Anyone have any problems with Bark River?

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I have found no problem at all with my lone BRKT made knife (a Scagel medium hunter from KSF). I have a bunch of friends who have MANY different models of Barkies. Every one of which has performed wonderfully.

I think sometimes people have an unreasonable expectation of perfection in a man made product. Which is insane.

I will be getting more BRKT knives and can't recommend them highly enough.
 
I have a Bravo-1, the very first time I took it camping I was getting some fire wood and noticed a normal everyday staple in the bark. I pulled out my Bravo, slid the tip under the staple pried up on it and "tink" looked down and the tip of my brand new "survival, camp knife" was gone!! What the hell? I haven't contacted BR about it, but it put a bad taste in my mouth for their produces.
 
I just skimmed the thread and realized OP started a sh*tstorm but hasn't seen fit to return and explain what models, what steels, and what he was doing when his blades took damage.

He did reply once, but it's a cryptic nonsequiter.
 
I just unwrapped a new Blackjack 125. There are rust spots (largest spot approx. 1/8") and light pitting on the left side of the blade and the right side grindline misses the point by about .125"

I got in touch with Mike Stewart privately and am waiting to hear back. I really want to love these knives..... Like I said, I have six BRKT keepers so I am not a hater. I just want them to be right. I appreciate the post Big Mike and I agree with everything you wrote. I just hate to have to send every-other Barkie back for things that I honestly feel shouldn't be happening in the first place. They are great knives with sometimes spotty QC.

FWIW, I know the rust wasn't on the blade when it left MI and the factory oil was intact. It still shouldn't be there.
 
FWIW, I know the rust wasn't on the blade when it left MI and the factory oil was intact. It still shouldn't be there.
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I'd think it's the retailers fault. Maybe they were playing it, or had it in a showcase. The BRKT, Blackjack, and Marbles in my collection ( going back to '90, in 52100 ) all came well wrapped, in a cardboard sleeve, with preservative. Even the ones that had grinds slightly off still cut great. I do have one that I believe would not stand up to hard use. It's in 3V no less, but it's ground so thin and sharp it can just begin push cutting itself into your skin using the weight of the blade. It's easily the sharpest factory knife I've ever seen.

It's amazing to be honest, but again, to be honest, it's too thin for it's intended purpose which is bushcrafting/edc. Yes, I can fix it myself and it doesn't seem to offend me personally.

I'm not attempting to start an argument but it seems to me that some people do take minor problems and really get bent and twisted over things I don't have extra energy to be dramatic about. Then again I'm old. :p

Joe
 
The thing about really thin grinds is the HT and tempering better be right and I mean dead on or there will be problems every time and those problems will show up quick if the edge is pushed in anyway so half stepping or not checking properly is a real issue.

I have not had any problems with BR knives personally with the few I have had in hand over the years, but I can see how things can happen as they are production knives and things can and will happen that can and do lead to problems.

So in the end they had really better be on their game because as the grinds get thinner the margin for error also shrinks.
 
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Heat treatment on mine is just amazing!!! 1085 but its performance is on par with any custom...
 
wildmike said:
I have found no problem at all with my lone BRKT made knife (a Scagel medium hunter from KSF). I have a bunch of friends who have MANY different models of Barkies. Every one of which has performed wonderfully.

I think sometimes people have an unreasonable expectation of perfection in a man made product. Which is insane.

I will be getting more BRKT knives and can't recommend them highly enough.
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I couldn't agree more with wildmike. I have several Barkies and I use them - sometimes I really work them hard I have absolutely no issue. Conversely both my Fallkniven F1's chipped with light use until I had sharpened beyond the factory edge. Now, no issues with either of them. When this happened I checked it out and their approach was, it happens just sharpen it out. I did and I'm fine with that.

Guys, if Toyota can have reliability/production issues then any manufacturer can. If they stand by the product and fix it, I'm happy with that.

The downside of such put is as several people nave stated, it can make people worry about it to the point of not purchasing a terrific tool with an fantastic warranty. That is a shame...

Ben
 
[video=youtube;AUw-TgYRJyU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUw-TgYRJyU&feature=player_embedded[/video]


Handle scale putting together without glue........professional work for the price!?
 
Hey demoteamone; did you read my post. If you did I guess you chose to ignore it - fair enough I suppose.

However, did you look beyond the obvoious on this?

1) As stated if it isn't right, they'll fix it any time for free. Without proof of ownership, without dramas, etc.
2) Did you consider that the poster of that video has had a significant falling out with folks at BRKT?
3) Did you consider that the poster of that video is also a knife maker/competitor?

Posting that video seems to propogate exactly the sort of stuff that I think can get unreasonable. Especially as there is no mention of the warranty, etc. just a lot of cursing and taking of a hammer to a kitchen knife...

Doesn't really stack up for me.

Ben
 
Try driving out pins that are properly glued in. It's not that easy. Yes, it can be done, but the tapping above is about what it takes to get pins out of a tight fit-up preglue.
 
me2 said:
Try driving out pins that are properly glued in. It's not that easy. Yes, it can be done, but the tapping above is about what it takes to get pins out of a tight fit-up preglue.
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That's Danm Right!



[video=youtube;UDfHMcKLvuY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDfHMcKLvuY&feature=player_embedded[/video]
 
Guys,

I'm not saying that this knife was right. I seem to have managed to rile Kyle up in challenging this in the comments section of his previous video - genuinely not intentional. If posting 'not cool' warrants getting worked up then someone is pretty tightly wound.

For the sake of clarity I'll reitterate what I said;

"Posting that video seems to propogate exactly the sort of stuff that I think can get unreasonable. Especially as there is no mention of the warranty, etc. "

This certainly seems to have become unreasonable. Apparently, I'm an "idiot" for challenging Kyle who posted the video. The whole position of this individual is clearly incredibly biased against BRKT. I buy many different brands of knives, I take a practical view of each knife that I own and use.

My point here is that posting these relatively rare examples given the actual production numbers is not giving any manufacturer involved a fair shout. I've had recent issues with Fallkniven, DPx and whilst I have posted about this I have NEVER sought to extrapolate this into a wider comment about the company's reliability.

Ben
 
And perhaps this is a one of a kind thing. Junglee sent a knife to Blade for an evaluation years ago and forgot to epoxy the handle. It came off during the evaluation, as the flared tubes just were not enough to hold it. It does happen. However, perhaps he has a beef with BRKT because about half of the ones he got had problems? If I got a knife and they forgot to do something as basic as epoxy the handles properly, I wouldn't buy another from them. Keep in mind the whole initiation for the video was the bolster fell off. If it gets that bad, the warranty doesn't mean much, IMO.
 
me2,

A couple of things - firstly, I agree that stuff like this "does happen". I'm not trying to unnecessarily defend BRKT, right now I'm trying to ensure that my comments are represented accurately and fairly (which is proving challenging).

You said about half of them had problems but I think you're referring to a different post. Kyle claims to have issues with "about 5 out of 30" Bark River knives. Still far from an ideal ratio regarding quality control...

Finally, I'm not sure that I understand what you mean when you say "If it gets that bad, the warranty doesn't mean much, IMO."? The warranty means it'll get put right. Free of charge. I'm not clear how whatever state the knife may or may not be in negates the warranty? Apologies if I'm not interpreting your comments correctly - I just don't quite see the link.

As you say, it is your opinion and at the end of the day we all have our own opinions. I am not being a 'fan-boy' when I simply as that the number of issues be kept in perspective and I do think that it needs to be pointed out the poster of this video lists the YouTube Category as 'Comedy' and the tag as: 'MoreCrapBRK'. This is not an unbiased point to be starting from. Does it mean the knife was right? - Nope. Am I defending or excusing that? - Nope.

Have the comments on my points on the video lost all perspective on what was actually said? Absolutely...

Ben
 
I have a few Bark River knives purchased a few years ago soon after they started up. Only one has seen some use field dressing a deer which it did well. However i use my hunting knives as dedicated "for flesh(or hide) only" and do not insert the blade into a joint and pry in attempting to separate it, etc.
I did have a too small sheath and the BRKT folks were very rude and condescending towards me before eventually (months) providing a replacement sheath. Their comments to and about me were posted in another knife forum and "abusive" is hardly a strong enough descriptive term. It was so completely out of line that other forum members contacted me privately to appologize on behalf of BRKT.
I wonder if the blade problems posted in this thread involve more recently made knives ? i.e. as demand for their knives grew, the care they took making their earlier blades got lost in favor of increasing production numbers.
roland
 
Peroni1973 said:
Guys,

I'm not saying that this knife was right. I seem to have managed to rile Kyle up in challenging this in the comments section of his previous video - genuinely not intentional. If posting 'not cool' warrants getting worked up then someone is pretty tightly wound.

For the sake of clarity I'll reitterate what I said;

"Posting that video seems to propogate exactly the sort of stuff that I think can get unreasonable. Especially as there is no mention of the warranty, etc. "

This certainly seems to have become unreasonable. Apparently, I'm an "idiot" for challenging Kyle who posted the video. The whole position of this individual is clearly incredibly biased against BRKT. I buy many different brands of knives, I take a practical view of each knife that I own and use.

My point here is that posting these relatively rare examples given the actual production numbers is not giving any manufacturer involved a fair shout. I've had recent issues with Fallkniven, DPx and whilst I have posted about this I have NEVER sought to extrapolate this into a wider comment about the company's reliability.

Ben
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I'd like to state that every other company I've bought from has had awesome quality control. Never had an issue with any of them. Please don't excuse a lax quality process just because the knives are good. It all goes together to deliver a product that the customer wants and is satisfied with. Some of the brands I've bought multiple items from: Kershaw, ESEE, Ka-Bar, Becker, Mora, Cold Steel, Leatherman, Victorinox, Gerber. Amusingly, it seems Gerber has better quality control than Bark River.:rolleyes: Anyway of those, ESEE is closest in price. I've never heard anyone cry about an ESEE knife even once, and they don't even do semi-customs, for which there is expected to be a MUCH higher standard. I'll not be buying any BRKs. Thanks for keeping it real and honest, guys.
 
I have to admit at first I was slightly irritated by the Bark River Fanboys responses. Just because they had no problems with their Bark River knives doesn't negate the problems others may have with them. I own and use many Bark River knives and have only had to send one back to the dealer due to a warped blade (I was told that was normal and the way they turn out sometimes - I replied that was BS and wanted a refund).

No company is perfect, and I judge a manufacturer more by when they actually admit a mistake and how they go about correcting it. So far, Bark River has a full, no question asked warranty on their knives, but are less than straight forward at admitting fault. Mike Stewart, likes to blame inexperienced users (his knives could never fail, could they?); Reid Hyken abuses his moderater status on their forums and commonly changes and twists poster's comments, then baits and bans them; other Bark River zealots cry foul over an imagined conspiracy to destroy the Bark River brand.

Unfortunately (or fortunately), I seem to have a love/hate relationship with Bark River knives - I love their knives and the warranty, but hate the way they treat and dismiss the concerns/issues of their customers. Look how long it took for Bark River to fix the new Bravo 1 sheath, and they still refuse to admit there was anything wrong with it.
 
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Jmboz,

If you were referring to me with your 'fanboy' comment you couldn't be more wrong. Infact, we're in complete agreement - it is about the knives, as you say.

My earlier points are that we're so often hearing a personal beef that someone has with a PERSON or PEOPLE at Bark River. Now, whilst that may or may not be justified is utterly irrelevant to how a given knife performs, or stands up to hard use, etc.

I agree that things happen and it does understandably colour our judgement. I own and use several brands of knife and have no singular focus on one brand. That said I have no hesitation in saying that for me my Barkies have been great. That doesn't mean other people haven't had issues but neither does that make me a fanboy.

Ben
 
Peroni1973 said:
Hey demoteamone; did you read my post. If you did I guess you chose to ignore it - fair enough I suppose.

However, did you look beyond the obvoious on this?

1) As stated if it isn't right, they'll fix it any time for free. Without proof of ownership, without dramas, etc.
2) Did you consider that the poster of that video has had a significant falling out with folks at BRKT?
3) Did you consider that the poster of that video is also a knife maker/competitor?

Posting that video seems to propogate exactly the sort of stuff that I think can get unreasonable. Especially as there is no mention of the warranty, etc. just a lot of cursing and taking of a hammer to a kitchen knife...

Doesn't really stack up for me.

Ben
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Do you know anything about the person who posted that video?


That video was private, and was slated to remain that way until he was bashed you. He made that video for only a select few individuals to see, so I would HIGHLY doubt that he has some kind of agenda. It's not like these videos aren't common lately. BRKT has been pumping out sub standard knives on the regular for a while now...
 
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