Back in August of this year, we posted some photos on our blog of a Julius Pettersson knife, which Woodlore customer Nick Simmons had made a handle for. Shortly after this, Nick got in touch with us again to share some photos of his original WK1 Woodlore Knife, which, after years of use, he decided to re-scale.
When asked if he’d mind us posting the pictures on our blog, he replied, “Yes, but I fear the puritans will hunt me down and lynch me for changing it!” Well, there’s only one way to find out! Let us know what you think of Nick’s handiwork:
Hi there,
I had some fun over the past few days re-scaling my Woodlore Knife. The original maple had stained over the years, so I decided to have a change:
Nick's re-scaled WK1 Woodlore Knife
I incorporated a black fibre liner, a brass plate and some cape buffalo horn. While it was sat there without scales on, I had a go at some file work along the tang as well:
A close-up of Nick's file work
Hope you like it!
All the best,
Nick
The Ray Mears & Woodlore Bushcraft Blog 
Hi Martin,
Sadly I’m not the intrepid guide from Wales!
Hope you’re enjoying Vienne!
All the best and thanks to everyone for the nice comments!
Nick
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Is this the Nick I know from Wales, the intrepid guide of Roc de La Peche fame ( Extreme survival 1999/2000 ?? ) If so Veronique and I are back in her hometown of Vienne.
Knife neatly brought back to life with good taste!
Kind wishes,
Martin
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We’ll forgive you for doing such a lovely job on that handle.
I have a self handled Mora blade with Madrone Burl wood, as the property I own in Oregon has lots of Madrone scattered throughout. Great to have a knife that works, even better to have a personal connection to such a great tool. Not sure my choice of wood is the best either, but it’s survived camping, canoeing, fishing, several dunks in the water, etc, so it works fine for me!
If that handle turns out to be a bit slippery in the field you can always make it a little less slippery with a bit if beeswax rubbed on the handle. When you get back to civilization you can just clean off the wax and the dirt it trapped to keep the knife looking good. Beeswax works well with gloved or mitten hand slip issues too.
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looks gorgeous! i love the original but this is also fantastic espescially the file work and by the way when i saw it the first thing i thought of was the gibson XD beutiful work.
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Nice work! Personally if my work was that good: I’d have sold the original, bought a woodlore clone blade, handled it and trousered the difference. But as we all know knives are more than just cutting tools, the memories come to mean a lot.
SBW
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You bought it, so it’s yours to do with as you please. Yes I like the original Maple but I also like the Horn as well – which is better? There’s only one way to find out – and that’s to use it and enjoy it. (sorry for the naff Harry Hill reference – also sorry to international readers as it will mean nothing to you). Mate if the Horn suits you then fine. If not you now have the skill so you can order Maple and put it back again if you choose. You could even go for oak like the new knife. Use it, enjoy it and get your moneys worth 🙂
Winner of ‘Comment of the Week’
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Really nice work Mr Simmons, To me the handles are the consumables of the knife, If the blade works yet the scales no longer look pleasing to you, why not change them, Good stuff!
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Thanks folks!
I’d quite forgotten about this! I was checking my emails and saw the Woodlore mailshot. Came to the sight to look at some of the deals and saw my name! As i said to Woodlore at the time, i re-scaled after the years had seen fit to stain the original maple. I ummed and ahhed for ages about what to put on. In the end the basis for my decision of Cape buff, brass and black liner was based on the colour of one of my other loves in life, a Gibson Les Paul ’57 Black Beauty guitar! I loved the maple, but i also fancied a change.
In use the horn is tactile and nice in the hand, it takes a nice polish and yet doesn’t slip around when wet. While i was waiting for the handle materials i also thought to myself that i will be the only owner of this knife till the day it passes to my son or daughter, so I’ll have a go at some file work on the tang. At the very least it can never be confused with anybody else’s! I’m glad you all like it anyway, I’ve been watching out for fire wielding hoards of folk in “The Queue” to come after me. All i can say is it’ll be worth the wait!
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That looks really handsome. Beautiful job.
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Nick, as an amateur cutler and woodworker I can say that your work is fantastic. The horn handle is nicely shaped for use, the brass and fiber addition very attractive and the filework just sensational. Thanks for sharing.
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There’s about a 20 billion year waiting list for the Woodlore now xD. Glad you’re using the knife and not just looking at it! I think it looks pretty nice, but i do prefer the original handle. 🙂
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