Thoughts on WSK Knives ?

[baldtaco-II]

Hahahaha....I love the controversy these knives cause !!!!From my own perspective do I consider a Med Fixed blade, SAK, Silky Saw and Axe to be better than a WSK.......hell yeah, course I do ! But if you are only gonna carry one tool then in my humble opinion these can be a very viable option.I just wish the doubters could join me on trip out and see just what the WSK's can do.

A question for you then amigo – I was wrong when I estimated the weight of the WSK at about 1lb, it is much heavier than that. Given it is heavier than my tweaked Martindale #2 + my personal knife + a SAK Outrider combined saving weight isn't an incentive, so what is?

 

[pitdog]

Personally, I think the one do-all tool fantasies are kind of stupid. But that's just me.

How many mechanics do you see that carry only a crescent wrench?

True but most mechanics don't have to hike through bush for miles ! When I worked at the coal mine my main carry was an adjustable wrench and a hammer....very rare I'd lug a full tool bag around unless I really had to !

 

[sicily02]

Yea I thought the 6" blade length was to short also on them. My first one is going to have a longer blade. I have handled 2 of the tops big ones and when they came to me to be sharpened up I was like these are scrapers not cutting tools, They are now though lol. The edges just need to be thinned a little to make them like razors.
That was neat video of the fellow making the spoon with the little WSK.

Again it comes down to what ( you ) like. some like the WSK design and some do not.

Bryan

 

[baldtaco-II]

Whist I agree with “it comes down to what you like” from a liberty perspective there is a danger. Few people have the strength of character to separate performance from what they like. They usually try to obfuscate and muddy the waters. Happily not in this thread but it is not uncommon to also find folks in threads becoming obnoxious rather that assert “it is crap I just like it”. And mealy-mouthed bystander apathy doesn't help. As this guy asked rhetorically about photography ”If nothing is bad, can anything be good?”.

 

[ROCK6]

Few people have the strength of character to separate performance from what they like.

I agree. I am personally attracted to the WSK design, but have a hard time finding this design to replace the tools I carry. Prejudice can be found in any circles and the knife communities are not immune. Again, I like the looks and concept of the WSK, but don't ever expect to use one; just not my style or skill set (but it's always fun to experiment!). I do like the fact that one's ideas, philosophies and experiences can be forged into such a unique knife like the WSK; I'm reminded of Spivey's Sabertooth design and others that fall out of the "norm". Traditional designs can inbreed prejudice, but I think it's important to remain grounded in the fact that the "tool" is secondary to the individual's skill and experience. Someone who could master the WSK to its full potential could most likely make do with a Mora or even a razor blade. Most pragmatic knife users wouldn't consider designs like the WSK, but there are several who see the design as a challenge vice an object of ridicule. Most knife designers, such as Bryan Breeden, know what works for them but still look to expand their experience and skills, continuing to seek optimum or even niche tools. My father is the perfect example of pragmatism to the extreme; he's used the same hunting knife and rifle for the past 40+ years...they work well enough and he's well versed in their use. He would think something like the WSK is a gimmick or a joke. Others try to see through the designer's eyes and put their experiences to the test. For some of us, knives like the WSK create a challenge whereas for others it generates a little animosity. To each his own, but I still enjoy and appreciate the controversy of such designs even though they don't appeal to me or don't pique my pragmatic interests.

ROCK6

 

[PayetteRucker]

I've always wanted a WSK-esque machete. It would give you finger-level flat sections for carving shavings, skinning fruits and veggies and doing other fine tasks, a weight forward design for chopping efficiency, a working point for poking, drilling, digging, etc, and that cool curvy section for carving shafts, de-barking, etc. I think most of the issues with the WSK design is that the larger commercial versions are under 5 inches. If you stretch out the design a ways I'd bet it would accomplish most of the intended tasks with ease. Even the Beck version appears to be two inches longer than the TOPS Tracker.

Think WSK/SOG SEAL/300 saber crammed into a 14 inch package, with overall F&F along the lines of Kabar's Heavy Duty series, maybe with Tooj's handle or a handle similar to Beck's original with an indexed forefinger and swept pommel.

As far as 'one tool's, lots of people have been very efficient throughout history with one tool. Think of all the grunts that made it through World Wars 1 and II with a Kabar-style fighting knife or a bayonet, or all of the tropics-dwellers that live on a machete, or the Saami that get by with a Leuku. Most of the time if you take a quality tool and invest time into maintenance and using technique, you can get the job done. The WSK is just an attempt to streamline that process.

The Mora 2000 has been mentioned as a WSK in the past with its multiple grinds. I see my Frontier-style tomahawk as a WSK-IAWoodsman did a good demonstration an all the different ways you can manipulate a simple tomahawk head, and after all, they're basically a modified knife on an axe haft. There are ways to make this design work, it's just that when you're limited to 10 dollar Pakistan-made ninja toys, the overbuilt Tracker or the fraudulent-built Red Scorpion Six travesty, there isn't a practical design commercially/readily available.

 

[baldtaco-II]

I agree. I am personally attracted to the WSK design, but have a hard time finding this design to replace the tools I carry. Prejudice can be found in any circles and the knife communities are not immune. Again, I like the looks and concept of the WSK, but don't ever expect to use one; just not my style or skill set (but it's always fun to experiment!). I do like the fact that one's ideas, philosophies and experiences can be forged into such a unique knife like the WSK; I'm reminded of Spivey's Sabertooth design and others that fall out of the "norm". Traditional designs can inbreed prejudice, but I think it's important to remain grounded in the fact that the "tool" is secondary to the individual's skill and experience. Someone who could master the WSK to its full potential could most likely make do with a Mora or even a razor blade. Most pragmatic knife users wouldn't consider designs like the WSK, but there are several who see the design as a challenge vice an object of ridicule. Most knife designers, such as Bryan Breeden, know what works for them but still look to expand their experience and skills, continuing to seek optimum or even niche tools. My father is the perfect example of pragmatism to the extreme; he's used the same hunting knife and rifle for the past 40+ years...they work well enough and he's well versed in their use. He would think something like the WSK is a gimmick or a joke. Others try to see through the designer's eyes and put their experiences to the test. For some of us, knives like the WSK create a challenge whereas for others it generates a little animosity. To each his own, but I still enjoy and appreciate the controversy of such designs even though they don't appeal to me or don't pique my pragmatic interests.ROCK6

These sorts things will always interest me for sure. Take for example this thing here:

. That's being marketed to me as “Tops Knives has unveiled its new wilderness tool, which can be a field hatchet/hawk and pick”. The French introduce the tomahawk to the native Americans as a weapon and years later some mangled rendition of one is pitched as a serious wilderness tool. And for that bit of 1095 that looks rather like a thing Mike Stewart made as a piss take out of scrap I'd need to pay $147.69 USD. I don't see how anyone that is at all interested in knives could not be interested in these kinds of things too. Sometimes it's just because what people will have sold to them is plain old fun to watch. Other times it is because it fleshes out the entire framework and gives perspective to other things. Occasionally it is because there is a genuine engineering challenge. Taking that WSK from an engineering perspective one wonders how much of an improvement this might have been, or whether Rick's Bownana would have stuffed it anyway.04.50 - toes up

 

[PayetteRucker]

the blade profile in example C is near identical to an HI Tamang, and apparently of similar length.

 

[Bladite]

I have really been drawn to the WSK in the movie the Hunted, and I really enjoyed the few images in the extra features from that movie regarding the knife. It makes me wish I had a forge. I like the more streamlined look to the movie version when compared to the Tops verion. I have a WSK from Dan Koster, but I have not invested much time into using it. I got the version without the notching saw on the spine.

i too have a WSK from Koster, one of the early ones, and i like it a lot, very khukri based design:

i also really like me the old Machax design (not the Camillus). good stuff.

kinda wished i got one of these back in the day: "jensen elite blades"

but probably just as well, given that the guy didn't ship many and took money and ran...

seen some others, but mostly keeping my eyes open. maybe a good scorpion 6 sometime - decent Beck clone.

wouldn't touch a Tom Brown authorized Top's model unless it was super cheap or free. poor implementation of Beck's work

 

[Bladite]

based on Mr Beck's comments on this very forum, that's his design as used in the movie, as made by his own hands, and later sold as well. it's perhaps controversial, but well worth searching for and reading.

that said, yeah, i love that original version of the knife. lean and mean. the version that came much later (and had no basis in the movie) is a big old brute. people who thin them out tend to like them, but gah, bit of a club imho.

oh, and the new Machax... yeah, it's coming soon (not soon enough, days, weeks!) i've used the protos, and it's fast, and lean, and mean. should be interesting to get them in the field. Becker and KaBar probably have another winner.

 

[pitdog]

I can't help but think this design would be better if the carving section went all the way back to near the handle and it did away with the ring finger part !

 

[FortyTwoBlades]

But then how will you gauge the serving size of your pasta when cooking for a group?

 

[pitdog]

There is also the FOX Knives Tracker ~

Looks back to front to me though, why have the thick edge where you want to carve and the thin where you would chop ???

 

[pitdog]

But then how will you gauge the serving size of your pasta when cooking for a group?

LOL...Never thought of that !:thumbup:

 

[baldtaco-II]

There is also the FOX Knives Tracker ~

Looks back to front to me though, why have the thick edge where you want to carve and the thin where you would chop ???

Looks the right way round to me for a couple of reasons: Once we dump the pretence that a knife of that sort of length is ever going to be very good at chopping it can be optimised more usefully. The bit nearest the handle looks like it would be better for splitting but still be acute enough to carve and the bit out the front more optimized for slicing. Another factor is it overcomes the problem at transition. I have seen designs the other way round in use and they come a cropper at simple tasks such as peeling a stick unless you use them as a draw knife using a little window of blade. One guy looked especially miffed that each time he tried to slice off shavings in a conventional natural manner it hit that transition point and came to a jarring fail. At least this way round it'll skip over the transition. It allows for more natural style of use.

 

[blgoode]

I've made a coule stripped down versions. I have a Beck so I deleted what I didn't like that made it seem clunky to me. 3/16" stock, no hook to get in way of chopping and a high flat grind.

 

[baldtaco-II]

Lovely. And now we're back to knives ;-). I will say that for myself, even if we excluded all the artistry of your work and looked only at the design, I would sooner take designs such as you have there in a humble 440A than any of the WSKs in this thread regardless of what they could be made from including YXR7 and whatnot.

 

[stanley_white]

Scott Gossman made his version called the "Wilderness Survival Tool" or WST in multiple sizes. I do not have one... Yet!

-Stan

 

[Diomedes Industries]

I am going to be honest here. Nearly 90% of the the tools that Pitdog carries look ridiculous to me. They have silly names - and frankly I don't get them. Booshway? It sounds like a Pokemon' character or a super hero.

However, that fool gets more dirt time than I do - and loves to use his steel. I would trust him to get me a fire going and get a shelter made - so frankly I don't give a shit if he uses a crowbar to do it. He has fun - he makes designs that work for him - and he seems to be a great guy (hell - his dogs love him - he can't be all bad).

That is the same as how I feel about the WSK. Not for me. Too heavy - to thick - to gimmicky. But that is me.

When I am in the south - I carry two blades - one 4 inch Convex (Arete or Kephart) and a SAK. If I am in the North - I carry two blades - A Scandi (Arete or AS Woodlore) and a SAK. That is what I like to carry.

I get a bang out of seeing what Rick Marchand carries - his shit looks like a Samari sword and Jute twine had sex - but I know THAT fool get a lot of dirt time (or snow time) and I would trust him to get me shelter - fire - and food.... and download me some porn....

This comes down to what you are comfortable with and opinion.

Who wants a beer?

TF

 

[pitdog]

I am going to be honest here. Nearly 90% of the the tools that Pitdog carries look ridiculous to me. They have silly names - and frankly I don't get them. Booshway? It sounds like a Pokemon' character or a super hero.

However, that fool gets more dirt time than I do - and loves to use his steel. I would trust him to get me a fire going and get a shelter made - so frankly I don't give a shit if he uses a crowbar to do it. He has fun - he makes designs that work for him - and he seems to be a great guy (hell - his dogs love him - he can't be all bad).

TF

LOL....That made me laugh buddy, thanks !:thumbup:

After the comment about the dogs I have to share this.....Mrs Pit was at work this Valentine morning so this was what I woke up to~