Wsk which maker is better?

Just to add to the mix. Dan Koster makes a variation on the design that works nicely. It is a little longer, so a little better a chopper. It is not a WSK clone. It is his own variation with some differances in handle and blade that make it pleasantly original.
 
I bought a Red Scorpion WSK off ebay from them a couple months back. Of course it never arrived and I had to get a paypal refund only to find they never shipped it.
 
Well, for what it's worth, I've taken a few of the above mentioned on overnighters as a substitute for the camp axe and this is what I've found.

TOPS- it's a boat anchor. The grind does NOT lend to chopping and the ergonomics of the handle are awesome for producing blisters. The saw is totally ineffective.

Red Scorpion Six- In this instance the edge is ground too thin to maintain. Its light enough to wield around but a couple of whacks into hard wood (not batoning) and the edge is through. Overall this is the cheapest in production and price of any WSK you'll find. Saw teeth are effective and aggresive.

Shanz Messer- Great blade, more of a collector's piece but I went after a piece of maple with it and it didn't loose edge. The handle, while contoured more than the TOPS still felt a bit thick in the hand. Saw, effective too a point- jammed after about an inch depth.

Tim Horan- I contacted Tim to make a small version of his WSK that I could carry while flying. This by far is my favorite. While my miniature was not the biggest WSK, its proportional in size and balance. Edges maintained against 3/8" thick Lexan plexiglass (helicopter windhield) loong story- and the contour of the handle was the only one that felt so natural it was like an extension of the hand. Saw (on my model) was small due to o/a size but effective.

Last but not least Roger (the Crook) Linger- I picked up this WSK and companion combo from another BF member so can't say I had any dealings with said crook but from what I read he ain't on many Christmas card lists. That said, the crook makes a hell of a blade. The WSK is well balanced with a good heft (well over a pound) edges are good and it is the most effective chopper I found. Contour of the handle was smoothed and grippy- no blisters after taking down a 4 inch (dead) maple. The companion is a great little knife too suited for any camp chore but thats a different story.

Overall, out of the above IMHO I would recommend Horan's WSK. You're going to wait, and your'e going to shell out some coin- 3 of the 5 above were over 5 bills but after using the other 2, it's obvious you get what you pay for. Either that or go hammer it out of spring steel yourself a la Benicio Del Toro in the Hunted (it only took him 5 minutes :D )

ANYhow, the thoughts on this knife and it's design are either "I love it and can take down a forrest with it" or "This is a gimmick, snake oil, mall ninja yadayada"

Hope this helps!!
happy choppin
 
I like the review. But you left out the real WSK. Beck's knife is the real deal and almost perfectly balanced. I have used mine lately and have been very surprised with the performance. I still feel the design makes it an almost perfect camping knife. The Model 18 Randall Made being the perfect example (The basis for the Rambo knives and the start of the hollow handle craze).
 
Nobody has mentioned martin, they still do at least one run a year of the WSK and have a smaller version as well.
 
FEDKNIFELOVER said:
I like the review. But you left out the real WSK. Beck's knife is the real deal and almost perfectly balanced. I have used mine lately and have been very surprised with the performance. I still feel the design makes it an almost perfect camping knife. The Model 18 Randall Made being the perfect example (The basis for the Rambo knives and the start of the hollow handle craze).
Click to expand...

Well, I left out the Beck because I haven't had the pleasure if getting my paws on one. That and the fact that they run for a paultry 2k would probably lend me not to use it for much more than a display piece of my badass-edness :D

As for the Martin- funny you should mention these guys. I was just looking them up after my original reply. I'm going to put my sights on one and see what happens. Reviews to follow.
 
The BECK Wsk as well as other beck knives are some of the best knives I have ever used. And definintely better than a TOPS Unfortunately they are not being made anymore. They are a bit pricey but well worth it! After all they are handcrafted in the US and not in China...I love the quality of the knives and I can use it for anything.
 
I'll throw another log on this fire and suggest the Jensen Elite Blades Evo if you can find one. Tough as nails, chisel ground D2, heavy in the hand for good chopping and easily maintains/returns an edge with a diamond hone. I had one with the more aggressive saw teeth and they cut everything I threw at them well but there could have been more of them on the top edge of the blade.

As far as currently available, I have to say that Tim Horan has caught my eye recently.

Emptyglass
 
Tim Horan is a buddy of mine and the only person David has given first hand "Pat on the Back" to produce his "C" pattern that we all have come to know as the WSK design.

Shoot him an email - Super nice guy and learned from David alot about how David makes HIS WSK from the man himself.

http://www.horanknives.com/
 
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