All About Pocket Knives

gsmith7158 wrote:Here are a few new arrivals for me.

Greg, nice variety of early Northwoods.

RalphAlsip wrote:

gsmith7158 wrote:Here are a few new arrivals for me.

Greg, nice variety of early Northwoods.

Thanks Jerry!

"The muskrat, trapper and stockman came from the same guy"
And, all made by Queen in early 2000's ? Or were some Northwoods made before 2000 ?
If you have the same pattern but branded "Queen" it would be interesting to compare with a Northwoods to see if any differences exist with fit & finish.
kj

KJ...here is one 7- 10 years before Northwoods came about....
its when Dave started getting serious about making knives.....
Its his Bowie Corp. of Okemos Michigan, before Dave moved up too the
UP and started Northwoods app. 2003-4
This one was made app. early 1990's...if I remember correct, (ain't easy sometime)
Dave had the fixed blades Blanked at Queen, then they finished em up in Okemos
I actually spoke in person with him a couple times yrs ago..he was quite the knife guy !!!

Stag
http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/stagman

Good looking knife !
"Bowie Corp. of Okemos Michigan" is a new one to me. I will be on the look out for one of these knives.
kj

Here's a Dave Shirley Mammoth Coke Bottle Pattern Made in 2002 Marbles. I know it's not Northwoods but a Shirley

Look thru some old Knife World Publications and this is what Dave Shirley's I found . Some are duplicates but you can see some of the Different Patterns that was available . The Scagel line was Northwood also

A few more

One more Looks like the Stag's were 1 of 200 & Mammoth was 1 of 50 just what one ad stated .
This one is 1 of 100
Gary

Wow, Gary, thanks for posting so much Dave Shirley & Northwoods information. Flyers are how to ID for sure and to date the knives.
Are all of his Fixed Blades 'semi custom', i.e. made in a small shop with a few knife makers, grinding blades & building knives ?
Or, were some factory made by Queen ? or even offshore blades made into completed knives ?
Did Queen make the mammoth Swell Center Folding Hunter ?
kj

KJ all the info I posted came from 2005 to 2009 . I read (can't remember where at this minute ) that Queen furnished the blanks and that in his shop in Mich. Northwoods were made . He was big friends with Mike Stewart who heads Bark River after selling Bowie Corp in 2004 Stewart is the one that came up with the name Northwoods . Dave started making copies of Scagel Knives for Northwoods . All American Made . If you look at the Northwoods Fixed Blade and the Bark River they have a lot in common, which would make me think Bark River may have furnished the Fixed Blades . Hopeful someone with more knowledge with clear this up . I will keep looking to see if I can find out more info but for now we may be able to start a list of patterns, that can be added to from time to time when more pattern appear . P.S. Queen May have made them all ?????
Gary

Mike Stewart worked for Dave Shirley from about 1998 to 2002 making fixed blade knives. After leaving Northwoods (Dave Shirley) operation, Mike started Bark River Knife & Tool Co. Hence the knives look very similar because they were designed by the same person, Mike Stewart.
I had one of the Northwoods fixed blades made by Mike and it looks and feels exactly like a Bark River knife.
kj

A New Dave Shirley Gunstock Pick up from the Dalton Knife Show

Here's a new one for me. I picked this one up on Sunday.

Greg, your Shirlbey Northwoods lockback trapper is a beauty. If I am not mistaken it is based on a Queen Mountain Man pattern.

RalphAlsip wrote:Greg, your Shirlbey Northwoods lockback trapper is a beauty. If I am not mistaken it is based on a Queen Mountain Man pattern.

Thanks Jerry! I believe you are correct on the Queen Mountain Man pattern.

My Queen Mountain Man has play when locked open which was reasonably common for this pattern. How is this Northwoods for blade play ?
kj

kootenay joe wrote:My Queen Mountain Man has play when locked open which was reasonably common for this pattern. How is this Northwoods for blade play ?
kj

Roland I'll let you know when it arrives.

that's a beauty Greg!! I had that bad boy in my watch list but somehow managed to miss bidding...ah the life of an ebay sniper

A Dave Shirley Northwoods Stockman with stag just sold for $432. To me it is a high price for this knife which is from before GEC was making them.
kj

kootenay joe wrote:A Dave Shirley Northwoods Stockman with stag just sold for $432. To me it is a high price for this knife which is from before GEC was making them.
kj

I agree KJ but ain't she pretty . the ebay seller is happy
Gary

I have that same knife Roland I watched that auction with great interest. I keep thinking that the Northwoods bubble is about to burst but these bidders keep proving me wrong.
Oh I got my mountain man Northwoods and it is solid as a rock, unusual for most lockbacks.

Picked up a new Northwoods mini Trapper

Very nice. I think D.S. called the handles "Italian jigged bone" ?
kj

kootenay joe wrote:My Queen Mountain Man has play when locked open which was reasonably common for this pattern. How is this Northwoods for blade play ?
kj

I have about a dozen Queen made/3L trappers. a few have some mild blade play and a couple Moore Maker branded editions had locking mechanisms they should have been embarrassed to ship. On the other hand, all my Alcas/Cutco MM Trappers are Enzo Ferrari-like.