A Custom Collaboration is when a custom maker such as myself works with a factory or major knife producer to offer knife designed by said maker. This is then made in a factory in bulk whilst maintaining high standards. It is offered at a less expensive price than the individually hand made item.
The Woodsman is one of my most popular designs and I always have a long list of customers waiting for them. Casstrom have faithfully reproduced the knife in Sleipner high carbon steel offering models in both curly birch and ancient bog oak handles. There is also an option to have a matching fire steel fitted to the scabbard.
I designed the Woodsman Knife in 1999 to fulfil my needs as a Bushcraft/Survival instructor. I was still serving in the reserve forces at the time teaching in both civilian life ( As Bison Bushcraft ) and in my military role. I needed a strong bushcraft knife that wasn’t the overkill of issued military blades. It had to be something capable of the fine detail needed for bushcraft projects, but still be able to cope with heavy duty work.
I settled on 4mm thick blade stock not only for strength but the ability to split wood. The Scandinavian grind profile at 27 degrees Is both stable and strong for field use but fine enough for precision work. It lends itself to the role as it is easiest to sharpen, especially in the field but it is also superior for wood work and carving and copes with all other chores such as skinning perfectly. The handle is suitable for all sizes of hands with a distinct shape so you can recognise what way up it is by feel, but it has no sharp edge or parts of the profile that would limit it’s comfortable use in differing grips.
The blade length is designed to be approximately comparable to the width of the palm of your hand. That gives you two fingers width of cutting power close up to the handle ( about as much as most people can cut), a curve upwards towards the point for carving inner profiles and point for boring or fine work. The blade profile brings the point in dropped to around one third from the top or spine of the knife, giving ample control. The spine is ground at a crisp 90 degree angle to aid in scrapping and use of a ferro rod. The pouch is a leather deep retention pouch with no in necessary fuss to confuse issues in use.
The full tang construction is both strong simple and stable, especially with the choices of Bog oak or Birch employed by Casstrom for handle scales.
I had made and sold hundreds of these knives before David at Casstrom approached me for a collaborative project. This model seemed the ideal choice and I am proud to have my design in use all over the world as a result of the quality workmanship that Casstrom produce since then. Since Casstrom have been making Woodsman Knives they have refined their production and improved the steel quality keeping the design and ethos of my Woodsman and taking it further.
Note: You will asked to provide proof of age (over 18) when purchasing this product from us if buying within the UK.
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