A. G. Russell Woodswalker

[sm]

http://www.agrussell.com/knives/by_...woodswalker_in_leather_hip_pocket_sheath.html

Two ladies bought themselves this knife and really do like what all it affords them.

Legal blade length is 3 1/2 " here and this blade being only 2 5/16" clearly falls within
legal definitions.

Price: $19.95 as they chose the very nicely done leather back pocket sheath.

Here is a knife that does not look anything other than just a steak knife, or paring knife , in a back pocket while out on the property, going into a small town for whatever reason and it does not even scare folks in the big city when used in a office setting when removed from purse, laptop carrier, briefcase...even shoved in a back pocket to run down the hall.

It has done food prep, property duty, cleaned game and fish, and does everything well.

Oh they have and do carry other knives, mostly slip-joints, and they do have Case Mako Sharks, Russlocks, and similar in belt sheath, still this one for this price and what all it does, is a really neat tool that blends in.

Work settings, the guys still use Buck 110s, and other traditional lock backs in
belt sheaths too...

Still this Woodswalker is a lot of knife for the money, has proven itself for these ladies, and makes a nice gift for others.
I may have to break down and get one myself.

Blending in and not attracting attention is part of the non-defensive weapon mindset, or it is to some us and how we were raised, and lessons passed on to us.

Just a thought...


Steve

 

[ACP230]

I have been intending to buy one of those for a long time.
My son, 15, has now started lobbying for me to buy him one.
They look like a neat, useful, knife.

 

[Joe Demko]

This Nontron paring knife recently struck me as having similar potential. 440A isn't the greatest knife steel in the world, alas.
The Opinel paring knives with carbon steel blades shown about halfway down this page aren't as attractive as the Nontron. However, judging from the carbon steel Opinel folders I've owned, they should take and hold a fiercely sharp edge. At 2 for $8.80 they are also substantially cheaper than the Nontron.
With either the Opinel or the Nontron, one would need to sit down and craft a sheath of some type. AG Russell's pocket sheath is a nice inspiration and not a terribly complex design. For briefcase or purse carry, one might even choose to work in the always reliable duct tape and cardboard medium.

 

[sm]

The sheath on the Woodswalker is what caught these ladies eyes, as it has mine and others.

We all prefer carbon steel 1095 or Case Chrome Vanadium , still for $20 with a nice sheath, this is too good a deal for a knife that is just too handy, blends in and does what needs doing.

Neck sheath, actually turns off some of the folks I run with...

My contention for years, is someone needs to do a simple leather sheath, that will fit a Old Hickory Paring knife, the 3" or so one.
My gut says after doing so - requests for the utility and other patterns would follow.

Granted the paring knife is less than $5, still if say a nice, leather $10 was made, folks could buy the sheaths for the OH's they have, or can buy local, or as gifts for those that have these knives.

Heck, do a kit, like Tandy used to do and let folks make their own as they did moccasins and other crafts we used to do.


Opinels just flat work, great carbon and heat treated right.
The Nontron looks great...

Just why can't folks do more Carbon Steel 1075 , 1095 and CV?
That is what I and everyone else I know really wants in a user.

 

[Stainz]

Well, here is what has been in my cargo pants front pocket for over a month now. It's a Bark River 'Huntsman' with a black Micarta handled .187" thick by 3.12" A2 tool steel convex ground blade, a Nuwai/River Rock TM-311X 2xAAA LED flashlight (Target - $9.99!), and KSF pocket sheath with a very stretched firesteel pocket. The light was cheap - but the KSF sheath was more than the AG Russel knife & sheath! The knife, well, ~$120 shipped - but what a knife.





Stainz

 

[Bailey Boat]

I have Woodswalkers stashed all over, in both vehicles, tackleboxes, hunting vests and in both boats. They are small and handy as all get out when you NEED a small, sharp knife quickly....

 

[sm]

Stainz,

Very Nice ! Thanks for sharing!
Bark does it right and the folks are top notch, no doubt.

Price point comes into play for many I run with.
Some have nice knives, still want back-ups and spares.

Old Hickory kitchen knives, are used a lot down where I am, property use, be it in the garden, or game and fish. I use the 3.5" Paring knife, and others do as I do and just make a cardboard sheath and these are in trucks, barns, sheds, family car, tractor, whatever.
Hence the reason I wish someone made a simple sheath for these.
Tandy's is no longer around here, if so, we'd just get a kit and make one.

Bailey Boat,
You are doing what many are doing - some want a nicer knife than a Old Hickory still the price point negates a Bark River or similar.
Woodswalkers - just fit a really neat niche!

 

[Coyote3855]

sm Knife Sheath?

sm,

I really appreciate your thoughtful and innovative posts. You are the antithesis of the mallninja/tacticool school. Noticed you mentioned a cardboard sheath for Old Hickory knives. I was in Alaska a few years back, bought a small knife locally made from saw blade and caribou shed antler. I asked about a sheath. The yound lady said, "make your own like we do here in Alaska..." Folded cardboard and duct tape makes a quick, safe, and secure pouch sheath for a knife of any size. I made one for a cheap machete, and for the little OH paring knife. Slick. All black or gray if you're conservative, or you can use colored plastic tape and decorate to your liking.

Regards,

Coyote3855

 

[sm]

It is I that thanks you and others.

Hey we all learn from passing on whatever we have experiences with.

Re: Duct tape.

I have always used Electrical tape, for all sorts of stuff, even back when it was "friction tape" .

Nothing against Duct Tape, I do use it, still why electrical tape:

First off, I was born in the mid 50's and grandma did not have any duct tape for me to get into after she hid the cellophane tape.
*innocent wittle boy wook*

Later...
Military version differed from what folks could buy over the counter , so the 80mph, 90mph, 100mph tape [it depended on what branch of military was give another branch a hard time it seemed to me...] was a whole lot better that what regular folks bought.

Then a HVAC fella shares "Duct tape is not for Ducts". *huh*
Oh they have real darn nice HVAC tape, and it is pricey!

Electrical tape comes in a small roll, not expensive, so one will have rolls stashed everywhere.
This new vinyl type, stretches, and seems to be more water resistant, like in fixing a hose on a car, not to mention actually being used on electrical needs - like pitiful jumper cable and not getting the snot knocked out of you jumping a vehicle [ I might know something about this...]

One trip into Canada and why a Buck 110 decided to bust its lock, belonging to a lady in a group of Outward Bound girls, is beyond me/us, a new knife at that and not abused.
Just out, and they will be for 2 weeks.
So, I took a stick, whittled it to fit inside handles, and "locked" the blade open, and wrapped with electrical tape. *ta-da*

This is great for a cute gals making pizza in the middle of nowhere btw...

Sheath, was made with electrical tape and Aluminum foil/ Bark/ cord.

A few days later we ran into them at a Ranger Station and these ladies were making a sheath for the Ranger for some kitchen knife ( like an old Hickory), we had given these ladies one of our spare rolls.
Their guide, really felt bad, a new pack and she forgot to pack electrical tape.
It happens.

Woodswalkers, and similar small fixed knives, are like duct and electrical tape.
Not real expensive, small and easy to tote, and just too darn handy for too many things, to not have one.


Steve

 

[PTK]

Duly noted, Steve. I've added a roll of electrical tape to all my survival kits, plus the car, along with friction tape.

I've taken the plunge and ordered a few Woodswalkers, too. I'd been eying them some time anyway.

 

[Stainz]

I am a retired college instructor - about to hit sixty this summer. My hobby bucks are very limited, as hard as that may be to understand due to my new Bark River knives. They came about from my new S&W revolver stash, which had been accumulating since '06 when I decided I wanted a 620. That changed a year back when the '07 catalog showed the 686SSR - I had to have it - S&W promised a price just above the 620 - more saving. It finally arrived last fall, and while I was writing the check for the tagged price + s/t, the shop owner ripped the tag off, replacing it with one $80 more. I shook my head and left. I paid cash for Christmas... and still had some moola left - knife folks are a lot nicer - and no Fed #4473 to fill out!

I grew up in poverty - and I am a packrat. I still have my USN peacoat... it hasn't fit since Ford. I buy yard sale knife-block sets - especially Old Hickory - usually $1-$2/set. Wrap the blades with 'duck' tape (Hey, I was given a roll of that fantastic aluminum foil tape - that's 'duct' tape.), so named because it's gooey adhesive could only aggravate down! Then, get out the Dremel, etc, and some cut-off wheels - you can reshape them as you want - the parers are nice for carvers. Some 80-100-150-220 grit on a 1/4 sheet oscillating palm sander will clean up the oak handle - and slowly reshape it. Finish it with some boiled linseed oil & turpentine. Clean the goo from the 'duck' tape & linseed oil off the blade - Goo-B-Gone or WD40 - and clean up the blade and re-edge it. Yeah, I have too much time!

Sorry about the Buck 110 breaking - I've never seen even a loose one. They are the best buy in a folder, if you are near a Wally World ($26 around here.) - and 'Made in the USA'. I love my Bucks... great values, especially the after-Christmas clearance-priced 'Collector's Tin' - two years ago, I bought a stack for $11/each. I made some folks happy - this year, I only found one - $21 - made my older son happy on his 38th B'day last month.

When 'the eagle flies' next month - I may order a couple of those Russel 'Woods-walkers'. Thanks!

Stainz

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I have a Woodswalker with me in uniform all the time now.

Fits great in the ankle pocket of the Army ACU uniform. Great little knife!

 

[sm]

Stainz,
Anything can and will break as you know, and of course Mr. Murphy will assure this happens at the worst time and place.
That Buck 110, would not have broken had it not been taken on the trip, right off the bat I betcha. *yep*

Ohen Cepel,
I am glad to read another report of long time use.
I am guessing you are using the leather sheath?
That sheath, just "fits" so many pockets and just works.

I still wish, they made this in a Carbon Steel or CV version...just the way I am...

Simple is good.
And if one pays attention and looks at history, some designs have stood the test of time.
All cultures, all over the world, had /still do, a simple fixed blade knife, that is a user.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

Did somebody mention duct tape?

I've been known to use duct tape creatively. Check out the machete sheath below on the right:



I bought the machete at Harbor Freight a few years ago for $5. It came with the crappiest canvas sheath I've seen. Using the sheath as a base I covered it in duct tape. I then covered it with a layer of camo duct tape -- bought on closeout at Wally World for $1. It came out surprisingly well. One of these days I'll hit it with some exterior-grade clear polyurethane for extra waterproofing.

 

[sm]

*lol*

Dave,
I was actually waiting for you to post that picture.

Re: Sheath.

Too many years ago, we picked up a no name sheath knife, with fake bone handles, to use as a pry bar/scraper, and "door stop" for a old hunting cabin.

Sheath was this real wimpy and cheesy leather, thin, and felt like vinyl.
Nurses are really neat folks...
Roll of surgical tape (silk) is really great tape. She covered the sheath with surgical tape and the sheath outlasted the knife.

Roll of surgical tape, the silk, is really worth having in a med kit, and general purpose kit.

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

I've made wallets before out of duct tape, but nevr really considered it for sheaths.
I suppose a vinyl (fake leathery stuff I have a ton of), sewn up, than covered in duct tape, would make a pretty decent sheath.
That Woodswalker looks like a nice knife, too. Too bad I can't carry it in NC. It would be nice, though, for things like camping and canoeing (I'm thinking the kydex eck sheath would be better for this purpose)

 

[Bailey Boat]

CZ.... why couldn't you carry it in NC?????

 

[Piedmont Plinker]

No FB carry concealed in NC (I coulnd't carry it for daily use as a utility knife, for camping etc, sure)

 

[Eagle1899]

Fond of my woodswalker and have gave a few to friends. Wish they would dupe it in S30V with micarta scales.

 

[Rugby8]

A cool September morning, Woodswalker in back pocket, Savage Mod 24 .410/.22 in hand, a pocket full of shells and my squirrel barker. It don't get much better than that.

 

[Rugby8]

 

[hso]

Sounds about perfect.

 

[TimboKhan]

No FB carry concealed in NC (I coulnd't carry it for daily use as a utility knife, for camping etc, sure)

WARNING: THIS IS MY OPINION ONLY!

I think this falls under the category of the law being one thing, and how the law is actually enforced a completely different thing. I looked at that knife (and liked it!), and If you don't run around committing crimes and/or acting like an a-hole or a mall ninja or something, I don' think the average cop would have one word to say about it providing they even noticed it. Additionally, appearances mean a great deal in this regard. That knife is not a threatening knife in any way shape or form.

Hey, I am not saying break the law. I am just saying that there are times when common sense says that you aren't going to have to worry about the law all that much. If it were ME, I would carry it if I wanted, and I doubt very seriously that it would ever pose a problem.

Mods, if you feel this crosses the line of suggesting someone break the law, please feel free to delete this post at your pleasure.