Bark River Knives - Blackjack 125 Commando?

[Sooner99]

Greetings. Looking for feedback on a knife I just received; its a Blackjack 125 Commando and was stamped with Bark River logo on opposite side of Blackjack Knives logo. Leather sheath also had the Bark River logo on the back. My knife did not have the lanyard hole or the protruding tang nut that other Blackjack 125bCommando models had. This one has a recessed nut in the pommel. I purchased from Chicago Knife Works. Is this a newer model Blackjack/Bark River made 125 Commando? I don't believe prior 125 Commando knives had the Bark River logo on them. Thoughts? (Scroll 7 x photos below)

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I have yet to purchase a Blackjack knife, but have recently been interested in doing so.
My understanding is that Bark River doesn't own the name Blackjack brand, but they do make them under contract for the company that does, (Blue Ridge Knives).
Bark River's owner, (Mike Stewart), is actually the man that started the Blackjack knife brand some years ago before he sold the brand off. It's kind'a cool that today's Blackjack knives are again being made, (even if now under contract), by the Blackjack Knives' original founder.
Some pics I've seen recently online while looking into possibly buying one, do show the Bark River name brand on the opposite blade side of where the Blackjack name brand is at.

If you don't mind my asking you, how do you find it's quality overall? It seems really nice, based on your photos

BTW, since Blackjack's are based on Randall Made knives, it doesn't surprise me that they would offer some versions with, and some versions without, the recessed pommel nut.
I have a Randall Made Model #1 w/7" blade, and it has a recessed nut, but know they offer it with the protruding nut as well.

 

[eveled]

AFAIK, RMK uses recessed nuts, only on non leather handles.

Which makes sense to me. A recessed nut on a leather handle would be undesirable because there is no way to tighten the handle if the leather shrinks.

Note these nuts are cut and polished off. Not the style recessed nuts other makers use you can still tighten with a spanner.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

AFAIK, RMK uses recessed nuts, only on non leather handles.

Which makes sense to me. A recessed nut on a leather handle would be undesirable because there is no way to tighten the handle if the leather shrinks.

Note these nuts are cut and polished off. Not the style recessed nuts other makers use you can still tighten with a spanner.

Good info, buddy!

 

[VorpelSword]

I bought two Ek knives 15-20 years ago. It was just after the Ek production company was bought by Blackjack. Both came in Blackjack boxes but were in every way an Ek knife; brass cross guard, blade marking, handle construction etc.. My guess was that they had been assembled from Ek parts rather than mfg by Blackjack.

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Ok, now this is crazy. I just looked around on e-Bay and found one exactly like I have being offered st $250 or so. I got these knives for $50 tom $75 each!

 

[Sooner99]

I have yet to purchase a Blackjack knife, but have recently been interested in doing so.
My understanding is that Bark River doesn't own the name Blackjack brand, but they do make them under contract for the company that does, (Blue Ridge Knives).
Bark River's owner, (Mike Stewart), is actually the man that started the Blackjack knife brand some years ago before he sold the brand off. It's kind'a cool that today's Blackjack knives are again being made, (even if now under contract), by the Blackjack Knives' original founder.
Some pics I've seen recently online while looking into possibly buying one, do show the Bark River name brand on the opposite blade side of where the Blackjack name brand is at.

If you don't mind my asking you, how do you find it's quality overall? It seems really nice, based on your photos

BTW, since Blackjack's are based on Randall Made knives, it doesn't surprise me that they would offer some versions with, and some versions without, the recessed pommel nut.
I have a Randall Made Model #1 w/7" blade, and it has a recessed nut, but know they offer it with the protruding nut as well.

PocketKnifeJimmy I'm very happy with the build quality of the knife and sheath. This is my second Bark River and the craftsman ship of this Blackjack model lives up to my first BR knife. I own Fallkniven, LT Wright, and this Blackjack is right up there in terms of craftsmanship. I have yet to use it in the field, but I have no doubt it will perform well. This will definitely be a knife I can pass on to my son.

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Greetings. Looking for feedback on a knife I just received; its a Blackjack 125 Commando and was stamped with Bark River logo on opposite side of Blackjack Knives logo. Leather sheath also had the Bark River logo on the back. My knife did not have the lanyard hole or the protruding tang nut that other Blackjack 125bCommando models had. This one has a recessed nut in the pommel. I purchased from Chicago Knife Works. Is this a newer model Blackjack/Bark River made 125 Commando? I don't believe prior 125 Commando knives had the Bark River logo on them. Thoughts? (Scroll 7 x photos below)

I was still holding off on getting a Blackjack knife... Well, until I read your post and decided to go ahead and order one. I decided on the Blackjack model #14 with the 7.5" blade and black micarta handle with the "border patrol" contouring.

I also chose the same vendor as you, since I too have done business with them before.

I now have to do the waiting thing until I receive it, my fingers being crossed that it's as nicely done as your specimen

 

[Sooner99]

I was still holding off on getting a Blackjack knife... Well, until I read your post and decided to go ahead and order one. I decided on the Blackjack model #14 with the 7.5" blade and black micarta handle with the "border patrol" contouring.

I also chose the same vendor as you, since I too have done business with them before.

I now have to do the waiting thing until I receive it, my fingers being crossed that it's as nicely done as your specimen

Very nice! Do share a pic when it arrives!

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Thanks... and yes, I will do

I know a lot of folks see the Blackjack knives as simply being copies of the Randall Made knives. But, for me the convexed blade on the Blackjack knives is a big reason that it makes me want to add one to my collection. If it were a straight copy of the Randall, without any unique features of it's own, I don't think I'd be interested in getting one.
I mean, nonetheless, it's obvious that Blackjack Knives are highly based on the Randall Made knives.

At age 56, I'm pretty old school in a lot of my ways. That holds true with my knife collecting interests.
For instance, I have tried hard to find love for today's modern folding knives, but it just didn't happen. All the folders I have are traditional lock-backs and traditional slip-joints.
I perfectly understand that the modern folders are the continued evolution of folding knives, and that in real world situations, are likely functionally superior... But, they just don't do it for me, and I mean I literally have zilch interest in them.
And yet, I see a traditional knife, like the convexed bladed Blackjack knives we are discussing here, and that peaks my interest big time!

I think the history of the Blackjack Knives company is, (at least for me), another aspect of the product that adds to my wanting at least one in my collection.
The fact that it was Mike Stewart that founded the Blackjack knife company, and then it being sold and owned by others, only to then wind up being made by Mike Stewart's 'Bark River' knife company under contract... Well, is just cool knife history stuff to me

Of course my owning a Randall Made knife is for similar reasons, and then some!
The story/history of a knife company often adds to my wanting specimens of theirs added to my collection's eclectic mix of traditional knives

PS. I was thinking hard to try and remember if I have anything in my collection that truly fits more into the highly modern category than the more traditional one. I know there is often a lot of overlapping in such things, but was thinking of my most modern type knife.
I only came up with one, and even it has a major flair of traditional to it, that being my Cold Steel XL Espada. I just thought it was a beautifully made ridiculously large blade. A heck of a cool conversation piece. It's just another do-dad for my collecting hobby, but It doesn't clash with my traditional tastes at all, at least in my opinion

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Btw, I don't see much written on the forums concerning the Bark River made Blackjack knives.
I believe Bark River is said to produce about 60,000 or so knives per year.
It would seem likely that their BlackJack knife contract with 'Blue Ridge Knives' represents a fairly small part of Bark River' overall production numbers, (I have no idea what that number may actually be).
I know Randall Made knives makes about 8,000 knives per year, so it may well be that Blackjack Knives yearly production numbers may be less than that of Randall Made.

It just seems that Blackjack Knives only holds a small niche in the knife world, which for collectors, may be a good thing, since they would likely be pretty limited out there in there numbers.

 

[Sooner99]

Thanks... and yes, I will do

I know a lot of folks see the Blackjack knives as simply being copies of the Randall Made knives. But, for me the convexed blade on the Blackjack knives is a big reason that it makes me want to add one to my collection. If it were a straight copy of the Randall, without any unique features of it's own, I don't think I'd be interested in getting one.
I mean, nonetheless, it's obvious that Blackjack Knives are highly based on the Randall Made knives.

At age 56, I'm pretty old school in a lot of my ways. That holds true with my knife collecting interests.
For instance, I have tried hard to find love for today's modern folding knives, but it just didn't happen. All the folders I have are traditional lock-backs and traditional slip-joints.
I perfectly understand that the modern folders are the continued evolution of folding knives, and that in real world situations, are likely functionally superior... But, they just don't do it for me, and I mean I literally have zilch interest in them.
And yet, I see a traditional knife, like the convexed bladed Blackjack knives we are discussing here, and that peaks my interest big time!

I think the history of the Blackjack Knives company is, (at least for me), another aspect of the product that adds to my wanting at least one in my collection.
The fact that it was Mike Stewart that founded the Blackjack knife company, and then it being sold and owned by others, only to then wind up being made by Mike Stewart's 'Bark River' knife company under contract... Well, is just cool knife history stuff to me

Of course my owning a Randall Made knife is for similar reasons, and then some!
The story/history of a knife company often adds to my wanting specimens of theirs added to my collection's eclectic mix of traditional knives

PS. I was thinking hard to try and remember if I have anything in my collection that truly fits more into the highly modern category than the more traditional one. I know there is often a lot of overlapping in such things, but was thinking of my most modern type knife.
I only came up with one, and even it has a major flair of traditional to it, that being my Cold Steel XL Espada. I just thought it was a beautifully made ridiculously large blade. A heck of a cool conversation piece. It's just another do-dad for my collecting hobby, but It doesn't clash with my traditional tastes at all, at least in my opinion

Intriguing knives! I absolutely love the presentation case. I have been looking for ways to showcase some of my knifes and am looking for a case that I can hang on my walls of my man cave. Care to share any info about this case or where I might be able to locate something similar for wall mounting? Thanks for sharing!

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Intriguing knives! I absolutely love the presentation case. I have been looking for ways to showcase some of my knifes and am looking for a case that I can hang on my walls of my man cave. Care to share any info about this case or where I might be able to locate something similar for wall mounting? Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, sure... The one I have shown above is one of five I acquired from SF Display.

sfDisplay.com - Quality display cases at factory direct prices.

sfDisplay.com provides high quality display products such as sports memorabilia display cases, guitar cabinets, shot glass racks, golf displays, flag displays, model train displays, jersey frames, baseball bat cabinets, Baseball Display Cases, Wine Racks, Challenge Coin Display Cases, Sword...

www.sfdisplay.com

All the rest of my displays, which I have quite a few of, were off the shelf from such places as Marshall's Home Goods, Michael's craft store, and Hobby Lobby craft store, all which I can and have modified to fit whatever need I have for them

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

Btw, in some cases, (pun intended), you may still choose to customize/modify any display you do get, even if it may work for you as is.
Here's an example of just that type of situation. It's a display that I purchased from SF Display, and then I went on to place a red felt background to cover the black background it came with. And, I then placed some hardware onto it's backboard to be able to hold up my Cold Steel Cinquedea within the display. It wasn't a major project, but a project nonetheless

 

[PocketKnifeJimmy]

I received my Blackjack Model #14 today.
It's a very nice American made knife that I'm very proud to now own and include in my eclectic collection of interesting objects

It obviously has the Blackjack brand on one side of the blade, but also has it's contracted maker on the other, (Bark River Knives). One can easily see the convexing of it's blade... Love that!

 

[Sooner99]

I received my Blackjack Model #14 today.
It's a very nice American made knife that I'm very proud to now own and include in my eclectic collection of interesting objects

It obviously has the Blackjack brand on one side of the blade, but also has it's contracted maker on the other, (Bark River Knives). One can easily see the convexing of it's blade... Love that!

That is one great looking knife! I love the look of the steel contrasted by the black micarta. Clean lines and looks well balanced! Nice buy!

 

[Pony_Hernandez]

BRKT never labeled their Blackjacks until last year. Not a problem. But look at the stacked leather they use today. Thin AF. Get the old ones.