Folks, we have been a sponsor of this amazing website for a few years now, since our inception. We have fiddled around trying to find our place...first as a blogging site, then as a retail site selling traditional archery products. Over time, I was "side tracked" by my day job, and Traditional Woodsman fell to neglect. Our site was hacked, we weren't very active.
My other company is perking along now;I have hired both my sons, and now I have a little bandwidth to get things going again. We have been working diligently to get the site back up and running, and developing some new (although traditional) products. We will have some of the Asbell products that we were known for, as well as a few surprises. The thing is, nothing happens all at once. We will be rolling a few products out at a time...here is the first:
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/hunting/1fad4667-c8bb-4f28-bb9e-1ab47a3e2917_zpsfaq4f78w.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/hunting/1fad4667-c8bb-4f28-bb9e-1ab47a3e2917_zpsfaq4f78w.jpg.html)
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/hunting/378357e0-96c7-4eb8-96be-dd4cc1fd9452_zps2ziacgq6.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/hunting/378357e0-96c7-4eb8-96be-dd4cc1fd9452_zps2ziacgq6.jpg.html)
The Traditional Woodsman Skinner. I will never claim to have "designed" this knife. It is the culmination of what I thought a proper field knife should be, and from Carltons perspective, how a knife should be built.
The 4 inch blade is 1095 steel, with a Cocobolo handle. The steel requires some care. Clean it, oil it, don't just toss it in a drawer until you need it next year. The chemical etching gives it the patina of an old friend. It's meant to be used, and cared for. It's meant to be handed down, not tossed away.
Carlton has taken great care in the process to make sure the spine of the blade is more flexible than the cutting edge. Close inspection shows a "quench line" dividing the blade.
The blade shape is heavily influenced by the knives I "go to" the most when hunting. Plenty of belly for skinning, yet a tight enough point so opening up a whitetail doesn't require a second knife. Carlton modified my blade model a bit, adding scroll work on top and a more abrupt bottom edge, to keep the blade for slipping under load. We have a lanyard hole on the knife, I find them very handy when taking apart big game, when the handle get s slippery, or when using the knife in a spot where dropping it could be bad new (over water, in a treestand).
I won't claim "this is all the knife you will ever need"...most of us have a drawer full of "perfect knives". But to me this knife is special. I have spent a lifetime in the woods, fiddling around with different ideas for the perfect hunting knife. And while I wouldn't want to choose, if I had to, this knife can do almost anything required of a woodsmans knife.
Price, including the sheath, is $135 plus actual shipping. In a few weeks you can go on my site and buy online, for now please email me: roger@traditionalwoodsman.com and we will work out the details.
Stay tuned....more great stuff on the way
:bigsmyl: :bigsmyl: :bigsmyl:
Good to see you rolling on Roger. Looks like a great knife!! Hope to see you at Compton​. I'd like to give the new knife a feel.
Steve Jr
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
You've got a winner there Roger. I know it's made right because "Carlton", C L Matteo is the man that makes all of my knives and hawks. Carlton has been forging knives and such for 40+ years and he knows his stuff when it comes to steel.
Good luck with your new Traditional Woodsman Skinner. :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Ron LaClair:
You've got a winner there Roger. I know it's made right because "Carlton", C L Matteo is the man that makes all of my knives and hawks. Carlton has been forging knives and such for 40+ years and he knows his stuff when it comes to steel.
Good luck with your new Traditional Woodsman Skinner. :thumbsup:
Thanks Ron...I hope Carlton showed this to you before he shipped it. It's awesome.
That's gorgeous.
Any chance for a crossdraw style sheath?
Great knife. I want one (or maybe two).
Thank you for....I hadn't thought about a crossdraw sheath. I'm sure we can work something out.
Email me roger@traditionalwoodsman.com for orders, thanks to those who have already!
Looking Good!
I really like that knife! I think one of those will end up in my "collection" before long.
Tom
I really like that knife! I think one of those will end up in my "collection" before long.
Tom
Roger, that's a beauty and as Ron LaClair says, Carl knows his stuff, so the quality will be there. Nice addition to your line-up of offerings.
Blacksmith Carlton Matteo is a student of history, he likes to make steel in the old way and in the old style.
A few years ago he made a trip to the museum where the tomahawk of Squire Boone, the brother of Daniel Boone was on display. He took pictures and measurements then came home and made a copy of the hawk.
When you get a knife or hawk from Carlton you can be assured it was made by an old time blacksmith whose goal is to create a tool in a style that looks and feels like those carried by woodsmen from the past.
(https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/57/bf/cf/57bfcf82909067a656fa8095465561a2.jpg)
Carlton's copy of the Boon hawk which is mine now.
(http://www.shrewbows.com/rons_linkpics/Squire%20Boon%20copy.JPG)
Nice to see you back in it Roger. That is a really handy looking knife.
Roger,
I got my free Traditional Woodsman Prostaff version of the knife in the mail today. Looks great. I'm guessing Ron, Greg and Tim should all get theirs today too. :D
P.S.
There's a snake in every woodpile
(http://img1.rnkr-static.com/list_img_v2/19540/339540/C520/the-very-best-of-the-futurama-fry-meme-u1.jpg)
QuoteOriginally posted by Ray Lyon:
Roger,
I got my free Traditional Woodsman Prostaff version of the knife in the mail today. Looks great. I'm guessing Ron, Greg and Tim should all get theirs today too. :D
P.S.
That will cost you 3 apple pies Ray. 1 sweet for Ron, 2 tart for me. :bigsmyl:
Ron, thanks for posting the information about Carlton. And be surprised I haven't finagled you out of that 'Hawk yet.
I urge you guys to look on Ron's site for some of Carltons other work. Lots of period style knives, all built first quality as working knives.
Wishing you and your team the best of success.
The Michigander representation on this forum is incredible.
QuoteOriginally posted by gvdocholiday:
That's gorgeous.
Any chance for a crossdraw style sheath?
Crossdraw (Canoe) sheath is on the way, thanks for the idea!!
Doc is a local Michigander. We're full of bright ideas and never cause any trouble. ;)
Thanks for the idea, we are now offering a crossdraw style "Canoe Sheath"!
(http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h227/rnorris/Mobile%20Uploads/0da40806-a19b-459a-b91d-6c52519a57e4_zpszarl9a9a.jpg) (http://s65.photobucket.com/user/rnorris/media/Mobile%20Uploads/0da40806-a19b-459a-b91d-6c52519a57e4_zpszarl9a9a.jpg.html)
Nice........ :thumbsup:
Now yer loggin... :thumbsup:
QuoteOriginally posted by Ron LaClair:
Now yer loggin... :thumbsup:
I get pretty good advise from a certain venerated elder of our tribe :D
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
soon
QuoteOriginally posted by Friend:
Wishing you and your team the best of success.
You know, you and I have never met but I have read your posts on here for years. I just want to say you may be the kindest person I have ever met on the internet. I have never seen you type a negative word. Thank you for the well wishes, have an awesome day. :)