Northwoods Willamette Whittler

I know Charlie...I know, I'm growing weaker by the day...

G2
 
draggat, a very nice review of a lovely knife. I've been eyeing this one over at KSF and after reading your review, I'm about ready to press the "buy" button.

I really like the serpentine (or dogleg?) pattern of this knife, and the way the main blade seems to flow out of the contour of the handle. I'm also a sucker for smooth natural, blue, green camel bone covers, so this knife is calling to me, and I think it would make a nice "gentleman's folder" for the office and such. I seem to moving away from my few more utilitarian-tactical knives and appreciating something a bit more... toned down and refined.

You (or was it a later poster) say it is a full size pocket knife. Just how large is this? I went a little daft on my first foray into traditionals (other than the numerous SAKs I've owned, used, beat on and lost over the years) this spring and picked up a 2 blade Madison Barlow in blue camel bone. 1. It's gorgeous. 2. It's big. 3. Uhm...it is REALLY big. I also picked up a 63 Mako (guess what covers?) and it is much more pleasing in form and size. Actually, I think the Madison would be great for me as a larger knife in a single blade format (actually with a drop or clip point, probably a nice hunting knife) but the 2 blade is too much for my pockets in anything but a heavy pair of jeans.

So the point of this being I'm thinking of moving the Madison along and picking up the Willamette in its stead. Would I be correct in thinking that the Willamette is going to be closer to the 63 in size than the Madison 2 blade? Yes, I've read the specs, but I also read them on the Madison before buying it and I seem to have failed to appreciate it's heft and size until I had it in hand and thought....uh-oh. So some thoughts from people more knowledgeable than I about traditionals (meaning just about everyone else here) would be appreciated. I've two other traditionals now the size of which I've found pleasing, a Case Slimline Trapper (a surprisingly nice knife considering it's very affordable price) and a just acquired Beer Scout. So if the Willamette is coming in size-wize somewhere between this Case and the GEC 63, I think I'd be very happy with it.
 
Bigbluefish, Here's a comparison of a #63 and a #38. I don't have a Madison.

P7270003.jpg~original
 
Bigbluefish. I too had a couple two blade Madison Barlows. I also did not previously realize how big they would actually be, even after reading the specs as you did. The WW is smaller, definitely a pocketable sized knife. Get one, you will enjoy it. I still have one of them. If I can remember, I will post a pic of them next to each other for size comparison.
 
Bigbluefish, thanks for the kind words and welcome to the world of traditional knives! Be careful.... these are addictive!

I don't have a Madison Barlow to compare to, but I'm sure it's a nice big pocket weight. IMHO, the larger patterns like that one should be single bladed. At any rate, I would say the WW is considerably smaller. Length doesn't equate to heft. The WW is a single spring knife. The absence of an extra spring and liner make it considerably thinner and even though it might be as long (?) as a Madison, it has a fairly slender profile.

I would say the WW is much more pocketable than the #63, especially considering that it has nice rounded covers. Someone should correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this pattern can be called a Dogleg or a serpentine. The curve of the handle sits very comfortably in hand and the length is enough to make it a full size knife. Personally, I think the blu bone turned out great on these. The ivory ones are also very beautiful.

One last thing..... the WW has a slightly longer main blade than the pruner. Get one.... I'm sure you won't be sorry!
 
Nice Redbone!!


waynorth said:
Thanks to my big Barlowpalooza at Oregon, and because it happened in the Willamette Valley, I had a little knife money stashed away (had being the operative word!), and decided to put it into these eponymous whittlers.

Willamettes%201_zps5oalos6v.jpg


They are beautiful! Traditionally styled treasures, every one!!
One of those times when idea and execution just click!

Now, which one should I use?? Tough choice!!
Click to expand...

I still haven't decided! Lots of fingerprints on them though!!!
They are all too cool for school!
Single spring, useful blades and perfect size!!
Soon, soon!!:D
 
I feel the same although I'm not a collector I look forward to carrying and using it.
 
The Red Bone is the one to use. Jigged bone actually looks better once the bone gets smoothed out from riding in a pocket.
That's how i sees it.
kj
 
Well, I just read the whole thread and got that loving feeling. What a great knife. Charlie, I think you need to live large and use the mammoth;)
 
Gevonovich said:
Well, I just read the whole thread and got that loving feeling. What a great knife. Charlie, I think you need to live large and use the mammoth;)
Click to expand...
Tempting, Gev!
I am that close to carrying stag!
 
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