Northwoods Scagel lockback

Fallbrook Forge

Fallbrook Forge

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Jan 1, 2006
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I received one of these in brown buffalo bone for valentines day, and was very impressed with the look of the knife. Great color in each of the bone scales, the shield side has an almost orange tint to it with dark brown speckles and rich reds and browns mottled throughout.
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The other side is a rich creamy brown, with peach and red accents and a couple cream colored spots
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After the Ooooh Ahhhh feeling wore off I started to look closer. The edge was terrible. Flat out horrible, uneven, thick, dull. I should have tried to get pictures o the edge before I tackled it, but one side of the blade had a bevel of 40ish degrees and the other was 30ish degrees.
It had a thicker edge than any Busse, Tops etc I've ever seen. It couldn't cut 550 cord. I emailed KSF and they were more than willing to replace/repair the knife. I decided to hang on to it and tackle the edge myself as I really liked the colors of this ones handles.

Next flaw is the center pins in the handle, there were not flush with the scales and had sharp edges exposed. A little tape on the bone scales and a few strokes with a fine file and that problem is solved.

It took me about an hour or two with the stones to get a decent edge on her
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And now I'm really happy with this knife. I would have preferred to get a sharp knife out of the box. Or at least an evenly ground edge,
I'm hoping you can see how uneven it is here,
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I've been using this beauty daily since I got it a working edge, and the patina it's getting is strange...
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That spot on the blade just past the bolsters is the only spot it's taking any patina. I used it last night to cut my steak, I've used it to cut strawberries and bananas for my breakfast everyday. Is there something that could be keeping it from developing a patina?
My experience with 1095 is that is takes a great multi color patina from all the foods I've been cutting. And yet just that one spot with the Northwoods..


Overall I'm happy with this knife, it's beautiful, stout, and sharp(now)
 
Great review! I have a Northwoods Scagel Fruitport that has also started to develop and odd patina but it is only on the 1st 1/3 of the knife. I've cut with the back section but it remains clean of patina. The 1095 used does seem to get the multi-coloring on mine too.

Very nice looking knife!
 
Really good looking scales, and it sounds like you've put some work into the knife. Enjoy!

Nathan
 
Thanks for the review. Looks like a great companion. That is a upper drag that it came w/ such a poor edge. Hope it is a great companion for you. I have my scagel fruitport produced by gec and sharpened by bark river and luckily came with a great edge. I love the flow through nick used on them :). My scagel has been a constant companion for several months now and it has been fantastic.

Not sure on the patina problem. All the 1095 I have used develops one quite quickly. Perhaps it has a dry oil coating ?
 
Thanks guys! The little touch ups have really made it mine. The edge isnt where i want it yet.. But soon it wilk be
Dry lube or something similar is what I was thinking too... Washed it with sail and water.. Still just that 1/2" or so is the only spot taking patina, whereas my Becker necker took a patina with one cut of an orange..
 
That bone is really interesting, fantastic colour.

The knife itself looks very much like a GEC 72 Lockback, got any dimensions please.

The patina thing puzzles me. I take it you've cleaned the blade with a bit of alcohol to get rid of oil/finger fat? Should be blackening up by now especially if you fruit&veg prep with it.If I didn't know better, it looks like D2 to me...:confused:
 
OOhhh Willgoy......

You've been staring at to many GEC ads and now you have Great Eastern on the brain ( don't blame you though )...no this one is based on the Queen Mountain Man frame at 4 1/2" closed ( manufactures spec's ) in actuality 4 5/8" closed and a 3 5/8" blade tip to bolster.
 
Willgoy: I doubt it's D2 as it is taking a patina in that small portion. I was wondering if the coated the steel with something or maybe a special treatment that is preventing the patina. I haven't wiped it with alcohol, just soap and water. I'll try that when I get home..

Next on my list is a fruitport in ram horn... And then stag.... And then ivory...
 
Boggs said:
OOhhh Willgoy......

You've been staring at to many GEC ads and now you have Great Eastern on the brain ( don't blame you though )...no this one is based on the Queen Mountain Man frame at 4 1/2" closed ( manufactures spec's ) in actuality 4 5/8" closed and a 3 5/8" blade tip to bolster.
Click to expand...

You're not wrong:D

Thanks for the truth:thumbup:
 
It's probably not D2. But, now I know it's made by Queen and it took an hour or so to sharpen:eek: Could be:D

My Queen D2 knives take a while to develop spots or colour but they do from meat in particular.
 
I'll bet it's D2... that patina formation is exactly how my Queen Copperhead started. Took a long while to get any color, and then finally started, but just in that very same spot near the pivot.
 
It might of taken a while to sharpen and to get the edge you were looking for, but the blade steel is 1095 on this one....
 
gruntinhusaybah said:
Willgoy: I doubt it's D2 as it is taking a patina in that small portion. I was wondering if the coated the steel with something or maybe a special treatment that is preventing the patina. I haven't wiped it with alcohol, just soap and water. I'll try that when I get home..

Next on my list is a fruitport in ram horn... And then stag.... And then ivory...
Click to expand...

Another scagel folder is also to produced fairly soon. The next will be produced by queen and will have ats-34 stainless
 
Still, a very handsome knife despite the edge problems.:thumbup: If its any consolation, I've had the same issues on some Northwoods Scagels. But that 1095 sharpens up nice if done with love.
 
Hey there Grunt...

No idea on the patina...1095 will stain just spitting on it....
 
That's been my experience with it too.. Which is why I'm so baffled by this.. I emailed KSF about this and never heard back
 
I like the look of the bone more in your photos than at the vendor's site. It has a nice warmth to it.

The uneven grinds are a buzzkill. It's one thing if the angle's right and one side is higher or lower than it should be, but that blade you got is really off. Reminds me of my S&M cotton sampler. Still, you were able to get the edge where you wanted it to be and its cutting performance is good so in the long run that'll outweigh the initial state it came in.
 
In terms of developing patina, look to see how much oil/grease is on the blade. With two of my 1095 slimline trappers that I use a lot, there is a very fine layer of oil/grease on the blades. It comes from the factory, oiling the joints, your fingers, cutting sausages, etc. Even if I wipe it with a single swipe with a cloth it remains. It acts as a protective coat. IMHO - patina should be earned with years and not instantly applied. :rolleyes:

- David
 
Clean the blade with brasso or a similar metal polish.
Then it will take a patina faster once it is clean from any grease or oil
 
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