The first thing that you should know about me is that I am a bonafide knife snob! Over the past twenty five plus years of teaching and working in the wilderness, I have tested, been frustrated, and disappointed by knives that did not live up to their billing. One blade might have great steel but the geometry is all wrong, causing you to expend too much energy to complete a simple task. Another blade might have great geometry, but could not hold an edge, thus creating a whole other list of problems and dangers. The testament to this is the several cardboard boxes full of knives that set in my garage as failures.
I met Jeff Crowner a while back in a local knife store in Bend Oregon. He was showing the proprietor his wares for sale. The proprietor had called me in to give my opinion on Jeff’s blades. Upon hefting the Northwest Bush Blade, I was pleasantly surprised at the weight, feel, and balance of the blade. The blade geometry was such that I recognize the potential of this blade as a serious wilderness knife. I asked Jeff to tell me about his construction methods. Jeff spent the next half hour explaining his steel selection, deferentially heat treating, blade grinding for proper edge geometry, handle selection, and mustard patina finishing. All through our conversation, his passion the blades and his humility shone without. When I asked him where he learned all of this, he explained how he studied with Wayne Goddard (If you do not know who that is, you do not know knives). At this point, I thought to myself, this might be the real deal. I purchased a blade from Jeff, and explained that he would hear back from me in a few months.
I took the blade to work with me. The blade was used to construct multiple tools (bow drill set, digging tools, walking sticks, shelters etc). In each successive class of students, I simply handed them the blade, and put them to work. I then exchanged the blade with a hatchet, and let them complete the task. On the following days of each class, I allowed the students to pick which cutting tool that they would prefer. Unless pounding was involved, the Northwest Bush Blade was the most chosen implement.
Finally, at the conclusion of my summer teaching season, the blade has been used 28 days of constant use in the field, and I have yet to sharpen it. As of yesterday, it will sever a two by four in eight to ten swings. This blade has been used for everything from peeling bark off of lodge pole pine, to slicing jerky for the drying rack. It has always worked, is still sharp, and is still in one piece. I can give no higher praise to any blade than that.
If you are looking for a well designed sturdy work tool, the Northwest bush blade made by Jeff Crowner would be my first choice and recommendation.
© Jeff Crowner2009
Sincerely,
Joel E. Lisson (Lead Wilderness Instructor of Oregon Firearms Academy, and Co-Owner of REACT Training Systems).
