View Full Version : Alan Wood Woodlore
tenbears10
17-11-2004, 12:13
There are a couple on ebay at the moment but that is nothing new and I'm sure they will go for silly money as usual. What prompted me to post is that one guy claims that Alan is going to cease making woodlore's soon. I have noticed that his version has been out of stock on raymears.com for a good few months now.
Is the guy making this up to get the bidding frenzy going or is there a shred of truth in it?
this is the one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5138887081) I might ask Woodlore as they are always helpful but I thought I would see if you guys knew first.
Bill
i can imagin they would want to stop making it, it must be a good money spinner for ray and alan!
Perhaps the guy is talking about this batch..
let us know what woodlore say Bill!
I could see alan might want to stop making this one. I'd get bored making the same knife. He's become much more well known for this knife. Maybe if he makes more collectors knives they will be worth more and be more fun to make
C_Claycomb
17-11-2004, 13:07
I would not be surprised if Alan did stop making the Woodlore knives. I spoke to him at this summer's CLA Game Fair and he said that if anything his work load had increased since the release of the WS knife, not dropped as he had hoped. The demand is such that he doesn't have time to make as many of his own knives as he would like, nor spend as long on each Woodlore as he would like.
Since Alan Wood sells his own versions of the Woodlore (more than one), every bit as nice as Ray's design, it isn't as if A. Wood bushcraft knives are going to be imposible to get.
god i can only see this pushin the price of a woodlore higher!
There are a couple on ebay at the moment but that is nothing new and I'm sure they will go for silly money as usual. What prompted me to post is that one guy claims that Alan is going to cease making woodlore's soon. I have noticed that his version has been out of stock on raymears.com for a good few months now.
Is the guy making this up to get the bidding frenzy going or is there a shred of truth in it?
this is the one (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5138887081) I might ask Woodlore as they are always helpful but I thought I would see if you guys knew first.
Bill
Wouldn't surprise me in the least. If I were Alan, I'd be sick to the back teeth of that knife and gagging for the day I made my last. :wink:
tenbears10
17-11-2004, 13:20
I think everyone agrees then that it is quite a possibility that Alan will knock it on the head soon.
Interesting.
Bill
We'll all have to start making our own :wink:
I can understand why, as a craftsman, he might want to stop/limit making them because it's an item sold primerily on the merit of the designer rather than the maker.
Good knife but seriously not worth the money they are now going for second hand.
greg2935
17-11-2004, 13:57
If anyone is interested, a very good alternative to the "woodlore" knife is the Brusletto range:
http://www.brusletto.no/wip4/en/products_detail.epl?c=328&id=2555&cat=339
I've been using one for the last 5 years and have been excellent, an exceptionally well made tool, the blade is not too long either so it tends to be that little better in the eyes of the law (and more easy to handle than something with a longer blade), the handle is made from birch and is comfortable.
It is stainless so you cannot strike sparks from it, but that is what a strike a light, some flint and a little charred cloth is excellent for!
Greg
It is stainless so you cannot strike sparks from it, but that is what a strike a light, some flint and a little charred cloth is excellent for!
Greg
Have you tried it? Stainless will cast sparks from a ferro rod no problems (unless you mean casting a spark from natural flint).
I have heard from the woodlore mailing list that Alan Wood is ill and thats why he has stopped making them.
Buckshot
17-11-2004, 15:16
god i can only see this pushin the price of a woodlore higher!
Excellent - that means mine is worth more. :naughty:
Anyone want to buy a used woodlore - shall we say £1000 as a starting bid ??? :o):
That was a joke by the way - there's no way I'd part with it for that small amount of money :nana:
Cheers
Mark
If anyone is interested, a very good alternative to the "woodlore" knife is the Brusletto range:
http://www.brusletto.no/wip4/en/products_detail.epl?c=328&id=2555&cat=339
I've been using one for the last 5 years and have been excellent, an exceptionally well made tool, the blade is not too long either so it tends to be that little better in the eyes of the law (and more easy to handle than something with a longer blade), the handle is made from birch and is comfortable.
It is stainless so you cannot strike sparks from it, but that is what a strike a light, some flint and a little charred cloth is excellent for!
Greg
Yep,
Or pop over to British blades and look at the stuff made by Mushi, Shing, Guycep, ZDP and countless others I havn't got in my collection yet. Every bit as good and useful and a hand made one off for about the price of the cheap WS.
Cheers
David
Have you tried it? Stainless will cast sparks from a ferro rod no problems (unless you mean casting a spark from natural flint).
I have had a stainless brusletto for a long time now, the spine on it is slightly rounded at the edges so casting sparks isn't easy. You can flatten the spine of with a file to get a better edge if you wish, this will give a decent shower of sparks from a Firesteel.
Airborne
18-11-2004, 14:28
im sorry to bring the woodlores "rival" up but i was wondering about the dartmoor survival knife.i read a few negative reports on it in other threads but i was wondering if anyone would have any idea where i could pick up the older version of this knife up.i have tried everywhere. appreciated if anyone could help.[/IMG]
they dont make them any more IIRC so they only way you will get one is second hand.. why not post in the wanted section! :wink:
You mean this one: http://www.heinnie.com/cgi-bin/heinnie_store/web_store.cgi?page=Wilkinson/WK-DARTMOOR.htm&cart_id=793786.19970
any idea where i could pick up the older version of this knife up.
dont think so Adi
Ahh, OK, you want the older one ... I got one!
tenbears10
18-11-2004, 15:10
you boys are not trading in the edged tools section are you? :nono:
To get back on topic I have not had a reply to my question from woodlore. I did let them know that I would post the reply here if that was ok by them so maybe that put them off :?:
Bill
you boys are not trading in the edged tools section are you? :nono:
I'm not selling it - it ain't broken yet!
Airborne
18-11-2004, 16:54
I'm not selling it - it ain't broken yet!
Damn it..lol.any ways...so im hearing alot positive feedback on this woodlore and im not aware of it spec.whats so good about it. Is the older w/s knife lighter/better than new one?
http://www.bushcraftuk.co.uk/reviews/review_woodlore.html
the ws woodlore and dartmoor are two very, very different knives. not really rivals.
the dartmoor has the potential to be a great all round tool, but requires a massive amount of reprofiling imho. the standard edge geometry is a bit naff, again, just my opinion.
the woodlore is a much smaller knife, (approx' 4" blade) designed with a significant emphasis on precision woodwork.
cheers, and.
rapidboy
22-11-2004, 19:55
Is anyone else watching this ? :yikes:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5138887081&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
TheViking
22-11-2004, 19:57
Is anyone else watching this ? :yikes:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=5138887081&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT
332 £!!! :yikes: It's close to double as much. :roll: :shock:
with a buyer that has no feedback. I bet the seller wont get his money
if you look back I did bid on that knife. I figured it was a safe investment up to about £240
Brings to mind what P T Barnum said about suckers ...
tenbears10
22-11-2004, 21:34
The other one went on sat for £250. No way the guy is paying £340 Andy's right it's a blag.
Bill
tamarack outdoors are selling alan wood knives now, or am i just behind the times ? Alan Wood Hand made knife of exceptional quality
Alan Wood is a renowned knife maker in the Uk who currently has a 2 year waiting list for his work.
Tamarack have designed and had made this knife by alan which comes with a full sheath with belt look, cord loop and stike a light holder. A second sheath for spyderco sharpening stone is also included
TAMARACK RECOMMENDS. When you are looking for a quality knife Alan Wood is one of the best. A quality tool and a personal favourite with our instructors
Price ££200.00 http://www.tamarackoutdoors.co.uk/
tenbears10
22-11-2004, 21:44
Well spotted al. Rubbish picture though and hardly any details on the site.
Bill
He shoulda put a bigger mark-up!
Hi
Here is a better pic of the Tamarack knife.
Cheers
http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?p=92200#post922 00
Not clicking for me
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=879
A pic
TheViking
29-11-2004, 14:05
Not clicking for me
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=879
A pic
Nice, a better picture than on Tamaracks website. The handle looks rather good, but it's still much: £200. :shock:
Nice, a better picture than on Tamaracks website. The handle looks rather good, but it's still much: £200. :shock:
I have one on order, I'll let you know what it's like.
do Taramak have them "in stock" or are they made to order?
if not.. whats the wait martin..
do Taramak have them "in stock" or are they made to order?
if not.. whats the wait martin..
They had 3 in stock on friday, at least one less now. ;) I've no idea what the wait is once they've ran out.
Greenpete
29-11-2004, 19:33
We'll all have to start making our own :wink:
Yeah! Go for it Dave!
Remember you can find out how by going to http://www.greenpete.co.uk/knife_making_photos/knife_making.htm
My Alan Wood knife arrived today - fantastic. Brill, love it, pics to follow.
http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/data/500/100new_bushcraft-med.JPG
the picture doesnt work for me martyn.. but its here (http://www.britishblades.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=879) so the address is vaild.. must be my machine :?:
Buckshot
03-12-2004, 10:13
I supose I need to register on BB to see the pic then
yup but martyns is working now..
TheViking
03-12-2004, 19:03
It looks much better in this pic, than the one on Tamaracks site. Excellent looking knife, though the spine is a tad too steep, IMO. :biggthump
Too steep for what?
Aesthetically perhaps (though I think it's quite an attractive knife), but it's actuially rather nice to handle. That hump gives planty of meat in the blade which makes it nice if you're choking right up over the point. Also, the point point is well centered down the axis of the knife. It's a nice design and as you handle it, the cleverness of it becomes more and more apparent. The symmetry of the handle makes it comfortable in just about every orientation I can think of.
Is it better than the woodlore? Well the jury's still out on that, I'm trying hard to be objective, but I cant help liking it. :biggthump
zackerty
16-12-2004, 03:16
I have once made 120 copies of one of my knives, which were identical, apart from wood and Micarta types, and by the 50th one, I was dreading the next one!
I could do them in my sleep, and when the last one was done, I did not make a knife for at least two months!
I sympathasize with Alan.
I do agree that people sometimes get fixated with the "name", and there are most definitely other makers to consider.
Making your own, is a good start, as long as you follow the principles of correct heat treatment for the steel type, and the construction is sound.
That is exactly how I started...
Stu
We would love to see some of your knives Zackerty
Squidders
16-12-2004, 14:29
I asked Alan via e-mail a little while ago for a commission but he declined as he had a years backlog... real downer but i can sympathise :cry:
I suppose its like a painter being asked to paint the same picture over and over again, not very nice.
CM Burns
17-12-2004, 08:10
I suppose its like a painter being asked to paint the same picture over and over again, not very nice.
quite true but the RM Woodlore will pay for AWs mortgage! If you're self-employed there can be nothing better than a model like this where AW knows that he can continue selling them until the cows come home. boring yes but extremely good business.
quite true but the RM Woodlore will pay for AWs mortgage! If you're self-employed there can be nothing better than a model like this where AW knows that he can continue selling them until the cows come home. boring yes but extremely good business.
Looks like i will be helping his mortage payments at last. I had a call today from the Woodlore team. My knife is ready for dispatch in time for Christmas.
Oh happy days.
quite true but the RM Woodlore will pay for AWs mortgage! If you're self-employed there can be nothing better than a model like this where AW knows that he can continue selling them until the cows come home. boring yes but extremely good business.
doesn't sound like he has much of a problem with getting orders though. He can always pick it up again at a later date
great wayne, I'm sure you'll love it
BIG-TARGET
21-12-2004, 23:21
I asked Alan via e-mail a little while ago for a commission but he declined as he had a years backlog... real downer but i can sympathise :cry:
Sounds like he became a victim of his own success. :-|
Sounds like he became a victim of his own success. :-|
The alternative is to ramp the prices up so high that only a few wealthy people can afford his work. That's the usual way for custom knifemakers to manage thier workload. At the end of the day, he is one man and there is a limit to how much he can physically produce and a point at which a labour of love becomes a chore. Personally, I think he's done well to make as many as he has done.
CM Burns
22-12-2004, 12:15
part of this back-log is down to sheer bad luck - a back injury earlier in the year and most recently a large % of a Woodlore batch were not heat-treated correctly - AW rejetced them (he outsources this process....)
CM Burns
22-12-2004, 13:15
Looks like i will be helping his mortage payments at last. I had a call today from the Woodlore team. My knife is ready for dispatch in time for Christmas.
Oh happy days.
i just spoke to Woodlore - they have now sent out all the knives that they had in this batch. Next lot hopefully due by end of January 2005 - "hopefully" as my name is next on that list!