Bark River Kephart

thejamppa

thejamppa

Joined
Aug 20, 2009
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Hi all!

I've heard a lot good about Bark River, though they are pretty hard to get in Finland, is there at least one good retailer here. I came accross Bark River Kephart in Green Linen Micarta handles for 175€'s (yes, my fellow american forumite's, knives cost a fortune in here due VAT and other circumstances but its still rarely a lot cheaper to order from the states due toll prices)

I do like what I see in Kephart. Although its not only choice really. Bark River Fox River is for 159€'s and Fällkniven F1's run from 115€'s and up. Both Fällkniven and Bark River are renown for quality. However I think A2 steel on Bark River might be better for camping, hiking and such than Laminated VG-10. I am not sure though.

And before anyone asks, no I don't need a new Knife. I just want Bark River since its quite traditional and people seem to love their bark rivers. But I don't want pretty knife or high quality knife sitting in drawer, I want a excellent user. Ideas or suggestions. I have set my sight on Bark River mostly but I am not sure about model yet... So many good models... Kephart, Fox River, Gunny, Canadian Special. Prices are from 159€'s to 179€'s. Which is very reasonable nativelly.

Which Bark River model would be suited as do-it-all-well knife. Survives batoning, but also can handle light to medium camp works without breaking a sweat but is not also awkwardly bulky. I do like big handles.
 
I have, and use, many Bark River and Fallkniven knives. Their reputation is well deserved. They certainly aren't the only great knives available but they hold court among the best.

Any steel used by Bark River or Fallkniven will serve you well, no worries there.

As for which is the best model, you really have to decide for yourself, blade length and thickness, handle size, etc. etc. etc. are dependant on what you are using it for, and personal preference.

Of those you mentioned I am fond of the Gunny and Canadian Special, but the Fox River and aforementioned Bravo 1 are also great knives.

The reseller you mentioned, is it an online shop, or can you stop by the store and handle the knives? Obviously if you can hold them in your hand it helps make the decision.

Choose the one that your gut instinct says you like best. They are all excellent quality and you really can't go wrong with any of them.

Kevin
 
reseller is unfortunately onlineshop so I cannot go handle them. Bravo 1 and Bravo 2 are probably good choice. I'll probably go for Bark River Kephart and next year get Bravo 1 and Fällkniven F1.

Kepharts handle seem to attract me. Lengthy handle ensures good grip even with bigger gloves on. Thank you both.
 
thejamppa said:
reseller is unfortunately onlineshop so I cannot go handle them. Bravo 1 and Bravo 2 are probably good choice. I'll probably go for Bark River Kephart and next year get Bravo 1 and Fällkniven F1.

Kepharts handle seem to attract me. Lengthy handle ensures good grip even with bigger gloves on. Thank you both.
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Ordering from the shop that starts with L?
 
Bark River churns out a lot of very pretty knives, but let me assure you, they are all functional. It may feel strange actually using one at first, but you'll get used to it.

I think you'll like the Kephart. Until you actually hold a Barkie, you can't appreciate the ergonomics. Thick, palm-filling slabs of Micarta feel really good and secure in the hand; they have a lot in common with Scandinavian knives. They even ride low in the sheath.

BTW, at this moment, 175€ is $237, which is almost exactly what some of the full-tang Kepharts are going for here. Granted, they're fancier wood handles with mosaic pins, but you're getting the same blade as well as fit and finish. And you also get peace of mind; whatever it is, Mike will make it right.
 
I bought a Bark River Kephart with green canvas micarta handles, but have yet to use it. For its blade length and thickness you won't find a lighter Bark River, based on my research. That and the simple aesthetics were the main selling points for me.

I deliberately chose stainless and Micarta so I wouldn't have to feel like I needed to be baby the knife -- not that you would with carbon steel and natural handle materials.

It turns out I think I'd prefer wood for the handle as it has more "grab" than the smooth micarta on the Kephart I bought (maybe Bark River's "matte finished" micarta is a different story, but I couldn't find a Kephart with this finish). For all the praises sung over micarta, I have to say that I'm underwhelmed by it.

The Bark River Kephart is by far the sharpest knife I've ever handled. I think the full convex blade geometry and owner Mike Stewart's close attention to heat treatment create what must be among the best performing, most durable knives available.

I have yet to use the knife and am not sure I will, because I'm thinking of trading it. I prefer thick handled knives, and from photos I assumed the Kephart had a thicker handle than it actually does.

It's a beautifully made knife, although my example does have imperfections in the fit/finish. The right handle scale isn't glued down at the hilt, and the grind is uneven close to the hilt as well. Neither affect the function of the knife. I've come to learn that these idiosyncrasies are to be expected from hand finished knives at this price point (I paid less than $150 USD).

Extracting the knife from the sheath will be rather cumbersome until the stiff leather of the sheath breaks in, because so little of the handle protrudes when the knife is fully sheathed and there's LOTS of friction from the tough leather.

The Kephart is quite handle heavy, which means it would be good for tasks where there is a lot of blade manipulation. In the end, though, I think I might prefer something more balanced.

For some reason, I'm just not appreciating this knife as much as I thought I would. The handle just doesn't seem to fit my hand as well as others that have palm swells. I tried wrapping it in cord and also in twine, but that totally destroys the feel.

I'll probably trade it for one of the following, but am not sure yet:

Bark River Gunny with no thumb ramp
Fallkniven S1

The Bark River Bravo 1, Fox River and Aurora are very popular, but seem too thick and beefy/heavy for my preferences.

If you really like the Kephart style of blade, you might also want to check out ML Knives or Northfield Knives -- both custom makers.

Lots of folks are happy with the Bark River Kephart and it's worth a look for anyone who thinks they might like it. It's just not what I personally expected, so continues my pursuit of the bushcraft/outdoors knife that's perfect for me.
 
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The Kephart I've never held or used, but +1 on the Bravo 1, and the Gunny, and the smaller but excellent Rising Wolf.
 
thejamppa said:
Aye, that is right.

at mz9393: Thank you very much for your insight. That is is valuable for me.
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I know this is an older thread, but thought I would update my impressions on the Bark River Full Tang Kephart.

After months of debating whether to trade it -- and consequently not using it -- I recently got it out one last time (so I thought) to feel it in hand and make sure that my opinion hadn't changed.

Well, I've come around to it now that I have used it, and love it, actually. All of the issues I had with it are inconsequential. The handle shape being a tad too small was my major gripe. But after using it, I'm finding nothing but praise for the proportions. (It still would be better suited to my medium-sized hands if it didn't taper so much toward the guard.)

Also, the handle-heaviness that once bothered me has also faded from thought. The knife balances slightly behind the first pin in the handle. This makes it feel heavier than it actually is, especially when I hold my Benchmade Rant Drop Point with the other hand. They're of similar weight, but the Kephart feels heavier.

In actual use, the knife is wonderful: comfortable any which way you grip it -- except when choking really high up on the handle. In that case, the guard, which is a but squarish at the bottom, isn't ideal. But I'm going to round the corners off and it should be fine.

The green canvas micarta handles, which didn't impress me at first, I also am liking now. They are worry-free -- which is why I got them in the first place -- and actually not as slippery as one might think. I was considering lightly sanding them for a matte finish, but I will see first how they perform in their current condition in inclement weather and when I'm fatigued -- because sanding them might not even be necessary. The material is vastly more comfortable than the rubber material on the Benchmade Rant, which chafed my hand after a few minutes of whittling.

The sheath was another hit in my mind, but no longer. It has loosened up enough to make inserting and withdrawing the knife easy.

In short, I really am enjoying this knife immensely. I'm glad I didn't give up on it. It cuts beautifully well with its full convex grind, and the handles just get out of your way and let you work, no matter how you choose to hold the knife.

I searched and searched for other full-convex blades over the past few months and none of them seemed "better" in any way -- just different. But one thing that the alternatives did share in common was that they were all considerably more expensive than what I paid for the Bark River.

The knife I finally had settled on getting as a replacement for the Kephart was the Enzo Trapper. I'm still going to get one eventually, b/c it has a Scandi grind, which I also like. But I'm keeping the Kephart for sure.

It has finally fulfilled what I originally expected of it: to be my do-all bushcraft/camp/survival blade.
 
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The Kephart is the best woods knife I have ever carried. Talk about a slicker! It cuts like a razor. Also, it has the most comfortable handle ever.
 
mz9393 said:
It turns out I think I'd prefer wood for the handle as it has more "grab" than the smooth micarta on the Kephart I bought (maybe Bark River's "matte finished" micarta is a different story, but I couldn't find a Kephart with this finish). For all the praises sung over micarta, I have to say that I'm underwhelmed by it.
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I got a bark river on the way with the matte micarta, as many people said the smooth was slippery. But then again, most of those people scrubbed it under some warm soapy water, and they said that improved it alot

But +1 on the micarta handles, as you want a user, not a shelfqueen. Of course many people have bark river users that have natural handles.
 
JCK said:
I got a bark river on the way with the matte micarta, as many people said the smooth was slippery. But then again, most of those people scrubbed it under some warm soapy water, and they said that improved it alot

But +1 on the micarta handles, as you want a user, not a shelfqueen. Of course many people have bark river users that have natural handles.
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Actually, after just a light wipe with a dish rag and some watered down soap after cutting some food, the handles are more textured now. I quite like it.
 
JCK said:
But +1 on the micarta handles, as you want a user, not a shelfqueen. Of course many people have bark river users that have natural handles.
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I've got my eye on a gunny with lignum vitae handle slabs. I'd hate to think that its beauty would make me disinclined to use it -- I'm not the safe-queen type -- but I wouldn't put it past me. :D
 
I have to postpone my Kephart till early next year... I went and bought Busse Game Warden... I paid same from Busse as Kephart would have cost in Euro-prices. Kephart sounds excellent knife and I will get one... just later.

Thanks alot mz9393. You've convinced me Kephart is excellent woods knife.
 
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