Are Bark River and Tops going to crush everyone?

droddy386 said:
What‘s the steel mix up story?
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Multiple people received models marked in a more expensive steel that, upon use and later testing, proved to be BRKT's standard A2. I remember one was marked 3V, but the other escapes me. Both threads are in this forum if you search for them. Combine that with Mike Stewart's past grifts and I don't trust any BRKT model as far as I could throw a ton of their '3V'.
 
I'm only giving him any cred since he states he was former SF. And since I have friends and former colleagues in that world...I'm giving a bit of a longer leash...
 
Insipid Moniker said:
Multiple people received models marked in a more expensive steel that, upon use and later testing, proved to be BRKT's standard A2. I remember one was marked 3V, but the other escapes me. Both threads are in this forum if you search for them. Combine that with Mike Stewart's past grifts and I don't trust any BRKT model as far as I could throw a ton of their '3V'.
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Thanks. I wasn’t aware. I have experience many a bad heat treat, with vendors, so I figured I’d ask what other people had experienced from these two. I have just been surprised at how good the ones I have gotten have been, so I started the thread to see… Also - sent one to Bark River to be reground a different way and they did it in less than two weeks and it’s. perfect.
 
tueller said:
I’ll bite. With Ontario and cold steel and, etc, etc, Yes I think affordable US made carbon steel fixed blades is getting smaller and smaller. So yes, tops, brkt, esee, kabar, etc gonna have solid hold on market. I don’t get why Chinese made knives are getting pricier and more expensive every day. Tops has great 1095 with solid treat. They have so many models that even the “they’re too thick” crew could find a model that works for them. Brkt has very aesthetically pleasing handle and design options, the convex edges strop to a popping sharpness.
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Agree on the convex sharpness. Easy to just strop with their black compound for a little more or the regular green compound.
 
Blues said:
I'm only giving him any cred since he states he was former SF. And since I have friends and former colleagues in that world...I'm giving a bit of a longer leash...
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Thanks - I can only report on my experience with the two companies knives recently - that’s why I posted. Things change from time to time. (vendors get bought out/change management)
 
droddy386 said:
Thanks - I can only report on my experience with the two companies knives recently - that’s why I posted. Things change from time to time. (vendors get bought out/change management)
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It's normal for us to look on threads of this nature, especially involving Bark River, with a jaundiced eye. However, if you are on the level and came with honest intentions, you'll have no interference from us.

That said, the natives do get a little restless on this hot button topic, so get the info while you can...we may have to shut it down at some point. Just a fair heads up.
 
Well Bark River have in many circles a pretty poor rep. So can’t see them taking the world by storm. Just open up one of the many BR threads here to see.

Tops apparently make a good quality blade. I don’t own one and yes I would probably choose an ESEE in that price range first. I have more than my share of Busse knives as well….
 
BRK will have to walk back through valleys of thickets just to be on some equal footing to Tops, IMO, and not to be a Ruby Repeater, but lots of Tops knives are too thick for me
Personally I'd go with Esee over either
 
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Blues said:
It's normal for us to look on threads of this nature, especially involving Bark River, with a jaundiced eye. However, if you are on the level and came with honest intentions, you'll have no interference from us.

That said, the natives do get a little restless on this hot button topic, so get the info while you can...we may have to shut it down at some point. Just a fair heads up.
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Cool. I get fallout from some when I start talking about the problem with 10” barreled M-4’s and helmets with the ear cutouts - from people who should know better as well. Par for the course on the internet. I try to poll the crowd and see what falls out. (In this case maybe light up some people to check out these companies again, just from what I experienced recently.) I appreciate it.
 
droddy386 said:
Cool. I get fallout from some when I start talking about the problem with 10” barreled M-4’s and helmets with the ear cutouts - from people who should know better as well. Par for the course on the internet. I try to poll the crowd and see what falls out. (In this case maybe light up some people to check out these companies again, just from what I experienced recently.) I appreciate it.
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For some people, enough bad press/bad experiences will cause them to swear off a brand for life. I'm guilty of that with Benchmade and Strider.

I'm not a fixed blade guy, but on the forums I mostly see Carothers, customs, Becker, and Bradford, and occasionally a Spyderco.

Personally, I only have two fixed blades, a Becker BK-5 and a custom camp chef knife.
 
droddy386 said:
Cool. I get fallout from some when I start talking about the problem with 10” barreled M-4’s and helmets with the ear cutouts - from people who should know better as well. Par for the course on the internet. I try to poll the crowd and see what falls out. (In this case maybe light up some people to check out these companies again, just from what I experienced recently.) I appreciate it.
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Some of us won't go to Bark RIver regardless due to issues with the (past?) integrity of the owner. So, passions run high...as they do with Strider.
It's a matter of character and integrity, not simply a matter of steel.
 
Blues said:
He hasn't been on since July. Haven't you noticed how quiet it's been? (And how many fewer complaints we've received from reports?)
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Wouldn't know about reports since I'm not of the moderator class; and spending much time outdoors due to fortuituous weather conditions has drawn away my gaze from any strife here for a while, so thank you for the heads-up!
 
J Lensmire said:
Don’t own any Bark Rivers’ and only own one Tops. It can be a pain to get a proper edge, but it rides well on my hip and fits my hand.
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Reminds me of my top ”EDC”
J Lensmire said:
Don’t own any Bark Rivers’ and only own one Tops. It can be a pain to get a proper edge, but it rides well on my hip and fits my hand.
View attachment 2320568
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Reminds me of my top ”EDC” - the Klein 2100-9 (I’d post a picture if it wasn’t such a pain on here.)
 
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