Why no Production Skookum Bushtool

[Danceswithhelicopters]

As per the title, why is there no standard production model Skookum from one of the big makers?

All versions are of the handmade or boutique maker types with many custom choices but no Benchmade or Kershaw version made en - masse of an acceptable steel, plain jane handle materials and a passable approximation of the neck sheath.

Is it a lack of exposure or demand-or even a patent issue?

For that matter why no production Woodlore that is at an acceptable price like the old Wilkinson Sword micarta ones?

I know there are close approximations but no exact copies.

I, for one, would like to see the prices, and availability, of the bushcraft classics (I'll add in the Spyderco Bushcrafter) be brought further down on the field usability scale and not the collectable icons brought out for worship.

I started off mentioning the Skookum as it seems to fit my criteria for an outdoor fixed blade.

 

[Herman30]

Merely my own opinion; I would never buy such a knife. It´s one of the most boring and unapealing knifemodels I have ever seen. Even the old school red painted woodhandle Mora is more appealing. Perhaps because it was my first knife as a little boy.

 

[Erbswurst]

Isn't the Casström Lars Fält knive a mass produced Woodlore?

https://www.casstrom.com/knives/fixed-blad/casstrom-lars-falt-knife.html

Casström Lars Fält Knife bushcraft knife Curly Birch, Sleipner, right-handed

Handle/blade: curly birch/Sleipner Blade length: 11.5 cm Weight: 170 grams

www.knivesandtools.com

 

[C_Claycomb]

I think there are several factors when it comes to the Skookum. There is some overlap with the Woodlore, but not all the same.

Before a big manufacturer makes a knife they want to understand what the knife is for and how it is meant to work. "Bushcraft" is such a nebulous idea that it can be hard to explain it to people who are steeped in the ideas of using knives for hunting, defence, general utility and camping. Mors is gone and the people that know most about his ideas on knives are people who have been making them, like Rod Garcia. A company would need someone with that knowledge to work with them.

If a company approached me and asked me to help them do a Skookum, I would be reluctant. It is Mors' ideas and Rod's design and any manufacturing should benefit them.

Knife shapes cannot be patented, so that would not be a sticking point.

When Spyderco set out to do the BushcraftUK knife, they talked about the challenge of shaping the handle, and of getting the blade grind right. Now of course Mora prove that you can crank out Scandi grinds, so how hard can it be....but if your process for all other production is aimed at secondary bevels at 40deg TIA, doing a big bevel zero edge at 24deg is a challenge.

Benchmade do a Bushcrafter. It has a sabre grind and a steep secondary bevel. Same with their Puukko and Leuku. The handle on their bushcrafter is really blocky and they used S30V steel, which is not a particularly good choice for a bushcraft knife due to less than stellar edge stability at low angles. It looks as if they do not "get" what a bushcraft knife should do. Too far removed from the norm.

 

[Erbswurst]

I think the Condor Woodlaw is a Skookum Bush Tool copy for the common man.
You also can get just the blade and shape the handle yourself it's even polished.
So far I understood the steel is rather soft but otherwise the owners seem to like them.

Condor Tool & Knife CTK248-4HC Woodlaw - Leather Sheath

Country Knives carries the largest online and in-store selection of knives and all things cutlery. Learn more about Condor Tool & KnifeCTK248-4HCWoodlaw - Leather Sheath.

www.countryknives.com

Knife Specifications
(Makers description)

knife length
SBT 8.5 inches / 21,5 cm
Woodlaw 8.6 inches / 21,8 cm

blade width
SBT 1 inch / 2,6 cm
Woodlaw 1 inch / 2,6 cm
(Source for Woodlaw is Knives & Tools)

blade length
SBT 4.25 inches / 10,5 cm
Woodlaw 4 inches / 10,14 cm

blade thickness
SBT 0.125 inches / 3 mm
Woodlaw 0,1 inches / 3 mm

handle length
SBT 4.25 inches / 10.5 cm
Woodlaw 4.6 inches / 11,66 cm

handle width
SBT 1.125 inches / 2.85 cm
Woodlaw 1 inch / 2,6 cm (seems so)

handle thickness
SBT 0.85 inches / 2.2 cm
Woodlaw ?

knife weight
SBT 6.4 oz. / 185 g
Woodlaw 7,4 oz. / 210 g

sheath weight
SBT 2.8 oz / 80 g
Woodlaw ?



Condor Woodlaw:
Material: 1075 High Carbon Steel
Handle: Micarta®
Sheath: Hand Crafted Welted Leather


What I can't find are the sharpening angles.
It would be very interesting if they are (nearly) identic too.

 

[eraaij]

As per the title, why is there no standard production model Skookum from one of the big makers?

All versions are of the handmade or boutique maker types with many custom choices but no Benchmade or Kershaw version made en - masse of an acceptable steel, plain jane handle materials and a passable approximation of the neck sheath.

Is it a lack of exposure or demand-or even a patent issue?

For that matter why no production Woodlore that is at an acceptable price like the old Wilkinson Sword micarta ones?

I know there are close approximations but no exact copies.

I, for one, would like to see the prices, and availability, of the bushcraft classics (I'll add in the Spyderco Bushcrafter) be brought further down on the field usability scale and not the collectable icons brought out for worship.

I started off mentioning the Skookum as it seems to fit my criteria for an outdoor fixed blade.

The American Knife Company produced a poorly attempted copy once. I think they were one of Mike Stewarts companies (of Bark River 'fame'). That guy is really in the business of ripping of other peoples designs. Not sure they still exist: blog with review.

 

[Erbswurst]

So far I understood the Ka-Bar BK62
is apart from the handle screws a 100% copy of the original Kephart knife.

KA-BAR BK62 Kephart bushcraft knife

Handle/blade: walnut wood/1095 carbon steel Blade length: 12.9 cm Weight: 160 grams

www.knivesandtools.com

And it's not the only one.

 

[Erbswurst]

If you pay attention you will find that everybody said, that the classical woodhandle Mora knives weren't far away from being the optimal survival knives if they would have a thicker blade and full tang construction. You actually find videos where you see Mors Kochanski using them.

You can find at YouTube videos where Paul Kirtley and Dave Canterbury recommend the Morakniv Garberg.

It's cheap and fulfills the specifications that peple were asking for.
Although it's a hidden tang it's also a full tang.
The Nylon handle is unbreakable.
It nearly fits the specifications the Swedish air force did ask for when they ordered the Fällkniven F1. The blade is just a bit thinner but made of a very good steel.

That's in my opinion exactly the knife all experts were asking for over decades.

Morakniv Garberg with Leather Sheath (S) - Black | Morakniv

This is a powerful outdoor full tang knife for challenging situations. The ergonomic barrel-shaped polymer handle features a friction grip, a finger guard, and a 3.2 mm thick blade made of recycled Swedish stainless steel.

morakniv.se

And what Brisa and Caström mainly offer fulfills these specifications as well.

 

[Erbswurst]

Another one is the Helle Temagami.

Temagami 14C28N – Limited Edition – Design by Les Stroud – "Only a few – Helle Europe

The Limited Edition Temagami 14C28N celebrates a 10 year long collaboration between Helle Knives and Les Stroud. Temagami is a state-of-the-art outdoor knife and the first full tang knife made by Helle, combining the knowledge of knife use by a true outdoorsman and the history and craftmanship...

eu.helle.com

 

[weekender]

RJ Evans makes a lovely bushtool which is his interpretation of the skookum. And a really nice and capable knife it is.


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[Kadushu]

Oddly enough, this evening I've been looking through Joker's knife range for a woodlore copy. The Ember and Nordico are in the ballpark but not quite as acute.

 

[C_Claycomb]

They also don't have the same level of ergonomic sculpting on the handle as the Alan Wood.

 

[eraaij]

Ah Woodloress.. Here is one in Bohlers K720/O2 by Adam Kornalski.. link

 

[lostplanet]

Ah Woodloress.. Here is one in Bohlers K720/O2 by Adam Kornalski.. link

What a beauty. that really is very nice.

 

[Tiley]

RJ Evans makes a lovely bushtool which is his interpretation of the skookum. And a really nice and capable knife it is.


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+1

It is strange that, for two knives so similar in appearance, they behave very differently.

 

[Erbswurst]

Do you own both?

 

[weekender]

I have a woodlore and a RJ Evans bushtool. And I find Robs knife the nicer knife to use for long periods.


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[Tiley]

Do you own both?

I do. I am lucky enough to have two of Rod Garcia's Skookums, one in 01, the other in S30V, and one of Rob Evans's bushtools in 52100. As I said, they behave differently, though whether that's due to the grind or the steel, I don't know.

 

[C_Claycomb]

I have tried Skookums belonging to friends, then tried a Rob Evans Bushtool, also a friend's. If I used the same grip and motion (to carve wood) with the Bushtool that I used with the Skookum, the blade slid out of the cut without biting. There was definitely a difference in profile geometry.

 

[Tiley]

That mirrors my experience when carving wood and is good to know. Thank you!