Northwoods Bear Lake

The Northwoods Knife brand name originated in Gladstone, Michigan when a man named Dave Shirley adopted it as his knife company's name in 2004. Dave was well known for collaborating with popular knife companies to have knives made to his specifications for resale well before 2004 & beyond. KnivesShipFree bought Northwoods from Dave & has continued to team up with respected makers to produce knives marked with the Northwoods brand name.
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Thanks for earlier comments, sorry for the slow reply ::tu:: some beauties there Ivoryman and gsmith ::super_happy:: .... I'm not sure how many of you guys are on Facebook and sorry if your seeing my pics again.... But the bear lake is definitely my favourite pattern/slippy..... I kind of hope gec doesn't start using the patern, just so it stays that bit more special/different ::shrug:: .... Any how here's a couple of kudu's ::tu::
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Some smokey burlap :)
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Quick Steel
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by Quick Steel »

All great beauties, without exception.
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

First run stag....
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kootenay joe
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

I'll take the Stag one please. :D
Why is it we don't know the GEC pattern # for this knife ? And, as far as i know GEC has not used this frame for any other knife.
Did Queen have a sleeveboard knife of this exact size ? If they did it is possible that GEC bought the Bear Lake frame from Queen.
Any thoughts on this ?
kj
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by Ivoryman »

TravisB wrote:Thanks for earlier comments, sorry for the slow reply ::tu:: some beauties there Ivoryman and gsmith ::super_happy:: .... I'm not sure how many of you guys are on Facebook and sorry if your seeing my pics again.... But the bear lake is definitely my favourite pattern/slippy..... I kind of hope gec doesn't start using the patern, just so it stays that bit more special/different ::shrug:: .... Any how here's a couple of kudu's ::tu::

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You're rocking it Travis, beautiful shots, great backdrop with the lake and the rope. Love those shots, first rate photography. And of course fabulous Kudu, stag, even the Burlap looks great in that group. Wow. Love the pattern and yours are stellar from those runs. Wow.
"It's what people know about themselves inside that makes them afraid." -No Name, High Plains Drifter
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Ivoryman wrote:
TravisB wrote:Thanks for earlier comments, sorry for the slow reply ::tu:: some beauties there Ivoryman and gsmith ::super_happy:: .... I'm not sure how many of you guys are on Facebook and sorry if your seeing my pics again.... But the bear lake is definitely my favourite pattern/slippy..... I kind of hope gec doesn't start using the patern, just so it stays that bit more special/different ::shrug:: .... Any how here's a couple of kudu's ::tu::

image.jpeg

image.jpeg
You're rocking it Travis, beautiful shots, great backdrop with the lake and the rope. Love those shots, first rate photography. And of course fabulous Kudu, stag, even the Burlap looks great in that group. Wow. Love the pattern and yours are stellar from those runs. Wow.
Thank you Ivoryman ::tu:: I enjoy taking knife pics, problem is I always need more knives ::dang::
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

::tu::
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kootenay joe
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

The first run of Bear Lake is a barehead, no caps, right ?
And second release has caps ?
What was the time interval between these 2 releases ?
I still think there could be a Queen connection with this pattern.
kj
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

kootenay joe wrote:The first run of Bear Lake is a barehead, no caps, right ?
And second release has caps ?
What was the time interval between these 2 releases ?
I still think there could be a Queen connection with this pattern.
kj
First run was in 2016 with only top bolster and second run in 2018 with the double bolsters/caps :)

I believe it's a pattern all to its own.... It's like a offspring of a Northwoods Forrest Jack and a Fremont :lol:

::tu::
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

kootenay joe wrote:The first run of Bear Lake is a barehead, no caps, right ?
And second release has caps ?
What was the time interval between these 2 releases ?
I still think there could be a Queen connection with this pattern.
kj
I was just looking at some old Case classic, Queen and Cattaraugus sleeve board pattern knives that look quite similar, but slightly bigger than the bear lake....not single bladed though, most with a pen knife on the end....
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

It does not matter the number of blades. Did Queen make any knife on a sleeveboard frame that is the exact length of the Bear Lake ?
When the first Bear Lake came out there was mention that it was made by Queen but then it was not mentioned again. As there is no GEC knife made on this frame, i think the frame came from Queen and the rest of parts & assembly was done at GEC.
kj
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by gsmith7158 »

kootenay joe wrote:It does not matter the number of blades. Did Queen make any knife on a sleeveboard frame that is the exact length of the Bear Lake ?
When the first Bear Lake came out there was mention that it was made by Queen but then it was not mentioned again. As there is no GEC knife made on this frame, i think the frame came from Queen and the rest of parts & assembly was done at GEC.
kj
In the 2018 production totals the Bear Lake is listed as a #59.
------------------

Greg

IF YOU AIN'T BUYING OR LOOKING AT A KNIFE THEN YOU AIN'T LIVING.
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kootenay joe
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

Surely if GEC had it's own tooling for a #59 frame, they would have brought out knives with this frame ? It could be a sleeveboard pen knife, sleeveboard jack knife or a sleeveboard whittler. 3 1/2" - 3 5/8" is a popular size for a knife that you will carry.
Only GEC knows.
kj
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

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Sharpnshinyknives
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by Sharpnshinyknives »

TravisB wrote:image.jpeg

Travis, The handle on that one is breathtaking. SO very nice!
SSk
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Sharpnshinyknives wrote:
TravisB wrote:image.jpeg

Travis, The handle on that one is breathtaking. SO very nice!
SSk
Thanks SSK ::tu:: that ones my current favourite, will have to get a good front on shot
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Couple of recent pics....
Giraffe,
Mammoth,
Kudu,stag,giraffe,mammoth
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Quick Steel
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by Quick Steel »

Those are beautiful knives Travis and very nicely photographed. ::tu::
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gsmith7158
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by gsmith7158 »

Great looking covers Travis! ::tu::
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

Thank you! Quick steel + gsmith!! ::tu::
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

So the 2 with end caps are second release & barehead is first release ? Have any been re-handled by a guy who likes muskrats ? I know he has done some with mammoth and some with ivory.
kj
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

kootenay joe wrote:So the 2 with end caps are second release & barehead is first release ? Have any been re-handled by a guy who likes muskrats ? I know he has done some with mammoth and some with ivory.
kj
Correct Kj on first n second release.... none of these ones have been re-handled....
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by kootenay joe »

When in hand do you have a preference for one over the other, barehead and caps ?
I have the first release, barehead, and in hand feel is exceptionally nice. Sometimes putting caps on changes with weight distribution and feeling in hand can differ.
kj
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TravisB
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Re: Northwoods Bear Lake

Post by TravisB »

kootenay joe wrote:When in hand do you have a preference for one over the other, barehead and caps ?
I have the first release, barehead, and in hand feel is exceptionally nice. Sometimes putting caps on changes with weight distribution and feeling in hand can differ.
kj
Hmmm not sure I have a preference, I love them both :) :D
But yes double caps adds a little weight.... Normally I prefer a knife with a little more weight, but with these two I'm not sure I could pick a preference ::dang::
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