Jack Wolf Knives- Any Good?

gastonian

gastonian

Joined
May 20, 2012
Messages
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I am a fan of traditional knives with modern steel and recently discovered Jack Wolf Knives. It seems like all of the reviews posted on YouTube are sponsored commercials with nothing but praise without any actual use. I’m curious to hear people’s opinions about Jack Wolf Knives from people who actually spent their hard earned money on them and has actually used them.

Anyone have any positive or negative experiences with these knives?
 
Pretty sure I heard they were made by Reate, which means they're as high-end in fit and finish as you could reasonably expect in a production knife. I've never used Reate's S90V, but their heat treatment tends to be about average for stuff like M390 (neither especially soft nor especially hard).
 
The owner of the company is a traditional knife nut and collector so you could and should expect his knives to be of high standard and quality and made to be used without a doubt. There are several videos on youtube and IG of people using and testing his knives and they are great slicers
 

New Knife Company- Jack Wolf Knives

Looks good! I like the use of modern materials on classic designs. List prices are imho a little too high but given they’re all out of stock it appears that’s not the case. I don't think any of them have actually started shipping or selling yet, website is still under construction. I'm a...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Jack Wolf Knives - The Wolf Den

Hi folks, my name is Benjamin Belkin and I am the owner, operator and designer of Jack Wolf Knives. First and foremost, I wanted to thank all of you who keep this forum alive and awesome. It is where I first met the traditional knife community so it holds a special place in my heart. My...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Jack Wolf Knives - Back on Track

Fellas! After what felt like forever, I have this project back on track. I am more excited and motivated then ever before! Since the last thread about my project became long in the tooth, I decided to start a new one. If you are interested, the previous thread can be found here...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
 
Arathol said:

New Knife Company- Jack Wolf Knives

Looks good! I like the use of modern materials on classic designs. List prices are imho a little too high but given they’re all out of stock it appears that’s not the case. I don't think any of them have actually started shipping or selling yet, website is still under construction. I'm a...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Jack Wolf Knives - The Wolf Den

Hi folks, my name is Benjamin Belkin and I am the owner, operator and designer of Jack Wolf Knives. First and foremost, I wanted to thank all of you who keep this forum alive and awesome. It is where I first met the traditional knife community so it holds a special place in my heart. My...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com

Jack Wolf Knives - Back on Track

Fellas! After what felt like forever, I have this project back on track. I am more excited and motivated then ever before! Since the last thread about my project became long in the tooth, I decided to start a new one. If you are interested, the previous thread can be found here...
www.bladeforums.com www.bladeforums.com
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Thanks, I didn't think modern traditional could be discussed in that forum.
Blade Lab said:
I'm not a slip joint guy, but the reviews on these Jack Wolf's have been so breathless that I've seriously considered adding one to my collection. None of them are less than gushing.
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I know, all the positive reviews coupled with the fact that I'm a sucker for clip point blades which are featured in a lot of their designs has me curious. The price has me hesitant though since I haven't handled one. lol
 
I have quite a few of the Jack Wolf Knives. I also have GEC and custom slipjoints. I would say that if you are looking for something quality the Jack Wolf knives are as close to a high end custom slipjoints as you can get. The back springs are perfectly flush in all positions no gap walk and talk is crisp. Grinds are really nice and thin. If you like the look of the modern materials they are amazing. Quality wise I would put them above GEC, but this isn’t taking into account subjective things like USA vs China made, styling (traditional vs modern). Overall I definitely recommend them I love mine but I do still love my more traditional GEC and customs they all have a place in my collection.
 
I have jack wolf, viper and Lionsteel. For me the Viper Hug and Key are tops. I like that jack wolf uses blade geometry rather than a stop pin but don't like the matt finished bolsters or that the Jack Wolf costs more than a Hug and Key combined using the same steel. I would really love to try one of the newest ones from jack wolf in the s90v though.
 
Way too expensive for Chinese knives. For $75 more you can get a Zieba Heritage, custom, hand made in Brooklyn. For the same price you can get a Moki-made Bill Ruple with Cullpepper bone and integral bolsters.

Plus I don’t like their patterns. So I’ve never been tempted to spend “hard earned money” on an ugly knife :)
 
Seeing that they're made in China was an instant pass for me, especially at that ridiculous price. If I want a slipjoint of modern materials, I'd go with Lionsteel for half the price and less simplistic designs.
 
Quiet said:
Seeing that they're made in China was an instant pass for me, especially at that ridiculous price. If I want a slipjoint of modern materials, I'd go with Lionsteel for half the price and less simplistic designs.
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This was an issue from day one, long before the actual products were released. That and what seemed to be some sort of ethics issue, ie there appeared to be a bit of a reluctance to have the product marked with the country of origin....
 
Arathol said:
This was an issue from day one, long before the actual products were released. That and what seemed to be some sort of ethics issue, ie there appeared to be a bit of a reluctance to have the product marked with the country of origin....
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The knives are clearly marked Made in China in all the websites I’ve seen them and the owner of the company openly says they’re made in China on the Jack wolf knives Instagram page as well especially when he’s asked by someone so I haven’t noticed any of the reluctance.

I tend to only buy USA Made knives so that, and the price is what’s made me reluctant because just a few more monies and I can get a CRK.

I also prefer that traditional look and steel that pantina’s so there’s that too.

Now if JWK were to release a cool Barlow or viper with Rex 45 or Maxamet I’d definitely be in the market.
 
I had a Laid Back Jack and really appreciated the build quality and action - the walk and talk was comparable to a custom. However, I somewhat reluctantly sold it because, to my taste, it was lacking in soul. Everything from the grind to the fitment was excellent, but I couldn't connect with it.
 
Hyesouljah said:
The knives are clearly marked Made in China in all the websites I’ve seen them and the owner of the company openly says they’re made in China on the Jack wolf knives Instagram page as well especially when he’s asked by someone so I haven’t noticed any of the reluctance.

I tend to only buy USA Made knives so that, and the price is what’s made me reluctant because just a few more monies and I can get a CRK.

I also prefer that traditional look and steel that pantina’s so there’s that too.

Now if JWK were to release a cool Barlow or viper with Rex 45 or Maxamet I’d definitely be in the market.
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Yes, because its required by Federal law. Before the first knife designs were even released, he was pushing back on the idea of them being marked as made in China. In fact, he actually said his intention was to have stickers put on them at the source to get around the importation laws, then repackage the knives here without COO markings....
 
Arathol said:
Yes, because its required by Federal law. Before the first knife designs were even released, he was pushing back on the idea of them being marked as made in China. In fact, he actually said his intention was to have stickers put on them at the source to get around the importation laws, then repackage the knives here without COO markings....
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I see. I’d wanna know where it’s made but I wouldn’t want them marked as made in china, personally. I’d be totally okay with the made in China sticker. But if you have your products made in China you absolutely should advertise it as such and to not is unacceptable. Take Jake Hoback’s mishandling of his made in China knives. The way he went about it was dishonest and wrong and left a bad impression on me. Both of my knives I owned by him were made in USA but I ended up selling both still.
 
cmfkdragoon said:
I had a Laid Back Jack and really appreciated the build quality and action - the walk and talk was comparable to a custom. However, I somewhat reluctantly sold it because, to my taste, it was lacking in soul. Everything from the grind to the fitment was excellent, but I couldn't connect with it.
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Interesting take, that's how I feel about a lot of knives in the modern era. It really makes me question what brings soul into a crafted object. Is it the history, the craftsmanship, the people making it, the materials, the location of production, the pattern, what makes soul? A child can bring soul into a crayon drawing that you hang up on the fridge. A loving grandmother brings soul into home cooked meals, Great Eastern Cutlery brings soul into their knives. I can identify soul in a physical item, but I could never tell you what it is exactly.
 
"I can identify soul in a physical item, but I could never tell you what it is exactly."
As a maker, writer, and instructor dealing with contemporary functional and sculptural wooden objects I have wrestled with this question of "soul" for nearly five decades. I suggest that you take the (seemingly) simplistic approach that, "If I see it or feel it, it's there" and just continue to look for it in objects you encounter.
 
buckthorn said:
"I can identify soul in a physical item, but I could never tell you what it is exactly."
As a maker, writer, and instructor dealing with contemporary functional and sculptural wooden objects I have wrestled with this question of "soul" for nearly five decades. I suggest that you take the (seemingly) simplistic approach that, "If I see it or feel it, it's there" and just continue to look for it in objects you encounter.
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I get that feeling when I handle Spartans and LG knives.
 
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