Bark River Ergos - Fox River, Highland Special, Woodland Special

LightGuy

LightGuy

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For those of you that have one of these Bark River knives, how are the ergos? The handle seems a bit small, at least in the pics and videos I've seen.

I have medium sized hands. Do they accomodate all 4 fingers? Do you feel like your index is placed too close to the cutting edge?

It's tough to have to buy before you try it out...any input would be appreciated!
 
They are hunting, slicing, woodworking and utility knives that work well in a choked up grip.

They take all four fingers and aren't designed for heavy cutting in a hammer grip.
 
I just got the new Custom Highland special in cpm SV35. I like the handle, it looks small in length, but my whole hand fits it just fine. You see in the photos of this one that there is a choil, that makes it perfect. I have medium hands, and there's not alot of extra room on the handle for a hammer grip, but just a bit The end of the handle curves a bit, so the hand can't slip back too much.
 
I hand a highland special and it was much too small for my hands.. diameter wise. It is a nice knife but I like the handle on the north star much more. The fox river had a decent handle.
 
The Highland and Fox River are basically the same handle and the NorthStar handle was based on the Highland.

I have one of the original 9 Highland/NorthStar Prototypes.
 
Here are a couple in hand photos, I included the Fallkniven F1 for comparison since I know you were originally considering it as well.

I consider my hands to be large, an XL glove fits, but I generally prefer XXL for a little extra room.

Hope this helps you narrow down handle size

Kevin

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Dag-nabit said:
Here are a couple in hand photos, I included the Fallkniven F1 for comparison since I know you were originally considering it as well.

I consider my hands to be large, an XL glove fits, but I generally prefer XXL for a little extra room.

Hope this helps you narrow down handle size

Kevin
Click to expand...

Awesome - thanks so much for these pics, they help a ton! Looks like plenty of handle to me, pretty much every bit as big as the F1.

Thanks again!
 
I spent all night last night basically deciding between a Woodland Special and a Rising Wolf.

The Rising Wolf won out on account of it being more blade with less weight and thickness. But I really wish I could have ordered both!!!
 
My hands are large and Bark River's smaller knives DO have small handles. I use each one though, because I accept them for what they are and adjust so they feel good. My mini-Canadian, the smallest-scaled Barkie I own, is the one I use the most when leatherworking.

Accept and adjust. They're too good of knives to rule out because most don;t have beefy handles.

The woodland special is a fairly small knife, but the Highland and Fox River are good, medium-sized workers. Their handles are fine for me. My Highland Special is scaled in Impala Horn, and it feels excellent in my hand.
 
My right palm is 3.5" across and I wear a large work glove, but it's a little loose. I sometimes EDC a Woodland Special. I can get all 4 fingers on the handle with no problem and the knife feels very comfortable and secure.
 
Sargent 666 said:
The Highland and Fox River are basically the same handle and the NorthStar handle was based on the Highland.)

I have one of the original 9 Highland/NorthStar Prototypes.
Click to expand...

Maybe that is the case... but I remember my highland special had some really thin slabs while both my fox river and north star had significantly thicker slabs that I could wrap my hands around and squeeze really good. With the highland special it felt like I was squeezing a writing pen (Exaggeration.. but just highlighting the difference.) They may look the same from the side.. but there is a huge thickness gap between them.

I remember the designer of the North Star (The guy who makes Bark Rivers sheaths) saying that the north star was completely designed after the fox river.. not the highland special. The Highland special is just a smaller Fox River.
 
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Woodland & Highland share same size handle, difference is blade length 3" vs 4".

Fox River has 4.25" blade on thicker stock than it's two smaller brethren
(.170" vs .145") and OAL of 8.25" vs Highland's 7.75" Woodland's 6.87".

All mine have same thickness handles, if Hiker's Highland handles are noticebly
thinner may have been a production variance on that particular knife.

I like all 3, if I had to head for the hills with just one knife it would be the FR.
All day toter I'd be happy with the woodland.
Not perxactly sure when I'd choose the Highland over the other two but it's
reassuring to know I have that option should the occasion arise.
FR
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HL
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WL
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I'm looking for more feedback on the polished handles--how do you guys feel about the grip they provide?
 
I had a north star black G10 that was very polished. Once wet it was very slippery. I didn't like it at all. I sanded that down a little and it was much better. The polished wood handles have been fine.
 
Pete2s said:
I'm looking for more feedback on the polished handles--how do you guys feel about the grip they provide?
Click to expand...

The polished wood/micarta handles I have on my knives all have good ergos and fit the hand well.

I don't use them for processing animals or the likes, but I have never had a problem with them slipping from sweaty hands or wet from rain, etc.

Kevin
 
quattrokid73 said:
I spent all night last night basically deciding between a Woodland Special and a Rising Wolf.

The Rising Wolf won out on account of it being more blade with less weight and thickness. But I really wish I could have ordered both!!!
Click to expand...

The RW is one of my favorite medium-sized knives. I'm still looking for a better sheath than the one it came with, though. No retention whatsover has bitten me a few times when the knife's fallen out while I'm sitting down, and the belt loop's stitching is coming out. I suspect any of the Barkies that come with bushcraft sheathes would have the same issues.
 
randomlooker said:
The RW is one of my favorite medium-sized knives. I'm still looking for a better sheath than the one it came with, though. No retention whatsover has bitten me a few times when the knife's fallen out while I'm sitting down, and the belt loop's stitching is coming out. I suspect any of the Barkies that come with bushcraft sheathes would have the same issues.
Click to expand...

Let us know what you find. I wonder the same about my bushcraft style sheaths once they get more wear.
 
randomlooker said:
The RW is one of my favorite medium-sized knives. I'm still looking for a better sheath than the one it came with, though. No retention whatsover has bitten me a few times when the knife's fallen out while I'm sitting down, and the belt loop's stitching is coming out. I suspect any of the Barkies that come with bushcraft sheathes would have the same issues.
Click to expand...

My north star now has zero retention too. It has the smallest retention.. but just a little bump will make it come out.
 
randomlooker said:
The RW is one of my favorite medium-sized knives. I'm still looking for a better sheath than the one it came with, though. No retention whatsover has bitten me a few times when the knife's fallen out while I'm sitting down, and the belt loop's stitching is coming out. I suspect any of the Barkies that come with bushcraft sheathes would have the same issues.
Click to expand...

I'm planning to get a kydex sheath for it. That should fix the problem, all the while suiting my carry preferences better. Leather sheath on the belt isn't so people friendly in San Francisco.
 
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