View Full Version : My verdict...WS Micarta Vs BRKT Highland
Well! Just returned from a weekend in the woods, we always manage to find ourselves far away from people and in a beautiful spot.
I thought it would be a perfect oppurtunity to test the WS and the Highland.
First things though, disaster struck. To cut a long story short i lost my WS micarta, £95 BANG! Putting in another order for one.
Anyways we needed some fiirewood and after forgetting the axe we had to buy a new one on a low budget, useless needless to say, but the highland was actually a more effective slicer than the woodlore. Cutting through the mashed wood left by the axe. Due to it being a convex grind it also held the edge very well, but when it got a dent in the edge i was unsure how to fix it without ruining the profile. But sharpening it is a doddle with the Starkie Sharp.
Im not quite sure how to review a knife, the highland is small, robust, sharp, big enough for most tasks yet small enough for neck-wear. The WS is my favoured knife however, larger, easier to repair, small enough for my hand and not to be murderous and large enough for heavier tasks than the highland. The WS is not a neck carry in my opinion.
If one is looking for a new knife in the higher price ranges, to be honest, i'd go for a woodlore . But thats not to say the highland isnt a great little knife.
I hope thats clear, im slightly bosbefok and waffling. Slightly tired after late nights and early risings!
Cheers,
Jake
MagiKelly
16-08-2004, 21:43
So you forgot your Axe and lost your MS Micarta and this is a good trip ?:yikes: ?
I hadnt thought of it like that, just to add to the success of the weekend, my friend got food poisoning from an overly rare steak. He wasnt very ill, just his stomach couldnt handle all the raw meat!
Thinking about it...This question has been asked countless times, some of you know what i like and my price. Should i go for an alan wood custom or stick eith the trusted WS micarta?
Cheers,
Jake
Or check out a BRKT North Star first ?
i would like to but i fear another dent in the blade, how would one recitfy it?
.....or, given the circumstances, perhaps go for two WS micartas :naughty:
Thats another worry, im skint! If i lost another knife it would be financially disasterous £95 is almost what i get in a month! Just a thought, would the knife fall under my house insurance??
Cheers,
Jake
Thats another worry, im skint! If i lost another knife it would be financially disasterous £95 is almost what i get in a month! Just a thought, would the knife fall under my house insurance??
Cheers,
Jake
Depends on your insurance ... some do, some don't!
it would on mine but the excess is only £50 on mine, on some it's £100. but I would certanly check, about all if youe get £45 thats still worth having
BorderReiver
17-08-2004, 19:50
it would on mine but the excess is only £50 on mine, on some it's £100. but I would certanly check, about all if youe get £45 thats still worth having
Just enough for a spare Highland Special. :wink:
First things though, disaster struck. To cut a long story short i lost my WS micarta, £95 BANG!
Details!! We need details! :wave:
Did your belt break? Did the sheath break? Did a Grizzly turn you upside down and shake it out of you? Wassup!! :?: :-)
I hadnt thought of it like that, just to add to the success of the weekend, my friend got food poisoning from an overly rare steak. He wasnt very ill, just his stomach couldnt handle all the raw meat!
Thinking about it...This question has been asked countless times, some of you know what i like and my price. Should i go for an alan wood custom or stick eith the trusted WS micarta?
Cheers,
Jake
Jake, I think it was you who asked about the Gene Ingram when I said I was going to get one, well with the modifications to the knife and sheath in the steel that I wanted it comes to £123 delivered and there have been quite a few mods.
I think that normally you would be looking at about £85 for one, so this is also a thought, I can't tell you how long you will wait though.
tenbears10
17-08-2004, 21:03
well with the modifications to the knife and sheath in the steel that I wanted it comes to £123 delivered and there have been quite a few mods.
I think that normally you would be looking at about £85 for one, so this is also a thought, I can't tell you how long you will wait though.
You had better post lots of pics of your new knife when it arrives Leon or I will be suffering withdrawl symptoms :wink:
Bill
Hi Leon, yeah it was me. Thanks for reminding me about the gene ingram, i had forgotten about those. Will research into it.
Hoodoo, details? Oh alright then...
We were moving campsites due to some unwelcome people threatening to camp near us with there Alcohol and dance music (in the middle of a beautiful woodland, seemed completely out of character for it to be hindered by such people!!). We had seen an equally nice spot just about a mile away, so we were taking the stuff down into the car and i put my knife on a chair, that was the last time it was seen.
We arrived at the new one and emptied everything out to see if it was there, it wasnt. Two of us drove back to our old campsite (the awful people hadn't moved in BTW), no where to be seen. This process happened many times until we gave up. I was gutted, but at least i had brought along my highland! Which admirably served as a substitute.
Cheers,
Jake
MagiKelly
17-08-2004, 21:29
Jake
Given your luck I would get a £10 Mora and if you do not lose it for a year THEN think about a more expensive knife ;-)
John, i think you may be right, perhaps i should! :lmao:
Will consider it :wink:
MagiKelly
17-08-2004, 22:16
You could use the money you save to buy a belt to attach the knife to your person or if that is too expensive you can buy some paracord to wear it baldrick style :wink:
The General
18-08-2004, 01:28
The Highland is a superb lightweight field knife but really not big enough for it to perform like a Woodlore. However, the North Star...
I would go with an Alan Wood model myself BTW.
That is a real bummer Jake. Definitely hurts to lose such a nice knife.
Here's one suggestion. Don't know if it would have helped you in this situation but it can't hurt. Put a lanyard made of Kelty Triptease Lightline on your knife. If you leave it lying on the forest floor at night, it's much easier to find with a flashlight. That rope really picks up the light:
http://www4.gvsu.edu/triert/images7/triptease1b.jpg
Here's one suggestion. Don't know if it would have helped you in this situation but it can't hurt. Put a lanyard made of Kelty Triptease Lightline on you knife. If you leave it lying on the forest floor at night, it's much easier to find with a flashlight. That rope really picks up the light:
Hoodoo have you got any details of suppliers? i haven't lost a knife, well apart from my Mora i left at B&Q. i needed to cut some foam before you ask. i did recently "lose" my hammock in the dark though. It took my 20 minutes blundering around with my head torch looking for it. i almost gave up and slept on the ground. i am now using a Led blinker key chain. However i would prefer something more passive.
some tents come with glow in the dark guy lines as well. I'm tempted to cut a small amount off each of the guys from my tent now. I hope I'll be ale to get some in the UK
dataphage
18-08-2004, 09:43
Hoodoo have you got any details of suppliers?
In the UK Cotswold Outdoor do reflective guylines:
http://www.cotswold-outdoor.com/Cat/2564?history=search%20results
You can probably find them cheaper but if you want them delivered....
Tantalus
18-08-2004, 11:29
what about one of the tiny glow stick things that glow for years?
cant remember the name of them off the top of my head :(
will do some more searching and get back to you
Tant
edit , found em , H3 glowring
http://www.tackleshop.co.uk/ProductDetails/mcs/productID/1292/groupID/17/categoryID/207/v/bb75c922-9fba-4d89-81ad-750775f0472f
Glowrings are cool but I wouldn't want one hanging off my knife. But I do attach them to my Photon microlights. When you wake up in the middle of the night, it's really easy to find your flashlight. Also great for finding your car/house keys.
I don't know a UK supplier. I usually buy mine from Campmor. Pricey stuff though. But I don't leave home without it. :-)
Kelty Triptease (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?memberId=125002 26&productId=12355)
Hoodoo thats a brilliant idea, thats what i'll do. It'll probably make it easier finding things in the dark than during the day! If i dropped it in the long grass, all i would have to do it flash a light over an area and it would glow. :biggthump
i did recently "lose" my hammock in the dark though. It took my 20 minutes blundering around with my head torch looking for it. i almost gave up and slept on the ground. i am now using a Led blinker key chain. However i would prefer something more passive.
:lmao: Thats exactly the kind of thing i would do.
I think Woodland Organics sell those glow keyrings.
Cheers,
Jake