I have just been looking at the Woodlore pro knife on the Ray Mears website and noticed the grind is longer than previous Woodlore knives. Reading the description the angle is now 25 degrees for this model, I believe scandi grinds are normally around 20 degrees. As I'm never going to afford one I wondered if anyone who has bought one had any views on if this makes it a better all rounder...primarily for food prep which, in my experience is the downside of a scandi grind.
Woodlore pro knife
- Thread starter swotty
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I haven't used one myself, but if you wanted a cheaper alternative, Nomad knifeworks make the 'meister' which is based on the original pro.
nomadknifeworks.com
NKW Meister - Nomad Knifeworks
Prices from £350 NKW Meister A faithful reproduction of the sadly missed knifemaker (my friend and colleague) Stephen Wade Cox's legendary "Bushcraft Pro" knife, Steve spent months co-designing this blade and only a few were ever made. Steve thought this was one of the best knife designs for the...
nomadknifeworks.com
Essentially, yes - Mears designed the Pro to be better at a wider variety of tasks that you would beed in a bushcrafting context. It’s still very good with wood, and has a taper so that the tip is slimmer and slightly more pointy than the original Woodlore for fine carving. It’s a small difference, though.
Personally, I prefer the original Woodlore. The ricasso on the Pro is just too big for me, and you lose the part of the blade where you have the most power.
Personally, I prefer the original Woodlore. The ricasso on the Pro is just too big for me, and you lose the part of the blade where you have the most power.
I have a Nomad Meister and really rate it, mine has quite a high grind on it. As for the ricasso, it’s good for chocking up on. The one issue I do have, is, it’s a tad small, i take size 11 gloves, so often have that problem with knives. It’s a really nimble knife, it’s 5mm at its thickest, but because of the distal taper, it feels really light and responsive in the hand!
I handled some at the wilderness gathering last year and that was my only gripe with it - the handle felt a bit too narrow for me.
Lovely blade shape though.
Don’t get me wrong, the Pro / Nomad Meister is a great knife, wonderfully designed and does have a great feel in the hand because of the taper in both directions (to the tip, and to the handle). I had a SWC Woodlore Pro, but in the end sold it because, for me, the original Alan Wood Woodlore just feels better. Maybe it’s because I’ve had my AW Woodlore for 24 years, and it feels like an extension of my arm at this point.
Here’s a photo of them both for reference.
Here’s a photo of them both for reference.
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Controversial opinion from me.... Ray can't design a knife for love nor money. He can sell them for sure. But his designs are average at best. And in all fairness, and honesty, he has never actually designed a knife at all. The woodlore was a modified Alan wood (Alans words not mine), and the Pro? Please... He just tried to add some pukkoesque appearance to it. Don't rate either. Sells them with his name, not the knife.
4mm 01 costs around £40 per metre. Thats 4 woody sized knives and maybe a necker. SO less than £10 for steel, Any self respecting maker can do a woodlore sized knife and sheath in a day (assuming they dont outsource work, many do, or are waiting for materials) But still. Stupid prices. Got no time for them. Theres a few other p iss takers who make knives too, who want silly money because they think they can get away with it. Woodlore take the biscuit though. Dont give them your money. You're being milked for a name on a blade, and the guy didnt even know you'd bought one. He's never heard of you. But he'll happily take his cut which is more than a real maker would charge to begin with, for the same or better. Caveat Emptor.
4mm 01 costs around £40 per metre. Thats 4 woody sized knives and maybe a necker. SO less than £10 for steel, Any self respecting maker can do a woodlore sized knife and sheath in a day (assuming they dont outsource work, many do, or are waiting for materials) But still. Stupid prices. Got no time for them. Theres a few other p iss takers who make knives too, who want silly money because they think they can get away with it. Woodlore take the biscuit though. Dont give them your money. You're being milked for a name on a blade, and the guy didnt even know you'd bought one. He's never heard of you. But he'll happily take his cut which is more than a real maker would charge to begin with, for the same or better. Caveat Emptor.
I agree with the sentiment, £800 (just checked, actually £625 still damned expensive) for a “Ray Mears” knife is outrageous, no way I would pay that even if I could afford it. I was, however, relatively happy to pay a tad over £300 for a handmade knife (Nomad Knifeworks Meister). It’s a similar price to knives from other makers and, apart from wishing it had a slightly longer handle, I really like the way it performs- the edge profile, the fine tip. I have quite a few “super steel” knives, stainless steel knives etc. I actually wanted an “old school” knife steel to add to my collection, I grew up with basic carbon steel knives from the early 1900s to the 1940s which were my grandfather’s, I like the way carbon steel patinas over time, so my feelings on the matter are slightly more romanticised than functional.
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Sell that one and commission one that’s the right size?
Going back to answer the original question. The grind height is higher as the blade stock is now 5mm.
I’am far from the expert on knives but I’ve used a Pro for a while, never owned , and i liked and enjoyed it a lot. I think even more than the original Woodlore. Vastly overpriced of course, especially considering the materials used, but very nice to use i thought.
That’s just my opinion.
That’s just my opinion.
I have a 'Pro' and, after some initial enthusiasm, I've found that I simply don't use it. I find the 5mm steel too thick and club-like for my purposes, the blocky ricasso is a pretty pointless obstruction and, frankly, the 'distal taper' makes little difference in prolonged use. I much prefer my Orford Woodlander for most bushcraft-y tasks. If anyone would like my 'Pro', do get in touch and we can discuss it.
I have always wondered why people use bushcraft knives for battening wood why not get a axe why beat the **** out of a knife you spent all that money on for a few bits of fire wood use the knife for what its made for food prep and whittling cutting rope or para cord i made one with a 25 degree bevel works fine for food prep and whittling wood cutting string stuff like that there are lots of makers out there that could make you something that will be just as good . ATB.
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I use mine for batoning because it's fine to do it. Why carry an axe when just a little bit of batoning of your knife will do?
I guess everyone is different when it comes to or not to use knife to do a axe job not saying it is wrong but if you spend a lot of cash on a expensive knife i don't see the point when you can spend £20 to £30 on a machete ATB Buddy .
If batoning is ok with Mors Kochanski then I’m certainly not going to argue against it! I find it works and very useful.
Coming back to the design side, and the presence of the Woodlore has always had me tempted...I missed out on a chance to buy a SWC Woodlore from Rays shop direct at £300 back in 2013, wish I did, but I ended up getting a real Alan Wood from someone here for less, and a better designed knife overall.
To satisfy my Woodlore itch, I bought a Mark Hill version @HillBill your handle is really good on my version.
For me, it's the O1 tool steel is the killer, I prefer a stainless steel (and a high saber grind)...worked with Mark to design my dream blade...in my mind still needs a little improvement, but I will get there.
To satisfy my Woodlore itch, I bought a Mark Hill version @HillBill your handle is really good on my version.
For me, it's the O1 tool steel is the killer, I prefer a stainless steel (and a high saber grind)...worked with Mark to design my dream blade...in my mind still needs a little improvement, but I will get there.
Mears is the reason it’s always been O1. He is still of the opinion that it’s perfect for bushcraft.
