The Woodcraft The Official Boy Scout Knife

Webster Marble was an American inventor and early outdoorsman, spent the majority of his life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where he operated Marble Safety Axe Company. Some of his most popular inventions included the Woodcraft knife, the Marble's Safety Axe, and the Marble's Ideal Compass. These products were all designed to be practical and durable for use outdoors.

Webster Marble's entrepreneurial journey began in the late 1800s with the introduction of his Ideal knife, a hunting knife featuring a bowie shape and a large fuller that significantly reduced its weight. In 1914, an outdoorsman named George W. Brooks, who also served as the chief editor of The Outer's Book, was an avid outdoorsman and designed a variety of knives and tools for use in the outdoors in his lifetime, approached Webster Marble with a new knife design he called the Woodcraft. With a wide, upswept design and flat-ground large bellied blade, Brooks deemed his knife the perfect big game and trapping knife. An agreement was reached between Brooks and Marble to manufacture the Woodcraft knife at Marble's Gladstone, Michigan factory.

- Webster Marble (pictured above) founded Marble Safety Axe Company

- Some of Marble's most popular inventions included The Woodcraft, Safety Axe, and Ideal Compass

- Marbles journey began in the late 1800s with the introduction of his Ideal knife

- Marbles was approached by Geoge W. Brooks to produce a new knife design, called The Woodcraft (pictured above)

- The original Woodcraft featured a 3" stacked handle with a large bellied blade

The original Woodcraft knife featured a 3-inch stacked leather handle but it underwent modifications over time due to criticism. The initial 3-inch handle, intended for Brooks's "stuffed pinch grip" technique, which completely enclosed the handle within the user's hand, proved to be less popular among some users. As a result, the handle was gradually lengthened to accommodate a wider range of hand sizes and preferences. In 1933 the Woodcraft had become the official sheathed knife of the American Boy Scouts. While knife historians now believe that the Ideal knife might have been a more suitable choice for the Boy Scouts due to its versatility and price, the Woodcraft's wide belly and sturdy construction made it a popular selection among scouts and outdoorsmen alike.

Large Bellied Clip Point knives, such as the Woodcraft, feature a pronounced belly and a curved tip. This unique design combination makes them exceptional for slicing and skinning tasks, which makes them a popular choice among hunters. Despite their great slicing ability, large-bellied clip point knives are less effective for piercing tasks, such as stabbing or making delicate incisions. The reduced point limits their ability to penetrate deeply, making them less suitable for applications that require a sharp, pointed tip.

- In 1933, The Woodcraft became the official sheathed knife of the American Boy Scouts