Northwoods Indian River jack knife, vintage or modern knife?

The Indian River is not only vintage-looking. It also deliberately chooses an old-school approach to jack knifes: you won’t be able to open it with one hand, nor can you lock it. It is a slip-joint knife, the same kind that you would have seen 50 years ago when outdoor was a low-tec activity. But is the Indian River knife outdated?

Don’t be deceived by the vintage looks of this jack knife. Made out of CPM154 composite steel, you can clearly see it wasn’t manufactured in the 1950’s! We’re talking about high-quality steel, robust and stainless (compared to the 1095 high-carbon Northwoods jack knifes were usually made of).

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The Indian River Jacknife is very small and lightweight (though you can find lighter knives with composite handles). The double bolster makes for a very sturdy blade that you will handle easily. However, you might want to keep the size of the Indian River in mind: a lot of users will find its blade too small.

This Northwoods knife comes with a sturdy leather slipcase and is sold around $130 (£83). A decent price, even though you might have trouble purchasing one due to its limited availability (the manufacturer is often out of stocks). Patience is virtue for the vintage-looking knife lovers!

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