Bark River convex grind opinion?

Charlie Mike

Charlie Mike

Sober since 1-7-14 (still a Paranoid Nutjob)
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
Joined
Nov 1, 2000
Messages
28,365
In particular, the Wilderness Explorer.

I know I have enough knives but the stag/bone handle version appears to be everything I want in a low-key fixed blade fighter. The want factor is high.

wilderness_explorer_cpm_cru_wear_antique_stag_bone_369_95__57131.1434765793.730.500.jpg


Green canvas micarta looks good too...

wilderness_expolorer_cpm_cru_wear_green_canvas_micarta_329_95__97531.1434737748.190.250.jpg
 
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I'm unclear on the question being asked?

Are you seeking opinions on whether it's a handsome knife? Sure is!


Are you seeking opinions on the virtues of convex ground blades? I'm a huge fan of them and find them to more versatile than both FFG or hollow grind, especially if wood working is involved. That said, there's a huge difference in where the the curve of the convexity happens and how dramatic that curve is and related to that, how thick the blade is. My 4 favorite knives are all convex ground but they're very different. The Opinel N9 (or N10) is fairly thin with a less pronounced convexity. Not the best wood working knife but definitely better than hollow or FFG for that. My old Schrade-Walden (60s or 70s vintage) is convex sabre ground and thin. Not terrible with potatoes but enough convexity to split kindling. Very versatile. My Mora Companion and thicker Companion HD have both been convexed. They're the best carving and splitting knives by far but they do less well with apples and potatoes.

As I understand it, Bark River (correctly) varies the thickness and convextity to suit different intended uses. I would have to handle that knife personally to get a feel which things it work better for me and which ones worse. I reach for my different convexed blades for different things to be sure.
 
Charlie Mike said:
In particular, the Wilderness Explorer.

I know I have enough knives but the stag/bone handle version appears to be everything I want in a low-key fixed blade fighter. The want factor is high.

...
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I have one of their Cruwear Wild. Expl and it is a great cutter with factory edge. I had them reshape the blade to look like their Seax (basically cut it down from the spine to the edge to drop the tip), but other than that no mods to the edge. It carves up pressure-treated posts like they are butter (did that to position gate and hasp hardware). I just pressed the edge in to the wood and cut, both slicing and torquing out and no damage, rolling or dulling at all. I like it.
 
Cruwear is just PD1 by another foundry. I've used PD1 before. Good stuff. This will go on my short list!
 
If you are doing stock removal using a belt sander, no reason why you couldn't do convexed blades yourself.
 
That's all I used to do... Convex V grinds, slack belt.

 
The geometry is usually bang on most barkies for their intended purposes but the varying Hellen Keller grinds have stopped me from buying anymore. After over 10 different knives with 10 different grind issues out of about 25-30 knives bought I'd say it's more than a Qc issue.
 
I have several, and carry a city knife almost daily. It is a small 2.6 inch blade, and is great for EDC tasks. I have had no issues with the grinds on any of them, or the larger Bravo.
 
I have not any issues with the grind. I have the Bravo 1 LT. Its been bang on for me - outdoor bushcrafting. I also use it for camping and food prep and for chopping small game. Its easy to maintain the edge with just a strop. They offer a lifetime guarantee - just send the knife back to them and they will fix it for free. How can you go wrong with that?
 
Sharp_Canadian said:
The geometry is usually bang on most barkies for their intended purposes but the varying Hellen Keller grinds have stopped me from buying anymore. After over 10 different knives with 10 different grind issues out of about 25-30 knives bought I'd say it's more than a Qc issue.
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Lol, so true.
 
Charlie Mike said:
I was asking how well the BRKT convex grind performed.
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Not trying to be a nudge but this still leaves me in the dark. How well for what purpose?

Slicing potatoes and other hard veggies?
Wood working?
Meat and game processing?
Chopping or batonning wood?
Piercing the rib cage of your adversary?


Different jobs -> different convex grinds, atmo.
 
Oh, well... Probably kitchen use mirrors what most of my knife use is like.
 
I bought a few bravo 1s and inpected a few more at the store, From factory, the apexs seem rounded and over polished on buffing wheels.
they were sharp but not hair popping sharp.

I bought a Gunny in Elmax and that thing was very sharp.

*shrugs*

If you can sharpen who cares.

The heat treatment is bomber.

Takes a great edge and holds it well.

Especially the Elmax ;)
 
Sharp_Canadian said:
The geometry is usually bang on most barkies for their intended purposes but the varying Hellen Keller grinds have stopped me from buying anymore. After over 10 different knives with 10 different grind issues out of about 25-30 knives bought I'd say it's more than a Qc issue.
Click to expand...

That's not funny (the grind issue) but how you said it is hilarious LOL... :thumbup::D:applause:
 
Charlie Mike said:
Oh, well... Probably kitchen use mirrors what most of my knife use is like.
Click to expand...

I find a 4mm thick blade to be too thick for kitchen use.

But then a) I prefer thinner blades in general and b) it would really depend on where the put the convexity in the grind.

I find that similarly designed knives perform similar tasks in a similar manner. By far my favorite convex blade in the kitchen is the Opinel, which is convex but just barely so. It's very slight with the convexity happening in the bottom 1/3 of the blade but very gradually. I can't find any pictures of the Wilderness Explorer so it's hard to tell, but it looks like you have a lot of experience with a belt sander and could easily regrind to suit, no?
 
Either that or send it to Josh at REK.
 
See virtuovice on Youtube he is a big fan of Bark River and he also reprofiles his blades as well as other useful info.
 
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