Woodsmans Pal

[Uncle_Alvah]

Heres the irony. The folks at the factory in Pennsylvania have been cranking out the Woodsmans Pals tool since the early fortys, were issued to Troops during the war. By now, they must have sold slews of the things, millions maybe, yet, I have never come across, personally, anyone who owned one or even seen one until just recently in a store. Despite visiting all kinds of gun shows and flea markets, garage sales and auctions over the years, never saw one for sale. Been lucky enough to know all kinds of good woodsmen and tool nuts over the years, I'm just always wondering where all these things went to? Not something you'd throw in the silverware drawer......

[ZOOBEAR]

Great question! I've wondered the same thing.

[scoutinlife]

Now you got me thinking you here about them seem in magazines for sale but I never have actual seen a Woodsman pal in person or no anyone that has one!!!!! ???

[Kevin]

I have one. It works fairly good. It needs to be sharp just like any blade. The balance in good in my hands and it does have some weight in the end this seems to let it cary through larger branches.

I now the military uses it. Would not want to be wacked with one. Could come in handy in a fight ;D ;D ;D

I have not had it that long about a year but I have used it in the field at camp in the Western UP it works better than a machette on pine and other woody stuf. not as good on tall grass/weeds. It will cut down a tree.

If you had to make an emergence shelter or fire it fits into a full size pack or on the out side of a day pack.

In camp I use a chainsaw/axe or my sons ;D ;D ;D more than the Woodsman Pal. It does a lot of things good including as a hammer it is not the best at any thing. but one tool to cary works for me. It is shorter than a axe or machette and comes with a stone to sharpen.

Kevin

[Joshinak]

There seem to be quite a few of them around here. I always see one or two at gunshows (some trying to sell "antique" (rusty) ones for ~$200 ::) ).

One guy at a recent gunshow was selling some blanks that he had picked up somewhere for $10 a piece... just the stamped, unsharpened blade. I bought one.. wish I'd bought them all because I was able to do a beautiful job finishing that one with a purple heart handle/brass rivets.

I've had one that I bought at a local knife shop for years though.

As much as they advertise them working like magic... they're not. At least not on the tough and springy alders around here. I find myself hacking on the branch that's in my way for awhile.. and finally giving up and pushing past or stepping over/under it.

The scickle hook is NOT effective on woody stuff. What is IS good for is hooking the branch you just cut to fling aside.

Somewhere on the internet I've downloaded a scan of the WWII GI fighting manual for the 'pal... that's real interesting. Drawings of GI's facing off with samuri wielding Japs using these.

[lost1]

Considering the price of these things, I'll probably never see one. ;)

[Dan_Kane]

My wonderful wife bought me one for my recent birthday...got the top-of-the-line model - leather pile handle, steel hand guard & leather sheath.

Great tool...I just *had* to rush outside and chop some tree limbs ;-)

PS. When you carry it on your belt in the sheath, you look kinda like a pirate...always a good thing

[longshot]

anyone got a pic of one or a link to a pic?


thanks
ls

[scoutinlife]

anyone got a pic of one or a link to a pic?


thanks
ls


www.woodmanspal.com

Here ya go long shot!! ;)

[longshot]

thanks scout

i think i can make something like that for a couple bucks i'll let you know how i get on and how i make it if it works out.


ls

[VirginiaHunter]

I had one years ago that I got one from an elderly neighbor, he was a WWII vet. I use to help him around his house doing cores for him. Had a canvas cover with US on it. I ended giving it to a buddy, this was back in the mid 70's. I haven't seen anybody else with one, but I see ad's for them in rags like NAHC and such.