Wilkinson swing lock knife Barry B. Wood system

[Capt. Farrel]

I wasn´t quite sure what I found here and was even a bit hesitant to buy this knife. In the end I was just too curious and pulled the trigger. Today it was in the mail and now I am happy that I bought it. It´s a "Wilkinson Sword Jagdmesser" and it is build like the proverbial tank! I couldn´t even open it for the first minute but than I found out how it works. It´s a large folder with an open length of about 8 2/3 inch.
Although there is a "Rostfrei" and "Patent" stamp on the tank I am not quite sure if it was made in Germany. I found a similar knife on the US Ebay which was made in Italy which seems probable. A sticker on the box is a telltale that it was sold by "Eduard Kettner" which is a large hunting chain store in Germany.

The system seems to be invented by knifemaker Barry B. Wood who passed away in March 2014.

I wonder if anyone of you knowledgeable Gentlemen has more information about this knife?

[Cutty]

Man, I really like that one Capt.

[Capt. Farrel]

Thank you Cutty! It is definitely one of the stranger knives of my little accumulation.

[btrwtr]

Nice looking knife Captain! I haven't seen that folder with the Wilkinson name before. I have an early MK2 Woods knife that isn't as large or streamlined. It doesn't have the nice stag handles either.

There was a company in the early 90's in Italy making Woods type folders under the name Bonanza. You don't see them very often.

Wayne

[zp4ja]

Great looking knife Frank!

Just curious anyone, I did look close at the pics but does the knife have a backspring? I have a CASE Tri-Fold that looks like the action is different from yours but uses no backspring in the design, which I am fascinated by. No backspring to ever break. Just trying to understand the design of the knife.

Jerry

[btrwtr]

Great looking knife Frank!

Just curious anyone, I did look close at the pics but does the knife have a backspring? I have a CASE Tri-Fold that looks like the action is different from yours but uses no backspring in the design, which I am fascinated by. No backspring to ever break. Just trying to understand the design of the knife.

Jerry

Wood design knives have no backsprings. The knife opens like a sideways butterfly and is held either open or closed by frame pressure that pushes a small domed pin on the inside of the frame into a recess perfectly fit for it. You can see the domed pin in Frank's pics. Not sure that is a good explanation but the best I can do.

Wayne

[Capt. Farrel]

You´re right Wayne! I suppose the knife was made by those italian Bonanza guys. I read that the made a bunch of them before they decided that they are too complicated to produce and thus too expensive.
Yeah, no backspring, you just swivel it around the blade pin.

[Capt. Farrel]

Damn, bought another one. Oh well, guess I am addicted......

[Capt. Farrel]

Now that Wayne mentioned the name "Bonanza" I looked for it and found it. Comparing the Wilkinson to the Bonanza I am lead to believe that they both were made by this Italian company in the seventies. The only difference is that the Bonanza has the typical "Barry Wood opening notch" on the back.

In the "Custom Knives" area I show off my Mike Irie Wood knife. Mike Irie is the son in law of the late Barry Wood.

Damn, I have the urge to collect them all.....

[stancaiman]

your knife like this model of Wood (with loveless)

[album]http://www.knifelegends.com/images/Love ... 20MU-w.jpg[/album]

- pic from http://www.knifelegends.com/Loveless%20 ... older.html

personnally, I have a copy from bonanza (but not in the seventies but 80's/90's )

[album]http://stancaiman.free.fr/couteaux/Bonanza11.JPG[/album]

[album]http://stancaiman.free.fr/couteaux/Bonanza14.JPG[/album]

sorry but BBcode [img] is off, it's not a good idea

[Capt. Farrel]

I am not quite sure about the age of my Bonanzas. You might be correct that they are from the eighties or nineties.
Your´s is looking very nice too in Micarta and I am considering this version too.....

Guess I need one from the master himself first.....