Woodlore Knife Alternatives

B

Big Bird

Joined
Jan 3, 2004
Messages
86
Hi All - not posted in W&S Skills before (am member of a UK site), so Hello!
I should have got myself a Woodlore knife way back - I first thought of it about 4 years back but I have dithered and delayed and now they are very difficult to get hold of......and the prices on EBay are outrageous (couple on there now). I live in the UK and know of one or 2 makers over here who make good similar knives - I do want a copy, but made to the same or higher standards! Question is who is out there Stateside? I have searched and seen a few really nice knives but would appreciate some up to date thoughts. Woodlore specs: O1 tool steel, 11 cm long, 2.7 cm wide, 4mm stock, single bevel, handle 11cm long (I would like micarta). Also want a quality sheath.
Before anyone says, I have a Mora and it is great value and really good for learning but this time I want something a bit special, to keep. Appreciate any links, prices or photos. Thanks in advance.
 
You should be able to get one for about $250.00 with that spec. If you dont mind Kydex give David Mosier a mail

www.dmknives.com usually about 8-12 weeks, very flexible, fast to answer mail and does a damned nice job.
 
Take a look at the Bark River knives if you can find one. They are tool steel (D2) great outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, serious use knives but they are too sharp for the average user, knife.


http://www.barkriverknives.com/

I will not use one without a blade guard because I like my fingers attached to the rest of my hand and one slip with these sharp fellows and you are in for a world of stitches. Like a said, they are too good and too sharp for the average knife user.

How is the "British Blades Forums" website doing these days? I was "BANNED" from it for expressing too many negative comments about the goofy UK knife laws. I hope the royal guard guys took the queen out for fish and chips and a pint at the local pub to celebrate her 80th birthday.
 
DGG said:
Take a look at the Bark River knives if you can find one. They are tool steel (D2) great outdoors hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, serious use knives but they are too sharp for the average user, knife.
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Bark River Knives are great choice, the North Star model was designed as the North American Bushcraft knife:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6499

There might be some D2 models, but as far as I know they are made mostly of A2 carbon steel or Sandvik stainless.
Mike Stewart's heat treatment and the convex edge he puts on his knives are legendary.
The regular models have micarta handles with several choices of colors (some of them available only from a few dealers).


A yet cheaper alternative would be the Ontario TAK-1 in 1095 or D2 steels:

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=3993

http://www.knifeworks.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=6319

It's slightly thicker (0.1875 inch = 4.7625 mm), but it has similar overall sizes to your specs.
It comes with micarta handles too.
 
Thanks All - like the look of SWC, very nice and investigating Shing's work too. I have promised myself a custom piece this time and so will likely stay clear of production knives. Thanks again - appreciate it!
 
A gent named Von Hagen makes custom knives of O-1 with a blade shape that seems to match the UK "bushcraft" norm (One could call it "drop point" or "spear."). One just sold on eBay for about $150. 105 mm blade. 120mm handle. Pretty neutral handle shape. Fully convexed. He favors various stabilized woods for the handles. You might give him a look.
 
Big Bird said:
and the prices on EBay are outrageous (couple on there now). .
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WOW! You're not kidding! Meaning no disrespect to the makers or their products, IMHO, the bidders have lost touch with reality.
 
i'm going to have to say bark river knives again... check out the northstar, scout and the copperhead.... those are all great knives.... i have a osage orange handled northstar, and i absolutely love it......
www.dlttradingcompany.com they are a bark river dealer... my favorite...

you can also check out gene ingram's knives... he does some excellant work.. i just ordered the #30 litebush.... check them out....
www.geneingramknives.blademakers.com

i would post a few pics, but i don't know how,, seeing how i am farly new here........ i frequent knifeforums these days...... cheers... mtnfolk mike
 
I'll cut and paste my own post from another thread:

Ravaillac said:
Many English custom/semi-custom produce woodlore clones.

Here original woodlore:
Original woodlore (balantly overpriced)
Wilkinson Swords' woodlore (overpriced, oop)

Here are a few ones: (enjoy creative naming for the very same knife):
Woodsmoke's Woodlander
Bearclaw Field Knife
bakk-knives' graduate
Stewart Marsh's bushcraft knife
Unknown Woodlore clone
bison bushcraft knife
Linger's one

etc
...

Quality might range from very good to average, if you're interested I'd suggest you check english "bushcraft" forums.
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Rik Palm GT
wgt.jpg
 
rik palm makes some great knives.... i love that model... i'm a sucker for osage orange....
 
Please explain to me why the eka w11 and the helle fjellkniven are never mentioned as bushcraft knives. What does a knife make a bushcraft knife? :confused:

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helle4-big-1.JPG



Ps, like to add; The Bark River Northstar and upcoming Aurora are certainly worth mentioning.
 
Neo said:
Please explain to me why the eka w11 and the helle fjellkniven are never mentioned as bushcraft knives.
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Not well known / popular.

What does a knife make a bushcraft knife?
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It means different things to different people. For example Peter H. of Fallkniven spends a lot of time outdoors and designed many of his knives accordingly, however the methods he uses are not very similar to for example Mears. If the two of them were asked to draw a bushcraft knife they would be very different, specifically Peter's would have a much heavier cross section and a much more secure grip.

The current most popular defination used by most is a scandinavian grind as used by Mears though I would assume he would call the parang/machete he carries in many locations a bushcraft knife as well. The BRK&T knives are also starting to get popular for the same work and they have a high convex grind tapering to a similar edge angle as on scandinavian profiled blades.

-Cliff
 
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