Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

The Northwoods Knife brand name originated in Gladstone, Michigan when a man named Dave Shirley adopted it as his knife company's name in 2004. Dave was well known for collaborating with popular knife companies to have knives made to his specifications for resale well before 2004 & beyond. KnivesShipFree bought Northwoods from Dave & has continued to team up with respected makers to produce knives marked with the Northwoods brand name.
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dweb1897
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Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by dweb1897 »

If you own one or a bunch, post a pic of your favorite. I'm not all that familiar with the models so how about including that info as well. ::tu::

If I was going to call a knife sexy, this would be the one.
Northwoods Willamete Whittler
NORTHWOODS WILLAMETE WHITTLER.jpg
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jerryd6818
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by jerryd6818 »

I have to agree with you Doug. The Willamette Whittler is sleek, slender and easy on the eye and that is the definition of sexy in any language you can think of. I really like the one Greg gave to me, a lot.

But as much as I like my other two, I think my English Jack is nearest and dearest to my heart. It was my first and will always be my favorite.
Attachments
Northwoods English Jack Smooth Red Bone.jpg
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gsmith7158
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by gsmith7158 »

Jerryd that is really a nice one. Do you recall when that one was made?
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wazu013
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by wazu013 »

This is my one and only Northwoods. It's called Broadway Jack No EO with pre-ban Ivory scales. This one's a little unique because it doesn't have the Easy Open feature that was added to later batches.
DSCN1413.JPG
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by jerryd6818 »

gsmith7158 wrote:Jerryd that is really a nice one. Do you recall when that one was made?
Didn't pay attention to those sorts of thing when I got it in July of 2012. They didn't fly off the shelves back then so it could have been as early as 2011? ::shrug::
Forged on the anvil of discipline.
The Few. The Proud.
Jerry D.

This country has become more about sub-groups than about it's unity as a nation.

"The #72 pattern has got to be pretty close to the perfect knife."
--T.J. Murphy 2012
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by gsmith7158 »

jerryd6818 wrote:
gsmith7158 wrote:Jerryd that is really a nice one. Do you recall when that one was made?
Didn't pay attention to those sorts of thing when I got it in July of 2012. They didn't fly off the shelves back then so it could have been as early as 2011? ::shrug::
Thanks Jerryd! It's unusual with that blade complement. I like it! ::tu::
wazu013 wrote:This is my one and only Northwoods. It's called Broadway Jack No EO with pre-ban Ivory scales. This one's a little unique because it doesn't have the Easy Open feature that was added to later batches.
DSCN1413.JPG
Wazu that's a real looker and ivory to boot! A keeper I would say!
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RalphAlsip
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by RalphAlsip »

My favorite Northwoods patterns (so far :) ) are the Presidential and the Fremont Jack. This picture is the Presidential in mammoth made by GEC. It has a slim profile and is 4" closed. I hope they make another run of these.
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Northwoods Presidential
Northwoods Presidential
Northwoods Presidential
Northwoods Presidential
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

I think the English Jack is from Dave Shirley's ownership, so before ~ 2008.
kj
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steve99f
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by steve99f »

Great looking Northwoods guys.

Any hint of blade rub on that Presidential Jerry? That must ride in the pocket well being that thin. Beautiful knife. ::tu::
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by MITCH RAPP »

8) All my Northwoods Knives are the older Dave Shirley creations.
Attachments
NORTHWOOD STAG GUNSTOCK.jpg
Northwoods Faux Tortoise Shell Swing Guard.jpg
NORTHWOODS GUNSTOCK DARK RED JIGGED BONE.jpg
NORTHWOODS GUNSTOCK DARK RED JIGGED BONE.jpg (14.46 KiB) Viewed 8679 times
Northwoods Gunstock Pre-Ban Elephant Ivory.jpg
Northwoods Pre-Ban Elephant Ivory Swing Guard.jpg
Northwoods Pre-Ban Elephant Ivory Swing Guard.jpg (29.85 KiB) Viewed 8679 times
Northwoods Pre-ban IvoryMountainMan 1of2.jpg
NORTHWOODS SAMBAR STAG LARGE STOCKMAN.jpg
NORTHWOODS SLIM JACK TRAPPER RED JIGGED BONE.jpg
NORTHWOODS STAG LARGE STOCKMAN.jpg
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XX Case XX
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by XX Case XX »

MITCH RAPP wrote:8) All my Northwoods Knives are the older Dave Shirley creations.
Wow Mitch, those are some very beautiful knives. My oh my... ::nod::

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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by MITCH RAPP »

8) Thanks Mike ::tu:: Also I see you are in Cali like me. These forest fires here this year are totally out of control, the likes of which I have never seen before.
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by QTCut5 »

I'm glad that I got these when I did, when a guy could take some time to really look at a knife (and agonize over whether or not to fork over $300) before buying it, unlike the feeding-frenzy lolly-scramble that happens with each new Northwoods release today. And, I haven't even had these all that long...a couple of years at most; my how things have changed.
My favorite of the bunch is the Hawthorne Jack (center).
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

QT, can you name your ivory Northwoods ? i get the names mixed up. Is the trapper one a Hawthorne ? i thought ivory was d/c'd prior to Hawthorne ?
kj
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

Mitch, your knives are Awesome ! Especially the 3 with ivory, superb knives !!
Is there a name for the ivory lockback ? i want one of these !
i don't usually use "!" but here i really am impressed !
kj
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by QTCut5 »

Yes, KJ, that is correct.

From Left to Right: Broadway Jack, Fremont Jack, Hawthorne Jack, Willamette Whittler, Indian River Jack

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We are all just prisoners here of our own device.
In the master's chamber they gather for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast.
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MITCH RAPP
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by MITCH RAPP »

kootenay joe wrote:Mitch, your knives are Awesome ! Especially the 3 with ivory, superb knives !!
Is there a name for the ivory lockback ? i want one of these !
i don't usually use "!" but here i really am impressed !
kj
Thanks KJ! ::tu:: The lock back is a Mountain Man. Similar to the Queen Mountain Man Knives. Bought this one from AAPK member Sunburst. (Ralph). He does not post here very often anymore.
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

Thanks QT & Mitch.
The Broadway Jack & Michigan Jack are both sleeveboard EO Jacks only 1/8" difference at 3 1/2" & 3 5/8" respectively.
I thought i had a Michigan Jack but i can't find it.
I am now officially on the lookout for the Northwoods Mountain Man with ivy handles.
kj
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

Here are my Northwoods. I will show them individually maybe in dedicated pattern threads.
pics are grouped: ivory/mammoth/other
kj
Attachments
Norfolk/N.Whittler/Fremont/Broadway Jack x 2
Norfolk/N.Whittler/Fremont/Broadway Jack x 2
D.S. 3 1/4"/Lincoln/Willamette Whittler/Esky Zulu/Presidential
D.S. 3 1/4"/Lincoln/Willamette Whittler/Esky Zulu/Presidential
Bear Lake Jack/Indian River Jack
Bear Lake Jack/Indian River Jack
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QTCut5
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by QTCut5 »

kootenay joe wrote: The Broadway Jack & Michigan Jack are both sleeveboard EO Jacks only 1/8" difference at 3 1/2" & 3 5/8" respectively.
kj
That is interesting to know...I had always wondered if there was a difference between the two. I just figured they were different names for the same knife, but the Broadway was made when KSF was still in OR and they changed the name when they moved their HQ to MI.

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We are all just prisoners here of our own device.
In the master's chamber they gather for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast.
(Eagles: Hotel California)


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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by kootenay joe »

The info at KSF does not give a length for the Broadway, even in Derrick's video, but i measure my 2 at exactly 3 1/2".
The Michigan Jack is stated as 3 5/8" at KSF, but i do not have one to double check this as correct. Likely it is.
kj
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by gsmith7158 »

Bravo! Quite a show Roland. ::tu::
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by QTCut5 »

You really hit the motherlode with your beautiful Northwoods knives, KJ...especially those two Norfolk Whittlers...very nice.

Interestingly, when compared side-by-side, the Queen-made IRJ is a noticeably lower quality build than the GEC-made Northwoods. Don't get me wrong, it's still better than most of my other Queen/S&M knives in overall quality (could just be the feel of the mammoth ivory that makes it seem slightly better), but the GEC-made knives are simply better made knives. All, that is, except for the Willamette Whittler, which seems more like a Queen built knife to me. I don't know who made the WW, but after extensive comparison of all of mine, I would guess it was a Queen build, not GEC. Does anyone know who made the Willamette Whittler?

~Q~
We are all just prisoners here of our own device.
In the master's chamber they gather for the feast.
They stab it with their steely knives but they just can't kill the beast.
(Eagles: Hotel California)


~Q~
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by Railsplitter »

QTCut5 wrote: Does anyone know who made the Willamette Whittler?
~Q~
I can't say for sure but it looks like the GEC #38 frame.
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381315-OLD-GREEN-JIG1.jpg
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Re: Post your Favorite Northwoods Knife

Post by XX Case XX »

MITCH RAPP wrote:8) Thanks Mike ::tu:: Also I see you are in Cali like me. These forest fires here this year are totally out of control, the likes of which I have never seen before.
Yes. This time was really bad. Fortunately, we're a little bit away from all that but close enough to catch the smoke and haze. Feel really bad for all those who lost homes, vehicles, pets, and livestock. Very sad. And some of them are still going. We need rain.

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