Nice one Martyn and Johnboy. Concur with the above.
I've just ordered a Micarta WS knife today- hopefully will be delivered with the second batch in circa 2 weeks time.
I was tempted to go for the Alan Wood hand made job. However, maybe its my Scots upbringing, but I think a hundred quid is a hell of a lot to spend on a knife, and two hundred is positively mad - unless bushcraft is your number one passion, anyway. Seeing as a mint woodlore knife was just sold for £240 on ebay, I'd be afraid to sharpen it, let alone use it.
Anyway, you don't write off the opinion of folk like Ray Mears easily, and if he's been happy with a design for 12 years (maybe with minor changes, looking at his books?) then I'm happy to rely on that.
Having said that, I made a perfectly functional knife from a ten pound Norwegian blade and a bit of curly birch, despite having no woodwork experience, and maybe after using the WS Micarta for a bit, I might try and make my own 'perfect-for-me' knife.
It's good to own nice things - indeed it's natural for men to like gadgets or tools, just as it is natural to enjoy a real fire or go fishing. Don't fight it. On the other hand, we should never forget that it is the man who owns the tool, and not the other way around.
I've just ordered a Micarta WS knife today- hopefully will be delivered with the second batch in circa 2 weeks time.
I was tempted to go for the Alan Wood hand made job. However, maybe its my Scots upbringing, but I think a hundred quid is a hell of a lot to spend on a knife, and two hundred is positively mad - unless bushcraft is your number one passion, anyway. Seeing as a mint woodlore knife was just sold for £240 on ebay, I'd be afraid to sharpen it, let alone use it.
Anyway, you don't write off the opinion of folk like Ray Mears easily, and if he's been happy with a design for 12 years (maybe with minor changes, looking at his books?) then I'm happy to rely on that.
Having said that, I made a perfectly functional knife from a ten pound Norwegian blade and a bit of curly birch, despite having no woodwork experience, and maybe after using the WS Micarta for a bit, I might try and make my own 'perfect-for-me' knife.
It's good to own nice things - indeed it's natural for men to like gadgets or tools, just as it is natural to enjoy a real fire or go fishing. Don't fight it. On the other hand, we should never forget that it is the man who owns the tool, and not the other way around.