I bought this knife after seeing it at the KNIVESUK show in Bristol. I purchased it and collected it from Pauls workshop in Stroud. I've had it a while now so heres a small review.
*- Photo's are in Image Shack - you'll see a bigger and better quality pic. Can you believe I took these photo's on a Sony mobile phone!!! -*
It's the 'Outback' model, designed specifically for Bushcraft - standard design really.
Included is a good wet moulded leather belt sheath.
It's got a tiger maple wood handle, brass bolts and has 01carbon tool steel.
The knife is handmade by Paul from his home/ workshop in Stroud. It's your standard Bushcraft knife really - very similar to a Woodlore.
The blade is 4 ¼" long, as is the handle - 8 ½" overall. Personally the length of the handle is perfect and very comfortable. The wood has been shaped so well you cannot feel the spine of the blade whatsoever.
The grind is a little small (width wise) to what I'm used to in Swedish knife grinds (being quite wide), so I've had a little trouble sharpening it - it seem to have a slight convex, even though its a flat grind.
The overall finish is excellent. The tiger maple is beautiful, top grade wood (get it at the right angle and it really shows off its stripes), the bolts and lanyard hole are solid brass, also fixed and shaped so well you can't feel them. The carbon steel blade has a brushed finish, and the cutting edge polished. And finally the makers mark and logo - which finishes off the knife well.
In use, it is very comfortable to hold, in all positions. When cutting - as I said I'm used to Swedish blades - you do have to tilt it forward a little more in order for it to bite. The spine of the blade is rough - perfect for the use with a firesteel, which works brilliantly.
The leather sheath I wouldn't say is as good a quality as the knife, but is to be expected as this is a professional knife maker, not a leather worker. But still very good, and I understand is better then they have been in previous years.
It has good thick leather, dyed nicely and wet moulded. The stitching not great, but ok. It also has a firesteel holder, again using very thick leather, so origionally looked like it could only take a mini steel. But with a bit of encouragement I managed to shove in a larger steel, hence the now option to invert it (as pictured).
It's still not cheap, at £165 but its well worth it if you want a good reliable Bushcraft knife. And you get to make up your own specifications for no extra cost. I got it a little cheaper than this, as I didn't get to choose any options - it was already made up.
So, overall a very good and very impressivley handmade Bushcraft knife and highly recommended. Why bother with a Woodlore, with the stupidly long waiting list, no different handle wood options and with the money you save you could buy yourself another Swanndri...
BushmanUK.co.uk
Any questions or want more pics...?
*- Photo's are in Image Shack - you'll see a bigger and better quality pic. Can you believe I took these photo's on a Sony mobile phone!!! -*
It's the 'Outback' model, designed specifically for Bushcraft - standard design really.
Included is a good wet moulded leather belt sheath.
It's got a tiger maple wood handle, brass bolts and has 01carbon tool steel.
The knife is handmade by Paul from his home/ workshop in Stroud. It's your standard Bushcraft knife really - very similar to a Woodlore.
The blade is 4 ¼" long, as is the handle - 8 ½" overall. Personally the length of the handle is perfect and very comfortable. The wood has been shaped so well you cannot feel the spine of the blade whatsoever.
The grind is a little small (width wise) to what I'm used to in Swedish knife grinds (being quite wide), so I've had a little trouble sharpening it - it seem to have a slight convex, even though its a flat grind.
The overall finish is excellent. The tiger maple is beautiful, top grade wood (get it at the right angle and it really shows off its stripes), the bolts and lanyard hole are solid brass, also fixed and shaped so well you can't feel them. The carbon steel blade has a brushed finish, and the cutting edge polished. And finally the makers mark and logo - which finishes off the knife well.
In use, it is very comfortable to hold, in all positions. When cutting - as I said I'm used to Swedish blades - you do have to tilt it forward a little more in order for it to bite. The spine of the blade is rough - perfect for the use with a firesteel, which works brilliantly.
The leather sheath I wouldn't say is as good a quality as the knife, but is to be expected as this is a professional knife maker, not a leather worker. But still very good, and I understand is better then they have been in previous years.
It has good thick leather, dyed nicely and wet moulded. The stitching not great, but ok. It also has a firesteel holder, again using very thick leather, so origionally looked like it could only take a mini steel. But with a bit of encouragement I managed to shove in a larger steel, hence the now option to invert it (as pictured).
It's still not cheap, at £165 but its well worth it if you want a good reliable Bushcraft knife. And you get to make up your own specifications for no extra cost. I got it a little cheaper than this, as I didn't get to choose any options - it was already made up.
So, overall a very good and very impressivley handmade Bushcraft knife and highly recommended. Why bother with a Woodlore, with the stupidly long waiting list, no different handle wood options and with the money you save you could buy yourself another Swanndri...
BushmanUK.co.uk
Any questions or want more pics...?
