The Elusive Skookum

[LMT66]

I did check out the F1 and the Nordic Bear II just looks better to me, I just found an added bonus of going with the Nordic Bear II, the maker lives about 20 mins away from me!

Check out the H1 not the F1.

 

[bindlestitch]

I often laugh at that turn of phrase: "he needs to do something".
No, doesn't need to do anything. You need him to.

Mike Snody wrote about this, not taking orders. That way, no one is emailing about their knife that they know won't even be started for over a year (so why clog up his email inbox?)

A maker who doesn't take orders makes the knives he wants to make. His creativity stays fresh. Every knife is a custom, not a copy of the last one he made.

And he charges what he needs for the knife he's making now, in today's market, with today's cost of living and working. A maker with a list has a year's worth of work ahead of him, or more, like he's a damned serf, and he won't see a raise in pay till he's finished them all, either.

If he hires a secretary, he cuts his profits. Is it worth even working if he can't pay himself a decent wage? If he contracts out the model, he'll hear all the quality control complaints about the production version.

No, Rod doesn't need to change a thing. He knows how to make this highly sought-after knife well, he needs space to work, not email conversations about next year's build.

Excellent post, Esav.
Iz

 

[x39]

Are you speaking from your own experience with Rod or are you speaking on behalf of someone else who had an order lost? .

Neither, but as a person who has run a small machine shop and welding business for 25 years. Offering constructive criticism based on sound business practices can hardly be called bad mouthing the man. That's all I've got to offer on this one guys.

 

[hollowdweller]

AdventureSworn, a knifemaker here will make you a nice Woodlore-like blade. I've had both and Cody's is much better out of the box. :thumbup:

I don't have one of his but I've seen several on the exchange and if you are talking about price VS work and materials going into the knife Adventure Sworn's stuff is an amazing value.

My only caveat would be most of the blades I've seen of his online are thicker than the Skookum, one point I like about it over others.

 

[hollowdweller]

I often laugh at that turn of phrase: "he needs to do something".

A maker who doesn't take orders makes the knives he wants to make. His creativity stays fresh. Every knife is a custom, not a copy of the last one he made.

Good point. In recent years with makers outsourcing their blank cutting to waterjet, and even their heat treating I think calling something like that a custom is a stretch unless if you consider somebody like Bark River a custom too.

Maybe semi custom??

 

[kahuana]

Great knives though!!

 

[Esav Benyamin]

But, can you imagine waking up every day knowing you'll be making the same knife with little deviation. It has got to be like Ground Hog day after a while.

I would find that hard to do. On the other hand, if you ask anyone who's out of work, a few years of guaranteed employment can sound pretty good.

 

[eraaij]

Raising this thread for interested parties because there is a Skookum in O1 for sale on BritishBlades. No connections with the seller other than just having bought the Bison in that same addy

As to communication with Rod - he is a stellar bloke. I never had any trouble in dealing with him and have had great and fun conversations with him.

-Emile

 

[Dutch253]

Are you teasing me eraaij? I went to britishblades and couldn't find it! Think you could send me the link or something?

 

[cgd160]

I did check out the F1 and the Nordic Bear II just looks better to me, I just found an added bonus of going with the Nordic Bear II, the maker lives about 20 mins away from me!

I just got a Nordic Bear, great knife, nice thick handle, and Andras is a good guy.

AdventureSworn, a knifemaker here will make you a nice Woodlore-like blade. I've had both and Cody's is much better out of the box. :thumbup:

Does he have a website?

 

[Dutch253]

Found the skookum on britishblades...sold already