WS closing down, What now for the WS/Woodlore!

[clcuckow]

In the light of Wilkinson Sword Ltd announcment that they are closing the Acton Factory (anouncment below) Does anybody know what is going to happen to the production version of the Woodlore?

I know that it has been out of stock for months but is that going to be then end of them? Are we going to get more ebay madness on the WS as well as the AW model?

Anybody Know?

=====Quote=====

FACTORY CLOSURE

Wilkinson Sword Ltd regrets that after very careful consideration of all alternative options the Company has made the difficult decision to announce that it intends to close its specialist sword-making division in Acton, West London. As a result of falling demand over many years, we have been left with no option but to consider ceasing production of the high quality specialist sword and knife products made by Wilkinson Sword at the end of September 2005. If you have any queries before this date please phone +44 208 749 1061 or for US Callers 1-866 THE SWORD (1-866 843 7967).

Thank you for your interest in Wilkinson Sword.

===============

 

[Graham_S]

woo-hoo!! my micarta woodlore is a collectors item!! evil-bay here i come!!

ahem.

sorry.

 

[Doc]

That is sad news. When the American knife company Schrade closed, the brand name was sold and now 'Schrade' knives are made in China. I hope the same doesn't happen to WS.

I daresay Woodlore will find a new maker. I am sure that WS Woodlore knives will now rocket in value. I wonder how many were made. It might even be the case that there are more Alan Wood than WS versions currently in circulation. Anyone know?

 

[Shing]

It is an extremeley sad day that Wilkinson Sword is closing down. With the closing down of the vast majority of knife makers in Sheffied in previus decades, its definately the end of an era for British knifemaking.

It also make it more likely new more draconian knife and sword legislation because the Govenment won't have high profile British companies protesting about closing down their business and throwing highly skilled and well paid workers out of a job.

 

[mark a.]

Will a WS Woodlore ever fetch more than an Alan Wood one? I would have thought that there's a certain caché about individual hand-made knives vs a "factory-built" equivalent that would ensure that the AW is always more expensive, no matter how "rare" the others become.

I don't think WS will follow the Schrade example. From the announcement it looks like just the swords and knives are going, whereas the WS brand will live on with their razors, garden tools etc.

 

[BorderReiver]

Hey it's sad but there are a LOT of skilled craftsmen making custom knives at least as good as Woodlores for a lot less money.

Try looking round, you will be surprised and delighted by what's out there.

 

[eraaij]

Yup, bad news.

I hope that they can relocate the people from that factory. For us it is just a matter of looking elsewere for a good knife. For them, it is a job.

-Emile

 

[mark a.]

Yup, bad news.

I hope that they can relocate the people from that factory. For us it is just a matter of looking elsewere for a good knife. For them, it is a job.

-Emile

A very good point.

 

[Hoodoo]

Very sad. I wish the workers there the best of luck. I have two WS Woodlores, both of which I consider excellent knives. When a company can make knives that well, it's hard to understand how they can go under. Yet we tend to foget that most people buy el cheapo knives and don't have the foggiest notion of what is good or junk. It's a Ginsu world our there.

 

[clcuckow]

Very sad. I wish the workers there the best of luck. I have two WS Woodlores, both of which I consider excellent knives. When a company can make knives that well, it's hard to understand how they can go under. Yet we tend to foget that most people buy el cheapo knives and don't have the foggiest notion of what is good or junk. It's a Ginsu world our there.

It is probably that there razor blade biz is under pressure from gillet and the can no longer support there sword and knife biz.

 

[dtalbot]

Hey it's sad but there are a LOT of skilled craftsmen making custom knives at least as good as Woodlores for a lot less money.

Try looking round, you will be surprised and delighted by what's out there.

Yep,
British Blades is a good place to start looking, I can think of at least half a dozen makers over there (and this is just the ones whoes work I have seen) at least as good as AW (and he is very good!).
Very sad that Wilkinsons Sword is giving up manufacture though.

 

[arctic hobo]

What's going to happen to the regimental swords etc? Can't imagine them sourcing those from China.

 

[ilovemybed]

What's going to happen to the regimental swords etc? Can't imagine them sourcing those from China.

I believe that there's a statute saying all military arms must be sourced from within the UK. Someone more military will be able to add more detail? I have heard stories that this is the biggest reason we keep RO Radway Green going rather than outsourcing.
Dunno if that stretches to swords though.

 

[jamesdevine]

I first must state I known nothing as fact, but why would they contiue making the regimental swords. They are no long active battle kit so the current stock would do for all ceramonial usage. If one was need it would be hand made by a craftsman for that specific person or occasion.

It is a shame to see WS go and always a shame to see people losing there jobs. Never a happy thing to have happen too and I wish them all the best of look in there futures.

James

 

[arctic hobo]

In much the same way as the samurai sword business is big, people collect them. And they are good looking pieces of kit

 

[swamp donkey]

Now I am not a knife person I prefer scissors . But it seems to me that the growth of high quality knife makers and indeed sword makers is what has done for WS . If you look on this site and sites like it. you see great makers all the time . If you then look in the re enactment field there are a whole bunch of high quality knife and sword makers and even armour makers. So I dont see how WS can compete the market is not that big.
Any way the woodlore is just a knife,one of many. But as I said a pair of tough cut scissors has served me well for the last 20 years. and only cost £2.99
Please dont burn me as a heritic

 

[Beakytzw]

What's going to happen to the regimental swords etc? Can't imagine them sourcing those from China.

QMs' Dept holds a small amount of swords for Ceremonial duties, Officers no longer need to purchase their own Which is a real shame since this leads to less demand and the likes of wilkinson sword closing down.

When one needs replacing then I would guess they outsource to a decent blacksmith/manufacturer within the UK.

 

[Motorbike Man]

Out of curiosity, I fired off a question to Woodlore and the reply was that they have new stock coming in October(ish) so I guess they either had some ones that WS had to finish off, or they have a new supplier

 

[JonathanD]

We'rnt they trying to source a Swedish manufacturer to make the Woodlore? It would make sense that they would know about WS shutting up shop months back, this would have given them plenty of time to find another company to take over production. And with Christmas around the corner they would be moving fast with this.

 

[Andy]

shame they wont be made in the UK anymore