Wood Irie & Co.

[FRJ]

Here's a pretty cool knife made by Wood Irie & Co.
It has a split handle for opening. It has very fine tolerances and is beautifully designed and made.
A hefty 5.45oz. -- 4 7/16" closed.

[XX Case XX]

Joe, that's way out. It's not the typical kind of knife I'm used to seeing you post about. Very different. I like the design on that. It's kind of a modern looking style but it also has a "smoothness" about it. Clean lines. Very nice.

___________
Mike

[sunknife]

That split handle design is very unique and unusual, to me anyway, never seen that before. Looks like a big sturdy knife that could pull overtime as a hunting knife, very cool Joe. Are the handles micarta?

[danno50]

Nice knife, Joe! Mike Irie is a custom knifemaker from Colorado. His father in law is Barry Wood, whom he apprenticed under. Barry Wood made knives using the same opening mechanism.

[XX Case XX]

Mike Irie is a custom knifemaker from Colorado. His father in law is Barry Wood, whom he apprenticed under.

I was looking at some Mike Irie Customs the other day. It didn't even dawn on me that this knife had something to do with him. Thanks for that information.

____________
Mike

[FRJ]

Thanks guys, for the nice remarks about this unusual knife.

Greg, yes the handles are Cordovan Linen Micarta.

I think Barry Wood designed the knife and Mike Irie built it. I just recently found info on the internet.
I didn't know Wood was Irie's father in law.

Mike, this is unusual for me but I always appreciate someone putting forth quality work.
This is a very nice knife.

[glennbad]

Nice looking and interesting knife. Thanks for posting it, Joe!

[LongBlade]

Wow - that is different at least to my eye Joe - very cool and looks like a great carry...

[FRJ]

Thanks, Glenn and Lee.

I don't know about carrying it, Lee. I don't want to scratch it.

[doglegg]

Joe, no mater the design, and that one is unusual, quality always rises to the top. Elegant knife, good pick up.

[danno50]

PA Knives posted an older German knife with this opening mechanism quite some time ago in the "Old Unusual Novelty Knives and Secret Knives" thread. In the link below it is near the bottom of page 9 of the thread.

viewtopic.php?f=35&t=13578&hilit=barry+ ... &start=120

[knife7knut]

Although Barry Wood didn't originate the design he popularized it.I believe his first knives of this type came about in the late 1970's. The design goes back much further than that. I have a small advertising knife with a similar mechanism advertising General Electric refrigerators with a 1941 date on the handle. Also have an old floating fish knife from Italy and an old folding letter opener/scissors combination.And probably a couple others I can't remember right now.

[FRJ]

Thanks, Ray.
We would love to see pictures of your earlier examples if you can get them.

Dan, that is a great thread link you put up. Thanks for making that available.
David Anthony showed a neat knife there. Mechanisms very similar to Barry Wood's knife as you suggested.
Thanks again.

[knife7knut]

Thanks, Ray.
We would love to see pictures of your earlier examples if you can get them.

Dan, that is a great thread link you put up. Thanks for making that available.
David Anthony showed a neat knife there. Mechanisms very similar to Barry Wood's knife as you suggested.
Thanks again.

Ask and ye shall receive! The first one is the ad knife for GE refrigerators dated 1941.
Next is a floating fish knife made in Italy by Lunawerk.
Last is a couple of folding letter openers that are double sided.One is a letter opener blade and the other a pair of scissors.One is dated 1953.Will put the pics on a second post.

[knife7knut]

Funny letter openers

[FRJ]

Thanks for showing those unique knives, Ray.
It's nice to see the mechanical connection.
Do you have any makers names on them?

[knife7knut]

Thanks for showing those unique knives, Ray.
It's nice to see the mechanical connection.
Do you have any makers names on them?

The floater was made by Lunawerk Italy
One of the letter openers was made by Executive Italy
The other was by Latama Italy. Likely both were Latama;the Executive looks to be an updated version.
The GE knife had no maker's stamp and I don't recognize the style.

[FRJ]

Thanks Ray, great knives.

[Colonel26]

Joe, that’s a very neat looking knife. Classy in its own way.

[FRJ]

Thank you, Wade.
Glad you like it.