their exotic cover materials and more consistent fit / finish. 1095 takes a great edge, and the patina is a reminder of the journey. You'll never find Case knives with covers like these.

 

[Frailer]

The only Northwoods knife I own is an Esky Zulu, and as much as I love it, the style of more recent Northwoods models leaves me cold.

They aren’t worth the inflated prices to *me*, but that opinion should in no way influence anyone else’s decision. I’ve paid “too much” for knives whose primary purpose was to look pretty in a drawer, so far be it from me to look down my nose at the purchase decisions of others.

I will say that if you really love a particular knife, paying two or three times its original list price shouldn’t automatically be an obstacle. Life is short, and in the long view—provided it doesn’t take food from your family’s mouths—what does a few hundred dollars really matter?

 

[brownshoe]

...Case/Bose... Not paying that price for a knife that could potentially have gaps and blade wobble (as reported by members here on BF).

I have five made between 2000 and 2018. No gaps, no blade wobble, no returns for quality problems. There's a lot of people on BF that have had a similar experience

Handmade knives aren't perfect because humans are certainly imperfect.

 

[Danke42]

Before you spend big money, try to figure out which traditional knife style fits your wants and needs. I prefer slim single blade pinchable styles, GEC 15 single clip is an example. Anything much larger is too big for my pocket. Between Case / Bose collabs and higher end GECs, prefer GECs due to their exotic cover materials and more consistent fit / finish. 1095 takes a great edge, and the patina is a reminder of the journey. You'll never find Case knives with covers like these.

Those 2 are a pretty good example of what Northwoods does best.

Tough to snag new from KSF. Warm up your crazy fast online connection and roll the dice!

 

[Arathol]

If being pretty is all that is important, then you might as well spend the money and buy something pretty. However, a knife having expensive nice looking scales doesn't necessarily make it a good user. A sharp blade with a good grind is what makes a knife that you want to use. The rest is a bonus...

 

[JohnDF]

I have five made between 2000 and 2018. No gaps, no blade wobble, no returns for quality problems. There's a lot of people on BF that have had a similar experience

I didn't say it was the norm, but I've seen it mentioned often enough for it to be a risk... Not at those prices, thanks.