On the fence Duke vs Woodsman

Dman3d

Dman3d

Joined
Jul 9, 2013
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374
What is the main difference between the Duke and Woodsman, some of the pics it seems hard to make out.
Any comparison pics around?
 
Main difference is Duke has more belly and Woodsman is pointy. Handles are basically the same. Woodsman is on top in these pics.

IMG_4488_zps9ccbebda.jpg~original


IMG_4672_zps3eafb974.jpg~original
 
I apologize for the hijack but how does the Camp knife handle feel compared to the Duke and Woodsman? I've handled both of those but never a Camp knife.
 
Camp Knife handle is huge compared to Woodsman and Duke. I love it. :)

Other than just being larger, the flared bell at the pommel is more pronounced and really gives you the option of holding it at the end of the knife for some great chopping power.

IMG_4868_zps8295659a.jpg~original
 
I'm also in the market for a Duke/Woodsman and maybe someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I'm looking to use it for food prep and processing game (whitetail). I use the bushfinger as my field dressing knife but I'd like some length when butchering. All advice is appreciated.
 
Brendan,

Duke is similar in blade shape to the Bushfinger. You can think of it as the following progression in size for the similar drop point style blade: Bushfinger, Hunter, Duke, Camp.

I'm not a hunter, so can't give any advice on a good butchering knife, but if you like the Bushfinger, then a Hunter or Duke would be the next sizes up.

IMG_4958_zps65173526.jpg~original
 
I'll post another update to the Models, Tang-Types, Steel Thicknesses, & Weights thread tomorrow that specifically discusses the Woodsman and Duke comparison along with one other model from my archive info.

Phil
 
Generally from what I've seen Woodsman is guartless and the Duke generally has very small guard. The Dukes handle is also a little shorter. Both excell at different things but are equally well rounded.
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thurin said:
Camp Knife handle is huge compared to Woodsman and Duke. I love it. :)

Other than just being larger, the flared bell at the pommel is more pronounced and really gives you the option of holding it at the end of the knife for some great chopping power.
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Thank you Thurin. That is exactly what I was looking for. I'm in the market for a bug knife and I am looking for a large "handful" of handle. :) I like the Duke and the Woodsman both but I still don't mind something bigger. I have large hands and a large big handle feels perfect to me. I even prefer a heavy knife especially in a large knife. I love the look of a tapered tang but I'll always choose a SFT tang for my needs.
 
I can't comment on the Woodsman till Fri when I receive mine from the most recent Fiddleback Friday :) It is 3/16" with a TT so the comparison to my Duke, which is 3/16" SFT may not even be relevant as I think the tapered tang on a knife that size makes a huge difference.
In response to using one of them to butcher a deer, my Duke is a beast and would probably be more suited to chopping. Again a TT Duke may feel completely different as I feel there is a huge difference in feel between my 1/8" Bushfinger SFT and 1/8" Bushfinger TT.
 
To add my 2c - I have large hands and, although I love my Woodsman, the handle feels skinny to me. I also have a Hunter, which I believe is very similar to the Duke but smaller, and I love the feel of that handle.
 
MikeinCali said:
To add my 2c - I have large hands and, although I love my Woodsman, the handle feels skinny to me. I also have a Hunter, which I believe is very similar to the Duke but smaller, and I love the feel of that handle.
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Handles are going to vary in thickness from knife to knife even in the same model. Thicker handles were more abundant on the older knives, but you can still find them coming out on new ones too. I've had two Woodsman, one that had skinny handles and the current one is a little thicker.
 
Thanks Thurin. I guess I should go with the progression of the bushfinger and grab a duke. At least I know I can't go wrong with either.
 
Ah crap looks like I still gotta get all of them, that helps a quite a bit everyone.
@Thurin - that woodsman in the green burlap with black pins is exactly the look I am after or the tuxedo style black with white liners. There was a kephart some time back the was emerald burlap with black pin and a black bolster I think, looked amazing.
@Nutramak - bookmarking that, thanks sir.

But looking at the the leuku also now lol, you guys need to crap it up a bit, too many awesome knives to choose from.
 
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Dude, I'll just be straight up with you. Go for the Duke. It's Andy's sexiest yet most utilitarian blade. It will do it all.
 
Dcaggie06 said:
Dude, I'll just be straight up with you. Go for the Duke. It's Andy's sexiest yet most utilitarian blade. It will do it all.
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Sounds good to me. Sweet looking blade and sounds like it can handle anything you throw at it.
Guess my last question is how difficult is it to touch up or maintain the high-sabre convex grind? Never owned a knife with that grind. Sadly I'm only decent with scandi and flat grinds for sharpening, hope to keep field touch up simple.
 
Brendanruch said:
I'm also in the market for a Duke/Woodsman and maybe someone will be able to point me in the right direction. I'm looking to use it for food prep and processing game (whitetail). I use the bushfinger as my field dressing knife but I'd like some length when butchering. All advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...

I recently evaluated all three. Here's the post: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1238135-Beyond-the-BC-Bigger-knives-Part-2

I skin a lot of whitetails, and for me the only solution of the three (Duke, Woodsman, Hunter) is the Hunter. The Duke is too large for fine work in my hands. The Woodsman is great kitchen knife and slicer, but does not have enough belly for easy skinning. Actually, a 1/8 Nessmuk makes a great field knife (what I use most). I will note that I'm skinning TX whitetail and axis that are in the 100-150 lb range. However, as I stated in the review, I think the Hunter would be perfectly adequate for an Elk.
 
I find convex grind the easiest to sharpen in the field. Take a small loaded strop and you'd be fine. The longer blade of the Duke (or Woodsman) can be awkward at first but you get used to it.
 
M4Super90 said:
I recently evaluated all three. Here's the post: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1238135-Beyond-the-BC-Bigger-knives-Part-2

I skin a lot of whitetails, and for me the only solution of the three (Duke, Woodsman, Hunter) is the Hunter. The Duke is too large for fine work in my hands. The Woodsman is great kitchen knife and slicer, but does not have enough belly for easy skinning. Actually, a 1/8 Nessmuk makes a great field knife (what I use most). I will note that I'm skinning TX whitetail and axis that are in the 100-150 lb range. However, as I stated in the review, I think the Hunter would be perfectly adequate for an Elk.
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I would second a hunter and raise you a leuku. Either one of the will meet your needs. I like a little more belly, so my call would be the Hunter, but some people like a sleeker profile when processing, and the leuku really meets this.
 
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