End of the line for AW Woodlore?

[JonathanD]

I have had two people mention in the last week or so, that after the next batch of Alan Wood Woodlore knives are completed, there will be no more. Apparently the waiting time is now so ridiculous that you would be quicker ordering a Rolex Daytona.

Has Woodlore found a new source for factory/handmade Woodlores that will incorporate Rays new branding, or is AW just fed up of making the same knife which puts his direct customer base on a backburner while he produces new batches? The orders for his own Bushcrafter design are gaining every year, and he is in direct competition with his own knife made for another company. Seems very daft. Especially when they sell for silly prices on the second hand market.

Does anyone have any further news on this rumour?

 

[Draven]

Wouldn't surprise me at all, I thought he had stopped already tbh.

still, if he made himself a spare dozen or so, he'd stand to make a fortune on eBay, especially if production ceases. Prices are already pretty damn high, now they'll probably skyrocket.

 

[Shing]

I would be surprised if Woodlore has trouble finding other makers for its knives. There seems to be plenty of makers making that style of knife, some of the ones I have seen as good as the Woodlores. Maybe the problem lies in what the makers want to be paid. It looks like the going rate for a good Woodlore style starts at around £100 on Ebay and some a lot more.

I'm surprised Woodlore seems rather slow in getting knives into customers' hands. It can only result in other makers filling the market and customers going to them.

 

[JonathanD]

I'm surprised Woodlore seems rather slow in getting knives into customers' hands. It can only result in other makers filling the market and customers going to them.

Maybe that's just it, the design is a victim of it's own success. Looks like people now are just buying them for resale or as collectors pieces and very few are being bought for genuine use. By offering a cheaper alternative as a factory made version, and maybe a handmade version too as they did with Wilkinson Sword, they would be huge sellers. I can't see Woodlore making a vast profit on the Alan Wood version, available to them in very small quantities once every 18 months. Another factory version would be a great profit maker for them.

 

[leon-1]

I can't see Woodlore making a vast profit on the Alan Wood version

That is very dependant on how much Alan is being paid by woodlore, it may not be that much.

Rays best bet would be to order a load from Alan and then sell them on e-bay, he would probably double the retail price of the knife straight away and he would make a killing.

 

[ArkAngel]

<Polite cough>

Mr Shing sir, you seem to make some superb knives (indead SWMBO is buying me one of your kits for x-mas....hopefully) do you not fancy making a little phone call to Mr Mears/Woodlore to offer your increadable service!?

:notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy :notworthy

 

[JonathanD]

That is very dependant on how much Alan is being paid by woodlore, it may not be that much.

If that's the case, maybe it is AW that has decided enough is enough, and time to put his own customers first.

 

[leon-1]

If that's the case, maybe it is AW that has decided enough is enough, and time to put his own customers first.

I would think this is more likely the case, whether Ray is getting a lot or a little it is still a succesfull product line and nobody bins a good product.

I seem to recall someone saying that if you gave AW £150 to make you a knife the quality would be far better than a woodlore because Alan has more money to spend on materials.

This to me means that Alan is probably working for a much reduced profit margin and at reasonably high volume. I would think that he would be sick to death of the sight of the Woodlore knife by now and money would be a very large contributing factor to cease production.

 

[Snufkin]

I would think this is more likely the case, whether Ray is getting a lot or a little it is still a succesfull product line and nobody bins a good product.

I seem to recall someone saying that if you gave AW £150 to make you a knife the quality would be far better than a woodlore because Alan has more money to spend on materials.

This to me means that Alan is probably working for a much reduced profit margin and at reasonably high volume. I would think that he would be sick to death of the sight of the Woodlore knife by now and money would be a very large contributing factor to cease production.

Especially when he can compare what he gets for each knife and what they go for on ebay.

 

[leon-1]

Especially when he can compare what he gets for each knife and what they go for on ebay.

That's a very good point, but Alan probably has a contract that will not allow him as the manufacturer to sell actual Woodlores via any other outlet other than the Woodlore site. Some form of clause in the contract that requires excluseivity on his behalf for this specific model of knife.

If that is the case I would not buy one on principle even if I liked the knife (I am not a fan).

 

[Shing]

thanks ArkAngel, I did contact a local provider of bushcraft courses about it but they said they had a friend who would make some knives for them and I haven't heard since.

I think it would provide a good steady income for those makers specialising in that pattern but I would not like to do it myself because I like to do a lot of different styles and change what I do. Making 100 identical knives would be rather tedious for me.

 

[mark wood]

I live reasonably near to Alan (Greenhead is about 45 mins from Newcastle) and have visited him a couple of times. He told me he was making 300 knives a year for Ray. Never mind the sales, it must be tedious as hell!

Mark

 

[JonathanD]

300 knives!!!! That's nearly one a day. That simply can't be right, it means five orders are placed every single week Actually more than that because supply is less than demand with these things, the mind boggles. Why are we not seeing more on eBay?

 

[demographic]

I live reasonably near to Alan (Greenhead is about 45 mins from Newcastle) and have visited him a couple of times. He told me he was making 300 knives a year for Ray. Never mind the sales, it must be tedious as hell!

Mark

He lives at Greenhead?

Close enough to Carlisle

I wonder if he does courses...

 

[Wayne]

After owning a woodlore I would not buy another knife from Alan. 12 months late yet he finds time to do his own project knives. I think thats just poor customer service.

The finish on the knife was poor more like an apprentice peice than the work of a craftsman. I did make a profit when I sold it though so I cant complain.

As a user it was a good enough knife but for £200 there are a lot better knives out there. Alan may be bored with making them but they pay the mortage and have made him him a houshold name.

 

[wizard]

I have never actually handled an AW Woodlore, seen them on Ray's TV shows and online. Sad that there is such a demand and not enough supply. But with the demand being what it is and the production not able to keep up, seems like quality is suffering.
I am more than pleased with my Stewart Marsh knives, super quality and you can tell there is a lot of attention to detail.

 

[Squidders]

I took delivery of a nice new AW Woodlore knife about a month ago. I cannot fault the fit and finish of the knife. My only niggle (and it's a tiny one) is that the birdseye maple, didn't have a lot of birdseye. Other than that, I love it to bits.

I placed the order so long ago, I can't remember when... I didn't worry about the long wait and just got on with my life.

I have a few very nice knives now, they're all users and I love using them all equally... some more equally than others

 

[Ahjno]

He lives at Greenhead?

Close enough to Carlisle

I wonder if he does courses...

He doesn't
You haven't read BCUK magazine #2, have you?

 

[Klenchblaize]

As far as I’m concerned the sooner Mr. Wood stops making the RM knife and picks up my Damascus & ramshorn for an 'interesting' two-knife Loveless set the better! This may also be very good news for those of us with an AW woodlore-style piece as it is still only those knives with Ray’s logo that fetch the big money as far as I can tell.

Now, who will start the bidding on this fine copy!!

Cheers

 

[wizard]

That's a beauty! Very nice knife. Cheers