K4 Tracker Wojtek Wilderness Survival Knife

Description

This Tracker knife from Knives4 was developed by a U.S. survival expert and designed as a wilderness survival tool. The name “Wojtek” is of Slavic origin and means “Happy Warrior”. A brown bear who became a soldier in World War II was given this name. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, this bear carried artillery crates to the frontlines to support the Polish troops, who had adopted him and made him part of their family.

Limited Edition

This exclusive version is strictly limited to only 240 pieces. Each knife is randomly assigned, and the selection of specific numbers is unfortunately not possible.

Product Specifications

• Blade Thickness: approx. 4.8 mm
• Blade Length: 163 mm
• Handle Length: 140 mm
• Overall Length: 303 mm
• Handle Width: 20 mm
• Steel Type: D2 (HRC 60)
• Handle Material: G10 – black
• Weight without Sheath: 422 g
• Weight with Sheath: 537 g

Core Ideas and Thoughts of the Knife Maker

Hello, I’m Ryan R. Lawley from Halifax, Pennsylvania.

Yes, exactly – a place you’ve probably never heard of. But this is where the story of Timber Lynx Innovations and the Wojtek knife begins.

I was born in 1981 in a small rural town in Pennsylvania. As a child, I was drawn to the mystery of the forest surrounding my hometown. I spent much of my childhood alone in the woods, with a backpack full of camping and bushcraft gear – and, of course, always carrying a knife… or two! My family consists mostly of outdoor enthusiasts. The older generations were experienced fishermen, hunters, trappers, and woodworkers. My grandfather was first a soldier, later a carpenter, and a passionate outdoorsman – he was the one who taught me my first outdoor skills.

During my school years, I spent several years in the Boy Scouts, which further sharpened my skills. In fifth grade, my history teacher, Mr. Motter, sparked my interest in wilderness survival. He introduced our class to Gary Paulsen’s “Hatchet” series – stories about a boy stranded in the wild, who had no survival knowledge but managed to endure through courage, trial-and-error, and determination.

Mr. Motter was also involved in war reenactments, and one day, while discussing animals in warfare, he mentioned Wojtek, the Polish war bear. Wojtek means "Happy Warrior", and his heroic actions saved lives in World War II, helping to defeat the Nazis in an artillery battle.

These stories inspired me to turn every camping trip into a survival expedition. I learned how primitive skills could be incredibly useful – not just in the wilderness but in daily life as well. My fascination with unconventional war heroes and unlikely victories grew, and the story of Wojtek stuck with me.

My survival and bushcraft skills were acquired partly by chance and partly through focused learning. As a child, summer camps gave me my first glimpses into wilderness living. Later, I attended various survival schools and training camps, where I saw how people used their gear – and more importantly, what not to use. But I also learned a lot simply by observing and talking to experienced individuals. I took every opportunity to learn from highly trained soldiers, hunters, fishermen, and outdoor experts.

Over the years, I read numerous survival manuals from different countries and authors. Since I couldn’t decide which was the best, I read them all. I compared techniques, filtered out the best ones, and practiced them until they became second nature.

Throughout my life, I have had many interesting, strange, and even dangerous jobs. One of the most rewarding was working with disabled athletes who wanted to return to skiing and snowboarding. Their determination and ability to adapt their equipment impressed me. I applied this same principle to designing the Wojtek knife – creating a multifunctional tool that works not only for standard hands but also for those with special needs. My goal was to design an affordable, versatile knife that could withstand extreme use, be accessible to all skill levels, and serve a wide range of applications.

The journey to the Wojtek knife was filled with setbacks and lessons. Designing the shape and proportions was easy, but reducing vibrations and creating an ergonomic handle that worked both barehanded and with gloves was a real challenge. I tested many high-end knives, some costing between $250 and $1,000. Most were excellent for one or two specific tasks – but none could do everything equally well. So, I took the best features from these knives and refined them, adjusting every detail by hand until I achieved the perfect balance between functionality and handling.

In 2006, I crafted the first Wojtek knife from tool steel, testing different asymmetrical grinds to determine the ideal cutting angles. Once I perfected the angles, I reworked the knife with symmetrical edges.

The final Wojtek knife became my daily tool for nearly every outdoor task, ensuring the design was reliable. The development process took years, filled with failures and rejections. Countless emails, phone calls, and meetings led nowhere – until the first real progress was made. In spring 2021, production was about to begin with a knife manufacturer in Pennsylvania – but at the last minute, the deal was canceled without explanation.

Through social media, the Wojtek knife gained attention. Survival schools worldwide showed interest, wanting to purchase it in large quantities for their students. Others offered to manufacture it – but at prices that would have made it unaffordable for the average worker.

Then, one evening, German outdoor enthusiast and bushcraft instructor David Köhler reached out to me. He had seen a video of me and my knife. This led to a friendship and eventually a partnership. David and I spent countless hours planning the Wojtek project. He kept his promise to help with production – which led to collaborating with his mentor, Reini Rossmann.

In a challenging year, 2023, this project spanned from Halifax, Pennsylvania, to Germany and Austria. The mission: To create a knife of the highest quality – handcrafted, tested in real-world conditions, and free of weak points. A knife that hardworking people could afford, that is easy to use and versatile for countless survival techniques.

As the creator of the Wojtek knife, I ensure that you receive all the guides and instructions to maximize its potential – including safety tips, maintenance advice, and advanced techniques.

I sincerely thank you for purchasing the Wojtek Survival Knife and for trusting Timber Lynx Innovations. We will always strive to educate, demonstrate, and empower people to achieve their goals with the right mindset, practice, and tools.

Tested in all conditions – proven in the field.

Ryan R. Lawley