What's the deal with Northwoods Knives

L

Lodd

Joined
Jan 23, 2015
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628
So, I've seen a couple of fine examples of Northwoods Knives around on the internet, and from what I've seen I would fancy one. I gather the Northwoods brand is owned by knivesshipfree and you can only buy them there (or on the exchange, but I'm not in CONUS and usually miss them). The problem is, they don't actually seem to be for sale. All I'm getting when I click on a model I like is the message: 'there are no products in the category'.

This is highly impractical. If you want to purchase a knife, it helps when it is actually for sale.

I've done some research, but these knives seem quite elusive. Have I fallen for some sort of elaborate joke? Is this some sort of meme that just went way over my head? (If so, please let me know so I can have a laugh too).

So, how does one actually go about buying one of these knives?
 
Knivesshipfree (KSF) has them made (some by Queen--most by GEC) in batches of a few hundred, and they tend to sell out within a week or so.

The good news is there're not terribly hard to get if you subscribe to the KSF e-mail list and/or follow this subforum.

Some of them are way overpriced in the secondary market, but if you keep your eyes open you can find a reasonable deal--particularly if you're looking for a "user."
 
They're made by Great Eastern Cutlery for KSF. Other companies have made them for KSF in the past. Regardless, they're made in small batches, and typically not repeated (or at all?). That means there's a very limited amount, and often sell out very quickly.
 
THanks for your responses, guys. I just signed up for the KSF newsletter, I'm hoping that'll give me an edge (pun intended).
 
I get the emails; but usually end up missing the announcements. I got lucky on the recent Hawthorne run.
 
The recent Northwoods slip joints are made by GEC (some in past were made by Queen). KSF collaberates with them on the design and usually works into their production schedule 3-4 times per year. KSF will give you heads up via social media, email list, etc. as to when they will go on sale. Once on sale they typically sell out extremely fast (on the desirable patterns). So you are not being tricked when the message says "there are no products in this category". Patience for the next run and readiness to buy swiftly wins here.
 
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You are correct - Northwoods Knives is a brand name owned by Derrick Bohn at KnivesShipFree.

They contract out the manufacture of knives made to their specifications to various knife makers. For traditional slipjoint knives, they have recently used Queen Cutlery and Great Eastern Cutlery to make specific knives. They contract with other makers for their kitchen and fixed blade knives.

The pocket knives are popular and sell out fast.

Here is a link to get in touch with them and ask more information: https://www.knivesshipfree.com/contact-us/
 
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I tend to agree with you relative to the KSF website. It gets frustrating. It would be nice that the ones that are available come up immediately (all slip joint patterns) when you click on the Northwoods link. I think they are in fact trying to do this as the fixed blades do come up last time I tried. Sometimes these releases sell out in minutes of when they are offered for sale. It's kind of crazy and I pretty much refuse to participate in that sort of circus chase. But the way to stay informed is to be on their email list and of course pay attention to the traditional forum postings.
 
Lodd said:
...I've done some research, but these knives seem quite elusive. Have I fallen for some sort of elaborate joke? Is this some sort of meme that just went way over my head? (If so, please let me know so I can have a laugh too)...
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There is some truth in what you say. KSF doesn't really make knives, they contract with GEC or Queen to make them. Northwoods and GEC are "hot" in the collectible market, so in some way it's kind of "an elaborate joke" because production is limited, and demand is high, thus the knives sell for a lot more than some collectors think they should. People actually get upset that they can't get the knife they want w/o paying the market premium or waiting on "tenterhooks" to pounce electronically. They start bitch threads about why it's unfair they didn't get the price they wanted or the knife they lusted after. Personally, I think its cool that people are pouring money into traditional knives, but sad that many never use them and that too many people get the "knife fever" let-down when they don't get the one they want. (Kind of like buck fever but w/o ammunition :))
 
For the price bring paid for these production knives, you could get a custom made to your exact specifications.
 
LastRodeo said:
For the price bring paid for these production knives, you could get a custom made to your exact specifications.
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I assume you mean on the 2nd hand market? I've never heard of a custom US style traditional at the new sale prices of a Northwoods. Even then you can get a Northwoods under the $200 mark on this forum for example, 2nd hand. Are customs that cheap? If so I wanna custom! :) I thought they were at the $350+ mark. Happy to be educated otherwise!
 
They usually sell out within a few minutes and are only available a few times a year. As others said, signing up for the newsletter and keeping an eye on the forum is your best bet at knowing when they will be available. Be prepared for when they go on sale. I'm not over exaggerating, they sell out in minutes. You can't take your time looking at different covers. Pick one, have your credit card ready, enter in your shipping information as fast as you possibly can. Be prepared to be cart jacked because you were a split second too late - it's something that happens... just the way it is. Be prepared not to get one because you get cart jacked a second time and then at that point they are all sold out. They do not make enough to meet demand. If you know this going in to the process of trying to get one it takes some of the sting out of not being able to get one. Try again next time. Give yourself some time to get one. It can take months before you are able to get one from KSF.. depending on your luck.
 
Pomsbz said:
I assume you mean on the 2nd hand market? I've never heard of a custom US style traditional at the new sale prices of a Northwoods. Even then you can get a Northwoods under the $200 mark on this forum for example, 2nd hand. Are customs that cheap? If so I wanna custom! :) I thought they were at the $350+ mark. Happy to be educated otherwise!
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Yes, second hand market. I see people paying +$350, ymmv.

Here is a custom for $300
http://www.bladeforums.com/threads/red-bone-slipjoint.1494360/#post-17171871

I can't link to eBay, but you can look for sales there yourself.

Consider yourself educated. :)
 
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Wanted to throw out one more thing. You may or may not know that Northwood knives are usually made on the same frame as a current production GEC. For example, the most recent Northwoods run was the Hawthorne. The Hawthorne is the same frame as a GEC 48. If you miss out getting a Northwoods you can shoot for getting a GEC on the frame you want while you wait for the next Northwoods production run. There's usually years between repeat runs and there's no guarantee that it will ever be run again.
 
cbr1000 said:
You may or may not know that Northwood knives are usually made on the same frame as a current production GEC. For example, the most recent Northwoods run was the Hawthorne. The Hawthorne is the same frame as a GEC 48.
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That is correct.
Here is my Hawthorne with a GEC 48 "Weasel". The blade is different (my choice - the Hawthorne was offered in a clip, as well), so they've got a different profile; but they're on the same frame.
JOZRxWP.jpg
 
Thank you. I've decided that I like the 48 frame quite a bit, and the Weasel has been getting a lot of use.
I only partially agree with wish for camel bone in regular model runs...my disagreement stems from knowing I would want to buy one in all my favorite frames (15, 55, 77, 92, etc)
 
OK folks. The discussion of where to buy Northwoods and what they cost doesn't belong here. This sub-forum is for discussing the knives. Discussion of who makes what is one thing. The discussion of where do I buy one and the pricing is another.
If you want to talk pricing and purchasing take it to GB&U.
 
cbr1000 said:
Wanted to throw out one more thing. You may or may not know that Northwood knives are usually made on the same frame as a current production GEC. For example, the most recent Northwoods run was the Hawthorne. The Hawthorne is the same frame as a GEC 48. If you miss out getting a Northwoods you can shoot for getting a GEC on the frame you want while you wait for the next Northwoods production run. There's usually years between repeat runs and there's no guarantee that it will ever be run again.
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I'm quite taken with the 48 lately. Such beautiful knives! I prefer the two blade improved trapper and in fact pretty much have the same preference with Northwood's offerings. So, when it is a single blade Northwoods, I am not bubbling all over to buy one. I'll let you guys have most of them! ;)
 
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